The Wrestle Between Self And The "Other":an Interpretation Of David Malouf’s An Imaginary Life

David Malouf (1934-), one of the most influential contemporary writers in Australia, has risen to prominence on the global scale and, in particular, enjoyed great fame among literary critics of various nationalities. He embodies a great sense of mission and responsibility typical of Australian indigenous novelists by creating many fictions exploring diverse topics such as history, culture, identity, and etc.In his novel, An Imaginary Life, Malouf, in a unique way, takes the theme of a Roman poet’s banishment to the Black Sea with the aim at relocating and reconstructing Ovid’s Self which has been lost in the complex and urbanized metropolis, Rome. Based on the "Other" theory and multidimensional interpretation with combination of theory and text, this dissertation aims at revealing that, self-redemption and disengagement in the predicament of exile are feasible, which, however, should connect closely with the power presented by alterity.Through an in-depth textual analysis, this dissertation makes its attempt to elaborate the interaction between Self and the "Other" with the purpose to show the embodiment and reasons of the special wrestle of the relation between them in three major layers—irreconcilable conflicts, adaptive reconstruction, and sublime oneness as a whole. What’s more, it is revealed, after detailed elaboration, that while encountering conflicts, communication, and fusion, Self and the "Other" stand at different places, which causes corresponding appealing force, and thus the wrestle comes into being. In essence, the identity of Self depends on its contact with the "Other" rather than the absolute separation and isolation from each other.In addition, the relationship between Self and the "Other" embodied in An Imaginary Life echoes exactly to the conflicts and confusion faced by Australians and their offspring when they are trying to locate themselves correctly in the course of historical development of the country. Therefore, by portraying both Ovid’s ultimate acceptance of the harsh environment of the land into which he has been exiled and his final fusion into Nature, Malouf intends to express his great optimism about Australians’ embrace and recognition of their own identity in the unique land—Australia. In other words, Malouf’s optimism plays an important role, to some extent, in pushing Australia forward, soothing all the people living there, especially when Australia is shrouded by uncertainty and confusion, and helping Australians understand their living environment, culture, and practically construct the national and cultural identity.