本文是一篇英语论文，笔者认为整部小说展示了复杂的道德选择和人物成长的轨迹，揭示了在现代化背景下，人与自然、人与社会、人与自我之间不断博弈的伦理命题。
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Annie Proulx and That Old Ace in the Hole
Annie Proulx is a renowned contemporary American author,celebrated for her vividdepictions of the relationship between humans and nature,as well as social conflicts.Bornin 1935 in Connecticut,Proulx frequently sets her works in rural communities in theAmerican West,exploring themes such as ecological destruction,human resilience,andmoral conflict.Her writing style is primarily realist,emphasizing the harshness of thenatural environment and the complexity of human nature.The characters in her worksoften grapple with difficult situations,reflecting deep psychological and ethicaldimensions.
Throughout her literary career,Proulx has produced several important works,including Postcards(1992),The Shipping News(1993)and Brokeback Mountain(1997).Her novel The Shipping News won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award,further solidifying her place in American literature.Proulx’s works consistently depict rurallife,personal identity,and ecological issues through a realist lens.Her protagonists oftenface difficult choices between personal desires and the harsh realities around them,withnatural landscapes playing a significant role in shaping their identities and ethical conflicts.
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1.2 Literature Review
That Old Ace in the Hole,a novel by Annie Proulx,was published in 2002 and iscelebrated for its unique narrative style and its profound depiction of rural life in theAmerican Southwest.Through the eyes of the protagonist,Bob Dollar,the novel delvesinto the diverse landscapes and human aspects of the Texas plains.An examination of ThatOld Ace in the Hole reveals how the character’moral decisions are intricately linked to thesocial context,depicting the ethical predicament encountered by individuals andcommunities within their specific social and ecological surroundings.Ethical LiteraryCriticism not only scrutinizes the moral judgments of characters’actions but also exploresthe ethical conflicts and value systems underlying those actions,especially in the contextof modernity,capitalist pressures,and ecological crises.Proulx’s works,known for theirdetailed character studies and complex social backdrops,offer an excellent framework fordiscussing ethical choices.
International scholars have conducted extensive analyses of Proulx’s works,focusingon themes such as regionalism,identity,history,and ecology.Their studies often highlightthe interplay between the environment and human experience,particularly in the context ofThat Old Ace in the Hole.In contrast,domestic scholars have paid closer attention tothemes like identity mobility and ecological ethics within Proulx’s narratives.Thisliterature review aims to synthesize these research efforts to lay the groundwork for further exploration of the ethical questions inherent in That Old Ace in the Hole.
1.2.1 Studies Abroad
Research on Annie Proulx’s novels in the Western literary world began in the 1980s;however,it wasn’t until 2001 that Proulx truly entered the critical spotlight.In that year,Karen Lane Rood(2001)published Understanding Annie Proulx,the first comprehensiveintroduction to Proulx’s works.Although the book was intended for students and literaryenthusiasts,it drew the attention of critics by offering detailed examinations of Proulx’slife and career,and provided in-depth analyses of her five key works:Heart Songs andOther Stories,Postcards,The Shipping News,Accordion Crimes,and Close Range:Wyoming Stories.Rood’s study explored Proulx’s narrative techniques,characterdevelopment,and thematic concerns.
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Chapter 2 Ethical Identity
2.1 Bob’s Ethical Identity
In That Old Ace in the Hole,Bob’s ethical identity issues are evident in the conflictsand predicament he encounters across domestic,social,and psychological realms.Withinthe domestic sphere,Bob feels marginalized;he has been deprived of emotional andmaterial support from his parents and Uncle Tam,leading to a deficiency in identityaffirmation.In the social sphere,he is perceived as an outsider.Initially,his educationalpursuits were cut short,and he found himself employed at a lightbulb factory,engaged inlow-paying labor with little prospect for advancement.Following a dispute with thelandlady,he secured a position as a location scout.His role at panhandle’s locationdepartment keeps him at a remove from the local community,and his values frequentlyclash with those of the residents,resulting in ethical conflicts within his socialengagements and career decisions.These external spatial contexts contribute to hispsychological state as a wanderer,grappling with confusion over self-recognition and thechallenges of ethical decision-making.
2.1.1 The Marginalized Individual within Domestic Space
Bob’s domestic space plays a crucial role in the formation of his ethical identity.Gaston Bachelard,in The Poetics of Space,argues that domestic spaces are not merelyphysical spaces,but are deeply connected to personal childhood memories,providing afoundation for emotional security and a sense of belonging(Bachelard 6).However,Bob’sdomestic space did not provide the sense of security that Bachelard described.Instead,itbecame a source of his identity confusion.When Bob recalls his childhood,he feels asthough he is a bag of broken wood shavings,unable to piece together a complete self.These fragmented memories include his time with his parents and also interactions with hisUncle Tam.Although Uncle Tam was not as affectionate as his parents,his influence on Bob was still profound.
