From Loneliness To Integration

On the theoretical basis of the affective theory of psychology field along with the classical narratology,this thesis points out that the novel Jazz follows the affective pattern of “loneliness-pain-joy” to guide the narrative progress,and that in this way Morrison presents the “repression-release-integration” pattern as a way out for the liberation of the black spirit.By exploring the dominant role that affection plays in the narrative structure,the thesis aims to provide an innovative interpretation of the highly infectious and unique narrative skills in Morrison’s Jazz,adding a new research perspective for the creative connotation of Morrison’s novels.The thesis is divided into four parts for discussion.The introduction part includes three subsectios: novel outline,literature review,and thesis framework.The first chapter analyzes how the repressed affection “solitude” as the most prominent affective state of the new black who drifting in the city during the “jazz age” is penetrated into the narrative layer by utilizing German philosopher Hans-Georg Gadamer’s(1900-2002)theory of “solitude”.Mainly from three aspects including the characterization,the time-space switching,and the narrative voice,this chapter reveals that Morrison has the intention of using the affection “solitude” of urban blacks as a catalyst to enhance the appeal of the novel.The second chapter progressively explores the process of black people’s beginning to release the repressed painful emotions,transforming from being trapped in the “lonely” state of the closed self to forming connection with the outside world in the novel.Extreme torturous emotions and behaviors of blacks are involved in this stage,but the negative affections are not only a testament to the profound trauma of the black soul,but also is an affective way for blacks to release and rebuilt themselves,also a psychological stage that the connection between black people must go through.To demonstrate this notion,this chapter mainly analyzes the release of the black pain emotions in the text from three perspectives: the abnormal characters,arbitrary narrators of narrative discourse,and protesting oral narrative characteristics.The third chapter further discusses the affective state of black characters regaining “joy” after releasing negative emotions and the transition from “fracture” to “consummation” in the narrative discourse.In light of the previous argumentation,the thesis concludes that the affective process of the characters at the story level and the operation the narrative discourse level forms a close internal response,which proves that Morrison interspersed the bitterness and joy of blacks into the construction of the text to drives the narrative with emotion,and to call for politics conscience through emotion.The“repression-release-integration” pattern built from all dimensions of the narrative aspects converges into a textual metaphor: the black group on the fringe of the city must break loose from the repressed affective state of “loneliness”;releasing these painful affections can serves as a bridge to link individuals of black ethnic;and“integration” is the ultimate outlet to heal emotional trauma of blacks to realize racial spiritual freedom,and ultimately to solve racial issue in white society.