Narrative Arts Of Margaret Atwood’s Novels

This dissertation is a panoramic research on the narrative arts of MargaretAtwood’s novels. In this research, theories of both classical narratology and newclassical narratology are applied in the text analysis of Atwood’s novels to discussthe artistic techniques in the works from the post-modernist view, to reveal therelations between the forms and the thoughts of her novels, and to explore theideological and cultural connotation of the novels. The analysis illustrates Atwood’sassimilation of the western literary and artistic theories, modern ideas, as well as theessence of traditional narrative literature in the creation of her novels, thus expoundsthe aesthetic value and ideological and cultural connotation of her novel narrative.The dissertation is arranged in the following framework: in the introduction part,a review is made about the researches on Atwood and her works in China and othercountries, to discuss the methodological changes in the research of her novels, toanalyze the relationship between the form of the novels and the expression of theirthemes, and to explain the value and significance of the research on her novelnarrative. Then the dissertation aims to analyze Atwood’s representative worksthrough two levels: first, examining the narrative techniques applied in these novels;second, exploring how the author’s expression of ideas and the form of texts areorganically integrated in these texts and how the breakthrough to traditionalCanadian literature or Atwood’s own creation is made in the novel narrative. Underthis principle, the dissertation is centered on the postmodern novel narratology, anddiscusses the author’s narrative practice from the aspects of narrative focalization,intertextuality, narrative techniques and characterization.The first chapter begins from the aspect of narrative focalization. In this chapter,the selection of narrative persons and the special expressive effects thus achieved areanalyzed. Unreliable narrator is one of the characteristics of postmodern narrative.Atwood adopts unreliable narration in her works to prolong the comprehensionprocess of the readers and to pursue the more profound effect: after the unreliable narration, the more believable truth is revealed. In her novels, regardless of whetherinter-focalization or multi-focalization is adopted, the narrative focalization offemale characters always takes the superior position, which presents in a positiveway the objective world under the female visual threshold, as well as the uniquethinking and rich inner world of the female characters.In the second chapter, the intertextuality of Atwood’s novel narrative isdiscussed from the aspects of Gothic novel narrative, anti-Utopian novel narrative,female myth narrative, fairytale narrative and classical tragedy narrative. The EdibleWoman inherits many elements of Gothic novel on one hand, while subverts theGothic novel on the other. It can be seen from the whole framework of the story thatAtwood follows the rules, patterns and techniques of Gothic novel. However, shealso subverts the Gothic style in many details, because Gothic novels are usuallystereotypical and unfaithful in the creation of female characters, which will misleadand harm the female readers. Oryx and Crake describes a future world not far awayfrom us in which readers witness shocking scenes of doomsday. The black humor inthis novel presents a disappointing anti-Utopian world to the readers. ThePenelopiad is the adaptation of Odyssey, resembling this classical epic in the plotand major characters. However, Atwood restructures the novel through thealternation of the narrative angle, the ending and some details, thus creates a femalemyth. In Lady Oracle, Atwood combines fairytale with Gothic novel to create the“transformation” image. The whole story is like the process of the femaleprotagonist’s transformation. Under Atwood’s pen, this protagonist grows from fat toslim, from na ve to mature, from passively suffering to actively fighting, and from avictim to the master of her own fate. In Cat’s Eye, Atwood successfully parodies twoof William Shakespeare’s great tragedies——Macbeth and King Lear to probe intothe darkness of human soul and the nothingness of human life.Narrative techniques of Atwood’s novels are analyzed in the third chapter. Thethought pattern on the mutual exclusion between the two sides in binary oppositionobstructs the establishment of harmonious relationship. Instead of emphasizing the opposition, Atwood believes that the opposite sides should depend on each other andcoexist harmoniously. The most obvious difference between modernism andpostmodernism lies in their attitude towards time. The postmodern view of timeemphasizes the occasional flow of time. The narrative technique of meta-fiction isadopted frequently in Atwood’s novels, in which she draws readers’ attention to thewriting process and the use of language. The features of fragmentation are presentedclearly through the messy structure as well as the discontinuous and illogical plot inthe postmodern texts. Readers need to use their imagination to create an integratedstory on the basis of these fragments. Postmodernism transcends the traditionalboundary of genres through freely crossing the boundary and challenging thetraditional patterns. Indeterminacy of narration is another typical feature ofpostmodern writing, and the open endings also reflect this feature.The fourth chapter is the discussion of characterization in Atwood’s novels.Character is an indispensable narrative element in novel, so characterization is animportant aspect in novel narrative art. In Atwood’s works, the author uses stream ofconsciousness to present the inner world of the characters. This technique enablesreaders’ thought to flow with the stream of the character’s consciousness. The secondtechnique discussed in this chapter is multiple personality, which is frequently usedin literary creation as a technique for characterization and expression of themes. InAtwood’s novels, many characters present multiple personality. The creation ofbuffoons again proves Atwood’s talent in characterization. The buffoons in herworks bring laughter to the readers, and add some light-hearted ingredients to theserious topics. Their images are as authentic as people around us, for there is noperfect man in our daily life. The description of environment is the last techniquediscussed in this chapter. It is closely related with the characters’ thought andbehavior, and plays an important role in characterization. In Atwood’s novels, watersymbolizes the primeval power of nature, which can purify people’s soul andreconstruct people’s personality. On the other hand, during the development ofhuman civilization, nature is damaged and all kinds of environmental problems emerge. The environmental crises not only destroy people’s home, but also distorttheir personality.Atwood is not only a pioneer in literary creation, but also a scholar concerningherself with contemporary thoughts. She is bold to explore new techniques in novelcreation, and has created many excellent works with profound ideological andartistic values. Her innovation in novel forms is not just to pursue something noveland unconventional, but is bestowed with rich ideological and cultural connotation.With an open and innovative mind, she strives to keep the pioneering spirit in herexperiment of novel forms and always stands in the frontier of times. Thesignificance of research on Atwood’s novel narrative just lies in these merits.