| This thesis analyses the contemporary American writer Norman Mailer's first and finest novel The Naked and the Dead (1948), which consists of five sections. Section One is an introduction, which mainly depicts Mailer's lifetime, literary achievement and the main ideas of his other four well-known books - Barbary Shore (1951), American Dream (1965), The Armies of the Night (1968) and The Executioner's Song (1979). Section Two is the main plot, the writing techniques and the general comment on The Naked and the Dead. This novel tells about the activities of a reconnaissance platoon as it participates in the invasion and takeover of Anopopei, a Japanese-held island in the Pacific during World War II. Mailer uses symbolism, realism, naturalism and other techniques in it. It's a controversial novel. Section Three illustrates the theme of The Naked and the Dead - the conflict between the beast and the seer in man. In wartime humankind's true nature is exposed nakedly. Death may come at any moment. The beast and the seer are present in every person but to varying degrees, and have conflict between each other. Section Four analyses the implications of The Naked and the Dead from five aspects - the threat of totalitarianism, economic inequality, racial discrimination, sexism and family problems. Those problems existing in the Army are the same as the ones in American society. Superficially it belongs to the "war novel" category, but actually it is a work of social criticism. Mailer employs "Time Machines" to cut a comprehensive cross-section of American society and shows the ugly reality behind the "American Dream." Section Five is the conclusion. This novel possesses far-reaching political meanings. After Truman took office, Mailer felt that the American government was making its people be involved in a new war again, so he wrote The Naked and the Dead. This novel has warning and predicting functions. Nowadays, studying this novel in the shadow of nuclear war has special significance.
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