Gren's Initiation Into A Hero In Hothouse

Brian Aldiss(1925-2017)is a famous British writer.His science fiction Hothouse was published in 1962 and won him the Hugo Award.In the dystopian future world of the novel,the earth is going to die,the sun is going to be a nova and the humankind degenerates to the weakest in the food chain.The novel has been studied in the Western academia from such perspectives as human identity,entropy and adaptability,life and death,chaos and order.This thesis will study it by combining the ethics of responsibility and hero initiation.Based on Joseph Campbell's generalization of the hero pattern in his masterpiece The Hero with a Thousand Faces,this thesis analyzes the novel's protagonist Gren's heroic journey and growth into a mature hero.Campbell holds that everyone is born a hero.The hero ventures from the common world in which his “depressed desire and conflict” causes a “blunder” and then he enters a region of supernatural wonder.After encountering fabulous forces and winning a decisive victory,he comes back with the power to guard the home and protect his fellows.Hothouse is both an adventure fiction and an initiation story.The protagonist Gren grows from rashness and ignorance,experiences trials and adventures and finally becomes a hero of commitments for the community.This thesis analyzes Gren's growth from three phases: departure,enlightenment and maturity.The first chapter analyzes Gren's departure as well as his heroic attributes.Gren is brave and thoughtful with wisdom and willingness to help,but as a fragile child,his heroism is not exerted.The “depressed desire and conflict” induces him to behave differently.He makes a “blunder” which results in his being expelled and forces him to start his journey.In lonely struggle,Gren needs a “guide” to help and instruct him.The second chapter analyzes the phase of Gren's enlightenment on his journey.He is imparted intellect by the morel who shows him the glorious human history and the fall of humanity,helping him know more about himself and the world.Yattmur,as the “goddess” on Gren's journey,arouses his sense of home and helps himregain self-consciousness.And his friend Poyly's sacrifice and death for others help him cultivate the strong sense of collective commitments.The third chapter is about Gren's maturation into a responsible hero.Gren refuses to depend on the morel any more and achieves true independent personality;he gives priority to others and endures humiliation and confronts formidable enemies in order to protect his families and companions.He refuses to leave for the moon and determines to return and rejuvenate the earth home as well as humanity regardless of any hardship.By depicting in Hothouse the environment enveloped by deadly hazards,Brian Aldiss urges people to protect the earth on the one hand and calls on everyone to become a hero responsible for others,for the environment and for the world.