| As a representative of contemporary Native American literature,Louise Erdrich’s(1954-)works are full of distinctive Indian characteristics,telling the historical encounter and realistic way out of Ojibwa under the impact of mainstream culture.Her recent new trilogy,The Plague of Doves(2008),The Round House(2012),and Larose(2016),in addition to continuing the common themes of marriage,race,culture and other common themes in previous works,all three novels reflect the care for the growth of Indian teenagers in the face of cultural conflicts in terms of ideas and content.Taking the new trilogy as the research object,this thesis discusses the growth dilemma caused by cultural conflicts around the growing protagonists in the work,and the growth process of the growing protagonists under the culture conflict.On this basis,Louise Erdrich’s unique understanding of the cultural plight of Indian teenagers and their way out is expounded,and the writer’s deep concern for the fate of Indian teenagers and Indian culture behind the work is excavated.The introduction traces the concept of initiation story,and defines the new trilogy as initiation story according to the typical characteristics of initiation story agreed by the academia,and sorts out the research status of Louise Erdrich’s new trilogy at home and abroad,puts forward the research purpose,research significance and innovative point of this thesis.Firstly,the main body analyzes the environmental factors and specific growth experiences that hinder the reasonable growth of the protagonists.Environmental factors include the impact of dominant culture on the values of Indian youth,the obstruction of justice and the assimilation of schooling;Specific growth experiences include the secondary trauma of violent cases,forced precocious puberty caused by manslaughter events,and sexual orientation confusion under a love crisis.Secondly,the specific growth process of the protagonists is analyzed by combining with two character types of guide and companion,and the key link of "epiphany" in initiation story.The guiding role played by the guide is the motivation for the protagonist’s growth,and the companionship and support of the partner further promote the growth of the protagonist,and the occurrence of epiphany is a sign of the protagonist’s growth,which is of great significance to the breakthrough of the protagonist’s growth dilemma and the lifting of the crisis of his own personality development.Thirdly,it illustrates the significance of initiation writing of the new trilogy in revealing cultural conflicts and contemplating real society.On the one hand,the new trilogy reflects the objective impact and influence of mainstream culture on Indian teenagers;On the other hand,it once again confirms the role of traditional Indian culture in guiding Indian teenagers to grow up and assume national mission.The conclusion affirms Louise Erdrich’s unique interpretation of initiation writing in the new trilogy.The initiation writing in the new trilogy is not only a true microcosm of the growth of contemporary Indian youth,but also attempts and explores the growth path of minority groups in the mainstream discourse environment. |
