On Cultural Self-criticism In American Autobiographical Writing In Reference To Three Works

Biography plays an important role in literature.It not only contains personal history but also reflects social and cultural values of the time.There are many classical autobiographical works in America.This thesis focuses on cultural self-criticism in American culture in three classical American autobiographical works including The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin,Henry Thoreau’s Walden and The Education of Henry Adams.The thesis first examines the origins of thoughts of the three writers as reflected in their autobiographies.Then it studies the evolution of American values from the18^th century to early 20th century by comparing the three works.The thesis concludes that while deterioration in moral values is wide spread in American culture as a result of material progress,there is also a strong critical traditional among intellectuals who persisted in maintaining traditional values such as justice,honesty and simplicity.