| John Steinbeck(1902-1968),an American writer,was the winner of Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962.His works were drawn from the lives of ordinary people,and truly reproduced the realities of society,family and individuals at that time.East of Eden is a masterpiece of Steinbeck in late period.It depicts the life and destiny of the three generations of the Trask family and the Hamilton family.As a novelist highly concerned with the fate of mankind and extremely ethical care,Steinbeck integrates with his own emotions into the writing of family.The family ethical relationships in the two families not only reflect the social problems and contradictions but also convey the ethical pursuit of constructing a harmonious family ethical relationship.This paper analyzes the different types of family ethics in the novel and explores the author's ethical concern and the significance of his expression on family ethics.This thesis is mainly composed of five parts:Chapter One gives a general introduction to John Steinbeck and his East of Eden;then makes a detailed review on East of Eden both abroad and at home.Most studies focuses on analyzing the novel from the perspectives of archetypal criticism,feminism and so on.Then it illustrates the theoretical foundation,ethical literary criticism,which was proposed by Professor Nie Zhenzhao and it explains the core concepts applied in the thesis such as ethical identity,ethical taboo,ethical environment and ethical choice.Then it goes further to offer a brief account of the purpose,significance and structure of this thesis.Chapter Two focuses on revealing the crisis of family ethics of the Trasks in East of Eden from three kinds of family ethical relationship: conjugal relationship,intergenerational relationship and brotherhood.Firstly,it analyzes the disharmonious relationship between husband and wife caused by inequality and infidelity in marriage.And then discusses the strained intergenerational relationship.The father-son relationships are alienated and suppressed,and the influence of the lack of maternal love on the children's behavior patterns.The Cain-Abel story is used as an archetypal pattern to foreshadow the conflicts between brothers who violate the ethical taboos on impulse due to jealousy.Chapter Three investigates the causes of crisis in family ethical relationship from two aspects.Firstly,it analyzes the factors of social situation including the oppressionof patriarchy and the influence of wars.They make destructive effects on the spiritual level of female characters and male characters as well as their family relationships.Secondly,it discusses the individual factors including indulgence in free will and lack of family education.Individuals are addicted to free will without being controlled by rational will and guidance of proper family education,which makes them lack of understanding of their own ethical identity,causing the crisis of family ethics.Chapter Four illustrates Steinbeck's family ethical appeal and construction from three aspects.Firstly,it analyzes the word “timshel” combining ethical selection,which reflects author's ethical intention that everyone has ethical selection to choose his or her life as well as relationship with other family members.Secondly,by creating a harmonious family the Hamiltons,Steinbeck shows his opinion about the ideal family ethics.And then it points out that the different interpretations of family ethics lead to the different family ethical relationships and destines.Finally,it presents Steinbeck's pursuit of harmonious family ethics by using the omniscient narrative voice and the shift of perspectives to guide the readers to better understand the ethical intentions in the novel.The Conclusion summarizes the main points of the thesis in brief.After comprehensive analyses on family ethical relationships and family ethics concepts in the novel,it draws a conclusion of John Steinbeck's family ethical ideas elaborated in the novel.The expression of this harmonious family ethic implies the enlightenment for the contemporary harmonious family and social construction.The study on family ethics in novels from the perspective of ethical literary criticism provides new ideas for the study of novels,which can better clarify the ethical relationship between characters and explore the causes of ethical crisis.At the same time,it emphasizes the significance of narrative techniques employed in the novel to the family ethical expression,which strengthens the authenticity of the story,and is conducive to readers' emotional experience. |
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