The Formation Of A New Identity In Expatriation——a Study Of Henry Handel Richardson’s The Fortunes Of Richard Mahony

Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson (1870-1946) whose pseudonym is Henry Handel Richardson is one of the most important novelists Australia has produced. She greatly enriches Australian literature with her remarkable strength of characterization and depth of psychological exploration. In1939, she was nominated for the Nobel Prize after the publication of her masterpiece—The Fortunes of Richard Mahony (1930). It is a trilogy composed of three novels:Australia Felix (1917), The Way Home (1925) and Ultima Thule (1929).Criticisms on The Fortunes of Richard Mahony are far from satisfying. Most critics fix their attention on the male protagonist Richard Mahony and do not give due attention to the female protagonist Mary Mahony. So this paper tends to give a detailed analysis of Mary Mahony’s life course. Since the main line running through the novel is the Mahonys’ three experiences of expatriation, the author of the paper decides to study Mary in that framework.The whole thesis consists of five chapters. Chapter One provides an introduction to Henry Handel Richardson’s life and literary career, the literary critical reception of The Fortunes of Richard Mahony, the theoretical framework and the layout of the thesis. Chapter Two begins with the analysis of Mary Mahony’s first expatriation—"voyaging-out"(from England to Australia). At this stage, Mary still identifies herself with her homeland, behaving like the ideal Victorian woman under the patriarchal system. Chapter Three concentrates on Mary’s second expatriation—"voyaging-in"(from Australia to England). She returns to the long-expected homeland only to find she cannot adapt herself to the land any more. She has to reconsider her sense of belonging. Chapter Four presents her third expatriation—"voyaging-out" again (from England to Australia). After figuring out her new belongingness, Mary goes back to Australia. In Australia, she gets chance to discard the stereotyped Victorian feminine ideal and then step on the way to reinvent a new identity. By the end of the novel, Mary has turned into an independent New woman. Chapter Five is the Conclusion, in which the profound meaning of the New woman image and Richardson’s intention to create such a character are pointed out.In early Australian immigrant novels, immigrants usually go to Australia in hope of making a fortune and they never identify themselves with the colony. Mary Mahony, created by Henry Handel Richardson is another kind of people who are willingly to integrate into the new land and take a positive attitude towards their new lives. Furthermore, Mary’s embracing of her new life in Australia also conveys Richardson’s affection for her native land. In her mind, Australia is a promising new country, where people get to discard old traditions and build a new life. Richardson’s affirmation and appreciation of Australia coincides with that of the nationalists at the beginning of the20th century in Australia.