A Study Of Community Reconstruction In Richard Powers’the Echo Maker

Richard Powers(1957-),a leading figure of postmodernist novelists,enjoys a high reputation in American literary world.The Echo Maker(2006),his ninth work,won the National Book Award in 2006.This work mainly reveals the profound impact of 9/11 on American society from different dimensions,including family,place and nation,which are largely related to communities.Based on Ferdinand T?nnies’ s theory,this thesis explores the theme of the community reconstruction in The Echo Maker from family ties,place culture and national identity.This thesis consists of five chapters.Chapter One briefly introduces Richard Powers and The Echo Maker.Moreover,this chapter also reviews the relevant studies about Powers and this work,the theoretical framework and the thesis statement.Chapter Two,from the perspective of the community of kinship,discusses the restoration of the sibling and spousal relationships.Through mutual acceptance of sister and brother as well as mutual reconciliation between the spouses,the family ties can be strengthened.Chapter Three analyzes the development of place culture from the viewpoint of the community of place,which includes the enhancement of cultural memory and ecological culture in the small town Kearney.The protagonists Karin and Weber gradually enhance the emotional bond with the place in the process of connecting with local people.Daniel,an environmentalist,is able to work on sandhill cranes and raises ecological awareness among others.Chapter Four expounds the national identity from the standpoint of community of spirit.In the novel,Powers uses Mark’s accident as a metaphor to refer mental anxiety among American public after9/11.Rupp,protagonist Mark’s friend,devotes himself to the homeland,helping individuals strengthen the sense of national belonging so that people can reconnect the emotional bonds with their country.Chapter Five concludes the whole thesis by elucidating the fact that three communities can be reconstructed through coping with the relationships between family,place and nation.Meanwhile,it discusses Powers’ insightful reflections on the reestablishment of community.To sum up,by analyzing community reconstruction in The Echo Maker,this thesis points out family ties,place culture and national identity are the issues that should not be ignored in communities.They are also important ways to rebuild the communities,which can lay a good foundation for dealing with trauma after 9/11.