A Study Of NW From The Perspective Of Spatial Criticism

As an outstanding British novelist,Zadie Smith receives much attention in contemporary English literature.Published in 2012,NW is titled the postcode of Northwest London,in which most of the actions take place.It tells a story of four young locals' tragic lives in contemporary London.Since its publication in 2012,some articles which concern the ethical identity,characters,and themes of NW,are published.However,few scholars study it from the perspective of spatial criticism.This thesis mainly uses Henri Lefebvre's spatial theory to analyze NW.It explores Zadie Smith's spatial awareness in her literary creation and argues that Zadie Smith vividly represents a multicultural,multiracial,and complex Northwest London.She portrays characters through the reconstruction of physical space.She describes the close relationships between characters and spaces,and characters and society in social space.The mental space reflects characters inner thoughts and helps to reveal the theme of identity construction in the novel.Based on the spatial theory of Henri Lefebvre,this thesis is divided into five chapters.The first chapter is introduction.In this part,the author gives a brief introduction to the novel NW and its author Zadie Smith,as well as the literature review on the study of this novel.The theories used in this thesis and the significance of the thesis are also presented in this chapter.The second chapter dedicates to the structuring of physical space.In literary study,physical space refers to the place where character lives and acts.In Northwest London,the juxtaposition of the narrow and decaying houses and the dangerous and chaotic streets successfully shapes the characters that possess opposite personalities and different attitudes to life.In NW,neither in the enclosed houses nor on the open streets can characters in the novel find their sense of belonging.The third chapter discusses the social space in the text.Social space represents the space in which characters create relationships with other people,societies and surroundings.One of the main protagonists Leah Hanwell is always in the state of aphasia in her work place and at home.As a white woman living in black people's community,she is an "other".On the contrary,Natalie Blake is active in self-invention and tries to get rid of the past.At the same time,she is deeply influenced by society and other people.In chapter four,the mental space of character is studied.Mental space exists in character's mind.Leah Hanwell is more generous than other characters in the novel,which causes her thoughts and actions are strange and unacceptable to others.She dislikes development and hopes all things can stop,while she witnesses the constant change of outside world.Therefore,living in her spiritual world,Leah Hanwell forms a detached mental space which causes her failure of self construction.Natalie Blake spares no effort to improve herself,but her inner self and the images she shows to others are different,which leads to her divided self.Her search for identity also ends up with failure.The last chapter is the conclusion that makes a summary of the interpretation of NW from the perspective of spatial criticism and mentions the limitations of this thesis.NW is a novel full of spatial characteristics.By spatial narration,Zadie Smith vividly portrays a diversified London and conveys her consideration of the living conditions of British minorities.Using spatial criticism to analyze this work helps the readers to grasp the inner structure of the work and have a better understanding of Zadie Smith's spatial narrative techniques as well as her deep concern about the social problems of modern London.