The American Dream Of Female Characters In Philip Roth's "Ameircan Trilogy"

Focusing on Philip Roth's “American Trilogy”,this thesis aims to delve into women's self-consciousness and dilemmas in the three novels from a feminist perspective.Unlike previous studies,most of which tend to center on the male protagonists' broken American dreams in the broad historical context,this thesis will highlight three female characters' American dreams that were destroyed by patriarchal culture.In this discussion,this thesis attempts to make the argument that Roth's depiction of women's American dreams suggests his concern about women's plight in searching for autonomy in society.To substantiate the argument,this thesis,mainly by drawing upon such feminist theories as Beauvoir's woman as the Other,the male gaze,and the extreme images of women as “angels” and “monsters”,endeavors to tackle the question of how the three female characters' shattered dreams reflect their predicament as the oppressed while the patriarchal society holds out the promise of the American dream exclusively to propertied,white males.The core of this thesis mainly consists of three chapters.Chapter One explores the three female characters' different interpretations of the American dream in the“American Trilogy”.The pursuit of their dreams through their own efforts illustrates their volition of living an idealized life free from the bondage of their confining past.Chapter Two analyzes the exterior reasons that explain why their self-invention entails self-destruction.Essentially,the patriarchal culture that defines women within their supposed positions clashes with their ambitions and eventually destroys their various dreams.Chapter Three examines the self-consciousness of the three female characters,each of whom has been awakened to varying degrees during her quest for the American dream.Despite the disillusionment of their dreams,their efforts point to women's progress in struggling against the erosion of male power and their volition to gain individual sovereignty.Additionally,the thesis argues that,by drawing readers' attention to women's difficulty in realizing the American dream,Roth invites us to see women's insurmountable predicaments as well as their constant progress in society.