回忆与现实的交汇-论石黑一雄的小说《长日留痕》_英语论文

Juxtaposition of memory and presence-comment on Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day

摘要

在石黑一雄的小说《长日留痕》中，大量的回忆性内容充斥在小说的各处。而回忆与现实的并置在情节的铺设和人物的塑造两方面都起到了重要作用。通过文本细读的方法，本文意图深入探讨小说中回忆元素的使用以其在人物塑造等方面的作用，并探讨将回忆与现实的并置作为承接小说情节发展的工具所起到的效果。同时，本文还将从新历史主义角度出发，对史蒂文斯的形象进行重新界定和阐释。本文认为，回忆对于史蒂文斯个人而言，既是自我欺骗的幌子，也是自我保护的屏障；而史蒂文斯作为所谓“边缘群体”的一员，兼具亲历者和旁观者的双重身份，为人们全面认识所谓真实的“历史”提供了新的窗口。

关键词:《长日留痕》  回忆   新历史主义

Abstract

In Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, many plots of the story are narrated through Stevens’s memory. And the juxtaposition of memory and presence performs an vital role in both the development of plot and portray of the protagonist’s character. This article intends to dig deep into the elements of memory in The Remains of the Day and to focus on how Ishiguro uses the juxtaposition of memory and presence as a tool to start and develop both Stevens’s story and his character in this novel. Also, this article will re-examine the role of Mr.Stevens from the perspective of New Historicism. It can be inferred that memory, for Stevens, is both the cover for self-deception and the shelter for self-protection. Besides, as a member of the so-called marginalized group, Steven’s identity as both the participant and observer of history could offer us a new channel to re-examine the authoritative “history”.

Key words:The Remains of the Day  Memory  New Historicism