SuicdeinCrimesoftheHeart在心之罪自杀.docVIP

Suicide in Crimes of the Heart 《心之罪》中的自杀 Contents Abstract 摘要(中文） Introduction Chapter One Literature Review 1.1 Beth Henley 1.2 Crimes of the Heart Chapter Two Suicides in Crimes of the Heart 2.1 Suicide Phenomenon in Crimes 2.2 Necessity for Analyzing the Suicide Chapter Three Ideas about Suicide and Death 3.1 Heidegger: Dasein and Verfallen 3.2 Camus: Worms in Men’s Heart 3.3 Frued: Death Instinct Chapter Four Positive Ideas behind the Suicide 4.1 Anxiety about Death 4.2 Freedom from the Everydayness 4.3 Authentic Existence Chapter Five Aesthetic Appeal of the Suicide 5.1 Sublime of Gothic Writing 5.2 Terror Caused by Suicide Chapter Six Conclusion References Abstract Crimes of the Heart (1979) is the first successful play by American contemporary female playwright Beth Henley and it won Pulitzer Prize in 1981. The story happens in 1974 and tells the misfortune the Magrath sisters have experienced in their life, love, marriage and career. American critics have made detailed analysis about the feministic ideas and images of grotesque in this play as well as the psychological motivation behind the eccentric behaviors of the three sisters. Based on those researches, the author of this paper intends to provide her own understanding about Crimes of the Heart from the prospective of suicide, which is a frequently appeared phenomenon in the story. Firstly, according to Martin Heidegger, death possesses a positive enlightening power, which will free people from the everydayness and thus live authentically and happily. The Magrath sisters, who have been living in the shadow of their mother’s death and attempted suicide respectively, suddenly realize the importance of living their “ownmost” self. And thus their lives transform from separation, mess, sadness and disappointment to reunion, peace, laughter and belief in better lives. Secondly, the intense atmosphere of death creates a strong sense