Identity Exploration As Narrative Progression In Time's Arrow

British contemporary writer Martin Amis has produced many interesting and novel works,which reflect the dark side of the British society from multiple perspectives.Black humor and irony are what he usually adopts,in order to describe things in a unique way.Acknowledged as Three Giants together with Ian McEwan and Julian Barnes,Martin Amis has written a lot of works that have won wide public acclaim.His later works are also great,for example,Time's Arrow,object of this thesis.It has been highly evaluated for its unique techniques such as "time reversal" and "doubling",and its reflection on the Holocaust and humanity.Narratological analysis of the novel constitutes another major part of Amis studies.Some researchers discuss the rhetorical purpose of the work—moral concerns—through analyses of narrative time,unreliable narrator or narrative person;others explain the novel's ethical situation,concerns and reflections by the aid of James Phelan's Narrative Ethics.On basis of previous studies,this thesis is to focus on the narrative progression in the novel and clarify the textual and readerly dynamics of the novel with Phelan's theory of narrative progression.Further,it will innovatively relate the narrative progression of the novel to the complex issue of the protagonist's identity,aiming to prove that identity exploration constitutes the core of the narrative progression of the novel and further to reveal the rhetorical and ethical purposes of the novel.This thesis consists of five chapters.The first chapter briefly introduces Martin Amis and his literary creation,outlines the general situation of studies about Martin Amis,and explains the theoretical basis,structure and main contents of the thesis.The second chapter analyzes the uncertainty of identity,from which the textual dynamics at the story level are formed,aiming to show that the protagonist's uncertain identity is the impetus for the development of the story.The chapter focuses on two instabilities at the story level:the protagonist's multiple identities and split selves.To avoid punishment and escape his pursuers,Odilo Unverdorben escapes from the Nazi army to Western Europe,then runs to America.In the journey,he continuously changes his name.only to find that he has forgotten who he really is.Moreover,the protagonist-narrator,as the conscience of the protagonist,endeavors to split himself from the protagonist,which further aggravates uncertainty about his own identity.According to Phelan,readers are essential in the dynamic triangle;therefore,the third chapter is to discuss the readerly dynamics of the novel,aiming to reveal how the tensions at the discourse level manipulate readers'responses in the process of revealing the protagonist's true identity.Narration in reversed time order hides the protagonist's real identity from readers and lets them see his human side first,thus invoking their sympathy.Then Odilo is revealed as a Nazi doctor,which transforms readers' sympathy into aversion.At the same time,the limited omniscience of the narrator withholds the necessary information that can tell the protagonist's real identity.In addition,the narrator often makes digressions,which divert readers' attention and prevent them from discovering the protagonist's real identity.Lastly,the narrator's unreliability impedes readers'judgment as well.The fourth chapter highlights the rhetorical and ethical purposes of the novel.In the fictional world,the narrator-protagonist gradually discovers who he is as the novel progresses and it is followed by disillusionment with a definite identity.Outside the fictional world,readers are enabled to achieve the realization of the uncertainty and complexity of a person's identity.In the meantime,the implied author calls for reflection on the Holocaust and humanity and warns against the re-occurrence of tragedy.The last chapter summarizes the discussions in the thesis and reemphasizes that narrative progression and identity exploration are mutually indispensable and together enable the implied author to achieve his rhetorical and ethical purposes.