The Carnivalesque Spirit in The Catcher in the Rye
Abstract
This thesis tries to apply the carnival theory of Bakhtin to have a new understanding of The Catcher in the Rye—the representative work of American writer Salinger. In this novel, the author makes full use of the comic techniques such as banter, satire and ridicule. With the vivid portrayal of different kinds of the carnivalesque collective, he tries to blaspheme the holy things and dispel solemnity. On the other hand, through the analysis of Holden’s crowning and decrowning, this thesis shows us that people had greatly reacted on the subversion and rebuilding of the modern society. And the author also reveals human’s perplexity and loss through the dramatic description of the rogue and the fool.
Key Words: Bakhtin; carnivalesque; crowning; decrowning; Holden; dialogue
摘 要
本文引入巴赫金的狂歡化理論來解讀美國作家塞林格的'代表作 《麥田裏的守望者》。小說中作者大量運用戲謔、諷刺、譏笑等手法，以嬉笑怒罵的方式褻瀆神聖，以廣場的卑俗語言消解莊嚴，加上對各種狂歡化人物表演的刻畫，使狂歡化喜劇色彩得到了鮮明的凸現。小說透過對主人公霍爾頓的加冕和脫冕，深刻揭示了現代社會中人們對社會秩序的顛覆和重構。而作者對文中無賴和傻瓜形象的生動描述，則揭露了人們在現實生活中對理想和真實的困惑與迷失。
關鍵詞: 巴赫金、狂歡化、加冕、脫冕、霍爾頓、對話