Abstract in Chinese
Abstract in English
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Background information about Joyce Carol Oates
1.2 Survey of studies on Oates and her works
1.3 Introduction to Solstice
1.4 Literature reviews about Solstice
1.5 Brief intention of this thesis
Chapter 2 Explorations of Violence in Oates’s Works
2.1 Analysis of violence
2.2 Reasons for Oates’s fascination with violence
2.2.1 The traditional influence
2.2.2 Personal life experience
2.2.3 Oates’s literature theories
2.3 Explorations of violence in Oates’s fictions before Solstice
Chapter 3 Mental Violence in Solstice
3.1 Studies on mental violence
3.2 Mental violence in Solstice
3.2.1 Mental abuse from the scarred marriage
3.2.2 Mental exploitation from the energy-drained work
3.2.3 Mental aggression from the spiritual-vampire friendship
3.3 Connotations of the mental violence in Solstice
Chapter 4 Conclusion
Bibliography
Publications during the Postgraduate Program
Acknowledgements
