《天使望故乡》中的家庭主题分析

AnAnalysisoftheFamilyThemeinLookHomeward,AngelABSTRACTThispaperselectsThomasWolfe'snovelLookHomeward,Angelastheresearchobject,adoptsthetheoryofliteraryethicscriticism,focusesontheethicaldilemmaandethicalchoicesatthefamilylevelreflectedinthework,andanalyzestheunhealthyethicalenvironmentinthenovel,includingtheestrangedparent-childrelationship,theestrangementbetweenbrothersandsisters,andthealienationbetweenhusbandandwife.Furthermore,itelaboratesonthedifficultethicalchoicesfacedbythecharactersinthenovelinanunhealthyethicalenvironment,andfinallyhighlightstheinsightsbroughtbyfamilyethicsinthenovel.ThepurposeofthisarticleistoanalyzethefamilythemeinLookHomeward,Angelandenablereaderstobetterinterpretthefamilyethicalrelationshipsinthenovelenvironmentfromtheperspectiveofliteraryethicalcriticism.Itaimstorevealthedifficultchoicesmadebycharacterswhenfacingethicaldilemmasandthefamilyethicalimplicationstheybring,therebyarousingpeople'sattentionandthinkingaboutfamilyissues,improvingtheirunderstandingoftheimportanceoffamilyethics,andpromotingfamilyharmony.Theresearchconclusionisbeneficialforreaderstohaveadeeperunderstandingofthefamilyethicsinthenovel,providingapreviouslyoverlookedholisticperspectivethatregardsthefamilyasanethicalunit.Keywords:LookHomeward,Angel；familyethics;moraldilemma;ethicalchoice《天使，望故乡》中的家庭主题分析摘要本文选择托马斯·沃尔夫的小说《天使，望故乡》作为研究对象，采用文学伦理学批评理论，聚焦作品中体现的家庭层面的伦理困境和伦理选择，分析了小说中不健康的伦理环境，包括疏远的亲子关系，兄弟姐妹之间的隔阂和夫妻之间的异化。进而阐述了小说人物在不健康的伦理环境下面临着艰难的伦理选择，最后表明小说中家庭伦理所带来的启示。本文旨在通过对《天使，望故乡》中家庭主题的分析，使读者能够更好地从文学伦理学批评视角解读出小说环境下的家庭伦理关系，揭示人物面临伦理困境时所作出的艰难选择以及所带来的家庭伦理启示，以此引发人们对家庭问题的关注和思考，提高人们对家庭伦理重要性的认识，促进家庭的和谐。研究结论有利于读者更深入地理解小说中的家庭伦理，提供一个之前被忽视的、将家庭视为一个伦理单元的整体视角。关键词：《天使，望故乡》；家庭伦理；道德困境；伦理选择ContentsTOC\o"1-3"\h\u74801.Introduction .IntroductionLookHomeward,AngelisaclassicworkbyAmericanauthorThomasWolfe.Sinceitspublicationin1929,ithasattractedwidespreadattentionfromreaderswithitsuniquenarrativestyleandprofoundemotionaldepiction.Thisstudyfocusesontheanalysisoffamilythemesinnovels,aimingtoexplorethecomplexityoffamilyethicsintheworksandtheirimpactonpersonalgrowth.Thewritingbackgroundstemsfromthewidespreadattentiontofamilyethicalrelationshipsincurrentsociety,especiallyinthefast-pacedmodernlifewherethefunctionandvalueofthefamilyasthebasicunitofsocietyareincreasinglychallenged.Atpresent,althoughtherehavebeennumerousstudiesonLookHomeward,Angel,thereisstillalackofsystematicanalysisfromtheperspectiveoffamilyethics,especiallytheexplorationofethicaldilemmasandchoicesamongfamilymembersinthenovelisrelativelyscattered.Therefore,thisstudyintendstouseliteraryethicscriticismtheorytodeeplyanalyzethemultidimensionalmanifestationsoffamilyethicsinnovelsandrevealtheirenlighteningsignificanceforsocialethicsconstruction.ThemainpurposeofthisstudyistoexploretheimpactoffamilyethicaldilemmasonpersonalgrowthandfamilyrelationshipsbyanalyzingthefamilythemesinLookHomeward,Angel,andtorevealthefamilyethicalimplicationscontainedinthenovel.Theresearchaimstoaddressthefollowingquestions:Whatarethespecificmanifestationsofethicaldilemmasamongfamilymembers?Howdothesedilemmasaffectindividuals'moralchoicesandgrowthtrajectories?Andwhatreferencevaluedoesthefamilyethicsinthenovelhaveformodernsociety?Throughthisstudy,wehopetoprovidereaderswithanewperspectivetounderstandthefamilyrelationshipsinthenovel,enhancetheirunderstandingoftheimportanceoffamilyethics,andpromotethebalanceddevelopmentoffamilyharmonyandindividualgrowth.Inaddition,thestudyaimstoenrichthetheoreticalpracticeofliteraryethicalcriticismandprovidenewideasandmethodsforresearchinrelatedfields.Thispaperisdividedintosevenmainchapters.Thefirstchapterservesasanintroduction,outliningtheresearchbackground,purpose,andsignificance,andclarifyingtheoverallframeworkofthepaper.Chapter2isaliteraturereview,reviewingthecurrentresearchstatusofLookHomeward,Angelandthethemeoffamilyethicsathomeandabroad,pointingouttheresearchgapsandinnovations.Chapter3introducesthetheoryofethicalliterarycriticism,providingatheoreticalbasisforsubsequentanalysis.Thefourthchapteranalyzestheunhealthyethicalenvironmentinthenovelindetail,includingtheestrangedparent-childrelationship,theestrangementbetweenbrothersandsisters,andthealienationbetweenhusbandandwife.Chapter5exploresthedifficultchoicesfacedbythecharactersinthenovelinethicaldilemmas,andhowthesechoicesreflecttheirmoralgrowthandethicalawakening.Chapter6elaboratesontheethicalimplicationsofthefamilyinthenovel,emphasizingtheimportantroleofthefamilyinpersonalmoraldevelopment.Thelastchapteristheconclusion,whichsummarizestheresearchfindings,pointsoutthelimitationsofthestudy,andoutlinesfutureresearchdirections.Eachchaptercloselyrevolvesaroundthethemeoffamilyethics,withclearlogicandprogressivecontent,collectivelyformingacomprehensiveandin-depthanalysisofthefamilythemeinLookHomeward,Angel.

LiteratureReviewLookHomeward,Angelwaspublishedin1929,anditsuniquewritingstyleandvividdepictionoftheAmericanSouthquicklycapturedthepublic'sattention.ThomasWolfe'snovel,distinctfromtraditionalnarrativetechniques,ischaracterizedbylong,flowingsentences,richandpoeticdescriptions.Thishighlyimpressionisticwritingstyle,throughsensoryimageryandemotionalundercurrents,immersesreadersinaworldthatisbothintimateandresonantwiththerealenvironment.ThedetailedportrayaloftheAmericanSouth,small-townresidents,andtheinnerstrugglesoftheprotagonistEugeneGantnotonlycreatesastrongsenseofplacebutalsoreflectsthepsychologicalstatesofthecharacters(Smith,2018).EarlycriticsofthisnovelpraiseditsinnovativestyleandtheautobiographicalelementsincorporatedintheportrayalofEugeneGant,whosegrowthexperienceinasmalltowninNorthCarolinawassimilartoWolfe’sown.Forinstance,ina1930reviewinTheNewRepublic,JohnDosPassosanalyzedthenovelasacoming-of-agestory,emphasizinghowEugene’sself-discoveryandemotionalmaturationweremanifestedthroughhisfamilyandsocialinteractions.ThemessuchastheAmericanDream,anindividual’spositioninsociety,andmoraldilemmasduringtheprocessofgrowthwerealsowidelydiscussed.However,whiletheseearlyinterpretationsappreciatedthenovel’saestheticandemotionalqualities,theydidnotfullyexploreitsethicaldimensions,especiallythecomplexmoralchoiceswithinthefamilycontext.Inthefieldofforeignresearch,scholarsareincreasinglyexaminingthisnovelfromvarioustheoreticalperspectives.Forinstance,psychoanalysis,feministtheory,historicalmaterialism,andtheethicalandmoraldimensionsofthework.Forexample,Dr.EmilyJohnson,inherbookPsychoanalyticalApproachestoThomasWolfe’sFiction(2019),delvesdeeplyintothepsychologicalmotivesbehindthecharacters’moralchoices.JohnsonanalyzesEugene’sinnerconflictbetweenhisdesireforindependenceandhisfilialduty,reflectingadeeperpsychologicalcomplexity.Fromafeministperspective,ProfessorLindaBrown,inherarticleGenderDynamicsinLookHomeward,Angel(2020),explorestheroleoffemalecharacterslikeEliza.BrownemphasizesthatEliza’sattempttocontrolEugene’slifenotonlyreflectsmaternallovebutalsorepresentsapowerstrugglewithinthefamilystructure.However,thesestudiesoftenfocusonindividualcharactersorisolatedmoralissues,failingtocomprehensivelyconsiderthebroaderfamilydynamicsandthecumulativeethicalimpactofallfamilymembers’behaviors.IndomesticresearchonLookHomeward,Angel,scholarsmostlyfocusonthehistoricalandculturalbackground,regionalculture,andnarrativestructureofthework.Forinstance,ProfessorWangLi,inhismonographCulturalReflectionsinThomasWolfe’sAmericanSouth(2017),emphasizestheculturalandhistoricalbackgroundoftheAmericanSouthreflectedinthenovel.WangLianalyzeshowregionalcultureinfluencesthemoralvaluesandbehaviorsofcharacters,andexplorestherelationshipbetweentraditionalvaluesoffamilyloyaltyandthestrictgenderrolesintheSouthandthemoraldecisionsofcharacters.Meanwhile,Dr.LiuMing,inhispaper“NarrativeStructureandMoralThemesinLookHomeward,Angel”(2018),paysattentiontothenarrativestructureanditsinfluenceonthepresentationofmoralthemes.LiuMingpointsoutthatWolfe’suniquenarrativestyle,throughlengthyandcircuitousdescriptions,deepenstheexplorationofcharacters’moralconfusionandgrowth.Domesticresearchmainlyfocusesonthewritingbackgroundandnarrativetechniquesofthework,andhasnotconductedadetailedanalysisofthefamilythemeinthenovel.DomesticresearchonthefamilyethicsaspectofLookHomeward,Angelisstilllacking.Thisarticleaimstofillthisgapandprovidemoreinterpretiveperspectivesforfuturereaders.Inconclusion,althoughpreviousstudieshavecoveredvariousaspectsofLookHomeward,Angel,thereisasignificantgapinthecomprehensiveanalysisofthefamilyethicsinthenovel.Mostdomesticandinternationalstudieseitherfocusonindividualmoralchoicesoranalyzethenovelfromasingletheoreticalperspective,ignoringthecomplexinteractionsamongfamilymembers'behaviorsandtheircollectiveinfluenceonthefamilyethicalstructure.ThisstudyaimstofillthisgapandconductadetailedexplorationoftheethicalconflictswithintheGantfamily.Bysystematicallyexaminingthemoralchoicesmadebyfamilymembersinthecontextoffamilyobligations,personalautonomy,andmoralresponsibility,thisstudyaimstogainadeeperunderstandingofthemoraldimensionofthenovelandthedepictionoftheintricatenatureoffamilylife,providinganoverallperspectiveonfamilyasanoverlookedethicalunit.

