Abstract

Colonization of European countries transferred Canada into a society of multiculturalism. Accordingly, the resulting conflicts among disparate cultures and religions were embodied in the process of cultural oppression and assimilation, which was a long-existing problem in Canadian society. The uprising of the Métis in the end of the 19th century was part of those conflicts. The loons was written on the basis of that historical background with high artistic quality. This literary work on cultural marginalized races in Canadian society written by Margaret Laurence, a Canadian novelist and short story writer, displays a unique perspective of the plight of marginalized people by presenting the paradoxical feelings of two main characters. By dissecting their mixed attitudes, the thesis will give an analysis on the cultural connotations reflected in the relationship between the marginalized and the dominant as well as the vicious circle that may take shape in the society.

Key words:  paradoxical attitudes; ambivalence; loss of identity; the vicious circle

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

1.1 Background Information-1

1.2 Researches both at Home and Abroad-1

1.3 Literature Review-1

2. The Paradoxical Attitudes of Main Characters-3

2.1 Vanessa’s Mixed Feelings towards Piquette-3

2.1.1 Sympathy and Guilt-3

2.1.2 Contempt and Indifference-3

2.2 Piquette’s Contradictory Feelings to the Dominant-4

2.2.1 Apathy and Rudeness-4

2.2.2 Vitality and Enthusiasm-5

3. The Reasons for the Paradoxical Attitudes-6

3.1 Main Causes of Vanessa’s Attitudes-6

3.1.1 The Witness of Piquette’s Struggle-6

3.1.2 The Sense of Superiority-6

3.1.3 The Failure of Being Intimate Friends-7

3.1.4 Piquette’s Irrational Imitation-7

3.2 Implicit Factors that Contributed to Piquette’s Attitudes-7

3.2.1 The Protection of Self-esteem-8

3.2.2 The Pursuit of a Sense of Belonging-8

4. Culture Connotations Reflected in The Loons-9

4.1 Post-colonial Theories Reflected in the Mixed Feelings-9

4.1.1 Ambivalence-9

4.1.2 Loss of Identity-10

4.2 The Vicious Circle Reflected in the Novel-11

5. Conclusion-13

Bibliography-14