《兔子富了》中的父子竞争

厄普代克的《兔子富了》以父子关系为主线展开,父子间的各种冲突凸显了一种成年男性之间的竞争关系。这种竞争在很大程度上造成了父子关系的恶化,并且对家人造成伤害。父子间竞争关系的形成在很大程度上源于男性气质的社会建构。僵化落后的传统男性气质标准对男性的思想和行为产生了制约,＂兔子＂哈利父子为了追求不可能实现的目标,互相敌视,通过战胜对方来进行自己的男性气质表演。父子二人在身体的表演、性的征服以及财富的争夺方面进行较量,虽然暂时决出了胜负,但却给家庭的幸福留下了永久的阴影。

John Updike＇s Rabbit Is Rich focuses on the father-son relationship, which can be summed up as competition. Reasons leading to such relationship can be explained from the social construction of masculinity. Both Harry and his son are driven by the traditional masculine norms, in terms of body, sexuality and wealth. To perform well in these areas is a way to verify their masculinity, and therefore to beat the other in one of the areas is a convenient and necessary way to assert their social positions as a man in a male dominant society. However, the competition between father and son is traumatic not only to father and son, but to other family members.