From the Concept of Freedom to Criticism of the USA: On Susan Sontag's “American Spirits”

Foreign Literature Studies ›› 2018, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (4): 127-135.

• European and American Literature Studies • Previous Articles Next Articles

From the Concept of Freedom to Criticism of the USA: On Susan Sontag's “American Spirits”

Yao Junwei

Online:2018-08-25 Published:2022-05-23
About author:Yao Junwei is professor at School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Nanjing Normal University (Nanjing 210097, China). His research focuses on English and American literature. Email: yaojunweinj@126.com
Supported by:
“Studies of the Narrative Art and Cultural Elements of Short Stories of Susan Sontag” (13YJA752026) sponsored by Annual Planning Project of the Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education; Second Phase of the Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (20140901)

Abstract

Abstract: This paper, with a focus on Susan Sontag's short stories, analyzes the woman protagonist's pursuit and misunderstanding of freedom. It argues that her misunderstanding of freedom is due to the confusing and contradictory summons from the spirits of the great Americans. As such, the paper reveals Sontag's criticism against the core value of the United States of America. This paper holds that the short story “American Spirit” is an important expression of Sontag's notion of culture, evident in its theme and artistic form.

Key words: Susan Sontag, “American Spirits”, freedom, American value

Yao Junwei. From the Concept of Freedom to Criticism of the USA: On Susan Sontag's “American Spirits”[J]. Foreign Literature Studies, 2018, 40(4): 127-135.

References

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From the Concept of Freedom to Criticism of the USA: On Susan Sontag's “American Spirits”

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