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2.2 The Ethical Identity of the Residents of Panhandle
In That Old Ace in the Hole,the ethical identity of the residents of panhandle is notonly the foundation of the story but also central to their resistance against modernization.Living on the margins,they fiercely maintain their deep ties to home and tradition,despitethe encroaching forces of external capital and modern values.
The ethical identity of panhandle residents can be understood from two perspectives:first,they are defenders of their home environment,with figures like Ace viewing the landas integral to their cultural identity and livelihood.They resist outside development,striving to preserve the integrity of their land.Second,they act as guardians of traditionalvalues,maintaining a strong sense of community spirit and collective consciousness.Theyreject the individualism and commercialization that modernization brings and aredetermined to preserve their way of life against external pressures.
This section will explore how the residents of panhandle have forged a unique ethicalidentity rooted in the protection of their home and tradition.It will also examine theirresponses to the challenges posed by modernization,highlighting their struggle to retaintheir core values and sense of belonging amidst the evolving landscape.
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Chapter 3 Ethical Predicament.................................29
3.1 Bob’s Personal Ethical Predicament.............................29
3.1.1 Bob’s Being under the Westward Expansion and Environmental Destruction..............29
3.1.2 Ethical Predicament under the Influence of Childhood Trauma..................31
Chapter 4 Ethical Choices under the Influence of the Sphinx Factor.......................40
4.1 The Ethical Choices of the Protagonist Bob.............................40
4.2 Resisting Capitalist Invasion of the Residents of Panhandle.................................43
4.3 Evelyn’s Egoistic Ethical Choices.................................45
Chapter 5 Conclusion.........................................48
Chapter 4 Ethical Choices under the Influence of theSphinx Factor
4.1 The Ethical Choices of the Protagonist Bob
In Annie Proulx’s novel That Old Ace in the Hole,Bob’s ethical redemption is notmerely a process of personal moral improvement but a profound psychologicaltransformation and self-awareness,embodying a shift from being a capitalist agent tobecoming an ecological guardian.This transformation highlights how an individual,caughtin the complex ethical dilemmas of capitalist expansion,social responsibility,andenvironmental conflict,can find their true moral stance and achieve self-return andredemption through choice.
Marx’s analysis of the ethics of capitalist society in Capital deeply critiques thedistorted,coercive,and deceptive nature of capitalist ethics.He argues that“the moralframework of capitalism,although seemingly universal,ultimately serves the interests ofthe bourgeoisie,obscuring its hypocrisy”(Wang 45-50).Bob’s journey in the novel is a gradual awakening to this hypocrisy.Initially,as a site locator for the Global Pork Rind,Bob’s job seems simple—finding suitable land for pig farms.However,as he learns moreabout the Texas panhandle,he begins to realize that this task hides the profound damagebeing done to the local community and the ecosystem.
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Chapter 5 Conclusion
Overall,Annie Proulx’s novel That Old Ace in the Hole not only explores theethical dilemmas of individuals in the face of the pressures of modernization,globalization and capitalism,but also profoundly reflects how human beings canmaintain their self-identity and moral responsibility in the midst of rapid changes inecology,culture and social structure.By analyzing the inner worlds of his characters,Proulx reveals the complexity behind ethical decision-making and highlights howindividuals can constantly self-examine and achieve moral reinvention in the modernworld.Characters in the novel are both victims of these social forces and may becometheir responders,reflecting the universal ethical question in contemporary society:how to maintain moral clarity and human social responsibility in the face ofglobalization and the drive for consumerism.
Rather than presenting That Old Ace in the Hole as a simple“good versus evil”dichotomy,Proulx explores a more multidimensional ethical conflict through thecharacters’experiences.This conflict is not only limited to external social changes,but also incorporates the historical background of the characters and the process ofindividual identity formation.Ace’s perseverance and Bob’s transformation are twodifferent modes of ethical response;the former represents the guardianship oftradition and the natural environment,while the latter represents an awakeningtowards ecological responsibility through self-reflection.Ace’s persistence highlightsa central theme:the erosion of traditional ways of life by modernization andcapitalism,while Bob’s growth demonstrates the possibility of moral awakening andpersonal transformation.This moral growth is not an external“salvation”but aninternal redemption through reflection and self-acceptance.
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