浅析《白噪音》中的精神危机之因_英语论文

A Probe into the Causes of Spiritual Crisis in White Noise

摘要

本文将会从一个相对较新较全的角度对唐˙德罗里的代表作《白噪音》进行探索。与以往研究不同的是，本文的重点是探究小说中人物精神危机的原因。本文的开篇是对此次研究背景的简单介绍，包括对小说主要情节以及作家的介绍. 文章的主要内容是论述导致小说中人物们精神危机的原因，例如大众媒体,消费主义充斥的社会以及科技。通过精读小说以及收集国内外各种书籍期刊，本文试图引起现代人的共鸣，从而对白噪声中所反射出的精神危机进行更深的反思。关于唐·德罗里是到底是如何做到在30多年前就预见到当代人正面临着的危机，我们也将一探究竟。

关键词: 大众媒体; 消费主义充斥的社会; 科技 

Abstract 

This essay will make a study on DeLillo’s masterpiece, White Noise, from a relatively new and complete perspective. In contrast to previous researches, this paper’s focus is on the causes of spiritual crisis. This thesis starts with a brief introduction to the research background，including main plots of the novel and some basic information of the author. Major contents for this paper include illustration of the potential culprits for spiritual crisis in the novel, such as the mass media, the consumerist society and the technology. Then by reading the novel carefully and intensively and by collecting related professional books, articles and journals at home and abroad, we attempt to resonate with modern people so as to have a deeper reflection on the topic, from which we are able to see how Don DeLillo, in more than 30 years ago, the postmodern times, has foreseen the contemporary crisis we are facing now.

Keywords: the mass media; the consumerist society; science and technology

Contents

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Research Background 1

1.2 Literature Review 1

2. The Consumerist Society—Culprit for the Spiritual Emptiness and the Loss of True Self 3

2.1 The Destroyer of  Mental Health 3

2.1.1 Gladney’s multiple identity 3

2.1.2 The Attitude of Babette towards Cheese 4

2.2 The Substitute of Belief 4

Hermann Marie’s Words 4

3. The Mass Media—Culprit for the Loss of True Self 5

3.1 The Source of Imitation 5

3.1.1 Steffie’s Strange Behavior 5

3.2 The Source of “Authoritative" Knowledge 6

3.2.1 Steffie’s and Heinrich’s perceptions 6

3.2.2 Illusory Sequelae of The Airborne Toxic Event 6

4. The Technology—A Pivotal Factor in Spiritual Crisis 7

4.1 The Trigger of the Crisis 7

4.1.1 “Dylarama" Farce 7

4.1.2 The Airborne Toxic Event 7

5. Conclusion 8

5.1 Summary of the Thesis 8

5.2 Limitation of the Thesis 8

References 9