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Quest for Radiance – A Study of Alienation in Margaret Drabble’s >The Radiant Trilogy< from the Perspective of Erich Fromm’s Humanistic Philosophy, Master thesis, English Language and Literature, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China 2021 [application of Fromm's theories to art].

  • Margaret Drabble (1939 –) is one of the most influential and prolific women writers in contemporary British literature, who has awarded the CBE and the DBE by the Queen of England. Different from the contemporary female intellectuals’ struggle in previous works, Drabble shows great humanistic concerns after 1980s, and explores such contemporary social dilemmas as moral disorder, loss of faith, twisted relationship, and money worship. As a mature work of Drabble, >The Radiant Trilogy<, >The Radiant Way<, >A Natural Curiosity<, >The Gates of Ivory<) completely shows her reflections on ideological changing in modern society. Based on Erich Fromm’s humanistic philosophy, this thesis exposes the alienation with human distortion and moral decay, deepening the study of Drabble’s work from moral dimension. Fromm’s humanistic philosophy discussed the alienation, negative freedom and love, exposing the relation of >quantification< and >abstraction< with self-alienation, invisible authority and consumption alienation etc. Besides, he regards the reconstruction of self-identity, the reclaiming of love and the restoration of creative life as essential elements to realize the integrity of human with the self, the outside world and human activities. Chapter one explains how alienation is caused and intensified by modern social development in >The Radiant Trilogy<. It discusses the political, economic, informative and cultural crisis based on >quantification< and >abstraction< under the capitalist system and the technological revolution. The causes of alienation vary from person to person, but from macro-perspective, society was the root. Individualism and commercial liberalization of Thatcher Government in the 1980s aggravates the alienated situation in society, meanwhile, the regime of bureaucratic, the capitalization of the economy, the decreasing value of knowledge, and the distortion of information contributes to a widespread alienation.– Chapter two discusses the Internal reflections of alienation on human nature in >The Radiant Trilogy<, including the absence of self, the twisted relationships, the invisible authority, the decay of professional moral and the distortion of values. Alix and Shirley’s various results of alienation under different living environments, Liz’s loss in >party socializing<, the public’s indifference to Paul, Charles’ commercialization in work, and Miss Porntip’s money worship all embodies the results of alienation’s attack to traditional ethical standards and social customs.– Chapter three explores the approach to overcome alienation in >The Radiant Trilogy<. With Fromm’s idea of >the new human<, thesis excavates three protagonists’ efforts on transcending alienation through self-return, mature love and creative life. Once lost in unreliable social friendship, Liz rediscovers her self-identity and regains the warmth of family. Alix, with selfless love and generosity, heals Paul’s wounds left by alienation and original sin. In addition, the friendship between Liz, Alix and Esther builds a radiant way for them to pursue a removal of alienation. Alienation is aroused by social, political, economic, cultural factors, and specifically embodied as the separation of human from himself, from others, from work, and from consumption. With Margaret Drabble’s turning from feminism to humanism, >The Radiant Trilogy< expresses the radiance and hope of saving alienation in modern society with mature love and productive activities. [www.cnki.net, 1/2023]

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Metadaten
Author:Haoqi Sun
Document Type:Dissertations
Language:Chinese
Year of first Publication:2021
Release Date:2024/04/04
Format:no download and copy possible
IdNo:Sun_Haoqi_2021
Writings about Erich Fromm (Secondary Literature):Dissertations / Dissertationen
Erich Fromm's Library and Erich Fromm Archive:Dissertations / Dissertationen
Licence (German):
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