論莫欣．哈密《拉合爾茶館的陌生人》中的身份認同危機與對恐怖主義的批判

Identity Crisis and Critique of Terrorism in Mohsin Hamid‘s The Reluctant Fundamentalist

陳咨蓉(Zi-rong Chen)

指導教授 ： 龔紹明

國立中正大學/文學院/外國語文學系/碩士(2013年)

摘要

九一一事件後，我們皆目睹媒體和社會情境如何操縱大眾的恐懼。後九一一文學更助紂為虐，以創傷敘事加深人們的恐怖感受，重返驚恐與悲痛的心路歷程，並探究事件後的心理重建。然而，莫欣．哈密備受爭議的作品《拉合爾茶館的陌生人》卻抨擊上述激化族裔敵對的書寫形式。該作家質疑當代離散文學中的美國夢理想，並批判反恐主義聲浪引起的仇外言論。本論文擬探討主人翁成吉思在九一一事件前後的身份衝突，並檢視在小說情節及其框架敘事手法中，九一一後的恐怖主義如何加劇族裔間關係的緊張。筆者欲揭示九一一事件後成吉思的身份轉化，以及小說對恐怖主義及反恐主義的批判。第一章首先探索成吉思追求財富與成功的美國夢背後複雜之因，及他在奮鬥過程中對自己出身反覆的自卑與困惑。第二章檢視九一一事件後美國哀悼的紀念儀式與懷舊情緒，並以凱西．卡露絲的創傷理論深入探討成吉思的戀人艾芮卡的創傷記憶與懷舊情感，並探究兩者如何影響成吉思對自身的歸屬感與身份認同。第三章則審視反恐戰爭和美國與印度、巴基斯坦之間的國際關係，如何激化成吉思的身份衝突和他最後的自我定位—覺醒成為一個「身不由己的基本教義派」。最後，筆者提出，小說中框架敘事手法裡的恐怖元素實為反映讀者自己想像出的恐懼與對恐怖主義先入為主的偏見，而進一步呼籲我們對多元文化的尊重與包容。

關鍵字

身份認同 ； 九一一事件 ； 《拉合爾茶館的陌生人》 ； 莫欣．哈密 ； 恐怖主義 ； 創傷記憶

並列摘要

After September 11, we have seen how public terror can be manipulated by the media and the social context. Post-9/11 fiction often reinforces such terror by applying the structure of trauma narrative, reproducing the psychological process of dealing fright and distress, and then exploring the mental reconstruction after the event. Mohsin Hamid’s controversial novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist is distinct in that it declaims against prevailing patterns which intensifies ethnic antagonism, challenges the American dream in contemporary diasporic fictions, and shows a critique on the public rhetoric of xenophobia in an age of anti-terrorism. This thesis aims to examine the identity conflicts of the protagonist Changez before and after the 9/11 attacks, and see how the post-9/11 terror exacerbates inter-ethnic tension both in the story and in the frame narrative. My concern is to focus on Changez’s identity transformation in the wake of 9/11 and explore the novel’s critique of terrorism and anti-terrorism. Chapter One will first address Changez’s complex reasons for achieving his American dream of wealth and success, and his constant shame and confusion towards his origin during his struggle. Chapter Two will then focus on the commemoration of mourning and nostalgia in America after 9/11. Drawing upon Cathy Caruth’s trauma theory, my study will investigate the nostalgia and traumatic memories of Changez’s lover, Erica, and see how they influence Changez’s own identity and sense of belonging. Chapter Three will inspect how the war on terror and the international relations among Pakistan, India, and the United States intensify Changez’s identity conflicts and his final identity—becoming or awakening as a reluctant fundamentalist. More specially, I argue that horrifying elements in the frame narrative work as a reflection of readers’ own imaginary terror and preconception of terrorism.

並列關鍵字

terrorism ； identity ； September 11 ； The Reluctant Fundamentalist ； Mohsin Hamid ； traumatic memories

參考文獻

Baudrillard, Jean. The Spirit of Terrorism. Trans. Chris Turner. London: Verso, 2003.

Bush, George W. “Presidential Address to a Joint Session of Congress.” We Will

Prevail: President George W. Bush on War, Terrorism and Freedom. Ed. National

Butler, Judith. Precarious Life: The Powers of Mourning and Violence. London:

Verso, 2004.