The Identity Dilemma Of Rebecca In Joyce Carol Oates's The Gravedigger's Daughter

Recently the issue of identity has drawn much attention from humanities.The study of identity is primarily a matter of conflicts between domination and subordination,centre and margin,advantaged and disadvantaged.This thesis focuses on Oates's The Gravedigger's Daughter,tries to discuss the dilemma of Rebecca's construction of identities by the theories of cultural studies.Firstly,the thesis studies Rebecca's struggle about her cultural identity.Here,cultural identity is a changing one.Rebecca tries to cope with her cultural identity crisis;however,she still suffers from mental pains and spiritual alienation.Secondly,the thesis discusses the issue of Rebecca's gender identity construction.Regarding gender as a social and cultural construct,Rebecca suffers from the oppression of male authority.By depicting her experience,Oates reveals that Rebecca is forced to subject herself to the norms of femininity imposed by the patriarchal division.Thirdly,the thesis analyzes the novel from the perspective of social identity.Rebecca's marginalized identity is fully demonstrated by her background.Being socially disadvantaged,Rebecca experiences mental and physical struggles.Through her experiences,Oates indicates that the altering of social boundary is hard to realize.Oates accurately depicts the struggle,confusion and anxiety of Rebecca who is in the identity crisis,which reflects her concern and sympathy for the marginalized people.It is significant for us to study the helplessness of marginalized in the process of identity construction by discussing the special situation of minority women.