Refusal,Transcendence And Acceptance: Liminality In The Gravedigger’s Daughter By J.C.Oates

With a “Balzacian ambition”,Joyce Carol Oates intends to have the real world and her contemplation reflected in literary works.For years she has been a prolific and distinguished author who keeps writing,thinking and documenting.The Gravedigger’s Daughter,published in 2007,is one representative of her efforts to map the world with a pen.The novel chronicles the history of the Schwarts,a German-Jewish family escaping to America during World War Two.Through the protagonist Rebecca Schwart’s life track is uncovered the story of this family.Generally speaking,literary critics on Oates highlight violence,feminism and identity.Similar elements are discussed in The Gravedigger’s Daughter as well.Nevertheless,from the perspective of liminality,this thesis strives to find out Oates’ attitude toward the living condition of minor ethnical groups like the Jewish people in America in the second half of the 20 th century.A close reading of the novel reveals that neither a refusal nor a transcendence of liminality could be available.On the contrary,an acceptance of liminality might contribute to the survival of minor ethnical groups like the Jew.The introduction part starts with some brief information on the author and the novel.Frequently discussed themes and topics of Oates’ works are provided together with some important researches on this novel both at home and abroad.The concept of“liminality” is also generally introduced in this section.Chapter One concentrates on the “refusal” of liminality represented by Anna Schwart.In this chapter,madness and aphasia would be two chief focuses.Anna’s refusal of the liminal phase is realized mainly via a negative attitude toward the English language and a nostalgic emotion to the past including the German language,which is prohibited by her husband.This kind of refusal leads first to her aphasia and then to hermadness,the latter of which is a form of liminal experience too.Her refusal,therefore,ends in vein and further proves that a refusal to liminality is useless for the survival of the Jew.Chapter Two mainly explores the experience of Jacob Schwart and finds out that his attempt to transcend liminality also bears no fruit.In a bid to transcend his liminal state as an immigrant,he turns to language convergence.Contrary to Anna,he intends to have the whole family to be accepted by the local community through a positive attitude toward English language.For this goal,he abandons his native language and humbles himself to the American community.But his humbleness and efforts fail at the end.This chapter argues that Jacob is encompassed in two heterotopias: the cemetery and the parlor with Jacob’s radio on.Trapped in these heterotopias,he is tortured and torn apart by the conflict therein,which finally results in his desperation and then suicide.Through Jacob’s experience unveils the fact that an attempt to transcend liminality could provide little help for the living condition of the Jew at that time.Chapter Three tries to investigate the life track of the title character Rebecca Schwart.It is revealed that,different from her parents,she embraces her liminal state and has successfully survived in America.Rebecca is regarded as a liminal entity the moment she was born.The growth experience in the cemetery further prolongs her liminality.Later she adopts a life of exile—also a liminal experience—and fully alters herself into a state of hybridity and ambiguity,which could be an effective way to survive in America.It is believed that liminality has a potential of liberation and creation.An embracement and acceptance of liminality,therefore,might be a possible way for the survival of the Jew.In a word,the living condition of immigration or the minor ethnical groups like the Schwarts is a liminal one.Yet neither a refusal of nor an attempt to transcend the liminality could be valid for them to survive.For Rebecca,however,liminal state indicates a possibility or even an opportunity of survival.In this case,the exploration of Rebecca’s experience proves that an acceptance of liminality could be a possible way for the Jews to survive.