Women’s Narrative Space: A Case Study Of Gertrude Stein’s Three Lives

This dissertation studies women’s narrative space from three modes and levels.Based on Kerstin W. Shands’ theory of women’s space in feminist discourse andtheories in feminism, this study proposes three modes of women’s narrative space:open narrative space, enclosed narrative space and third narrative space. ApplyingSeymour Chatman’s distinction of story space and discourse space and other theoriesin narrative space, this study analyzes women’s narrative space from three levels:story space, discourse space and authorial space. Through combining the theories offeminism and narrative space, this study on women’s narrative space aims to offer aframework to help readers understand more about women writers’ novels, which willenrich feminist narratology theoretically and practically. Gertrude Stein’s Three Livesis used as a case study to display women’s narrative space.Open narrative space is explained by the story “The Good Anna”. Within opennarrative space, the protagonist Anna is independent and takes incessant actions tocreate a better future. Anna’s characteristics make her a foregrounded character in adynamic space. Adopting direct ways of presentation of Anna’s speech and thought,and internal focalization, the narrator displays his spatial affinity to Anna, andexpresses both his sympathetic attitudes towards Anna and disapproval of Anna’smanly qualities. Using men’s perspective, the narrator gives an impersonal view of thecharacter Anna. In accordance with Stein’s unconventional image in Paris, the impliedauthor in the story readily embraces women’s liberating image like Anna.Enclosed narrative space is illustrated by “The Gentle Lena”. Within enclosednarrative space, the character Lena becomes a helpless woman whose life gets worseand worse. Lena’s weak personality makes her appear to be a character melted withinher static space determined by the past. Adopting indirect ways of presentation ofLena’s speech and thought, and external focalization, the narrator displays his spatialdistance from Lena, and reveals his indifferent attitudes towards Lena and hisappreciation of female body. Regarding Lena as a desirable object, the narrator’s attitudes reflect men’s perspective. Revealing Stein’s acceptance of her gender, theimplied author in the story approves of women’s traditional image like Lena.Third narrative space is demonstrated by the story “Melanctha”. Within thirdnarrative space, the character Melanctha is a woman with contradictory qualities:mobility and rest, struggles and sufferings. Melanctha takes actions to change hercurrent state. Melanctha’s unique qualities make her a character foregrouned andbackgrouned alternatively in a both dynamic and static space that focuses on thepresent. Adopting direct and indirect ways of presentation of Melanctha’s speech andthought, internal and external focalization, the narrator displays his spatial movementfrom Melanctha, and offers his ambiguous attitudes of sympathy and indifference,disapproval and appreciation of the character Melanctha. Reflecting Stein’scontradictory attitudes towards her gender, the implied author in Melanctha’s storygradually accepts women with complicated qualities like Melanctha.The three modes of women’s narrative space function as a whole structure thatexplains women’s spatial existence. Focusing on women’s spiritual aspect, opennarrative space is the ideal space pursued by independent women. Enclosed narrativespace is the traditional space which emphasizes women’s physical aspect. Thirdnarrative space is the one with potential development by transcending the former twomodes to make a complete experience for women. The three levels of women’snarrative space can reveal women authors’ understanding of their space. Womencharacters’ space represents the author’s construction of women’s space. Narrator,especially the reliable male narrator’s stance reflects the author’s impersonalunderstanding of women’s space. Combining both male and female perspectives, theimplied author’s ideological attitudes reflect woman author’s complete self.