An Indelible Memory,A Memorable Mourning

Amos Oz 1939-2018 is one of the most influential writers in contemporary Israeli literature.The autobiographical novel A Tale of Love and Darkness(2002),a novelistic memoir thought to be the biggest-selling literary work in Israeli history.In fact,the more than six-hundred pages novel is a piece of literary work in which history and text are intermingling.Based on his own experience and the social reality at that time,Oz presents these real historical events in the form of literature.The novel undertakes the historical mission of displaying the national history and exploring the national characteristics,so it is not only a product of history,but also a piece of reflective literary work.Through the description of the author's childhood,the history period which is full of love and darkness is represented.The novel reveals Oz's profound reflection on the national fate and long-term vision for the national future.At the same time,it opens a door for readers to understand the Jewish nation's miserable experience,and attract readers' attention to the Jewish people.Therefore,based on the theory of “historicity of text” and “textuality of history”,this thesis will interpret the novel from the perspective of New Historicism assisted with the important concepts of “power and discourse” in New Historicism.This thesis consists of three parts: introduction,the body and conclusion.The introduction part aims to introduce Oz's literary career,and summarize the research status quo at home and abroad,then explain the research theory employed and the significance of this thesis.Chapter one studies the textuality of history,the popularity of anti-Semitism in Europe,the rise of Zionism,and British mandate for Palestine constitute the background of the novel,and the experiences in these periods have left an indelible memory for Jews.Chapter two studies the historicity of the text by analyzing the historical significance of the novel.The novel A Tale of Love and Darkness comes from the hand of an Israeli writer which reflects the identity confusion after two thousand years' exile,revealing the tragic fate of the individual,the family and the nation.Chapter three reveals that women have lost their discourse under the long-term dominant power of men,based on the theory of New Historicism which advocates listening to the voice of the marginalized women.The conclusion reveals Oz's sense of mission,responsibility and the social conscience as a writer who reveals the reason for their identity confusion,even though they have come back the Land of Palestine.He argues that Jews should have a deep sense of guilt for Arabs for they have driven the Arabs away from their homeland.He puts up a great idea for the Jewish nation even for the whole mankind's peace and development.He strongly holds that the two-state solution will be the best solution to the Arab-Israeli conflicts.