On The Scottish Identity In Fergus Lamont

Robin Jenkins(1912-2005)is one of the most important Scottish writers in the 20th century.Most of his works are set against Scottish backgrounds and in those novels the characteristics of Scottish people are vividly portrayed,thus gaining him the reputation as a Scottish national novelist.As one of Jenkins' most representative novels,Fergus Lamont profoundly reflects the reality of Scottish society.The natural landscape and social outlook highly distinctive of Scottish nation are vividly and truly represented in this novel.The ambiguity and disruption infiltrated between the lines are exactly the impressive reflection of disruption characteristic of the Scottish identity.Based on the text and related research results of the novel and combined with the historical development of Scottish national identity,this thesis takes incisive analysis on the Scottish national identity reflected in this novel.Firstly,from the perspective of the setting of this novel,the natural landscape and social outlook are analyzed to imply the Scottish identity and its disruptive characteristic.Secondly,the personalities of main characters in this novel are analyzed to depict their disruptive nature.Disruption and contradiction are strongly embodied in the protagonist Fergus Lamont and three women he meets in different times of his life,which is in parallel with the disruption of Scottish identity.This thesis aims to reveal the impressive disruption characteristic of Scottish identity by the deep exploration into the Scottish identity implied in Fergus Lamont,thus understanding the serious and sincere reflection of modern Scottish novelists on the Scottish national identity and Scottish dilemma.