| Acknowledgements | 第5-6页 |
| 中文摘要 | 第6-7页 |
| Abstract | 第7页 |
| 1.Introduction | 第9-15页 |
| 1.1 Introduction to Nathanael West and his novels | 第9-11页 |
| 1.2 Literature review | 第11-13页 |
| 1.3 Focus and structure of this thesis | 第13-15页 |
| 2. Destruction of "Alger Hero" Dream in A Cool Million | 第15-22页 |
| 2.1 Parody of American dream model: "Alger Story" | 第15-18页 |
| 2.1.1 Imitation of "Alger Hero" | 第15-17页 |
| 2.1.2 Subversion of "Alger Triumph" | 第17-18页 |
| 2.2 Attack on traditional American values | 第18-22页 |
| 2.2.1 Satire on equality | 第19-20页 |
| 2.2.2 Satire on causality of effort and gain | 第20-22页 |
| 3. Destruction of Hollywood Dream in The Day of the Locust | 第22-34页 |
| 3.1 Illusory prosperity of Hollywood | 第22-26页 |
| 3.1.1 Material and emotional falsehood in Hollywood | 第22-24页 |
| 3.1.2 Spiritual emptiness against Hollywood carnival | 第24-26页 |
| 3.2 Representative victims of Hollywood dream | 第26-31页 |
| 3.2.1 Faye: assimilated by Hollywood | 第26-28页 |
| 3.2.2 Harry: denigrated by Hollywood | 第28-29页 |
| 3.2.3 Homer: ruined by Hollywood | 第29-31页 |
| 3.3 Apocalyptic accounts of Hollywood fantasies | 第31-34页 |
| 3.3.1 Allusion to the locust: mass sterility | 第31-32页 |
| 3.3.2 Allusion to the fire:mass resentment | 第32-34页 |
| 4. Destruction of Savior Dream in Miss Lonelyhearts | 第34-44页 |
| 4.1 Mock on the self-deceptive salvation dream | 第34-38页 |
| 4.1.1 Miss Lonelyhearts' desire to be Christ-like savior | 第34-36页 |
| 4.1.2 Miss Lonelyhearts' doubt over Christian values | 第36-38页 |
| 4.2 Miss Lonelyhearts' spiritual disillusionment | 第38-44页 |
| 4.2.1 Spiritual maladjustment: Miss Lonelyhearts' irrational rage | 第38-41页 |
| 4.2.2 Spiritual paralysis: Miss Lonelyhearts' emotional deadness | 第41-44页 |
| 5. Conclusion | 第44-46页 |
| Bibliography | 第46-47页 |
