Maureen’s Initiation Journey In Them From The Perspective Of Bildungsroman

Joyce Oates(1938—)is known as one of the most important American women writers since the 1960 s,whose novel them,written in 1969,is a pinnacle of Oates’ early writing.Taking the fate of Wendall’s family as a clue,the work comprehensively presents the pain and struggle of the bottom social groups in the United States living in turbulent times.In view of the fact that many scholars at home and abroad mainly study the themes of violence,tragedy,etc.,or mostly focus on analyzing the work with the help of psychological realism,naturalism,and feminism,seldom paying necessary attention to the growth of its female protagonist Maureen,this thesis attempts to concentrate on exploring the difficult growing process of the heroine Maureen in Oates’ novel them.On the premise of sorting out the definition,development,structure,and elements of Bildungsroman,the thesis focuses on analyzing the initiation journey of the heroine Maureen based on close reading,finding that her growth has gone through three stages: from helplessness and escape to rebellion and epiphany and finally to maturity and compromise.Her growth process,which is caused by the heroine’s family environment and social environment and in which she suffers all kinds of setbacks,is a process that gradually helps her to get to know society,better understand reality,and find her self-identity,guided by family members and people around her all along the way.This thesis intends to point out that the happiness of any person,especially women,is rooted in the society in the first place,and that only with the perfection of the legal system and social justice can women achieve real freedom and happiness.At the same time,in the pursuit of freedom and happiness,it is women’s own hard work and independent personality that are of paramount importance.In a word,through the discussion of Maureen’s initiation journey in them,the thesis arrives at a conclusion that,as an influential realist novel in the twentieth-century European and American literary circles,them has distinctive characteristics of Bildungsroman,in which Oates also demonstrates her splendid skill in Bildungsroman writing and her profound insight into social complexity.The research of this thesis provides enlightenment and guidance for people to further understand the work,better perceive the society and appreciate women,thus inspiring contemporary women to bravely get rid of bondage,improve themselves and pursue their own happiness and value,which is of educational and practical significance to the present society.