A Rhetorical Narrative Study Of Gilead

Marilynne Robinson is one of the most representative writers in contemporary America.She is a devout Christian.Robinson defends her religious beliefs through literary writing.Gilead is one of Robinson's masterpieces.In the form of epistolary,the old priest Ames tells his son about family life and history,also in the process of Ames' recalling,he rethinks the interaction between religion and racial issues.James Phelan's rhetorical narrative theory is based on text,focusing on the interaction between author,text and reader in the narrative process.His model is dynamic,comprehensive and open,attracting the interests of a large number of scholars in China.However,since domestic research on rhetorical narratology started late,most studies focus on theoretical interpretation and lack of integration with specific texts.This article is a practical application of Phelan's rhetorical narrative theory.This thesis mainly uses Phelan's rhetorical narrative theory to analyze Gilead from three aspects.Chapter one,borrowing the three-dimensional character model of Phelan,explores the character construction mode of the main characters-Ames,Ames' grandfather and Ames' godson Jack,interpreting the multi-dimensionality in the character shaping process;at the same time,explores the author's reflection on the subject of religious and racial relations in the United States.In chapter two,Phelan's narrative process theory is used to analyze the creation of instabilities between characters,and how these instabilities promote the development of plot and explain the novel's theme in the process of dissipating the instability between characters;finally,through interpreting the rich metaphorical images in Gilead,the author helps the readers better understand the theme of the novel.Through the character construction of the three generations of the Ames family,Robinson combines religious metaphors with historical context to show readers her firm belief that religion must be combined with social context to rejuvenate,demonstrating her appreciation and admiration of American tradition and history.It also shows Robinson's reflection and understanding of the mutual influence between religion and ethnic history.