From Confusion To Maturity—on The Initiation Theme In That Old Ace In The Hole

Annie Proulx is an influential and important woman writer in contemporary American literary field. That Old Ace in the Hole is considered to be her outstanding work, which has been studied from different perspectives by considerable critics at home and abroad since its publication in 2002. However, the initiation theme in this novel has not obtained much attention till now. So on the basis of relative initiation theory, this thesis is going to probe deeply into the initiation theme expressed from the protagonist’s initiation confusion, initiation mentors, his maturity and Annie Proulx’s humanistic concern.Firstly, initiation confusion is a key point of the protagonist Bob’s growth. His initiation journey is full of confusion, which mainly comes from internal and external factors including miserable family, unpleasant school life and social environment. It is the confusion that he has no clear idea about love, responsibility and morality.However, he is deeply influenced by one book Expedition to the Southwest written by Lieutenant James William Abert and becomes curious about Panhandle. His curiosity and imagination stimulates him to explore this place, which provides an opportunity for his later maturity. With confusion, Bob begins his journey of initiation.Secondly, different initiation mentors play an important role in the protagonist’s initiation journey. Illusion and disenchantment about Bob’s future life exist in his journey all the time. Positive and negative mentors’ thought and behavior have some effects on his growth. Under the help of positive mentors, the negative mentors, the initiation companion and the enlightenment of nature, he gradually learns the meaning of love, responsibility and morality. At this stage, he does not make up his mind togive up the job, but he has recognized his behavior is immoral and he has changed his viewpoints of morality and responsibility. And he begins to doubt and thinks over the essence of his job as a location man.Thirdly, the protagonist Bob’s maturity benefits from initiation ritual and epiphany. Influenced by the local people’s daily behavior, the traditional festival in Panhandle, and the shocking event, he has realized he is morally wrong and he now is a man who understands true love, responsibility and morality totally. He becomes more mature emotionally and morally. He tries to improve himself from many aspects.Bob’s initiation is a good expression of humanistic spirit existed in many initiation stories. His initiation process, on one hand, exerts instructive effects on the young generations; on the other hand, it exemplifies Annie Proulx’s humanistic concern for the fate of the Panhandlers, human values and existence.In conclusion, the process of protagonist Bob’s initiation from confusion to maturity shows the initiation theme embodied in That Old Ace in the Hole. Annie Proulx’s depiction of Bob’s initiation exposes her humanistic concern. And it is a concrete reflection of her mind. Besides, the young generations can get some enlightenment through Bob’s journey of initiation. To some extent, the protagonist’s initiation is also Proulx’s growth and it plays a leading role in young generations’ growth.