On The Re-enchantment In Arthur Clark's "A Space Odyssey" Series

"The space odyssey" is a common element in the science fiction.The great adventure which has been abandoned by the realistic literature,reviving in the science fiction.Focusing on analyzing the heroes and mythical plots in the series of Arthur Clarke's "space odyssey",this dissertation will discover the deeper mythical structure in these fictions and explain how are they re-enchant the myth to solve the crisis and problems in today's society.This dissertation is divided into four parts.In chapter one,by using the Propp's morphology of the tale,the functions of the character and the three heroes' adventure will be discussed.The functions of the character include the delegation or hero,villain or benefactor,assistant,princess or person who to be found.Among which the essential character is the hero,that is to say,Bowman,Freud,and Poole.They are each demigod,scientist and resurrection kinds of heroes.In the plot structure,three heroes,adventure can be deduced as three periods of setting out,enlightened and return by the monomyth theory of the Joseph Campbell.By examining the plot of character,chapter two is going to unearth the deeper mythical structure in these fictions that encompassing two unit:the break of the old order and the creation of the new sequence,along with the alienation and return of the humanity.The old order could be defined as previous thinking and the pattern of the cosmos,after the appearing of the tablet and the voluntary adventure of the heroes,the old order has been shattered,and the new sequence implied a decentralized process,which builds a foundation for human going to the space age.The alienation of the humanity consists of triple meanings:the anthropocentrism,interpersonal isolation and the separation of the men and themselves.The space-time's alienation within the fiction creates an objective environment for the alienation of the humanity.At the end of the story,this alienation has been eliminated,heroes return to the family and love,and the latest balance has eventually been found.Chapter three review the concrete intention of the re-enchantment in the fiction,which contains the Charisma glory of the heroes,monomyth and the function of the myth as well as the charm of the technique.The enchantment of the heroes reflected in the miracle visibility and the magic of the Shaman.As for the structure,it reflected in the monomythical structure of setting out,enlightened and return,and the enchantment of the function in the myth prove at the realization of the four functions of the myth.When it comes to the last one,the enchantment of the technique,the similarity between the top science and the witchcraft and the influence of the Oriental mysticism.that generating by the Clarke together exhibiting the re-enchantment of the primitive myth.In the final chapter,the guidance that the re-enchantment bring to modern human will be discussed.The author constitutes a brand new order of the cosmos,among which the Earth and human are no longer the centers of the universe,that's why the human should revere the nature and maintain the balance of the cosmos.Besides,the adventure structure implies the internal growing procedure of human,under the background of the technical age,it brings modern people the courage to defend the crisis and face the future afterward.