Over the past few years, vampire genre has populated young adult （YA） literature. YA literature can be defined as narratives about the individual growth and maturation of adolescent protagonist. Adolescence is the b...Over the past few years, vampire genre has populated young adult （YA） literature. YA literature can be defined as narratives about the individual growth and maturation of adolescent protagonist. Adolescence is the bridging process of growing from childhood to adulthood. Furthermore, it is a turbulent time of rapid physical growth and sexual development. It also creates a critical phase in the formation of identity. In this paper, the author shall identify the ways in which representation of adolescence in an American contemporary young adult novel, Anderson＇s Thirsty （2008）, reflects and shapes the maturation of its young protagonist. The author argues that the transformation of vampire in the novel works as a metaphor for the various changes and maturation process experienced by the protagonist in the novel. Furthermore, the author＇s discussion will be preceded by a short history of vampire narrative. The author＇s analysis is supported by psychological theories of adolescence and socio-cultural approach which focuses on the ambiguities of adolescents＇ identity. Moreover, this paper alludes a psychoanalytic reading of the symbolism of the vampire which refers to Freud＇s notions of libido and death drive The conclusion of this paper is that Anderson＇s Thirsty is a paranormal novel which positions the implied readers to understand the trials of an adolescent protagonist during his difficult time of transition from childhood to adulthood.展开更多
文摘Over the past few years, vampire genre has populated young adult （YA） literature. YA literature can be defined as narratives about the individual growth and maturation of adolescent protagonist. Adolescence is the bridging process of growing from childhood to adulthood. Furthermore, it is a turbulent time of rapid physical growth and sexual development. It also creates a critical phase in the formation of identity. In this paper, the author shall identify the ways in which representation of adolescence in an American contemporary young adult novel, Anderson＇s Thirsty （2008）, reflects and shapes the maturation of its young protagonist. The author argues that the transformation of vampire in the novel works as a metaphor for the various changes and maturation process experienced by the protagonist in the novel. Furthermore, the author＇s discussion will be preceded by a short history of vampire narrative. The author＇s analysis is supported by psychological theories of adolescence and socio-cultural approach which focuses on the ambiguities of adolescents＇ identity. Moreover, this paper alludes a psychoanalytic reading of the symbolism of the vampire which refers to Freud＇s notions of libido and death drive The conclusion of this paper is that Anderson＇s Thirsty is a paranormal novel which positions the implied readers to understand the trials of an adolescent protagonist during his difficult time of transition from childhood to adulthood.
