Abstract

The Thorn Birds written by Australia female writer Colleen McCullough is a masterpiece with world influence. Since published in 1977, the novel has caused a great sensation all over the world. It is reputed as “Gone with the Wind of Australia”. Threaded by the love tragedy between Meggie and Ralph, the novel depicts the legendary history of the Cleary family. Themed as love and fate, the novel is permeated by fatalism. It embodies in the legend of thorn birds, plot construction and literary techniques concretely. The use of fatalism highly adds to the artistry of the novel. It demonstrates enormous glamour of free will and endows the story with a kind of violent tragic beauty. 

Key words : The Thorn Birds; fatalism; free will; tragic beauty

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction1

1.1 Background1

1.2 Fatalism2

2. The Embodiment of Fatalism..2

2.1 In the legend of thorn birds.2

2.2 In plot construction3

2.3 In literary techniques 6

3. Artistry of Fatalism7

3.1 Glamour of free will..7

3.2 Tragic beauty.8

4.Conclusion 10

References 11