Abstract：In 2004, Alice Munro, the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, created a collection of eight short stories—Runaway, which was set in small towns in Ontario. The book talks about pains of the ordinary women in suburbs and such matters as birth, death, illness, and old age. Through different experience of women in different ages, Munro gave a description of their living situation of embarrassment, pains, hypocrisy and cruelty. And in order to get rid of the troubles, all of the heroines choose to run away. To begin with, the paper applies textual analysis method to analyzing different escapes—escape from family, relationship, and self. Then, from the perspectives of society, family and self, the paper explains the underlying causes of the heroines’ runaway. To dig into the causes of their escapes is helpful for us to further understand Munro’s creativity and insights, the family and marriage dilemma confronted by the middle and lower class women in the mid-20th century Canada. 

Key words: Alice Munro; Runaway; escape; female

Content

摘要：

Abstract:

Introduction-1

Chapter One Escape from Family-3

1.1 Carla’s First Escape-3

1.2 The Escape of Juliet-4

1.3 Lauren’s “Adult” Life-6

Chapter Two Escape from Relationship-8

2.1 Carla’s Escape from Marriage-9

2.2 Grace’s Escape from Her Fiancé-10

Chapter Three Escape from Oneself-12

3.1 Juliet’s Self Dissatisfaction-13

3.2 The Power of Tessa-14

3.3 Robin’s Ideal World-15

Conclusion-16

Bibliography-17

Acknowledgements-19