A Feminist Reading Of Updike’s Rabbit, Run And Rabbit Redux

Through a detailed research on Updike’s Rabbit Tetralogy, his representativenovels, both at home and abroad by many critics, it is revealed that Rabbit Tetralogyestablish John Updike as a master of American contemporary realistic literature. Mostcritical responses center on the protagonist by using various literary theories and fromvarious views. But few of the comments concentrate on the female characters inRabbit Tetralogy. It is obvious that the women characters have great influence on theprotagonist“Rabbit”. In order to have a better understanding on Updike’s feministtendency, a good study on these female characters is of great necessity.This thesis is to select the Rabbit, Run and Rabbit Redux and to juxtapose themin American background of 1950s and 1960s. By a parallel comparison betweenAmerican history and the changes of the female images, this thesis is intended toexplore the performances and reasons of Updike’s gradual changes of feministtendency.As the introduction of this thesis, it mainly introduces John Updike’s life andresearch works on him and his Rabbit Tetralogy both in China and abroad, points outthe achievement and the problems of the research on the Rabbit Tetralogy and pointsout the starting point and purpose of this study. The first chapter presents the relevantliterary theories and analyzes the factors contributing to John Updike’s feministtendency. Chapter two is intended to explore the submissive female images in Rabbit,Run against the social background of the 1950s in America. Janice appears as adependent housewife who is stupid, sloppy, lazy and less-responsible. It’s obvious thatJanice is expected to live a boring and unproductive marriage life at home. Ruth isdepicted as a submissive mistress. The sense of her existence is to give peace to thesoul of man, such she is only a medium to approve males’existence. Janice andRuth’s submissive and easy-to-forgive image reflects the discrimination patriarchalidea of Updike against women in American 1950s. Chapter three analyses that underthe influence of feminist movement and sexual revolution in American 1960s. The female’s images in Rabbit Redux are described as independent women who arepursuing economic independence, mental and physical revolution. No more stupid,dependent, irresponsible, Janice becomes a new career woman and elopes withanother man leaving Harry at home. Mim is a prostitute who is making a living inWest Coast by being a prostitute, while Updike does not downgrades the image of thischaracter. She is a wise woman and an unusual woman who can sacrifice herself forthe completeness of brother’s household. Jill is a Hippie who is a runaway from awealthy family. Updike depicted Jill as a new woman who has her own voice,thinking and knowledge. It is Jill who has great influence on Harry and Nelson.Finally it is the conclusion. With the development of society and culture from 1950sto 1960s, great changes have taken place in the female images under Updike’sdescription. The females in 1950s are depicted as dependent and submissive images,while the females in 1960s are depicted as independent, intelligent images. Thechanging process of these females reflects that feminist movement, sexual liberationand Updike’s family all contributed to Updike’s feminist tendency.