On The Spatial Issues Of Western Modernist Fiction

This dissertation attempt to interpret western modernist fiction from the pe rspective of space.There are three reasons for this research:(1)space is not o nly a basic dimension of literary narrative,but also one of the basic elements in literary works.(2)A “Space turn” took place in the interior of modernist fi ction.(3)Postmodern geography has opened up the horizon and boundary of s pace theory and stimulated the upsurge of literary space research.Due to the t hree factors above,there is a complex situation in the study of space in mode rnist fiction.On the one hand,the spacial issue within the modernist fictions i s becoming an academic hot topic,but on the other hand,the theoretical comp lexity has led to confusion in researches.It is of great value and significance t o interpret the forms,features and relations of space in the modernist fiction.The current academic study of the spatial issue of literature has been stim ulated by the postmodern spatial theory,and the study of the spatial issue of l iterature has presented itself as a variety of samples.However,the literary sign ificance of space itself has been neglected to a certain extent due to the fact t hat some of the studies are overly focused on theoretical elaboration.Therefore,this paper attempts to discuss the spatial issue of modernist fiction by viewin g the spatial phenomenon of literature itself,to examine under the context of western literary history the distinction between the modernist fiction and the tra ditional fiction from the perspective of space,and to clarify the spatial form o f the modernist fiction and the spatial relations of its elements that reveals.The Preface introduces this thesis from three aspects: value proposition,research status,and research line.It is pointed out that western modernist fiction has caused great impact and subversion to traditional fiction in aspects of aest hetics,technique,style,thought,etc..Modernist fiction shows distinctive pionee ring and experimental characteristics in plot,scene,character,language,narrativ e,etc.,and new modes of literary criticism have thus emerged.It is under this context that the spatial issue is highlighted.Chapter 1 provides an overview of the concept of space.Firstly,it identifi es the main current theories of space by examining and evaluating the evolutio n of the concept of space through European history.Secondly,it proposes the three stages of spatial theories in Western history.Thirdly,It points out that sp ace is neither a pure and abstract form nor a self-contained,isolated objective object,but rather the product of interpenetration of both subject and object.M an forms and produces space through his own activity,and space affects man i n return.Chapter 2 discusses the space of literature.It attempts to define the conce pt of literary space,and then points out the basis for the formation of literary space and the features of literary space.It proposes that imagery is the most basic element of literary space.The spatial effect of literature is the result of t he integration of vision,that is to say,literary space is closely related to the c onsciousness and behavior of characters.Chapter 3 explores the relationship between modernist literature and the so-called ‘spatial turn'.It examines the spatial turn in literary studies and literary production from theoretical and phenomenological perspectives respectively,an d proposes that the modernist fiction's spatial form has its own evolutionary lo gic.It is pointed out that there is a deep connection between the spatial turn of modern fiction and the change of spatial concept,and that the raising and discussion of spatial issues not only maintain a certain degree of alienation fro m the theoretical “spatial turn”,but also form a kind of dialogue and linkage i n between.Chapter 4 examines the forms of space in Western narrative literature from Homer to Joyce.It reviews and sorts out the spacial issues in Western narr ative literature,and divides it into three stages,pointing out the correspondence between the spatial form of literature and the development of spatial theory.I t suggests that the prominence of spatial issues is closely linked to the anti-rati onal situation of ideology of the early twentieth century,which reflected a rene wal of deep values.Chapters 5,6,7,and 8 are interpretations of several of the most iconic modernist fictions.It analyzes the spacial issue in fiction through in-depth read ings of the works of Proust,Joyce,Woolf,and Kafka.Chapter 9 summarizes the characteristics of the relationship between space and time,space and characters in modernist fiction.It is pointed out that the modernist fictions overturns the original characteristics of traditional literature a nd forms a new relationship among characters,time and space.The conclusion part summarizes the spatial logic of the modernist novel in terms of “generation” and “metaphor”,evaluates the spatial characteristics of t he modernist novel at the ontological level,and points out the hidden value an d meaning of modernity behind these characteristics.In the modernist fiction,s pace is no longer regarded as purely secondary factors including background,s tructures or forms,but is portrayed as the main factor of a fictions,which con tains unique connotations and has different styles.