Ethical Predicaments In Three Of Fowles’s Early Novels

John Fowles is a landmark writer in the British post-war literary world whose works have been unanimously praised by readers and critics for their pioneering literary experiments and profound philosophical connotations.However,scholars tend to categorize Fowles in the postmodern category and ignore the ethical values in his works.In fact,Fowles has never given up his concern for ethical issues,and his works have always explored ethical dilemmas.This paper takes three of Fowles’ s earlier novels as the object of study,and uses ethical research methods to explore different ethical predicaments in his novels,including personal ethical crisis,two paradoxes caused by ethical conflicts,and the dilemma of morality and freedom,in order to reveal the ethical value orientation of Fowles’ s works.The thesis is structured into four chapters: Chapter One traces the origins of Fowles’ ethical thought,mainly from three aspects: the background of the times,the writer’s experience and personal philosophical thinking,pointing out that Fowles’ s concern for ethical issues stems from reflections on the chaotic ethics of the times,the review of the growing pains and his artistic philosophical thinking.Chapter Two focuses on the personal ethical crisis faced by the middle-class children in The Magus and Fowles’ s efforts to reconstruct the ethical order.Chapter Three focuses on the ethical conflict between individuals of different classes in The Collector and the series of paradoxes arising from it,reflecting Fowles’ s concern for class issues and his in-depth thinking on ethical issues.Chapter Four through analyzing the dilemma of social morality and individual freedom in The French Lieutenant’s Woman and the ethical choices of individuals in different times,instructs Fowles to guide the care of people of the time with the spirit of positive existentialism and the care of tradition and history.Fowles’ s exploration of ethical dilemmas reflects his deep concern and reflection on social morality and human existence.