Revert To Oneself Under The Rebellious Stance

Norman Mailer (1923~2007) was a contempary American novelist with great success and striking personality. He kept writing for more than half a century, leaving many glorious masterpieces. The Existentialism he advocated, made a great effect on American literature and even the whole society. But the defiant factors in his character were usually criticized by those orthodox people. Some of them said Mailer's deviant actions were a strategy used to promote his books. This was really a great misread on Mailer. Actually, to a large extent, every action he has done was the reflection of his Existentialism. He employed both his excellent works and his defiant actions to interpret his Existentialism opinion.This thesis analyzes the Existentialism which Mailer advocated both in his works and personality. The expatiation of this thesis is mainly from the following aspects. Introduction: Summarize the general studies of Mailer from home and abroad, especially the aspects of Mailer's Existentialism. The home study of Mailer's Existentialism is almost blank, lack of system.The first part: The reason why Mailer's Existentialism can be formed and the characteristic of this theory. The impact of the Second World War, the prevalence of totalitarianism at home and abroad, as well as the introduction of the French Existentialism, these are unavoidable aspects when we study Mailer's Existentialism. Mailer's theory can be summarized as following: in a repressed totalitarian society, if he wants to keep his own individuality, he must have the rebellious stance, the ability to feel oneself, as well as the indispensable courage and strength.The second part: Existentialism in Mailer's works. Analyze Mailer's Existentialism through two representive works. His early book The Naked and the Dead which was mainly affected by European Existentialism represented the consistent theme of the traditional Existentialism. While An American Dream published in 1967 was the concentrated expression of Mailer's Existentialism. This thesis analyzes the hero Rojack in An American Dream, to see how Rojack broke away the fetter of totalitarianism and successfully realized revertion to himself. The third part: Existential factors in Mailer's personality. Mailer interpreted his theory not only in his books, but also in his life. His whole life was a footnote to his Existentialism, in other words, a book of Existentialism without words.Conculsion: The influence of Mailer's Existentialism to the afterworld. On one hand, it greatly stimulated the obedient conservative consciousness, and had a profound influence on the counter-culture campaign in the 1960s; on the other hand, it also had some limitations. If it was separated from the contemporary background, and went too far, it would be easily lead to the chaotic situation of anarchy.