An Analysis Of The Writing Techniques Of Black Dogs From The Perspective Of New Historicism

Black Dogs is written by Ian McEwan,a contemporary British novelist.It tells the thrilling story of a honeymoon couple who encounter two black dogs in a valley in southern France just after World War II.When McEwan focuses on the subject of broad social life,he also gains more considerable fame.His early works are connected with the theme of sexual abuse,mental disorder and ethical taboo,while his later works change from the subject of claustrophobia to that of profound thoughts for history and society.Thus,as the representative of watershed between early works and later works,Black Dogs published in 1992 breaks the limitations of time and space in England Island,covering the entire history from the year 1940 to 1980.So it is commonly believed that historical novel is the best way for McEwan to pay attention to public life and private life.Based on the perspective of new historicism,the author makes the profound study on Black Dogs.By combining history facts and characters,Ian McEwan reproduces the normal life of ordinary people during World War II,keenly revealing more authentic history.Through the analysis of the theme,characters and narrative techniques in the novel,this paper shows that even if the war is over,the harmful force after the war still exists,and the solution to this problem can only be true love.This thesis consists of three parts: introduction,main body and conclusion.The main contents are as follow.The first part is introduction.It briefly introduces Ian McEwan and Black Dogs,the general situation of research both at home and abroad,the research methods,significance and innovation of this paper.The second part is the main body and consists of three chapters.The first chapter analyzes the theme of Black Dogs with the "historicity of texts"and "textuality of history" of new historicism.The story is backed on World War II and the Cold War.While presenting historical events,it also uses imaginable characters to deduct different history.The stories are the brand of that time laid by McEwan,and historical events are endowed subjectivity and historicity of the author.This chapter analyzes that heroine June's faith has changed from an atheist to devout theologian under the impacts of harmful force after the war.She restrains her own behaviors with good human nature,but which is contrary with her husband Bernard's views,then their marriage breaks down gradually.The young generation without beliefs,influenced bythe war,take drugs and drink heavily in confusion.And children are victims of traditional postwar domestic violence.It is in such a heavy environment that author places high hopes on young Jeremy's self-redemption.The second chapter analyzes characters in Black Dogs.It mainly includes the reshaping of female characters,the subversion of male characters,the tragic fate and misfortunes of some marginal characters,and the description of the protagonist redeemer Jeremy.New Historicism advocates the trivial experiences of marginal figures outside the mainstream ideology.This chapter not only fulfills the mission of historical interpretation,but also gains the right to speak for marginalized characters.The third chapter analyzes the narrative techniques in Black Dogs.McEwan uses intertextuality to narrate the story.Firstly,McEwan creates intertextuality with his previous novel in order to describe the protagonist Jeremy's misery.Secondly,he creates intertextuality with his predecessor's novel Herzog,rewriting the era of crisis.Thirdly,the contents make intertextuality with the historical records of World War II,truly reflecting the atrocities of the Nazis."Black dogs" and "Berlin Wall" symbolize the war embers and the psychological defenses of the people.This chapter interprets various images and explores the relationship between history and characters in order to make it easier for readers to know history,politics,and humanity.At the same time,every character embodies in the development of history to be accustomed to the general trend,they also make attempts to change the mainstream view of the postwar injustice against women,the disadvantage of children,and the distortion of human nature.The last part is conclusion.It summarizes the research results,practical significance and limitations,and points out new historicism provides another possibility for the study of Black Dogs.This thesis shows McEwan's essence of good and evil,the moral bottom line of religious belief,the intoxication of violence and the calm contemplation of the redemptive power of true love,he wants to show that only true love,comprehension,initial consciousness and progress can save people in an indifferent world.