無處為家:論姬蘭．德賽《繼承失落的人》中之空間與身份認同

姬蘭．德賽《繼承失落的人》描述相交且受迫於後殖民與全球化影響的葛倫堡居住者面對廓爾康族國族主義初興，所面臨之困境與希望。位於珠穆朗瑪峰南側，葛倫堡的空間政治挑戰是不分性別與族群，尤以法官所代表的世代，演繹受英國殖民文化影響者和當地少數族群的摩擦。遠於紐約的青年畢久也以另一種求生法則，穿梭於各個地下室，受困於非法移工的身分，法官與畢久在跨國經驗下對空間的衝擊遠超於他們想像。緊接於空間的討論之後，第二章將探討其文化可信度的作用，及行使生活型態以及文化認同。法官與畢久面對的共同問題為如何在生活場域實行自身所堅信的行為法則。小說中最年輕角色，賽伊以批判的角度，重新評估八零年代後的西方殖民遺跡與葛倫堡當地地景，以近似於旁觀者分析，自身與家教蓋安間背景的相異與身分政治，差別性成為賽伊離開的契機，以期發掘空間，因此她的身份認同成為本章的著墨點。總結以上的討論得知空間與身份認同的互相影響，錯綜的世代相處與跨國經驗，何處為家各角色必須面對的命題。

關鍵字

空間；擺盪的身份；無處的；姬蘭．德賽

並列摘要

This paper will discuss two motifs in The Inheritance of Loss. First, space and sense of space are perceived differently by characters. For those living under English imperialism, they assume a lifestyle of superiority. However, globalization offers residents with movement across countries and continents. Indians who live under modernized advancement understand space in ways that sometimes contradicts what used to be people’s belief in the past. As the concept of space changes, the definition of home no longer stays consistent. Especially for people who are not in India, they strive for an authentic India that cultural and religious traditions would offer. The authenticity of Indian belief is challenged and diasporic subjects struggle to stay loyal to the original concept, which even hinders Indians overseas to mingle with other nationals. In the late twentieth century, Kalimpong, India becomes the site where Gorkha movement takes place. Unjust treatment of Gorkhas sparks their protests in both economic and political aspects. The unrest starts to affect locals’ daily life. Youngsters of that time experience diverse yet contradictory effects of globalization and nationalism. Their sense of “not-to-be-home” is heightened; thus, their concept of space and identities are in flux.

並列關鍵字

space ； identity in flux ； unhomely ； Kiran Desai

參考文獻

Sinha, Sunita, Bryan Reynolds, eds. Critical Responses to Kiran Desai. New Delhi, India: Atlantic, 2009.

Chakrabarty, Dipesh. Provincializing Europe: Postcolonial Thought and Historical Difference. New Jersey: Princeton UP, 2000.

Clifford, James. Routes: Travel and Translation in the Late Twentieth Century. Massachusetts: Harvard UP, 1997.

Cohen, Robin. Global Diaspora: An Introduction. London: Routledge, 2008. Print.

Didur, Jill. “Cultivating Community: Counterlandscaping in Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss.” Postcolonial Ecologies: Literatures of the Environment. Ed. Elizabeth DeLoughrey, George B. Handley. New York: Oxford UP, 2011. 43-61.

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無處為家:論姬蘭．德賽《繼承失落的人》中之空間與身份認同

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