A Study Of Multiple Themes In Thomas Wolfe's Novels

Thomas Clayton Wolfe,one of the most important southern writers of America in 20 century.His four novels are autobiographical,with deep thinking of one's loneliness and pursuit.Besides depicting individual life,Wolfe not only highlights the political,economic and other aspects of American society in the novels,but also comments on ancient and modern writers aesthetically,when putting forward his proposition of art,which reflects the multiple themes of the novels."Loneliness" and "pursuit" are keywords of individual life.Loneliness is everywhere.The heroes are sensitive and lonely,because of the unhappy family and social isolation.The heroes are always looking for something like heaven,home,ego or "father",so as to escape from loneliness.On the social level,these novels focus on criticizing racism and money society.Blacks and Jews in the novels are gradually becoming vivid,when heroes constantly free themselves from prejudices and finally oppose racial discrimination.By describing the development of American real estate and the bank,these novels reveal the crisis behind the prosperous economy and express the criticism of the money society,through which the hypocrisy of the Puritanism is insinuated.On the aesthetic level,the four novels also present the ideas of creation.when criticizing ancient and modern literature.Classic novels call for more attention.Writers are encouraged to write the complexity of life.Readers are advocated to form their own aesthetic opinion.The value of works should never be judged by its popularity.The novels bring up some creation ideas.for example,insisting drama creation based on real life,advocating autobiographical writing,encouraging American writers writing about America and establishing their own style.In conclusion,Wolfe combines individual life with society and aesthetics through the growth of Eugene and George,which enriches the novel.Although failing to get rid of "loneliness" by "pursuit",the heroes still continue to look for something actively.It can be found that Wolfe gets over old prejudices throughout these novels.He tries to learn more and write more about America.While expressing his critical views and creation ideas through the novels,he practices these ideas.