| Saul Bellow,who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1976,is one of the most distinguished American writers in the twentieth century.He combines human nature with contemporary culture in his works.Influenced by existentialism,Saul Bellow endeavors to excavate the greatness of ordinary people.His belief in Existentialism,as well as his optimistic attitudes toward life,pervades in The Adventures of Augie March.In the first part of the thesis,Saul Bellow,The Adventures of Augie March,and Sartre’s Existentialism are introduced.In the second part,the thesis illustrates the manipulations from ideology and limitations from the outside.In this part,it shows the forces from the outside and figures out the importance of pursuing one’s authentic existence.The third part analyzes the rebellions of Augie while he was living under alienated circumstances.This part also illustrates that there are different stages in one’s pursuit of authentic existence.The final part of the thesis concludes Augie’s pursuit,and reveals the reality of authentic existence.It also shows the unreality of the absolute freedom,the importance of making choices and the value of holding an optimistic attitude toward life.The innovation points of this thesis are as follows: it firstly argues that the consciousness of rebellion is the beginning of realizing one’s authentic existence.And secondly,the thesis concludes that it is necessary to hold optimistic attitudes while pursuing one’s authentic existence. |
