Abstract

J. D. Salinger is a famous contemporary American novelist. The Nine Stories presents his dislike for this false and heartless world, and the pursuit of a sincere world. This thesis aims to study the deep connections between various characters in Nine Stories and Salinger’s life experience.

Firstly, Nine Stories evokes people’s thinking on both physical and mental trauma of American soldiers. Secondly, in Nine Stories people are addicted to the pursuit of fame and wealth and humanity becomes dissimilated, so there were no longer pure feelings among people. Lastly, from the spiritual level Nine Stories leads people get the true liberation of the spirit by the understanding of the haunted Zen.

Keywords: the archetypal criticism; Salinger; Nine Stories

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

2. Literature Review-1

3. The Conscious Dreams of Archetypal Criticism in Nine Stories-2

3.1 The definition of conscious dreams-2

3.2 The application of conscious dreams in Nine Stories-3

4. The Truth of Myth of Archetypal Criticism in Nine Stories-4

4.1 The definition of truth of myth-4

4.2 The application of myth in Nine Stories-5

5. The Motifs of Archetypal Criticism in Nine Stories-7

5.1 The definition of motifs and themes-7

5.2 The application of motif in Nine Stories-7

6. Conclusion-9

Works Cited-11