A Study Of Alienation In Sweet Tooth

Ian Mc Ewan is one of the greatest British writers,winning the Booker Prize in1998.He has shifted from the early dark writing of his own experience to the later realistic writing about society in his works,reflecting his close attention to modern society.Sweet Tooth was published in 2012,which was undoubtedly one of his most significant works.The novel focuses on the survival of Serena and other female characters in an alienated capitalist society.In addition to exploring the themes of politics and espionage,the novel also conceals the author’s inquiry into the alienated plight of modern people in the capitalist society and his critical thinking about the meaning of human existence.Based on Fromm’s alienation theory,this thesis aims to analyze the manifestation of the female characters’ alienation in Sweet Tooth through three aspects: self-alienation,interpersonal alienation,and alienation from social forces.It further explores the ways to eliminate alienation as proposed by the author.This thesis puts emphasis on the existential dilemma and spiritual crisis derived from the alienation of human nature in capitalist society.People should pay attention to the existential situation and actively save themselves in the state of alienation to live in harmony with themselves,others and society.This thesis is composed of five parts.The introduction briefly introduces Mc Ewan and his work Sweet Tooth.On this basis,it summarizes the research status on Sweet Tooth at home and abroad.It clarifies the innovation of this thesis,and elaborates the aim,importance and structure of the thesis.Chapter one is the theoretical foundation,reviewing the origin and development of Fromm’s alienation theory.It discusses in detail the concept of alienation from three aspects: self-alienation,interpersonal alienation and alienation from social forces.Chapter two analyzes Serena’s self-alienation because of her “marketing orientation” character,in which Serena gradually loses her sense of self,relies on others’ evaluation to obtain self-identity,and becomes self-alienated.Serena awakens to self-awareness and she eliminates her alienation after she learns the truth and Serena gets independent through establishing self-identity and breaking routinization.Chapter three elucidates Serena’s plight in the state of interpersonal alienation.Serena longs for romantic love and close friendship for the lack of family love in childhood,both of which result in deception.In the end,Serena gets out of interpersonal alienation through guarding true love and the quest for understanding.The fourth chapter explores how the anonymous authority causes the alienation from social forces in the capitalist society.The domination of male discourse and stereotypes of female make them struggle in their living condition.Finally,they build a sane life and eliminate the alienation from social forces.Serena pursues spiritual independence and rebels against male oppression.Shirley pursues independent personality through resignation,and Lucy chooses a free lifestyle to rebel against the mainstream.They all pursue the meaning of life.The final conclusion points out that Sweet Tooth exhibits the plight of modern human existence in capitalist society and the author’s humanistic concern.The novel points out,to some extent,the way to dispel alienation.It explores the way to get along with alienation in modern society.On the one hand,it shows the author’s concern for the spiritual plight of people.On the other hand,it provides ideas for getting out of alienation.With the help of Fromm’s alienation theory,this thesis analyzes self-alienation,interpersonal alienation and alienation from social forces in Sweet Tooth.It points out that people should live with themselves,others and society in a healthy way.Thus,they can save themselves out of the state of alienation.The analysis of alienation in Sweet Tooth can make people think about the problems of human existence and human development.It also provides ideas and suggestions for mitigating the harm of alienation,and a new approach for analyzing Mc Ewan’s works.