Reconsidering Heroism In Howard Brenton’s The Romans In Britain From The Approach Of Defamiliarization

The theory of “defamiliarization” was first put forward by Russian Formalist Victor Shklovsky in his essay Art as Technique in 1917.It’s a way to prevent“over-automatization” by revolutionizing plot,form and language.Later Bertolt Brecht advocated the dramatic principle of Verfremdungseffekt.Instead of a climactic catharsis of emotion,he wanted his audiences to adopt a critical perspective in order to recognize social injustice,then go forth from the theatre and effect change in the world outside.This paper aims to reveal that defamiliarization facilitates the reconsideration of heroism in The Romans in Britain.The defamiliarization of theme includes the restructuring of the past,the equalization between history-writing and myth-making.The defamiliarization of characterization includes a subversion of traditional heroes and symbolic meanings behind people’s names.The defamiliarization of images include the harvest scene and the lavatory-digging scene.In this paper,the author intends to demonstrate Brenton’s departure from linear narrative and grand narrative,his censure on human inclination towards violence,his deconstruction of Caesar’s empire myth and Arthur’s origin myth,coupled with a re-evaluation of Anglo-Irish relations.It also warns that the extremity of individual heroism can transform into the cult of man-made Gods,or lead to the romanticization of ordinary people’s self-sacrifice.