A Study Of Terrorist From Ethical Literary Criticism

John Updike enjoys an important part in the history of American literature with his Rabbit series. Besides the American middle-class life, John Updike manages to expand his range of subject and produces another novel called Terrorist (2006), based on 911 Event in 2001. It unfolds with the principal line of the boy's changes from a middle school student to a fanatical terrorist, who plans to bring suicidal terrorist attack into force and then gives it up at last. John Updike portrays such a multicultural society in which Ahmad acts as the main character. As a matter of fact, this novel is a profound reflection of contemporary America and it reveals the belief conflicts in real life.As a newly-developing critical approach, ethical literary criticism aims to give out ethical teachings and moral experience through the exposure of social phenomenon, which are reflected in literary works. This present thesis attempts to reveal the moral ideas embodied by complex relationships in the novel under the theoretical principles of ethical literary criticism, namely the relationship between man and society, man and man, man and himself.The writer thinks, in American society before 911 really exist many moral and ethical problems, which are vividly presented in Updike's Terrorist. In terms of the relationship between man and society, it shows the social injustice and racism. In terms of the relationship between man and man, the lack of family ethics, marriage and sexual ethics is analyzed, through which the parents' responsibilities, understanding and communication are appealed to. Then in terms of the relationship between man and himself, it mainly mentions Ahmad, Teresa, Jack and their own pursuit of ethical identity, love, happiness and self-value. Finally, according to these moral problems, the writer gives out her own enlightenment on the possible reasons of terrorist attack and efficient measures to avoid such disaster. For one thing, terrorist attack is mainly caused by the irrational struggle of the marginalized minorities. For another the belief crisis between different religions can account for terrorism. Accordingly, only when human beings accept the multicultural coexistence, strengthen communication and exchange among different cultures can we eliminate barriers, achieve peace and keep in harmony among different belief-holders.There are altogether five parts in this thesis.The first Chapter gives a brief introduction, including John Updike, his Terrorist and also the significance and layout of the thesis. Chapter Two includes literature review at home and abroad. Besides, it introduces the theoretical research method employed in this thesis-the ethical literary criticism. Chapter Three is the main body of this thesis, which will in detail analyze the ethical and moral ideas embodied in Terrorist, namely, the relationship between man and society, the relationship between man and man, the relationship between man and himself included. Chapter Four will discuss the enlightenment of this novel. In other words, it talks about the possible reasons and helpful solutions to the ethical problems, which have been discussed in the three chapters above. Chapter Five will come to the conclusion part.