The Representation Of Space And Characters' Predicaments In Dubliners

James Joyce is one of the most important writers in 20^th century English literature,and a forerunner and revolutionist of Modernism and stream of consciousness method.Dubliners is Joyce's first publication as a novelist.This collection of short stories is significant in understanding Joyce's early writing technique and artistic values.As a comprehensive sketch of Dublin,this book contains many descriptions of space and spatial metaphors,creating a stereoscopic model of the city and a panorama of people's lives.This thesis,in light of theoretical knowledge of the French philosopher Henry Lefebvre and American theorist Edward W.Soja,will analyze the text from the perspective of physical space,mental space and social space.With the help of Mike Crang's cultural geography,this thesis discusses the representation of space and characters'predicaments in Dubliners.The fifteen stories of Dubliners can be divided into childhood,adolescence,maturity and public life.This thesis chooses one story out of each section as major research subjects.Chapter one focuses on“Araby”,and proves that physical space is purveyor and embodiment of characters'predicaments.Chapter two analyzes“Eveline”,and discusses the protagonist's submissive,marginalized position in a patriarchal society.Chapter three presents multiple crisis of adult life through shifting of the social space in“Counterparts”.Chapter four expounds on spatial features in“The Dead”,exploring how three kinds of spaces interact and influence each other.In Conclusion,this thesis points out that spatial images and spatiality are important elements in Joyce's Dubliners.Joyce's description of space reveals characters'difficulties and predicaments in life.On one hand,people are confined by environment,unable to escape from the suppressed,hopeless life.On the other hand,as producers of space,people are aggravating paralysis of their living space.