The Study Of Lost Horizon From The Perspective Of "Otherness"

As a famous English writer,James Hilton has created some popular novels. One of his novels is Lost Horizon, which receives great success after its publication in 1933. In this novel,Hilton describes an Oriental paradise named Shangri-La. A cinematic version follows suit immediately. Since then, Shangri-La has gained its fame both in the circle of business and literature. At the same time most of the Westerners are crazy for the pursuit of Shangri-La.This thesis attempts to interpret Lost Horizon from the perspective of"Otherness" in Orientalism and explore the Chinese images made by the West.Through analyzing the Chinese images in the text, the thesis expounds that some of the Western understandings about China are closely associated with its special historical background. Either with beautification or with uglification, it more or less shows the mystification and appetency of the West to China. It is not difficult to find that Hilton cannot escape the influence of Western superiority that the West takes the center position and the East as "the Other". Shangri-La in the novel has become a land which is dependent on Western countries.The thesis is organized in six chapters as follows.The first chapter serves as a brief introduction to James Hilton and his main works and describes the background of the novel. Then it presents the studies of Lost Horizon at home and abroad. The previous papers are mainly about the Utopianism in Shangri-La land and the magic strengths of the Eastern world.The second chapter introduces Said's theory of Orientlism and "Otherness" and then points out three prominent features of "Otherness" in Orientalism and its limitations. The aim of this paper is to focus on "Otherness" in Shangri-La.The third chapter concerns with the applications of "Otherness" in analyzing the characteristics of the figures and the ending of this novel and concludes that the writer James Hilton has an Oriental complex. The peaceful and harmonious "Shangri-La"descried in the novel is a reflection of his understanding of Chinese philosophy and his depression on Western civilization as well as his longing for Oriental culture.Chapter four interprets the Shangri-La's image in the perspectives of politics,economy and culture in the novel.The fifth chapter aims to explore the influence of Shangri-La images. On the one hand, it digs the reasons for the formation of Shangri-La as the dominating,restructuring and practicing authority over the Oriental. On the other hand, it is about power and knowledge which is controlled by the ones who have power. It is an unfair communication between West and East.The sixth chapter clarifies the conclusion for formation of Shangri-La's image and the profound effect on the later generations. It is clear that the post-colonists'disillusion of Shangri-La and their dream of exploring China will never fade away.Then it points out that the Chinese people should raise the cultural self-consciousness and devote ourselves to cross-cultural dialogue.