3.TheOverviewofEthicalLiteraryCriticismLiterarycriticismmethodsareexperiencingdiversifieddevelopmentintoday’sworld.ThedevelopmentofcommunicationsandexchangesbetweentheeasterncultureandthewesterncultureaswellasinterdisciplinaryresearchespromotethedevelopmentofChina’sliterarycriticismtheories.Thischaptermainlyintroducestheoverview,originanddevelopmentofethicalliterarycriticism.Also,itintroducessomeimportantterms,aimingtoprovidetheoreticalsupportforthedissertationresearch.3.1OriginandDevelopmentEthicalliterarycriticismisanewtheoryandresearchmethodofliterarycriticismwithChinesecharacteristicswhichisoriginatedfromwesternethicalcriticism.AndincombinationwiththecharacteristicsofChineseliteratureandculture,itwasputforwardbyProf.NieZhenzhao(2014),afamousscholarinChina.Thistheoryaimstodescribethecharactersandeventsintheworksfromtheethicalperspectiveandmakeethicaljudgmentsonthem,todiscusstheexistingliterarytheoriesintermsoftheoriginandtheformofitsexistence,andtomakecorrespondingadditions.Itemphasizesthemoralresponsibilitiesandobligationsofliteraturetothesocietyandthehumanbeingswhichprovidesthepossibilitytointerpretliteraryworksfrommultipleperspectivesandtohelppeoplefullyunderstandandcomprehendthecomplexityofliterature.“Ethicalliterarycriticismisamethodofcriticismthatrecognizestheethicalnatureandpedagogicalfunctionofliteraturefromanethicalperspectiveandreads,analyzes,interprets,andevaluatesliteraryworksonthisbasis”(Nie,2014:5).Ethicsfocusesonthestudyofmoralphenomena,ethicalrelationships,andmoralnormsinhumansociety.Literature,ontheotherhand,employsartistictechniquestopresentmoralphenomenainhumansocietyintheformofconflictswithinliteraryworks,whichmakesethicalliterarycriticismpossible.Essentially,literatureistheartofethics.Althoughthesetwobelongtodifferentdisciplines,thecross-studyofthemcanhelpusbetterunderstandthemoralvalueofliteraryworks.Ethicalliterarycriticismshouldnotonlyanalyzethemoralphenomenadescribedintheworksfromahistoricalanddialecticalperspective,butmoreimportantly,itshouldmakevaluejudgmentsonthesemoralphenomenabasedonthemoralvaluesofthattime,exploretherelationshipsbetweenliteratureandsociety,aswellasbetweenliteratureandethics,andrevealthehistoricalvalueandpracticalsignificanceofliteraryworks.Ethics,inapracticalsense,belongstosocialethics,whileethicalliterarycriticism,inaliterarysense,belongstocriticalmethodology.Theviewthatliteraturereflectsthesocialmoralityofaspecificperiodisoneoftheviewpointsofethicalliterarycriticism.Infact,tosomeextent,ethicsandmoralitycanbeusedinterchangeably,butmoralcriticismandethicalliterarycriticismaredifferent.Moralcriticismadvocateslookingatcriticalliteraturefromthemoralstanceofthepresentandpayingmoreattentiontothepresent.Ethicalliterarycriticismadvocatesinterpretingandanalyzingworksfromaspecificethicalenvironmentandcontext,discoveringcontemporaryvalueswithinthehistoricalvalueofliterature,andtakingbothhistoryandthepresentintoaccount.Methodologically,ethicalliterarycriticismisbasedonMarx'shistoricalmaterialismanddialecticalmaterialism.Itfocusesonthevirtualworldofliteraryworksandemphasizesobjectivelyexaminingtheethicalrelationshipsinliteraryworksfromahistoricalanddialecticalperspective(Fei,2018).Ethicalliterarycriticism,whichoriginatesfromWesternethicalcriticismandcombineswithChina’straditionalmoralcriticism,isasetofourowncriticaltheoreticalsystem.Itfullyreflectsoriginalityandhasthecharacteristicsofcontemporaneityandnationality.Ithasestablisheditsowncriticaldiscourse.Withitsdistinctacademiccharacteristicsandsystematictheoreticalsystem,ithasprovidedanewresearchmethodforChina’sliteraryresearchandaddedourownvoicetotheWesterncriticaldiscourse.3.2MainPointsEthicalliterarycriticismemphasizesrecognizingtheethicalessenceofliteraturefromanethicalperspectiveandexploringitseducationalfunction.Whenappliedtospecificliteraryworks,ethicalliterarycriticismmainlyinterpretsvariousphenomenafromanethicalperspective,analyzesthemoralreasonsbehindthem,andmakesvaluejudgments.Inthisprocess,manyrelatedtermshaveemerged,includingethics,ethicalconsciousness,ethicalenvironment,ethicaldilemmas,ethicalchoices,etc.,andthesearethecoretermsofethicalliterarycriticism.Inthefollowing,twotermsofethicalliterarycriticismwillbebrieflyintroduced.Ethicalenvironmentisoneofthekeytermsinethicalliterarycriticism,anditisthehistoricalspaceonwhichhumansurvivaldepends.Inaddition,itisalsothefoundationforunderstanding,interpreting,andevaluatingliteraryworks.Therefore,whenanalyzingandinterpretingliteraryworksfromanobjectiveperspective,theethicalenvironmentiscrucial.Literatureisaculturalproductofaspecificperiodandcannotexistindependentlywhichmeansthatitreliesonthelongriverofhistoryforitsexistence.Fromthehistoricalpointofviewofthedevelopmentofhumancivilizationasawhole,literaturecannotbeseparatedfromthehistoricalperiodinwhichitissituated,anditisonlyapartofthishistory.Theyhavetheattributesoftheerathatcharacterizethisperiodoftimeandcannotexistbeyondhistory,soitcanbesaidthatliteratureistheproductofhistory.Theethicalenvironmentisalsocalledethicalcontext,asProf.NieZhenzhaosaid,“Ethicalenvironmentisthehistoricalspaceofliterature”(Nie,2014:256).Ethicalchoiceisthebasicprincipleofethicalliterarycriticismandalsoapartofitstheoreticalframework.IntheChinesecontext,thetermethicalchoiceexpressestwoconcepts:ethicalselectionstageandethicalchoiceactivity.Theformerreferstothestageofcivilizationinwhichprimitivehumans,afteracquiringthehumanform,gothroughtheprocessofobtainingtheessenceofhumanity.Thelatterreferstotheethicalchoiceactivitiesthathumansexperienceintheprocessofacquiringtheessenceofhumanity.Naturalselectionandethicalchoicearetwodifferenttypesofchoices.Theformeristhechoiceofanimalinstincts,manifestedasfreewill,whilethelatteristhechoiceofmoralhumanity,manifestedasrationalwill.Thelattercancontrolandrestraintheformer,thusendowingpeoplewithmorality.Ethicalchoicehasadualmeaninginethicalliterarycriticism.Ontheonehand,ethicalchoicereferstothemoralchoiceofhumanbeings,whichemphasizesthatpeopleachievemoralmaturityandperfectionthroughmoralchoices.Ontheotherhand,ethicalchoicereferstothechoicesmadebypeopleinsituationswheretherearetwoormoreethicaloptions.Theemotionsandbehaviorsofthecharactersinliteraryworksareoftenexpressedthroughtheirethicalchoices,andthedifferentconsequencesresultingfromdifferentethicalchoicesconveydifferentmoralvalues.Ethicalchoiceimpliestheresolutionofethicalissues,becauseethicalchoicesinliteratureareoftenassociatedwiththeresolutionofethicaldilemmas(Nie,2014).Onlyinthespecificcontextofaliterarywork,especiallywhenthecharactersarefacedwithethicalproblemsandthereisaconflictbetweenmoralethics,willtheymakeethicalchoices,andwhatchoicestheymakeareinfluencedbyfactorssuchaseducation,personality,andtheenvironment.Ethicalchoicesarefulloftheeducationalvalueandartisticinfluenceofliterature,andcriticshavetheresponsibilitytoanalyzeworksobjectivelyandexploretheeducationalsignificanceoftheworksthatisbeneficialtocontemporarysocietyundertheguidanceofcorrectvaluejudgments.

