@misc{Su, author = {Su, Lina}, title = {On Binx's >Search< in >The Moviegoer< in the View of Fromm's Freedom, Master thesis, World Literature, North East Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, China 2022 [application of Fromm's theories to art].}, abstract = {Walker Percy is a well-known southern American writer in the 1950s in the literary circles. He won the National Book Award in 1962 for >The Moviegoer<. In his works, Walker Percy unfolds people's quests for the living ways and the diagnosis of contemporary American social problems. In >The Moviegoer<, the protagonist, Binx is engaged in a quest for a new living way, which is defined by himself the >search<; however, the >search< appears pointless and ambiguous. What is the >search< has been the focus of many scholars since its publication. Taking Binx's >search< in >The Moviegoer< as the research target, this thesis employs Erich Fromm's theory of freedom to interpret Binx's plight and way out in a comprehensive way, pointing out that Binx >search< is a process from positive freedom to negative freedom proposed by Fromm. The thesis is divided into three parts: introduction, Chapter 1 to Chapter 3 and conclusion. The introduction summarizes Walker Percy's life and literary creation experience, the research background of Walker Percy's works at home and abroad and the introduction to Erich Fromm's theory of freedom as the theoretical base. The first chapter explores that the origin of Binx's >search< is that he falls into a stage of negative freedom, which is manifested in the rupture of the primary ties in society and family and in the isolation from the outside world. The second chapter analyzes the mistake of Binx's >search< lies in his intention to escape from freedom. Binx is addicted to playing movie stars' roles, submitting to anonymous authority, and being a consumer. In the view of Fromm's theory of freedom, he escapes from freedom by submission and conformity. The third chapter studies that the solution of Binx's >search< is to achieve positive freedom, which can be realized through love and creative work. Binx pursues love, creative work, and the uniqueness of the individual. Finally, this thesis concludes that Binx's >search< is the realization of man's free development defined by Fromm. [www.cnki.net, 1/2023]}, language = {zh} }