An Analysis Of The Theme Of Initiation In The Adventures Of Augie March From The Perspective Of Initiation Stories

Saul Bellow is one of the most successful Jewish writers in contemporary America literature.The Adventures of Augie March is a typical Bildungsroman.This thesis aims to study the theme of initiation in The Adventures of Augie March.With the help of the initiation novel theory,this thesis focuses on the analysis of the initiation theme and its composition in The Adventures of Augie March,and how the novel uses the basic elements of the Initiation novel.For example,"guide and epiphany" underlines the initiation theme,and explores the unique meaning of the initiation theme in combination with the historical background.In addition to the Introduction and the Conclusion,the main body of this paper is composed of four parts.The Introduction part includes the reviw of recent research at home and abroad on Saul Bellow and The Adventures of Augie March,and presented in this paper's methodology and innovation.Through the investigation of academic history,the shortcomings of the study on the initiation theme of The Adventures of Augie March are found.Based on the intensive reading of the text,the initiation theme of the work is deeply analyzed and studied by using the initiation novel theory.The first part systematically expounds the concept of Bildungsroman,combing the definition and basic characteristics of Bildungsroman.At the same time,based on the basic characteristics of Bildungsroman,it is pointed out that The Adventures of Augie March is a typical Bildungsroman.The second part focuses on the analysis of the initiation theme and its composition in The Adventures of Augie March with the pursuit of self-identity and emotional maturity.First of all,Augie pursues the true self continuously in the materialistic society and realizes the independence of personality.Secondly,in the process of growing up,Augie's emotions experienced are twists and turns.Finally,the combination with Stella filled Augie's inner emptiness,calmed his heart with love,and made Augie have a further understanding of the axis of life with emotional maturity.The third part discusses the basic elements of Bildungsroman "guide" and "Epiphany" to highlight the theme of Initiation.The guide plays an indispensable role in guiding the initiation of the protagonist.The occurrence of Epiphany is a sign of the completion of initiation.Therefore,this part interprets the transformation of Augie's ideology and inner growth from the guidance of many guide and a series of epiphany.The fourth part aims to explore the unique meaning of the initiation theme in TheAdventures of Augie March,mainly combining with the historical background and the author.It points out that Augie's initiation process implies the spiritual confusion and survival dilemma faced by the Jews.Saul Bellow calls for the spiritual return of the Jews with the initiation process of his characters.The epilogue part summarizes the initiation theme of The Adventures of Augie March,points out that all parts of the paper are connected with each other,and discusses the initiation theme of the work through different clues and angles.It is hoped that through the analysis of the initiation theme of The Adventures of Augie March from the perspective of Bildungsroman,it can enrich the research on the theme of Bellow's works and trigger readers' reflection on the conflict between individual initiation and reality.