| Acknowledgement | 第1-4页 |
| 摘要 | 第4-6页 |
| ABSTRACT | 第6-8页 |
| Content | 第8-10页 |
| Introduction | 第10-14页 |
| Chapter 1 Existentialism and Oates | 第14-23页 |
| ·A Brief Introduction to Existentialism | 第14-18页 |
| ·Oates and Existentialism | 第18-23页 |
| Chapter 2 Ariah's Experience in the Absurd World | 第23-40页 |
| ·Ariah's Anxiety | 第23-30页 |
| ·Ariah's Fear of Dirk's Sudden Death | 第24-28页 |
| ·Ariah's Fear of Outside Intrusion | 第28-30页 |
| ·Ariah's Alienation | 第30-36页 |
| ·Ariah's Alienation from Her Relatives | 第31-34页 |
| ·Ariah's Alienation from Her Children | 第34-36页 |
| ·Ariah's Despair | 第36-40页 |
| Chapter 3 Ariah's Pursuit of Authentic Existence | 第40-49页 |
| ·Ariah's Pursuit of Making Free Choices | 第40-46页 |
| ·The Choice of Getting Married to Dirk | 第41-43页 |
| ·The Choice of Giving up Dirk's Inheritance | 第43-46页 |
| ·Ariah's Pursuit of Ta king Responsibilities | 第46-49页 |
| ·The Responsibilities for Her Husbands | 第46-47页 |
| ·The Responsibilities for Her Children | 第47-49页 |
| Conclusion | 第49-51页 |
| Works cited | 第51-53页 |
