直觉与习俗的撞击——简析厄普代克的短篇小说《A&P》主题

The Collision between Transcendental and Tradition: On the Themes of John Updike's A&P

厄普代克是美国 2 0世纪颇有影响的多产作家 ,在他的作品中延续着一个主题 :个人需要与社会需求的冲突。个人需要与社会需求反映在一个人身上往往表现为个人直觉行为 ,以及对社会实用主义的趋同行为。这两种行为在厄普代克笔下的人物身上均有表现 。

John Updike is an acute observer of the human condition. Most of his works are dealing with one theme: human needs vs. society's demands. The collision between the two philosophical forces is manifested in individual behavior as both transcendental and intuitive impulsion, and pragmatic identifying with the social standards. These two behaviors have been delineated in John Updike's works, but neither of them is regarded as a perfect solution to the conflict.