A Study Of Metaficational Narrative Strategies In Joseph Conrad's Under Western Eyes

Under Western Eyes is the third and last of Conrad's overtly political novels, which is usually considered to be among his best works. It is, as F. R. Leavis puts it, such a distinguished work that it must be counted among those upon which Conrad's status as one of the greatest English masters securely rests.Based on the theory and practice of metafiction, together with the research method of narratology, this thesis concentrates on the study of metafictional narrative strategies in Under Western Eyes. Also, it explores Conrad's artistic and philosophical concerns. As a whole, this thesis falls into three parts. The first part concerns a brief literary survey of Under Western Eyes as well as the research basis and significance of this thesis. The second consists of three minor chapters. Chapter one, by introducing various definitions of metafiction, firstly introduces the working definition of metafiction, and then it defines the common and essential characteristics of metafiction. Secondly, major distinctions between metafiction and postmodernism is made. Finally, a summary of metafictional narrative strategies is explored. Chapter two analyzes major metafictional strategies in Under Western Eyes. Firstly, the experimentations with Chinese-box narrative structure, the multiple perspective and the switches in them break the traditional narrative conventions, demonstrating a typical metafictional frame. Secondly, the device of double narration is of great help to the metafictionality of this novel. Thirdly, intertextual techniques are employed in Under Western Eyes. For example, it enjoys many intertextual relationships with literary figures and works such as Rousseau's Confessions and Anatole France's The Red Lily. Chapter Three provides an aesthetic interpretation of Under Western Eyes as metafiction. The novel firstly manifests an artistic self-consciousness in Conrad's fictional writing. Therefore, it is regarded as the most self-conscious novel among Conrad's works, while self-consciousness is acknowledged as a most salient character of metafiction. Besides, the metafictional theme that explores the relationship between fiction and reality finds its best expression in this fiction, which is in striking accordance with Conrad's skepticism towards truth and language.Conrad elaborately employs metafictional narrative strategies in Under Western Eye, which interprets Conrad's artistic concerns and philosophical views. Among Conrad's fiction, Under Western Eye manifests the most highly artistic self-conscious attitude towards Conrad's crafts itself. Meanwhile, his question of the nature of language, his scrutinization for truth demonstrates Conrad's skepticism.