南方文学传统在田纳西.威廉斯作品中的体现.pdfVIP

Southern Literary Traditions in Tennessee Williams ’s Plays Abstract Tennessee Williams’s reputation as one of the greatest American playwrights of the 20th century seems secure. Now nearly 20 years after his death, his plays are frequently revived and he continues to provoke critical inquiry. Among various comments, not enough are being devoted to Williams ’s debt to the Southern literary traditions (In fact, most of his plays are set in the South, and his continuing love/hate relationship with the culture he was born into provides dramatic conflict and excitement to everything he wrote). And this thesis is intended to show how Southern literary traditions are reflected in Tennessee Williams’s plays. The unique historical and cultural context of the American South gives birth to Southern literary traditions. The Southern family romance, romantic as well as patriotic traditions have greatly influenced Williams. But when talking about his literary heritage, Williams seldom mentioned the Southern literature. He repeatedly mentioned the influence of three writersD.H. Lawrence, Hart Crane and Anton Chekhovamong them only Hart Crane is an American. But Hart Crane is not from the South; he is a novelist and poet from New Jersey. However, a writer ’s relation with the literary traditions doesn’t always have much to do with his personal recognition. His body of literary work tells us everything. Southern writers have the inclination of writing about family, and this is partly explained by the nature of southern society. Until the first half of the 20th century, the South is largely