Exile And Return: Spatial Symbols And Identity Reconstruction In The Blackwater Lightship

Colm Toibin is a contemporary Irish famous writer,who enjoys high international reputation.His writin g style is elegant and quiet,which makes him being honored as "the language master in English literature".However,not much academic research has been found so far,especially about The Blackwater Lightship.From the perspective of Spatial Theory and Identity Theory,this dissertation attempts to investigate the relationship between the spatial symbols and the identity of characters in The Blackwater Lightship.By close reading of the text,this dissertation tries to make a detailed analysis of the spatial symbols and the identity of characters,demonstrate the textual construction of the spatial symbols,highlight the special functions of the spatial symbols for the identity of characters,and discover the unique philosophical reflection of the novel.From the perspective of Spatial Theory and Identity Theory,the spatial symbols such as 'old house','hospital' and 'society',not only embody with some special significances of the textual construction,but also imply special symbolic meaning for the characters in the novel.These spatial symbols not only cause the loss of the identity of characters,but also reconstruct the identity of ch aracters.In other words,'Old house' and 'hospital' are not only a kind of physical space,but also a kind of psychological and emotional space,which result in the loss of identity and reconstruction of the identity of Helen.During the journey of the exile and return,Helen gradually understood the real concept of 'family'.Different understanding towards the 'old house' leads to contradictions between mother Lily and Grandmother Dora,which also results in the wrong treatment of Helen.In accordance with the spatial theory,'society' is also regarded as a kind of space,which causes the loss of identity and self-reconstruction of Lily.In this novel,'death' is not only a final state of individual,but also a special mental space with its metaphorical meaning.The death of Helen's father and brother implies different significances to the identity of characters,which inspires readers with the deep philosophic reflection.From the perspective of Spatial Theory and Identity Theory,The Blackwater Lightship is not an ordinary family story of modern Irish society,but a journey of the identity of characters back to the 'old house'.It is a modern presentation of the traditional literary theme of 'love and return'.Finally,Sister Helen and Mother Lily,Mother Lily and Grandmother Dora all come back to the 'old house',joining to take care of Brother Declan with AIDS.With different thoughts in mind,three people have to face their past,open their heart,express themselves and listen to each other in the 'old house' where has been filled with bitter and uneasy memories.By recalling their different old days,the characters gradually rediscover the warmth of the family,recall the exiled-self and reconstruct their identities.As a spatial symbol,the 'old house' is not only a simple and common living place,but becomes the origin of the exile of characters.Meanwhile,it is also the home of the characters.The Blackwater Lightship not only shows the distinctive function of'family' toward 'identity',but also embodies Toibin's concerns towards individual and society.