The London In The Child In Time: A Dystopian Image

This thesis explores the dystopian image of London in The Child in Time, whichis one of the most important works of McEwan. Through the depiction of thedystopian natural and social condition of London, McEwan expresses his concernover the relationship between urban environment and the human beings’ life.Based on Bakhtin’s dialogic theory, carnivalization theory and heteroglossiatheory, this thesis attempts to unveil the unsatisfactory phenomena of London, whichare manifestations of the degradation and inhumanity of such a dystopian society.This thesis is composed of five chapters. In the first chapter, Ian McEwan’s TheChild in Time, the relevant reviews and the thesis statement are introduced briefly.The second chapter gives an in-depth study of Bakhtin’s dialogic theory. The thirdchapter mainly discusses the natural and social dystopian characteristics of Londonthrough the analysis of three pairs of great dialogues: the dialogue between city andcountryside, between Lemonade and The Authorised Childcare Handbook andbetween the Male and the Female. Chapter Four illustrates the polyphonic feature ofLondon through the depiction of the dystopian condition of people in the urban area.Chapter Five draws the conclusion that McEwan sheds his own light on how city andhuman beings affect each other in modern society by depicting London as a naturaland social wasteland which challenges human being’s fragility.