ABSTRACT

Patrick White is the only Australia-born writer who has won the Nobel Literature Prize. In 1973, with the publication of The Eye of the Storm, he has won the Nobel Prize for Literature, which made him internationally and nationally famous. He was praised for introducing a new continent into literature.

White is innovative in writing techniques. In The Eye of the Storm, he employs a unique psychological narrative to show the complexity of man’s inner world. To deepen the theme of this novel, he perfectly uses symbolism and stream of consciousness as well. 

The focus of White’s fiction is not only the conflict between human beings and nature，which is expressed in traditional Australian novels, but also in their inner world. Instead of describing reality directly, he stresses the inner life of man to demonstrate the real world. The theme of this novel is that capitalist society is rife with money and insatiable desire. Mrs. Hunter is a slave of money, but she is also an independent woman with determination. In her last days, Mrs. Hunter’s soul has been sublimated during the process of pursuing the true meaning of life. She finally realizes that suffering is the only way to success.

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Key words：Patrick White; The Eye of the Storm; Psychological Narrative; Theme

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 Brief Introduction to Patrick White and His Works-1

1.2 Brief Introduction to The Eye of the Storm-1

1.3 The Purpose and Plan of the Thesis-3

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-4

2.1 A Brief History of Past Studies-4

2.2 Critical Inadequacy of Past Studies-5

2.3 The Significance of the Present Study-6

Chapter Three  TECHNIQUES OF WHITE’S PSYCHOLOGICAL NARRATIVE-7

3.1 Stream of Consciousness-7

3.1.1 Dream-7

3.1.2 Interior monologue-9

3.1.3 Free association-10

3.2 Symbolism-11

Chapter Four  THE THEME OF THE EYE OF THE STORM-15

4.1 Selfishness and Indifference-15

4.2 Suffering and Humanity-16

Chapter Five  THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL NARRATIVE AND THE NOVEL’S THEME-18

5.1 The Foundation of Psychological Narrative-18

5.2 Psychological Narrative for Deepening the Theme-19

Chapter Six  CONCLUSION-22

WORKS CITED-24