A Study Of The Alienation Theme In The Corrections

Jonathan Franzen(1959-)is a famous contemporary American novelist and essayist.He became famous with the novel The Corrections(2001)and won the 2001 National Book Award,the National Book Critics Association Award and the Salon Book Award,the 2003 Booker Prize and the British James Tate Black Memorial Award.The Corrections is a long-lost American novel,and American writer Michael Cunningham believes that the great achievement of The Corrections can be compared with Thomas Mann,s "Buddenbrook" and Derricko's "White Noise".However,this novel with rich connotation and high research value has not attracted the attention of scholars in China.At present,the academic research on the theme of The Corrections is not deep enough.No one has done a special study on its subject or interpreted it from the perspective of alienation.Therefore,this article uses Western Marxist criticism,psychoanalytic criticism,feminist criticism,social-historical criticism,comparative literature and other critical methods,from the alienation of human-society relations,the alienation of human-person relations,the alienation of human-natural relations,the alienation of self-relationship four aspects to interpret the theme of alienation,and the reasons for the formation of the theme of The corrections alienation are discussed from two aspects of individual and society.Finally,this article will also explore the social criticality of Jonathan Franzenfs novel creation.This paper is divided into three parts:introduction,text and conclusion.The text part is divided into five chapters.The introduction part starts from three aspects:the reason of the choice of the topic,the research status at home and abroad,the meaning of the topic and the research method.The first chapter analyzes the alienation of the relationship between man and society in The Corrections from the three aspects of capitalism system,consumerism culture and science and technology.Firstly,it analyzes the alienation of people by the capitalist system:private manufacturing has resulted in the poverty,chaos of Lithuania and the selfish greed of American business owners;democratic elections in Lithuania are full of hypocrisy and blood,and the masses are only objects that are fooled and utilized by politicians;currency fetishism makes the United States The people are chasing money madly,putting wealth above humanity;the economic crisis has brought people into hunger and poverty,leaving a terrible psychological shadow.Secondly,it analyzes the alienation of consumerism culture.Under the influence of consumerism culture,people admire vanity,pursue pleasure,consume for consumption,and become slaves of things.Finally,analyzing the alienation of science and technology to human beings,technology has not only become a tool for people to seek private profits and crimes,but also is not conducive to the growth of children.The second chapter analyzes the alienation of the relationship between people.This chapter analyzes the deadlocked relationship between husband and wife,the relationship between lovers who have sex but no love,the discordant The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law,the opposing father-son relationship,the estranged relationship between brothers and relatives,and the abnormal relationship between rival lovers.The deadlocked relationship between husband and wife is characterized by Alfred's oppression and Enid's resistance,Gary's quarrel with Caroline,and indifference.The relationship between lovers with sex and no love is shown by Chip,who indulges in sex,Julia,who loves pleasure,Denise,who craves sex,and Don Amo,who seeks privacy through sex.The discordant The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law showed Caroline's dissatisfaction with Enid and Enid's disregard for Caroline.The opposite father-son relationship is manifested in the mutual incomprehension between Alfred and Gary and the rejection of Gary by Allen and Caleb.The estranged kinship is manifested by Gary's indifference and jealousy towards Chip,Gary's jealousy and slander towards Denise.The abnormal relationship between rival in love is manifested in Kitanas' kindness to Chip and Chip's dependence on Kitanas.The third chapter analyzes the alienation of the relationship between man and nature.This chapter discusses the alienation of the relationship between man and nature from four aspects:exhaustion of natural resources,destruction and pollution of natural environment,destruction of urban environment and destruction of human by dangerous substances.The depletion of natural resources is manifested by energy crisis and shortage of sandstone resources.The destruction and pollution of natural environment are shown as wetland destruction,vegetation destruction,water pollution and white pollution.The destruction of the urban environment is manifested in the squalor of New York and the dilapidation of St Jude.The destruction of people by hazardous waste is manifested in radon pollution and waste building pollution.The fourth chapter analyzes the alienation of human and self-relationship.The alienation of the relationship between man and self in The Corrections is mainly reflected in the division of personality of Chip,the division of personality of Denise and the division of personality of Robin.The personality split of Chip is manifested as the interweaving of libido and shame.The personality split of Denise is expressed as his bisexual personality.Robin's split personality 1s manifested in the conflicts between homosexual sex,extramarital love and religious beliefs.The fifth chapter discusses the reasons for the formation of the theme of alienation.On the one hand,the formation of alienation theme in The Corrections is related to personal reasons such as Jonathan Franzen's life experience and his sense of responsibility as a serious novelist.On the other hand,it is related to the dissolution of traditional ethics,the impact of consumerism culture,the prevalence of social psychological diseases and other social reasons.The conclusion part discusses the social criticism of Jonathan Franzen's novels.The Corrections is a realistic work.Franzen pointed out the drawbacks of American society,criticized the oppression and destruction of people by capitalist system and cultxire,and called for the establishment of a green,hannonious and healthy modem society.