A Study Of The Interpersonal Ethic In Graham Swift’s Literary Works

Graham Colin Swift is regarded as one of the most outstanding writers in Britain.As the winner of Booker Prize in 1996,his works are based on the national history,social culture and natural geography of England,and he applies multiple narrative strategies which combine characterization,social background and historical events skillfully.In each of his literary works,Swift concentrates on describing and clarifying the ethical dilemma which is confronted by the protagonist who is interwoven in historical,political,cultural and economic factors.Swift has been focusing on the social problems in his literary creation for more than 40 years,and he has realized that the problems in interpersonal ethics are one of the main reasons for the intensification of social conflicts in England.Through the research,we can conclude that family,neighbor and gender constitute three levels of the ethical conflicts in Swift’s fictions.Through keen observation,Swift discerns the crux of the interpersonal ethics crisis in western society nowadays,which is the absence of love.According to the theory of Erich Fromm’s humanistic philosophy,Feuerbach’s humanistic thought,and Marx’s and Engels’ discourses on family,this thesis lucubrates on the interpersonal ethics in Swift’s literary works,and focuses on exploring and explaining the interpersonal ethical view which represents in his fictions.In addition to the Introduction,this thesis is composed of four chapters.The first chapter focuses on The Sweet-Shop Owner and Tomorrow,which reveals the abnormal ethical images of British families,such as generation gap,patriarchy,sibling mutilations and domestic violence.The second chapter focuses on Shuttlecock and Here We Are,which uncovers the strange ethical phenomena of neighbors in four aspects,such as exploited and betrayal friendship,tense teacher-student relationship,unjust superior-subordinate relationship and ruthless doctor-patient relationship.The third chapter focuses on Waterland and Wish You Were Here,which exposes the ethical chaos of the sexual relationship,such as loveless marriage,extramarital affairs,incest and commercial sex.The fourth chapter focuses on The Light of Day and Gabor,which represents the writer’s reflection on interpersonal relationships and the exploration of achieving ethical harmony.Swift concerns himself with interpersonal ethics and sets “love thought” in all his fictions,even though consumerism has been long widespread and interpersonal relations are cold and alienated.Swift’s works reflect the universality of ethical issues which exist between families,neighbors and genders.Generation gap and patriarchy are common in the family.Sibling estranged and harmed mutually,and domestic violence also happen frequently.The neighbor relations in the commodity society are composed by betrayal and treachery friendship,unfair and injustice superior-subordinate relationship,non-communicated teacher-student relationship and ruthless doctor-patient relationship.There are discordant couples in typical loveless marriages in capitalist society,not only immoral extramarital affair,but also tragedy of incest that breaks through ethical taboos.With the emergence of liberal feminism and sexual liberation movement,female’s flesh is commercialized for trading under the influence of consumerism.All the ethical problems which make people puzzled are caused by the absence and alienation of “love”.Except demonstrating the “loveless” interpersonal relationships,several positive models are present in Swift’s fictions,too.At the same time,Swift makes moral reflection on the problem of interpersonal relationship,and actively explores the feasibility of reconstructing benign interpersonal relationship in his works.Interpersonal ethical thought is the creation core of Graham Swift’s literary works.As a contemporary British writer,he undertakes the moral responsibility and historical mission.He not only exposes the interpersonal ethical problems,but also presents the diversified ethical choice,and his ultimate purpose is to explore how love constructs a harmonious interpersonal ethical order.