元小说的兴起是文学自身演进的结果

The Rise of Meta-Fiction is the Result of Evolution of Literature Proper

传统现实主义小说被理所当然地视为现实生活的自然延续,叙述视角是全知全能的。现代小说的叙事由外在世界转向内在世界。后现代小说否定生活的规律性、必然性。这样要继续维护小说话语的权威性,就必须把这种自觉引进小说的叙述之中,返回自身,承认自身的局限、困境并充分利用它,作家们似乎别无选择,戏仿似乎势所必然。

Traditional realistic novels are naturally considered as the natural extension of real life, with an omniscient narrative angle. The narration of modem novels is transformed from outer world to inner world. Post-modem novels deny the regularity and inevitability of life. To maintain the authoritative position of novels, it is necessary to introduce the self-awareness into the narration, to return to oneself, to acknowledge the limits and predicaments of oneself and take full use of them. It seems that the writers have no other choice but to imitate as it is inevitable.