Research, Root And Construct On Wang Anyi's Saga Novel

Anyi Wang, born in Shanghai, has always been a noteworthy writer in contemporary literature since the 1970 s. Also, she is a prolific writer who has created a great body of works of realistic impression and rational thinking. Henceher works have been attracting the eyes of researchers since her literary debut. But previous studies are centered on reviewing her works from a female perspective, which to a certain extent is a simplification of the connotation. In fact, “self-discovery and self-construction” have been the implicit thread, for she focuses on self-awareness and strives to explore the essences of lives. Throughout her creations, her writing is apparently a process of discovering, exploring, and constructing herself.Therefore this dissertation will mainly use Wang's novels as examples to study her creation process, and evaluate her novels from three intrinsically interrelated points of view: exploration, root-seeking, and construction.This dissertation is composed of three chapters. The first is Self-Discovery in the Context of Sexual Relationships. Her works, whether it is Sanlian series or novellas Mini, Wo Ai Bier, and Gangshang de Shiji, all audaciously describe sexual relationships. This chapter elaborates on the proud self-awareness, daring pursuit on the concept of sex, and bleak or bright destinies of different love lives of Wang's female characters from two aspects, namely advance of sexual consciousness and self-management of love life.The second chapter is Root-Seeking of Individuals and Families, and it is divided into two parts. Started with analysis of fatalism, the first part construes effects of conservative ideas and personality on individual destiny, and investigates Wang's salvation of her female characters' fortune. The second part expounds her search for familial and ethnological roots by analyzing Xiaobao Zhuang and Jishiyu Xugou.The third chapter is Construction of Ego Space. As growing-up narrative is the main theme of Wang's writing career, this chapter first illustrates her construction of growing space for female using Wenwen, main character of Wenwenseries(composing Yu, Shashasha and 69 Jie Chuzhongsheng), as an example. Then through the “inner journey” of Hanyan from Biandi Xiaoxiong and Nanchang from Qimeng Shidai, Wang's seeking for self-construction in mental vacuum and social void is interpreted.Henceforward,Anyi Wang's main thread is centered on discovery, root-seeking, and construction. Whether it is self-searching for maturing, ardent seeking for the national root, or reconstruction of individual spiritual space, she has adventurously dissected and acutely reviewed humanity. The quintessential connotation is always directed to “the way of living” that Wang has been puzzled and meant to scrutinize.