Questing For Self-Identity And Pursuit Of Self-Realization

In the early of 20th century, National Liberation Movement and cultural renaissance Movement are surging forward in Ireland. And also there is emerging prominently a thirst to pursuit for national identity in the political and culture field. James Joyce is an Irish writer and poet widely considered to be one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Literary criticism on Joyce has been made from various angles, while the thematic study from the angle of "national identity" has not been discussed thoroughly. This paper analyzes James Joyce's "national identity",and his process of"search for the national identity", with an attempt to explore his intention to search for the national identity thorough the way of art. In the environment of paralyzed Ireland, the young Joyce felt a feeling of isolation which can be expressed. The sense of cultural inferiority,the poverty of homeland and the spiritual tyranny in Ireland had driven him to exile himself to another world. Although Joyce exiles himself from Ireland, the alienated writer finds out the road back to his country. He achieves the combination of his personal identity and the national identity by his art of work.This thesis consists of a brief introduction, four main chapters, and a short conclusion. In the introduction, the review of identity study on Ulysses is briefly discussed. A careful explanation is given on both the life and the works of James Joyce. It also is explained about some of the most important post-colonialism theories and approaches. Chapter one analyzes there is the reason for Molly who is absence in the major parts of the Novel from the post-colonialism theories. It is the social customs that subordinates women to the other. It reveals that women are always in the marginalized and exiled space, with the invisible behavior. Chapter two interprets Molly is embarrassed in the plight. The subversion in marriage results in Molly's ambivalence. Although she is desire for love, she is both a sufferer and a sinner. Chapter three discusses how to Molly who stands for the indeterminate female identity turn to get awakening recoganization and sex role position female figure. And she is both authorized and unlicensed: confined wife and romantic heroine. Chapter four reveals Molly's hesitated plight. Finally, she is escaped from solitude and reunites to pursuit of self identity.The last part is the conclusion of the dissertation. It sums up Molly is likely to carry with her the possibility of cultural interpretations. The writer of this paper explicates that Molly is the incarnation of world culture, which means wide acquiescence and limitless vitality, without any nationalist or colonialist prejudice. In Penelope, the final episode of Joyce's novel Ulysses, it gives voice to the one mute, passive and distorted Irish woman. Molly's relationships with her several sex partners symbolize the pattern of hybridity between Irish national culture and British culture. The image of Molly shows Joyce's hope for Irish national culture and his ideal of world culture.