The Research On The Plot Pattern Of The "Flight Narrative" In Intellectual Novels Since The 1990s

Since the 1990s,intellectual novels have experienced a boom,many of which contain the "flight narrative" of intellectuals.The so-called intellectual "flight narrative" refers to a narration where intellectuals flee from their original work or life.On the one hand,it can be that intellectuals leave the working or living environment,which involves a displacement in a specific space such as quitting jobs,running away from home,breaking up with somebody,and committing suicide.On the other hand,"flight narrative" can also represent self-isolation or adjustment constituting a spiritual flight where intellectuals withdraw themselves from the interpersonal interactions despite not physically leaving the environment.This paper is based on structuralism narrato logy while referring to Bremond’s theory of narrative sequence.It classifies the plot pattern of "flight narrative" into two categories of the "complete" and "incomplete" modes.The "complete flight narrative" refers to the mode that adequately presents t he basic plot sequence from the emergence of difficulties to the handling and failure of intellectuals to their flight.The "incomplete flight narrative" refers to the plot pattern that the author strategically changes its basic plot sequence(for example,omitting the emergence of difficulties).The "complete flight narrative" further includes three subsets of plot patterns,which are "pressure-handling-flight","disorientation-punishment-awakening",and "romantic love-disappointment-separation" respectively;while the "incomplete flight narrative" can be divided into two subsets involving "flight-death" and "static flight".The first chapter discusses the plot pattern of "pressure-handling-flight".In this model,intellectuals within the state system encou nter the pressure from the privileged and act against it,which at last unfortunately fails and forces the intellectuals to flee.This model boasts its vantage point of apparent dislocation of character emotions and highlighted dramatic tension,but it also contributes to the stereotyping and flattening of figures.The second chapter studies the plot pattern of "disorientationpunishment-awakening".In this model,the protagonist is lost in the secular world and makes mistakes unconsciously,who later suff ers from defeats and frustrating life.Ultimately,the protagonist realizes self-reflection and awakening through a flight.In this model,the protagonist experiences a gradual transformation,whereas the images of antagonists lack changes.The third chapter explains the plot pattern of "romantic love-disappointment-separation".In this model,female intellectuals are the main characters.They embrace a romantic ideal and bump into a male who corresponds with their anticipation in the "window period".However,they become disappointed at the fact that their efforts fail to win satisfying returns from the other party.Eventually,they decide to flee from the relationship as a way to put an end to it.The most typical feature of the model is the "deintellectua lization" portraying of female intellectuals for which there exists an apparent emotional dislocation between the protagonist and male characters.Nevertheless,female images under this model almost fixedly become sentimental creatures that are subject to their desire,which indicates the problem of stereotyping and simplification of female intellectual images.The fourth chapter discusses the plot pattern of "incomplete flight narrative",including "flight-death" and "static flight".The "flight-death" model refers to the protagonist’s practice of "flight within the state system" without encountering apparent trouble that ultimately leads to "functional death".This model demonstrates the protagonist’s subjective initiative but the images remain simplified.The "static flight" model applies to the minor characters consistently being in the "flight within the state system" mode.This model is flexible with its functions but ignores the layered building of the personalities of characters.The conclusion part points out the significance and deficiencies of "flight narrative"."Flight narrative" in a way reshapes the subjectivity and vitality of intellectual characters,which reflects the writers’ expectation for intellectuals to achieve spiritual salvage in the context of the times and inherits and develops the narrative tradition of satire and criticism in modern intellectual novels.However,the "flight narrative" fails to break out of the stereotyped creation of character images especially in terms of the building of protagonist and villain images,which instead demonstrates the material,sensational,and superficial experience.This is a problem worth vigilance as stereotyped creation becomes relevant.