| Human condition is a primary focus of Caryl Phillips’s(1958-)literary works,among which A Distant Shore is a representative.From the perspective of community,the novel reveals modern men’s strong resistance to the collapse of community and their incessant pursuit of the sense of belonging.In the novel,Phillips not only insinuates the obstacles along the way of pursuit,but also enlightens a new vision for the readers to understand community and the sense of belonging.Applying Zygmunt Bauman’s and Ferdinand Tonnies’s theory of community,this thesis first explores the turbulence of community and the crisis of belonging delineated in the novel.Set in modern society,the novel portrays the widespread collapse of community.Under the influence of globalization and modernization,the world is becoming increasingly liquid.Trans-boundary flow breaks the continuity between place and identity,thus exaggerating the dissolution of the old community.By juxtaposing the similar experiences of different characters,the novel exposes that the loss of belonging is a shared trigger point of all mankind.Such a situation generates severe anxiety among the public,and violence becomes a symptom of social anxiety.Therefore,to find a new sense of belonging is desperately needed for both the characters in the novel and people in the real world.The second part of the thesis discusses the characters’ attempts to seek the sense of belonging by reconstructing the immanent community.Employing the ideas of Jean-Luc Nancy,Zygmunt Bauman,Ferdinand Tonnies and other theorists,the second chapter focuses on the impotent and self-destructive nature of nostalgia,collectivism,and xenophobia,which are believed by the characters as necessary ways leading to the renewal of community.By analyzing the fictitious nature of past community and the irreversible fact of modern changes,this chapter argues that nostalgia would never lead to genuine renewal of community.Adopting Tonnies’ definition of community and Nancy’s critique on the ensemble of men,this thesis reevaluates the role of collective unities,deeming them merely as temporary mechanical segregations,which are destined to disintegrate for its inability to produce affinity and certainty.This chapter also studies xenophobia and the cruel persecution inflicted on the Other,arguing that it achieves nothing but widening the gaps between races,regions,and individuals.This thesis finally probes into people’s new explorations of the sense of belonging and Phillips’ innovative thinking on community.Failing to obtain the sense of belonging in the communal entity,people begin to doubt the community and turn to individual identity for help.Society is becoming individualized when everyone in the community starts to focus on their own individual identity.Extreme individualism leads to complete isolation,and intensifies today’s community crisis.By depicting several interracial relationships,Caryl Phillips proposes a bright future of multiracial community,but the ending of the novel puts a touch of tragedy on the multiracial fusion.He emphasizes that racism remains powerful and the existing interracial communication is insufficient.At the end of the novel,Dorothy cherishes her friendship with Solomon,and Carla chooses to accuse her companions.In this sense,Caryl Phillips proposes a new way of seeking the sense of belonging and a new community of equality,justice,and humanity.Through criticizing the logic of absoluteness,the novel surpasses the fixed boundary between the Self and the Other,the Inside and the Outside,and proposes an open-up and transcendent gesture.In this way,A Distant Shore offers a possible solution to today’s predicament of belonging.Since the world is fluid and the trans-boundary reality is irresistible,the sense of belonging in today’s world should be found in a more open and fluid community,a community of equality,justice,and humanity,a community that focuses more on communication and gives more respect to diversity and individuality. |
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