从水的象征意义分析《爱药》中印第安文化和白人文化的冲突_英语论文

The Confrontation between American Indian Culture and White Culture from the Perspective of the Symbolic Meaning of Water in Love Medicine

摘要

二十世纪六七十年代，印第安人作为美国多种族意识觉醒的各民族中的一支，因此印第安文化的崛起，也成为美国文学中异军突起的一支。

本文运用了象征意义的，从水意象的角度分析印第安文化的存亡主题。通过《爱药》中水意象的研究，本文发现水意象，作为小说的主导意象，和小说主题是相互依存的关系。水意象的出现越频繁，主题越得到强化。总之，水意象的出现与小说主题相吻合。正如印第安文化中的时间是环形的一样，起源的尽头可能是终结，终结也可能是另一个起源，印第安文化的存亡之路可能是终结，也可能是起源，看似被摧毁，也许是重建。

关键词：水;象征;冲击；文化

Abstract 

In the 1960s and 1970s, multi-racial awareness grew among the various ethnic groups of America, one of which is American Indians. Therefore, American Indian literature rises as a new force of American literature and becomes one of the most important ones which cannot be ignored.

This thesis uses the symbolism to disclose the significance of American Indian culture from the perspective of the symbolic meaning of water. Through the analysis of water imagery, it is concluded that as the thematic imagery in the novel, the water is interrelated with the motif of the novel. The appearance of the water is always decided by the motifs, and the more motifs of the novel are reinforced, the more frequently the water shows up. In a word, the repeated appearance of water conforms to the motifs of the novel. Just as in American Indian culture which is cyclical implies, the beginning may be another end, and the end may be another new beginning. 

Key words: water; symbol; confrontation；culture 

Contents

1. Introduction 1

1.1 The Background 1

1.1.1 Louise Erdrich and Her Literary Achievements 1

1.1.2 The Introduction of Love Medicine 1

1.2 Literature review 2

1.2.1 Researches of Love Medicine abroad 2

1.2.2 Researches of Love Medicine at home 3

1.2.3 Research Questions 4

2. The Symbolic Meaning of Water 5

2.1. The Definition of Symbolism 5

2.2. The Meaning of Water in the West Culture 5

2.3 The Symbolic Meaning of Water in Love Medicine 6

2.3.1 Water as the Source of Culture 6

2.3.2 Water as the Symbol of Death 8

2.3.3 Water as the Loss of American Indian Land 9

3. The Confrontation of Culture 11

3.1 The Impact of the White Culture on American Indian Culture 11

3.1.1The Loss of American Indian Language 11

3.1.2 The Destruction of American Indian Culture 12

3.2 The Confrontation between American Indian Culture and White Culture 13

4. Conclusion 16

Reference 17