A Man In A Net: The Ethical Predicaments In Ha Jin's Waiting

Ha Jin is one of the most well-known Chinese American novelists.His critically acclaimed Waiting,also his masterpiece,captures the protagonist's ethical predicaments and mental struggles for an agonizing eighteen years.Since the publication of Waiting,scholars have already paid attention to its abundant themes and exquisite writing techniques,but only a few have explored the ethical implications in the novel.Turning to the perspective of ethical literary criticisms,this thesis attempts to present an ethical reading of Waiting.Chapter One analyzes the multiple ethical identities of the protagonist in Waiting.By exploring the conflicts involved in the protagonist's multiple identities,the thesis endeavors to find out the underlying socio-cultural roots.Chapter Two examines the ethical environments in which the protagonist has been embroiled and the resulting ethical predicaments in an attempt to explain the role of social-cultural context and ancient social ethics in shaping ethical environments.Chapter Three turns its focus to the ethical predicaments that confront the protagonist when he feels compelled to make ethical choices in response to the ethical issues.It further expands the significance of action and reconciliation between personal desires and ethical obligations in resolving ethical dilemmas.Literature serves to enlighten and educate the readers.The tragedy of the protagonist in Waiting is individual,but its profound social and ethical implications are universal.By depicting the ethical predicaments of the ordinary in their ethical identity,ethical environment,and ethical choices,Ha Jin inspire us to meditate on ethics and philosophies of love and life during that specific period.Through a textual reading of Waiting,and in light of Ha Jin's own background,this thesis aims to comprehend Ha Jin's understanding of human nature and ethical issues,and finally draw some enlightenment to resolve the ethical predicaments in our modern times.