A Study Of The Ethical Connotation Of"American Dream"in Oates’S Novels

As an outstanding female writer in contemporary American literature,Oates’ s works have been warmly accepted in recent years.As a scholar and a writer,she pays attention to the social reality of the United States and the fate of the unprivileged population.It can be said that Oates’ s works are a mirror of American society in that she highly focus on the characters’ growth process in American society,especially the experience of the figures in pursuit of the "American Dream".It is not difficult to find the characters in Oates’ s novels who encounter numerous difficulties in pursuing their dreams and some disadvantages so as to find a feasible path for the characters to realize their dreams.Oates’ s fictions reflect the social realities and interpret her ethical ideal.The paper is divided into five parts.The first part is the introduction.It mainly talks about the reason why I choose such topic and its research meaning,the research status quos at home and abroad,the object of study,research methods,the main views and the innovation of this paper.The purpose of this part is to explain the writing process of this dissertation,to reveal its structure and main views.The second part mainly discusses the evolution of the "American Dream" from its early stage to today and the ethical ideals contained in "American Dream" which described in Oates’ s novel.Showing the connotation of "American Dream" to the reader,presenting the characters’ dreams and expressing Oates’ s ethical ideal expressed in her novels.The third part mainly explores the ethical dilemma faced by the characters in realizing their "American Dream".It will inevitably confront obstacles and setbacks in pursuing dream.The lack of rational consciousness,the absence of family ethics and the variation of social ethics make it more difficult for people to make their dreams come true.The difficulties they faced in society will make them fall into ethical dilemma.What is more,they pay the price of their lives.The fourth part mainly discusses the ethical approaches that the characters to realize the "American Dream".Only through returning the individual rational will,enforcing the influence of family ethics and changing the social systems can it be possible realize the dream.The fifth part is the conclusion.It mainly summarizes Oates’ s moral aims and ethnical ideals in her creative works,highlights Oates’ s ethical demands and moral aspirations,as well as the ethical ideals to build a harmonious society in the American,so as to provide some moral demonstration for people who are pursuing dreams.