On Ethical Choices In The French Lieutenant's Woman

John Fowles is one of the important pioneers of English postmodern aesthetics.In his work,the theme of existentialism and the eternal pursuit of freedom are particularly prominent.Among them,the existentialism thought of The French Lieutenant's Woman has been deeply analyzed by critics from multiple perspectives,but few studies have connected the existentialism thought with the ethical choice embodied in the work.This thesis starts from Sartre's thought that Existentialism is a Humanism.Fowles was profoundly affected by his existentialism,especially the humanism connotation.It considers the ethics of action and self-responsibility.Therefore,in order to be free,people have to choose.Combined with the Fowles' strong sense of social consciousness and moral responsibility,the thesis uses the analytical method of Literary Ethics Criticism.This thesis aims to make an ethical interpretation of the existentialism in Fowles' novel,and analyzes the realistic significance of the character's ethical choices in the novels for those people who are trapped in the post-modern ethical dilemma.With reference to the different ethics of Victorian and postmodern ethics,this thesis takes the protagonist Sarah's ethical choice in the novel as the main line and analyzes the ethical dilemma and ethical choices of Sarah and the relevant characters through a close reading of the text.Sartre once mentioned in Existentialism is a Humanism that Man is free.It is he who makes there be a world.It is by his choice that he decides its meaning.He cannot refuse to choose,because this refusal is itself a choice.Therefore,we can divide the ethical choices of the characters in the novel into two categories:catering to the ethics of the times,making choices passively and rebelling against the ethics of the times,making choices actively.Combining with the historical context of the novel creation,this thesis explores the reasons for the ethical choices made by different characters.Finally,back to the works' postmodern meta-novel characteristics,this thesis discovers the different characters' ethical identities and Fowles' self-seeking in the works by using the parody techniques.The thesis strives to objectively analyze the ethical thoughts embodied in his artistic practice.By combining Fowles' existentialism view and his postmodern writing skills,the readers can further understand Fowles' existential ethics and the postwar writer's concern on the human ethical dilemmas of making the ethical choice.In a word,this thesis analyzes The French Lieutenant's Woman from the perspective of Ethical Literary Criticism to expand the ethical value of existentialism in Fowles' novels.As a postwar writer,Fowles,in the face of the pessimistic,negative and lost people in the real society,conveyed a positive ethics through his existential novels.The study on ethical choice can also enable readers to have a deeper understanding of the author's ethical propositions and the realistic ethical significance of his works.