Quest For An Ideal Self-A Research On Susan Sontag's "Self" In In America

Susan Sontag (1633—2004) is a famous American critic, essayist, and novelist. She is the author of four novels, dozens of essays and a volume of the short stories. What's more, she is a social activist, feminist, filmmaker, playwright and theatre director. For several decades, Sontag's works have occupied a place of prominence in the contemporary canon. Her works have been translated into thirty-two languages.The research object of this thesis is Sontag's view of "self' and its manifestation in her novel In America, which contains three parts.The first part is the biographical research on Susan Sontag. It will explore Sontag's view of "self from Sontag's life experience and works. Sontag thinks that people should cognize self and pursue the ideal self for the whole life. In the process of pursuing the ideal self, one should have self-motivation, self-choice and self-actualization by his/her own efforts. Sontag embodies her view of self in her last novel In America.The second part is a character analysis from two aspects. One is based on psychological analysis. It will apply the notions of "ideal self and "actualizing tendency" from the famous American psychologist Carl R. Rogers' self-actualization theory. The other is based on the comparison between protagonist and prototype. In America was inspired by a real historical story—the life of a famous actress Helena Modjeska. Although Maryna is created based on the real historical people, the protagonist is not merely a depiction of Helena. The analysis of the differences between Maryna and Helena will disclose Sontag's view of "self in the character of Maryna.The third part is a philosophical research on the novel. Individualism is the foundation of American spirit. As an American, Sontag has absolutely been affected by individualism. Though the protagonists of this novel are all immigrants, Sontag still embodies the American spirit on them, and further observes and ponders about individualism from these immigrants' points of view. Sontag implies both the good and weak aspects of the view of "self in American individualism in the novel.The thesis is an attempt to manifest systematically Sontag's view of "self in In America, and to disclose her critique of the view of "self' in American individualism, as well, which will lead to a clear perception of the theme of In America.