An Interpretation Of Travels In The Scriptorium From The Perspective Of Derrida's Deconstruction Theory

As one of the most influential American writers, Paul Auster usually adopts intertextuality, language experiment and anti-detective narrative technique in his novels and there is always a story in the story. For Paul Auster, writing deals with the existence of human beings. He pays much attention to the existential condition and identity crisis of modern people. Travels in the Scriptorium is a complex meditation on writing, on the relationship between the author and the characters, on the nature of authorial responsibility. It describes the confusion, anxiety and identity crisis of Mr. Blank, how he reacts to these confusions and anxieties and how he reconstructs his identity by means of memory, reading and writing.Derrida's deconstruction theory is widely used in literary criticism and literary creation, especially his deconstruction of the binary opposition and the deconstruction of certainty in language. The present thesis will analyze Paul Auster's Travels in the Scriptorium from the perspective of Derrida's deconstruction theory, revealing the existential predicament and the search for identity of modern people.Besides the introduction and the conclusion part, there are four chapters in the thesis. The introduction part makes a brief introduction to Paul Auster, his novel Travels in the Scriptorium, literature review of the novel and the significance of the thesis. Some scholars have mentioned that this novel is Auster's meditation on the existential condition and identity crisis of modern people, but few of them have analyzed it from the perspective of Derrida's deconstruction theory. It is hoped that the paper will make a little contribution to the research of Paul Auster and the novel Travels in the Scriptorium.Chapter One is theoretical introduction to deconstruction, including the background, development, influence and its main concepts, that is, binary opposition and différance. According to Derrida, the meaning of any text is uncertain and open to interpretation.Chapter Two aims at deconstructing the binary oppositions in Travels in the Scriptorium. Such binary oppositions imply and constitute a tacit and established inequality and hierarchy, in which one term functions as privileged and superior, while the other is derivative and inferior. Actually, the male status and the social role of Mr. Blank are not indestructible, and he cannot take on his traditional responsibility in family or society as he is supposed to. He is nameless, with no memory and identity. On the other hand, the discrimination and injustice against female characters, Anna and Sophie, are apparent and typical. They have to wait on Mr. Blank and satisfy his sexual desire.Chapter Three is deconstruction of certainty in Travels in the Scriptorium. The meaning of language lies in an endless chain of significations, which is deferred in the movement of one interpretation to another interpretation. Auster plays with language in the novel and uses a great deal of figure of speech to add to the difficulty in understanding the meaning of the text. The author makes it clear that all the characters in the novel are fictional. The fictionality and fragmentation of the characters make it impossible to figure out their identities.Chapter Four is reconstruction of identity. Mr. Blank is beset by identity displacement and attempts to search for his identity by means of active behavior, memory, and writing. Writing is a way of self-discovery and self-understanding for Mr. Blank. It provides him a chance to find who he is. Writing also makes it possible for him to escape from solitude, anxiety and boredom.In the conclusion part, it is mentioned that though identity is uncertain and multiple, the search for identity is still meaningful and worthwhile. Actually, the process of searching for self-identity is the process of identity formation. It the process, we know more about ourselves and the world.