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th instrumental rationality that embodies objective andfixed standards,which makes instrumental rationality much easier to be accepted andmore popular among people.As a consequence,during modernization,instrumentalrationality gradually triumphed over value rationality,causing the crisis of modernity,including the absence of faith,the blind pursuit of profit,and the anthropocentricview.

Chapter 2 Ethan’s Predicament in the Context of Modernity

2.1 The Dramatic Changes of Living Environment

Due to the disenchantment of the world together with the impact of capitallogic,human beings,standing on the opposite side of nature,treat nature as an objectout of which they try to get the most to serve their interests.Men utilize advancedtechnology to exploit and use natural resources without restraint,turning a blind eyeto environment degradation.However,human and nature are interdependent andintimately connected.Accompanied with the damage to natural environment comesthe deterioration of man’s living environment,which not only does harm to human’sphysical health but also mental health.What human beings upset is not only thenatural balance but also their spiritual balance.

New Baytown,the once-prosperous town,lived on the whale oil that lightedthe western world.Along with the boom of whale fishery in New Baytown came therise of several families,like the Hawley family,the Baker family,and the Taylor family.However,as petroleum and coal oil replaced whale oil,the whale fisherytogether with the town fell into a decline.The decline of New Baytown cast ashadow on the town and its people.“Sickness or the despair fell on New Baytown.”(161)Even when other neighboring towns begin to thrive depending on otherindustries,New Baytown still couldn’t get over it in time.So does the people in thetown,especially the protagonist Ethan Allen Hawley who has difficulty in adaptingto new situation.

2.2 The Great Pressure from Others

Modernity with rationality breaks traditional values but doesn’t establish a set ofnew primary values.The ongoing modernization brings about the expansion ofinstrumental rationality,resulting in the prevalence of pragmatism,progressivism,and materialism and other sick culture among people.At such a morbid culturalatmosphere,the relationships between people are built on personal interests insteadof any human feelings.In the pursuit of personal interests,people never care aboutothers’feelings and they chase interests at any cost.

Already in bewilderment due to the dramatic changes in New Baytown,Ethan istaught the nature of doing business and offered one money-making opportunity afteranother by others,and complained of living a poor life by his family members,all ofwhich bother Ethan a lot and make him waver in what he originally adheres to.

On Good Friday,Ethan comes across a series of temptations offered by peoplearound him.In the morning,on his way to the grocery store,Ethan meets JoeyMorphy,a bank teller at the First National.Based on the methods of catching bankrobbers,Joey Morphy tells Ethan how to rob a bank without being caught.ThoughEthan doesn’t show much interest in Joey’s law,he bears it in mind.What’s more,heis confused about Joey’s behaviour as a bank teller should treat bank robbery,thecriminal act,as a joke,and even provide others the way to rob a bank openly.

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