A Power Space Study Of Fingersmith

As one of the most important writers in the contemporary literature,Sarah Waters’ works receive good reputation and reviews.Fingersmith as her first novel narrates a story about love and deception between two girls.Combining Lefebvre’s three-dimensional space theory with Foucault’s power theory,the thesis analyzes the physical space,social space and mental space of the novel and how power operates in different spaces.The illustration of the physical space reflects the social meaning of the three representative architectures.The Lant Street is the heterotopia in the prosperous London;Briar house is a bound house separating from the industrial world;the madhouse is the cage for docile female.The operation of power in the physical space penetrates the influence of social space and paves the way for the inner change of the heroines.The elaboration of the social space separately represents the disciplinary function of power.As a tool for reign,the public execution which is the epitome of the central authority helps to govern the country;power also manipulates social wealth and social classes,and influences the industrialization process at the cost of environment;power intervenes and cultivates the development of pornography in the hand of the government.The gaze theory provides a way to elucidate the living space of Maud which incarnates the subordinate position of women.The combination of physical space and social space mutual affect the change of the mental space.The decentralization of power just witnesses the reconstruction of the two heroines’ mental spaces.Sue finds her own identity through arming herself with love,and Maud through intruding the patriarchal discourse and becoming an erotic writer establishes her independence and finds a better way to pursue freedom.Through analyzing Fingersmith,this thesis dedicates to decode how power operates in different space and maintains the order of each space,and conveys Sarah Waters’ reflection toward the modern power space.