An Ethical Literary Interpretation Of Cold Mountain

Charles Frazier(1950-)is a new writer in contemporary America.As the first novel in his literary career,Cold Mountain has attracted broad attention and high praises from critics after its publication.Meanwhile,it won the American National Book Award in 1997,and was claimed as the “double jaspers”with Gone with the Wind in the 20 th century American literature.Frazier combines his keen sense of space and time with his prose writing style into shaping the vivid characters in Cold Mountain.However,Frazier’s concerns are not limited to the portrait of characters.Instead,Frazier intends to review the ethics in the society at that time through the characters’ ethical choices and their spiritual growth in predicament.The thesis consists of three parts: introduction,main body and conclusion.Introduction briefly introduces Charles Frazier’s basic information,the artistic achievements of Cold Mountain,the research status quo of Cold Mountain,research motivation,questions,purposes,method and organization of this thesis.The main body is composed of four parts,which respectively expounds the theoretical framework of this study.And on the basis of the theory,it explores the ethical relationships and moral values within the novel.The first chapter mainly introduces the basic theory of ethical literary criticism,its Western origin and development,the transmission,reception and revival of the theory in China,the theoretical feasibility of the research.The second chapter analyzes the ethical relationship between human and nature reflected in the novel.Ada changes tremendously from a detached admirer and gradually integrates her life into nature rhythm.In the process,she finds a sense of belonging and obtains the power of life.Ruby has an inherent and intimate connection with nature.In her view,just like human beings,nature has soul and emotion.On Inman’s journey back home,he gets infinite comfort from nature through William Bartram’s Travels and his approach to nature.His spiritual dependence on nature is the strength to support him to return home.In this chapter Charles Frazier shows his ethical appeal for the harmonious coexistence between man and nature.The third chapter discusses the ethical relationship between man and man.Firstly,it analyzes the two different female protagonists Ada and Ruby.Forced by the harsh living situation,their relationship evolves from partnership to sisterhood.Secondly,the thesis rests its attention on the male protagonist Inman.Hesuffers from the trauma of war,and on his arduous journey he resists various temptations and eventually reunites with his lover Ada.Meanwhile,his lover Ada does not know his fate,and in the plight of others’ coveting her beauty,she keeps waiting for Inman’s return consistently.Frazier presents a moving love story for readers in his own way.Finally,it researches the relationship between three protagonists and other ethnics.At the social background of the Civil War and racial discrimination,the three characters get along with other ethnics with the attitudes of equality,respect and love.In short,Frazier reveals his ethical pursuit of love in interpersonal relationship.The fourth chapter explores the ethical relationship between man and self.The three protagonists make the right choices in their own ethical predicaments with their reason and ethical consciousness,eventually they improve and perfect themselves,and achieve the ultimate pursuit of sublimation for human beings.Ada grows into a strong female from an innocent southern belle after suffering the tremendous change in her life.Ruby’s resentment to her father leads to the misplacement of her ethical identity.With Ada’s enlightenment,Ruby reconstructs her ethical identity.The disillusioned deserter Inman,who is impelled by his hometown,sets foot on a long trip back home.The journey is the process of humanity recovery.Ultimately Inman gets salvation at the expense of his life.The last part is the conclusion: Charles Frazier visualizes a society with moralities in Cold Mountain.It eulogizes the glory of humanity and reveals the writer’s sense of responsibility.From the perspective of ethical literary criticism,this thesis interprets the ethical relationships and scrutinizes the protagonists’ living state in the novel,which not only provides a new perspective to study the text,but also offers moral examples and ethical edification for readers.