A Study on the Theme of Search for Ego in the Protagonist's Growth in Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory

Abstract The confusion and search in children’s growth is Truman Capote’s a significant theme in his novel。 This novel, A Christmas memory, was written basing on Capote's childhood experiences in rural Alabama, closing to the author's spirituality, and the growth of the protagonist in this novel also reflects the author’s desire to build his own mental world and value system。 On the one hand, the protagonist’s search in this novel means the only way for him to perfect personality and form idea in continual choices; On the other hand, the protagonist’s search reflects Capote's spiritual pursuit and rethinking on life。 Therefore, this kind of search in the protagonist’s growth will play a significant role both on protagonist’s personal outlook and the author on the perspectives of discovering a real inner self, expressing their spiritual pursuit and the cultural orientation on southern culture。 From the aspects of family affection, emotional spirit and cultural cognition, this paper analyzes the protagonist’s growth, and explores the profound meaning of Search for Ego in Capote 's growth。

Key Words:  Capote;  A Christmas memory;  Search for Ego;  southern culture

浅析卡波特《圣诞忆旧集》中的“自我找寻”主题

摘  要主人公个人成长中的自我寻找是美国作家杜鲁门•卡波特（Truman capote）小说中的一个重要主题。本文所研究的小说《圣诞忆旧集》是以卡波特儿时在阿拉巴马乡下的生活经历为蓝本创作而成，贴近作者的精神诉求，书中人物在成长过程中的自我找寻，一方面是主人公通过一次次磨砺与选择从而健全人格，形成自我意识的必由之路；另一方面也反映出了作者对自我精神世界的追求以及对人生的反思。因此，这种不断地自我寻找，对文中主人公以及作者本人发现内心真实自我，表达自身精神诉求，以及突出对美国南方文化的情感倾向，都具有不可否定的作用。本文从主人公的家庭、情感以及文化等方面，分析书中人物成长过程中的自我寻找，探索自我找寻在作者本人成长中的重要意义。72328

关键词：卡波特；《圣诞忆旧集》；自我找寻；南方文化

Contents

Abstract I

摘  要 II

Contents III

Introduction 1

Chapter One  Conceptual Definition in A Christmas Memory 4

1。The Protagonists' Growth 4

2。The Search for Ego 5

Chapter Two  Analysis of the Search for Ego 5

1。 Family Affection in the search 5

2。 Emotional Spirit in the search 7

3。 Cultural Cognition in the search 9

Chapter Three  Causes of the Search 11

1。Social Environment 11

2。 Family Background 11

3。 Personal Experience 12

Conclusion 14

Works Cited 15

Introduction

Truman Capote is one of the most famous and controversial writers in contemporary American literature。 In addition to stories and short novels, Truman Capote wrote travel sketches and various kinds of nonfiction, one of the most famous nonfiction novels is In Cold Blood。 He also did some screenwriting, including critically well-received scripts for Beat the Devil and The Innocents, an adaptation of the Henry James story The Turn of the Screw, and an adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which became a well-known film in 1961。