From Marxist To "Amateur Missionary":Eagleton's Multiple Identities

It goes without saying that Terry Eagleton is considered to be one of the most important Marxist literary theorists in the world.Meanwhile,this fame reduces people's cognition of him to a single anf flat stereotype.This article focuses on Eagleton's transformation of identity practice and the mutual influences between his identities and theoretical writings in the process of his theoretical practice,which leads to the complexity and heterogeneity of his identities.When Eagleton was first known as a Marxist literary critic,he was a core member of a left-wing Catholic group.The influence of religion has been running through Eagleton's theoretical career.In his recent works,he explored the historical roots of contemporary atheism and criticized capitalist atheists' ignorance of belief and blind obedience to reason.Since the 1990 s,Eagleton,who has part of Irish blood,not only has devoted himself to the study of Irish culture,but also written novels and plays in the cultural differences between Ireland and Britain.Eagleton's experience in "First World Countries with Third World Memory" has given Eagleton a brand-new perspective to rethink world issues.Eagleton has always been skeptical of postmodernism theory,because he thinks that concepts such as truth and class are abandoned as "grand narratives" in postmodernism.Therefore,in After Theory,Eagleton tries to establish new thinking in a new era,emphasizing that theorists should bravely assume the responsibility of public intellectuals and actively intervene in important realistic political issues.The clue running through this article is the concept of "Eagletonism" put forward by scholar Willy Maley.As a rhetorical strategy and reading strategy,"Eagletonism" is embodied in all of Eagleton's identity practice and theoretical writing.Eagleton's transition and transformation between different identities deeply influenced his concern and thinking on theory and reality,and also enabled him to use various discourse resources to explain human existence in philosophical and ethical sense.