On Cormier's Tragic Vision

Robert Cormier is one of the most influential writers in American literary history. His works, The Chocolate War and I Am the Cheese play the milestone role in literary history. They have broken past taboos and restrictions and put topics and contents that other writers do not dare to touch vividly in front of readers. His depictions of the coldness and ruthlessness of humanity, human beings' fight against authority and their surrender to evil forces as well as their inner contradictions, struggles and the pressures that they endure in the process make the readers tremble with fear. This thesis discusses Robert Cormier's tragic vision on the basis of the textual analysis of these two novels. Cormier has formed in his creation a deep and profound tragic vision which is that human beings suffer greatly in their fight against various forces. They are destroyed physically and spiritually in their battle. However, they achieve their dignity and nobility in their struggle.There are three parts in this thesis. They are the introduction, the main body and the conclusion.Introduction is a brief introduction to the author and works as well as the literature review.Chapter One talks about what is tragic vision and what is Cormier's tragic vision.Chapter Two discusses how Cormier's tragic vision manifests in his two novels. The discussion is based on two levels. On the first level, men's fight against society will be discussed. Jerry in The Chocolate War is destroyed physically and spiritually in the battle against the powerful Vigils and Brother Leon. The Farmers in I Am the Cheese end up tragically in their fight against powerful organizations. On the second level, both Jerry and Adam have suffered greatly in their fight against themselves.Chapter Three talks about the forming of Cormier's tragic vision. Three factors, the social reality of the 1960s, some philosophical thoughts and Cormier's life experience, have contributed to shaping his tragic vision, and the first factor plays the key role.Chapter Four deals with the realistic significance of his tragic vision from psychological and social aspects. In psychological aspect, it comforts soul and spirit. In social aspect, it has the functions of moral persuasion and warning.Conclusion shows that although Cormier is a writer with deep tragic vision, his works give readers hope and faith to live in a cruel world.