论《谁是爱尔兰人?》的不可靠叙述及其主题阐释作用

A Study of the Unreliable Narration in Who's Irish? and its Interpretation to the Theme

短篇小说《谁是爱尔兰人?》是通过不可靠叙述塑造人物,达成主题阐述的一个范本。从事实/事件、价值/判断和知识/感知三大轴上的研究可见,第一人称叙述者"老祖母"的不可靠叙述为凸显人物性格,揭示文化冲突与融合的主题等发挥了重要作用。她固守民族传统,不能入乡随俗,导致家庭矛盾时有发生。她与爱尔兰女婿和亲家母在同一屋檐下的生活为双方在文化碰撞中相互调整与接受提供了契机。在这一过程中,"老祖母"的不满意叙述日益减少,小说的文化大融合主题不断加深。

The short novel, Who is Irish？, is an exemplar of unreliable narration through which characterization and theme interpretation are realized. Through analyzing three axes,the axis of fact/event,value/judgment and knowledge/perception,the unreliable narration of the grandmother,it is found that the first person narrator,is significant in portraying characters and revealing the theme of cultural conflicts and integration. Caring, hardworking and humorous, the grandmother is also the cause of family contradictions due to her stubborn adherence to Chinese traditions. While the grandmother living with the son-in-law＇s mother,both sides get an opportunity to reconcile and accept each other. As the dissatisfaction of the grandmother is declining, the theme of cultural integration is deepened.