A Study On The Ginger Man From The Perspective Of Carnival Theory

James Patrick Donleavy(1926-2017),an Irish-American novelist,published his first and the most well-known novel The Ginger Man in 1955.The novel was controversial and it was listed as a banned book after its publication.The Ginger Man unfolds around a group of small potatoes leading a chaotic life in Ireland,which reflects the tough life of people living in Ireland in the 1950 s.Owing to the peculiar publishing experiences of The Ginger Man,researches at home and abroad on it are not sufficient.Under the guidance of Bakhtin’s carnival theory,the thesis attempts to provide scholars at home and abroad with a new research perspective.Bakhtin’s carnival theory includes carnival collective,carnival ritual,carnival square,carnival language and so forth.At first,in virtue of carnival collective,the thesis analyzes the characters from the aspects of clown,fool and rogue,pointing out their traits.Secondly,the thesis analyzes crowning and decrowning of characters and states manifestation and reasons of crowning and decrowning.In addition,carnival spirits of renewal and rebirth reflected in crowning and decrowning are analyzed.Thirdly,the thesis analyzes carnival squares from metropolis,home and entertainment venues to explore various carnival methods of different characters on diverse carnival squares.In metropolis,people are inclined to expose their natures;at home people are easy to show their fragile emotions;at amusing places people can get real hilarity in flesh and spirit.On carnival squares,carnival spirits not merely lies in renewal and rebirth,but the subversion of traditions,institutions and rules.Under the direction of carnival theory,the thesis mainly analyzes carnival collective,crowning and decrowning and carnival squares in the novel,aiming at exploring carnival characteristics and carnival spirits in the novel.In the carnival without differences,hierarchy and routines,carnival collective revel in various ways,abiding by the law of freedom.Under the cover of carnival atmosphere,there exist living poverty and spiritual vagrancy.Therefore,the thesis provides a new angle for studying The Ginger Man,and offers reference to people during the process of pursuing the meaning and value of existence.