A Study Of Spatial Narrative In Anne Tyler's Breathing Lessons

Anne Tyler is one of the most famous women writers in contemporary American literature.Her novels mainly focus on marriage and family.Anne Tyler is good at creating thought-provoking works based on everyday life and realism.Breathing Lessons is Anne Tyler's eleventh novel and a milestone in her literary career.With its profound theme and unique artistic value,the novel won the Pulitzer prize in 1989.This thesis attempts to discuss the spatial narrative characteristics of Breathing Lessons from the perspective of spatial narrative.Firstly,the thesis explores the transformation of physical space in the novel,and points out that Anne Tyler's arrangement and description of physical space in the novel not only promotes the plot development,but also deepens the theme by endowing physical space with unique symbolic meaning.Secondly,through the analysis of the description of inner monologue,free association and memory in the novel,the thesis points out that Anne Tyler makes reality and illusion interweave in the novel,showing the invisible and complex psychological space of the characters in the novel.On the one hand,the characters' psychological space develops and changes and gains some insight;On the other hand,the characters are always unable to get rid of the sense of isolation,which reflects the heterogeneity of Tyler's narrative works.Finally,the thesis analyzes the textual space of the novel and points out that with her skill at juxtaposing multiple story threads,setting open endings and retaining fixed themes,Anne Tyler succeeds in breaking the single linear causal order,reducing the timeliness and achieving the spatial effect.The circular narrative structure of the novel also reflects Anne Tyler's view on the nature of life: life is like an inescapable circle,where people sometimes fall into despair and sometimes regain hope.This is how life goes round and round.