On Feminist Narrative Features In The Red Queen

The fiction—The Red Queen is one of Margaret Drabble's works, published in 2004. Once published, it won great success. It is a two-track story, consisting of the"Ancient Times"part and the"Modern Times"part, with a"Postmodern Times"part as its end. Although the two parts are stories of different people, happened in two different times and places, the two parts are closely combined together through the same narrator—the ghost of the Red Queen. Author's feminist themes can be seen in the novel—The Red Queen. Moreover, the narrative strategy of the novel is unique. On the basis of the feminist narratology theory, this thesis aims to make a study of the novel—The Red Queen and analyze how Drabble's feminist themes are reflected through its unique narrative strategy in the novel. Besides the introduction and conclusion, the main body of the thesis falls into four chapters.The introduction part is a brief introduction to the author—Margaret Drabble, the content of The Red Queen, the study on the novel at home and abroad, and the innovation of my thesis.Chapter one is the introduction to the theoretical basis—feminist narratology theory. As the novel will be analyzed from the aspect of its narrative voice, narrative perspective, and narrative image, the connotations of the three narrative terms will be explained respectively in this chapter. Besides, the relations among feminist narratology, feminist, and narratology are presented in this part.The second chapter is the analysis of the novel from the perspective of narrative voice. From this chapter, the analysis of the fiction from the feminist narratological angle begins. Margaret Drabble applied the personal narrative voice throughout the whole novel. However, the voice of the ghost of the Red Queen is not the only voice appeared in this fiction, for the voice of the Red Queen in the ancient times, the voice of Dr. Halliwell, and even the voice of the author mingled together in the novel and participate the narration. The multiple voices enable Drabble's feminist themes are expressed more persuasive.Chapter three goes to the elaboration of the narrative perspective in the novel. Drabble used first-person narrative perspective in the novel. Unlike most of male writers'works in which women are only focalized, in this novel, a female narrator becomes a focalizor, who focalized on the persons around her, including both men and women. Besides, the author uses both retrospective narrative and experimental narrative when narrating. There is often a shift between them.Chapter four tries to analyze the relations between the narrative image in the novel and the themes expressed. Margaret Drabble used many images in the novel, such as the image of a rice chest, the image of a pet kitty, the image of a red silk skirt, and the image of a magpie, etc. Some feminist themes could be elaborated from the images. For example, through the image of an enclosed rice chest, the author intended to criticize the cruelty of a patriarchy society. While from the image of a pet cat, the greatness of maternity love could be seen. Besides, the use of those images helps characters in the novel to convey their thoughts in a vivid way.To conclude, the structure and narrative strategies of the novel are unique. This is very helpful to the expression of the feminist themes. Unlike most of the traditional characters in men's works, men in this novel are no longer omnipotent; women are not mute minor roles any more. For example, the author uses the Red Queen's personal narrative voice to narrate women's stories and takes the Red Queen's first-person narrative perspective to focus on the people around her. The articulation of a female character's voice and narrating from a female perspective enable women's predicaments more authentic. Thus, women have the chance to articulate their voices and begin to focus on others, which enable women's predicaments more reliable and worth to sympathize. From the images in the novel, readers get to know that women's revolts in such a cruel patriarchy society often end in failure. Nevertheless, they never stop exploring their life meanings and pursue personal values unyieldingly.