《不存在的女孩》中的平行叙事结构_英语论文

Parallel Narratives in A Tale for the Time Being

摘要

通过对《不存在的女孩》中平行叙事结构的具体分析，本文试图发掘这部小说的艺术价值和社会价值。《不存在的女孩》这部小说情节中的冲突反映了当代社会中存在的矛盾，包括社会疏离感和移民生活中的问题。最终，本文重点放在了对平行叙事结构的讨论上，并基于对小说情节的深入理解探析了小说家对多元化现代社会中个人存在意义的深刻见解。

小说同步叙述了两个不同时发生的故事，并借此推动了情节发展。通过对两个主人公的救赎过程的详细分析，本文探究了存在主义主题如何通过平行叙事从情节中显现的问题。通过对小说中主要角色相互关系的探究，本文辨析了多元文化背景中个人存在意义的两个方面。首先，人是作为一个过着本真生活的个人存在。其次，个体存在于一个有机统一的世界之中。本文最后将小说中平行叙事结构对情节和主题的影响进行了梳理，探讨了这种实验性的结构技巧的应用对揭示小说主题的影响。

关键词：平行叙事；时间；存在；存在主义；意象联系；共时叙事；存在主义；叙事结构

Abstract

Through the analysis of the employment of parallel narratives in A Tale for the Time Being, this paper attempts to discover the artistic and social value of the novel. The conflicts in A Time for the Time Being reflect the conflicts in contemporary society, including social alienation and the problems in immigrant life. Ultimately, this paper focuses on the discussion of parallel narratives in the novel with an aim to probe into the plots for the novelist’s philosophical view on the meaning of human existence in a modern, multicultural world.

The synchronous narration of two asynchronous stories in the novel provides its plot with dynamic. With the detailed discussion over the redemption of the two protagonists, the paper analyzes the metaphorical link between the two narratives. Moreover, the paper explores the emergence of the existential theme from the plot through parallel narratives. Through the exploration into the interrelationship between the main characters in the novel, the paper recognizes that the meaning of human existence against a multicultural background is twofold. First, the human being exists as an individual who lives an authentic life. Second, the individual exists in the world as a whole. The paper concludes by marshaling the impact of parallel narratives in A Tale for the Time Being on both its plot and the theme of human existence. In this way, the paper proves that the experimental employment of this structural technique helps to reveal the ultimate theme of human existence. 

Keywords: parallel narratives; time; being; metaphorical link; synchronous narration; existentialism; narrative structure  

Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 Characteristics of Parallel Narratives in A Tale for the Time Being 2

2.1 Differences Between Parallel Narratives and Other Narrative Structures 3

2.2 Coincidental Connection Between Two Protagonists 3

2.3 The Use of Two Different Narrative Modes 4

3 Impact of Parallel Narratives on Plot 5

3.1 Synchronous Narration of Two Asynchronous Stories 6

3.2 Escalation of Conflicts 7

3.3 Reversal of an Inevitable Ending 8

4 Quest for Existential Authenticity Through Separate Journeys 9

4.1 Suffering From Existential Anguish 9

4.2 Significance of Living the Truth 10

4.3 Restoration of Faith in Life 11

5 Interrelationship Between Individuals 12

5.1 The Need for Successful Communication 12

5.2 Transcending the Ontological Divide 13

5.3 Interrelated Fate of the Characters 14

Conclusion 16

References 17