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The Mulattos Who Dance A Lonely Dance

Posted on:2013-05-12Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:J M WangFull Text:PDF
GTID:2235330371989395Subject:English Language and Literature
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
Nella Larsen is an important figure in the American literary canons beyond doubt. Hersecond novel Passing is one of the most popular books at her time and has led to heateddiscussion on its theme and content.Many scholars at home and abroad have been engaged in studies of this novel fromdifferent aspects, such as archetypal criticism, narratology and so on. This thesis aims atcarrying out a postcolonial study of the novel within the framework of Edward W. Said’sorientalism and Homi K. Bhabha’s several key concepts.It consists of four parts:Introduction includes a brief introduction to Nella Larsen’s private life and a summary ofPassing. Then it offers an overview and a clear outline of the theory of postcolonialism. It isfollowed by a collection of literary researches on the novel at home and abroad. At last itpoints out what the significance of this thesis lies in.Chapter One makes use of Said’s “other” theory to analyze characters Clare and Irene’sdouble marginalization as a racial “other” and a gendered “other” respectively. Both of themhave attempted to get exempted from the visible and the invisible discrimination. However,their efforts to get rid of their “other” identity are doomed to fail since the absurd socialideology doesn’t change at all.Chapter Two carries out an analysis of mulatto’s psychological state and points out thepredicament they are involved in at first. Then it proposes two effective strategies,“hybridity”and “mimicry”, for mulattos who suffer psychological vertigo like Clare and Irene.By presenting several heroines’ life experience and some white man’s life conditions, thethesis concludes that Larsen attempts to inform readers that racism and patriarchy not only do harm to women and black people, they may also bring disaster to men and the white. It showsLarsen’s concern with the oppressed and her craving for cultural amalgation. She expressesthe idea that the black can establish their identity and achieve their spiritual rebirth only byfinding their root and culture.
Keywords/Search Tags:Passing, Postcolonialism, Other, Hybridity, Mimicry
PDF Full Text Request
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