『人生』的空間敘事與倫理呈現

Abstract

This paper aims to explore and examine the ethical narration and the interaction between space and narration in Life from the perspective of narrative ethics. Ethical narrative is one of the essential characteristics of narrative discourse, defined as “the ethical attitude of the author in unfolding the narrative, as well as the ethical mood and ethical themes of the work.” Narrative forms generate ethical effects within the text, creating profound ethical significance. Therefore, the study and analysis of narrative ethics cannot be overlooked. Although Lu Yao's novels prominently feature temporal narratives and reflections of the times, a strong sense of space can still be felt in his works. Life presents the daily life of the main character, Gao Jialin, in a straightforward manner. The author skillfully conveys the characters' complex personalities, psychology, and emotions through a winding storyline, while also portraying the characters' psychological processes by utilizing different spatial settings. By alternating between rural and urban spaces, the novel not only completes the narrative through these spatial transformations but also describes the settings in detail, drawing the reader closer and imbuing the spaces with symbolic meaning. In this way, space influences the narrative to a certain extent, determining the ethical trajectory of the story. Thus, the spatial narrative in Life plays a crucial role in the ethical presentation of the novel. In previous research, scholars have focused on themes such as the tragic ending, the influence of the era, and the color of local culture, while often neglecting the individual life experiences and values conveyed through the novel’s fundamental narrative structure. Therefore, this paper will analyze how the author achieves the integration of space and ethics, and the significance of space in the presentation of narrative ethics. It will explore these two aspects separately and then derive their ethical implications.