Narrative Truth In Julian Barnes's The Sense Of An Ending

Studies of The Sense of an Ending mainly focus on the indeterminacy of memory and unreliable narrative presented in the novel.As for the relationship between two reminiscences and historical truth,many researchers regard the first reminiscence as a distortion of truth and the second one as historical truth.Different from such perspectives,this thesis regards two reminiscences as narrative truth built by Tony based on Donald P.Spence's theory of narrative truth.As an application of narrative approach to psychotherapy,it aims to help the patient to construct a kind of truth that he believes or accepts to achieve better treatment even though it is not necessarily historical truth.This thesis first explores the identity of Tony as a trauma patient.Due to the traumatic psychology and for the purpose of getting through psychological crisis,he constructs a narrative truth in the first reminiscence.With changes of perspective and emotions and for the purpose of real healing,Tony can treat his traumatic experiences with a more generous and mature attitude in the second reminiscence.Besides,the appearance of new evidences and new memories provides basis for Tony to tell us a different version of his youth and constructs another narrative truth in the second reminiscence.By comparing different perspectives,narrative voices and causal links of events built in two reminiscences,the thesis points out that the narrative truth built in the second reminiscence is more objective.However,narrative truth isn't necessarily historical truth.Two different narrative truths are built by Tony in two reminiscences based on differentperspectives,emotions and psychological needs.We can only discuss its objectivity and logicality,but we can't make judgment on its authenticity.We can't reach real history but the narrative about history.