A Journey To The Future: Construction Of The Scottish National Identity In Passing Places

Stephen Greenhorn is an outstanding contemporary Scottish dramatist whose play Passing Places has received many favorable comments since its debut in 1997.The play was restaged in 2018 and still enjoyed its popularity.On the face of it,the play is about the lost young people struggling to find themselves and rebuilding their relationships with others during the road trip.Yet at a deeper level,by telling this road trip story,Greenhorn intends to explore the construction of the Scottish national identity from different perspectives.By examining Scotland’s internal events as well as the Anglo-Scot relationship,Greenhorn sweeps away some outdated images of Scotland so as to present his vision of the Scottish identity.This thesis argues that Greenhorn wants Scottish people to take the initiative in developing a sense of belonging to Scotland;in the meanwhile,he wants to promote a national culture that is flexible and inclusive.First,this thesis focuses on Greenhorn’s exploration of some internal events in Scotland.The hero Alex’s escape can be seen as a recurrence of the Highland Clearances.By restaging a clearance,Greenhorn gives a multifaceted examination of the Clearances so as to rip Scotland off the label of a victim in the myth of the Highland Clearances.The broken Lada Riva that Alex drives can be seen as a metaphor for the Scottish Renaissance ideals.In the car,an enclosed space can be formed.The broken Lada Riva implies that narrow nationalism is no longer suitable.A more diversified Scotland should be constructed in the new age.Then,this thesis revolves around Greenhorn’s reflection on the influences of the Anglo-Scottish union.Binks’ schizophrenia can be seen as a metaphor for the Anglo-Scottish relationship.Scotland is trapped in the dualism of British/Scottish in terms of national psychology,while later an exorcism is performed,which indicates that Scotland’s schizophrenia can be cured.Though deeply influenced by England,Scotland can maintain psychological independence.Mirren and her family condition show that as time changes,the focus has changed on the development of the Scottish economy and culture under the Anglo-Scottish union.In the past,Scotland traded its cultural development for economic growth while contemporary Scotland puts more emphasis on the exploration of Scottish culture.Last but not least,this thesis analyzes Greenhorn’s exploration of Scottish citizens’ personal identity and Scottish national culture.Contemporary Scotland sees the growing problems of urban convergence and identity crisis;individuals lack emotional connections with Scotland.Spiritually homeless,Alex chooses to run away from his hometown Motherwell and starts a journey to the Highlands.During the journey,he experiences the Highland landscape and gradually becomes more identified with Scotland.Interacting with the Scottish Highland landscape can be one important way for individuals to strengthen their Scottish identity.In terms of national culture,the nomadic group formed by the “new-age travellers” shows flexibility in Scottish cultural identity.Individuals can choose whether to identify with Scotland or not.Those who find a sense of belonging to Scotland,regardless of their nationalities,can be a member of the Scottish community.The ceilidh filled with different cultural elements shows inclusiveness in Scottish culture.People with different nationalities gather here and enjoy a good time together,which provides a favorable chance to revive Gaelic culture as well as introduce Scottish literature to the outside world.The core spirit of the ceilidh is inclusiveness and togetherness.In this regard,the “new”ceilidh that includes different cultural elements further highlights its core value.By analyzing Greenhorn’s reflections on Scotland’s internal events,the Anglo-Scottish union,Scottish citizens’ personal identity as well as Scottish national culture,we can acquire a more comprehensive and much deeper understanding of the Scottish nation.In this contemporary world where national borders become increasingly blurred,Greenhorn’s exploration of the construction of the Scottish national identity can offer references as well as new ideas to the growingly complicated problems of national identity.