4.TheUnhealthyEthicalEnvironmentInLookHomeward,Angel,theGantfamily’sunhealthyrelationshipscreateemotionaldistanceandhinderpersonalgrowth,leadingtomoralandpsychologicalchallenges.Thispartexamineshowdysfunctionandlackofempathyshapethecharacters’ethicaldevelopmentandinterpersonalrelationships.4.1DistantParent-childRelationship InLookHomeward,Angel,thefather-childrelationshipwithintheGantfamilyisfarfromideal.Eugene’sfather,OliverGant,isacomplexcharacter.Astone-carverbytrade,hehasapassionforartandalovefordrinking.Hisheavydrinkingoftenleadstoerraticbehavior,whichmakesitdifficultforhimtoestablishasolidrelationshipwithhischildren.TherelationshipbetweenOliverandEugene,inparticular,ischaracterizedbydistanceandmisunderstanding.AlthoughOliverhashighhopesforEugene’sfuture,helackstheabilitytocommunicatehisexpectationseffectively.HisharshlanguageandinconsistentbehavioroftenleaveEugenefeelingconfusedandhurt.Forexample,whenEugeneshowsaninterestinliterature,Oliverdoesnotencouragehim.Instead,hescoldshimforbeing“useless”andnotfollowinginhisfootstepsasastone-carver.ThislackofsupportandunderstandingfromhisfathermakesEugenefeelalienatedandisolatedwithinthefamily(Cui,2019).TherelationshipbetweenAnnaandMichaelisalsomarkedbytension,asbothsiblingsgrapplewiththeirfeelingsofabandonmentandfrustration.Michaeloftenactsout,perhapsinanattempttogetattentionortoassertcontroloverasituationwherehefeelspowerless.Hetakesonamorerebellious,distantrole,whileAnnaremainspassive,tryingtomaintainpeace,eventhoughsheissilentlysuffering.Inoneoftheirraremomentsofconfrontation,MichaelaccusesAnnaofbeingtoosilent,saying,“You’rejustlikethem—ignoringeverythingthat’shappening.”Annaretorts,“I’mjusttryingtomakeitthroughwithoutmakingthingsworse.”Thisdialoguereflectstheemotionalchasmthathasformedbetweenthem.Thechildren,thoughsharingthesametrauma,reactdifferently,andtheirinabilitytosupporteachotheronlydeepensthefamilialdivide.Eugene’smother,ElizaGant,alsohasherownconcerns.“Ashrewdbusinesswoman,shefocusesonexpandingherboardinghouse.Herambitionandgreedforwealthcausehertoneglecttheemotionalneedsofherchildren.Sheismoreinterestedinmakingmoneyandacquiringmorepropertythaninnurturingalovingfamily.Asaresult,Eugenegrowsupwithemotionalhunger,yearningforthewarmthandlovethatamother-childrelationshipshouldprovide”(Luo,2020:31).Thechildren,caughtinthemiddleofthistoxicenvironment,aredeeplyaffectedbytheirparents’constantconflict.Thechildren,particularlyMichael,feelneglectedanddisconnectedfrombothOliverandEliza.Theemotionalstraintheywitnessonadailybasiscolorstheirperceptionofrelationships,makingitharderforthemtoformhealthyconnectionswitheachother.4.2EstrangedSiblingRelationships ThomasWolferevealsthesharpcontradictionbetweenbloodtiesandemotionalalienationwithinthefamilythroughtheshatteredmirrorimageoftheGantfamilyinLookHomeward,Angel.Theestrangementbetweenbrothersandsistersisnotonlytheprojectionoftheoriginalfamilytrauma,butalsotheinevitableresultofindividualsfightingagainstlonelinessandseekingidentityintheprocessofgrowth.ThechildrenoftheGanttfamily(Eugene,Steve,Ben,Helen,etc.)grewupbetweentheviolenceoftheirfatherOliverandtheindifferenceoftheirmotherEliza.Thelackoffamilyresources(suchasrealestatecompetition,unfaireconomicdistribution)exacerbatedthehostilityandsuspicionbetweenbrothersandsisters.Eugene,astheyoungestsonofhisfamily,apparentlygainedthepreferenceandeducationalprivilegeofhismother,Eliza,butinfact,hewasunderaninvisiblepressuretosurvive.Hisbrothersandsistersregardedhimasacompetitorforresources.Steve,Luke,andotheroldersiblingsharboredresentmentovertheirmother’sconversionofthefamilypropertyintoaboardinghouse(“Dixieland”),believingthatEugenewassolelyresponsiblefortheskewedfamilyassets.TheyselectivelyignoredEugene’sdifficultsurvivalexperienceofdeliveringnewspapersat3amandcollectingsubscriptionfeesfromtheblackcommunity.AstheonlypersonwhounderstoodEugene,hisearlydeathlefthimcompletelytrappedinaspiritualisland.AfterBen’sdeath,otherchildrendeductedEugene’sshareoftheinheritanceonthegroundsthathehadreceivedauniversityeducation,forcinghimtosignawaiverofhisinheritancerights.Thiseconomicexploitationreflectsthecrushingofbloodethicsbythesurvivallogicoflowerclassfamilies.Eugene’sbrothersBenandSteveeachhavetheirownproblemsandpersonalities,whichexacerbatestheemotionalbarrierbetweenthem.Hewasoriginallyawiseandintelligentyoungman,buthewasburdenedwithfamilyissuesandinnerstruggles.HehasabadrelationshipwithSteve,whoismorepragmaticandlacksempathy.SteveoftencriticizesBen’sartisticandintellectualpursuits,believingthattheyareawasteoftime.Theirconstantquarrelsandconflictscreateatenseatmosphereinthefamily.Eugenewascaughtinthemidstoftheirdisputeandfounditdifficulttoestablishanintimaterelationshipwithanyofhisbrothers.Steve’scorruptioncontrastssharplywithBen’sidealism.Steveturnedtofraudduetoeconomicdifficulties,whileBenattemptedtofindspiritualredemptionbyescapingfromhisfamily.Thesurvivalchoicesofthetworeflectthetearingofmaterialpressureonfamilyties.Helenattemptedtomaintainthefamilyasa“mediator”,butherexcessiveinvolvementinsiblingconflicts(suchastheconflictbetweenBenandSteve)exacerbatedthetensionandultimatelyledtoisolation.SisterHelenisobsessedwithreconcilingfamilyconflictsbutexacerbatingrifts,whileEugeneseeksspiritualbreakthroughthroughliterature.Theirsurvivalchoicesformaneternalconfrontationbetweenthe“pragmatist”andthe“idealist”.Wolfeusesthepoliticalmetaphorofthesevensiblingssplittingintothreefactionstorevealthedisintegrationfateoftraditionallargefamiliesundertheimpactofmodernity.Eugene’salienationisnotonlyapersonalchoice,butalsoaninevitableresultthrownoutbydistortedfamilystructures.4.3AlienatedSpousalRelationship ThetensionbetweenOliverandElizaispalpablefromtheverybeginningofthenovel,wheretheirinteractionsrevealdeep-rootedissuesintheirmarriage.Forinstance,inaheatedargument,Oliverlashesout,“Youneverlistentome,Eliza!Allyoucareaboutisthatdamnedboardinghouse!”Eliza,exhaustedfrommanagingherbusiness,respondscoldly,“Andyoucareaboutnothingbutyourbottle.”Thismomentencapsulatesthefundamentaldisconnectbetweenthem.Oliver’salcoholismisasignificantfactorintheiremotionaldisconnection.Heusesalcoholtocopewithhisfrustrations,whichonlyaddstothedysfunctionintheirrelationship.Eliza,ontheotherhand,becomesmoreabsorbedinherwork,shuttingdownemotionallyandneglectingtheirbond.Thelackofcommunicationandemotionalsupportcreatesacycleofresentment,andneitheriswillingtobreakit.Eliza’sfixationonherbusinessisnotjustasignofherambition,butacopingmechanismtodealwithherfrustrationsanddissatisfactioninhermarriage.Theboardinghousebecomesherescape,theonlyplacewhereshefeelsincontrolandvalued.Inonescene,shecomeshomelate,wearyfromalongday,onlytofindOliverdrunkandbelligerent.Shesighs,“Ican’tdothisanymore,Oliver.Ineedtofocusonwhatmatters.”HerdecisiontoinvestsomuchofhertimeintotheboardinghousebecomesadirectresponsetoOliver’sinabilitytofulfillhisroleasasupportivepartner.Herbusinessprovidesherwithvalidationandasenseofachievementthathermarriagecannotoffer.Asaresult,shedriftsfurtherawayfromOliver,bothemotionallyandphysically.Ultimately,therelationshipbetweenOliverandElizadeterioratesintoemot