A Study On The Ethical Selections In Erdrich’s The Round House

Karen Louise Erdrich(1954-)is a contemporary Native American writer and one of the representatives of the second wave of the "Native American Renaissance".One one hand,as a half-blooded Indian writer,Erdrich has a deep and comprehensive understanding of the history of the Indian races oppressed and massacred by the whites.In her writing career,she formed the unique view of the conflicts and hatred between the Indian-White races.On the other hand,in the context of the current racial discrimination against Indians by the white society,as an Indian writer with a sense of social responsibility and self-awareness,she tries to reveal the plight of the Indian race caused by the whites not only from the political and legal aspects but also from the social and moral aspects in her works,hoping to arouse people’s concern and reflection,and to provide profound and realistic ethical teachings for the Indian people.The Round House focuses on her presentation and reflection on the ethical issues of society on the Indian reservation,represented by the process and implications of the ethical choices made by the novel’s main characters,Joe and Linda,in their different ethical identities and ethical dilemmas.Thus,this thesis examines the ethical identities,ethical predicaments,and ethical selections embodied in her masterpiece The Round House from the perspective of ethical literary criticism.The thesis begins with an interpretation of the author Erdrich’s ethical identity and ethical concepts.On this basis,it will study three specific aspects of the novel’s two main characters,Joe and Linda,in terms of their ethical identities,ethical predicaments,and ethical selections.The thesis first explains the formation and transformation of the ethical identities of the characters Joe and Linda in The Round House.It then analyzes the ethical predicaments formed by their different identity conflicts,whereby they are forced into ethical dilemmas and make difficult ethical selections under the fierce struggle between the Sphinx factor,i.e.,the human factor and the animal factor.The conclusion of this thesis is as follows:the issue of ethical selection in The Round House is closely related to the ethical predicaments created by the different ethical identities conflicts faced by the main characters,Joe and Linda,in relation to their family circumstances and the complex social environment on the native Indian reservation.Also,Erdrich’s ethical background and ethical writing concepts also make Joe and Linda’s ethical problems universal,showing the specific meaning of their ethical identities,ethical dilemmas and ethical choices in the context and the universal ethical commonality between the Indian race and all of humanity,so as to trigger the reader ’s general human empathy and ethical enlightenment.That means that under the social and ethical environment of judicial injustice on Indian reservations,Indian groups are faced with the ethical conflicts between the traditional social and ethical order of Indian society and the contemporary American legal system to survive and develop.To maintain justice and get out of the dilemma,Indian groups need to unite and fight for the restoration of Indian tribal sovereignty;at the same time,they need to face the reality,and try to integrate into the mainstream society.On the one hand,they are obliged to revive their own culture and construct the discourse subjectivity of Indian people,on the other hand,they need to follow the concept of international peace and development,enhancing cultural exchange and inclusiveness,and make the ethical choice in accordance with the ethics of today’s society.Narrow and conservative nationalism is not a wise ethical choice.All peoples should embrace different civilizations,different ideologies and the future of humanity with a cosmopolitan faith.This thesis contributes to an in-depth study of the different ethical identities formed by the characters and authors in the chaotic social and ethical environment,the ensuing conflicts and the resultant ethical dilemmas,as well as their final ethical choices.By enriching the reader’s emotional and moral consciousness it might lead to a deeper understanding of Erdrich’s ethical concepts and ethical teachings and a more comprehensive of her literary works.