A Spatial Analysis Of Eiji’s Identity In Number9dream

In David Mitchell’s(1969-)novel number9dream,the protagonist Eiji Miyake comes to Tokyo from the countryside to find his father.It is a journey of identity pursuit and is also a changing process of the protagonist from anxiety to self-awakening.This thesis studies the relationship between space and identity from the perspective of Henri Lefebvre’s(1901-1991)spatial theory.It focuses on the plight of strangers in cities and then reflects on the identity crisis faced by human beings in the process of globalization.Based on the close reading of the text,this thesis discusses Eiji’s transference in physical space,identity anxiety in mental space,and identity construction in social space,exploring the influence of space on Eiji’s identity.Primarily,from the perspective of physical space,this thesis studies the influence of different spatial representations on Eiji’s identity.There are three kinds of physical space in the novel: city,suburb and countryside.Firstly,Tokyo is a typical modern capitalist metropolis.As a stranger in the city,Eiji is marginalized both in public and private space.Secondly,as a middle zone between the city and the countryside,the suburb is neither as noisy and crowded as the city,nor as conservative and closed as the countryside.For Eiji,the suburb could help him escape the living pressure in the city temporarily.Thirdly,Yakushima is the place where Eiji grows up,and it is also a natural space with the characteristics of traditional Japanese culture.From escaping to returning,the mobility of Eiji’s identity is reflected in the transference of physical space.Besides,in terms of mental space,this thesis discusses Eiji’s identity anxiety by analyzing his conscious and unconscious spiritual activities.His identity anxiety is mainly manifested in three aspects: emotions,values and imagination.Among them,lacking a sense of belonging is the negative emotion caused by the transference of geographical location.While the difference between self-values and mainstream social values is the underlying cause of Eiji’s identity anxiety.The world in Eiji’s imagination not only reflects his anxiety in reality but also shows his positive fantasies of self-identity as well as the world.Therefore,in mental space,Eiji’s self-identity anxiety is intertwined between reality and imagination.Last,as far as social space is concerned,Eiji re-establishes positive and stable relationships in social space,including family relations,gender relations and social relations.Firstly,Eiji finally chooses to reconcile with his mother and re-establishes the bond of affection with her.Secondly,he takes action against the inherent patriarchal thought and redefines the gender relations that females are as equal as males in modern society.In the end,Eiji finds his social position by working in Tokyo.He also gains social identity by rebuilding sincere friendship and uses his own way to resist the dark forces in the city.To sum up,Eiji’s identity problem is the result of the interaction of physical space,mental space and social space.The incompatibility between identity and physical space leads Eiji to be marginalized in a capitalist society,which causes identity anxiety that doubts his self-worth.The transference in physical space is a process of pursuing identity as well as a process of constantly adjusting his self-values.With the awakening of self-awareness,Eiji obtains stable and positive self-identity and social identity through his efforts and the help of others,and he eventually grows into an independent and responsible individual.