《边界乡村》中的记忆与身份认同

Memory and Identity in Border Country

雷蒙德·威廉斯的《边界乡村》是一部关于回忆与身份认同的小说。它以独特的视角从家族记忆、阶级记忆和民族记忆三个话语方面展示了主人公马修/威尔的身份认同过程。在回乡的追忆和体验中,马修/威尔明白,他肩负着延传男权家族传统、继续工农阶级的事业和精神、加强民族意识和为民族独立而奋斗的责任,从而最终成功建构了自己的家庭(主要是性别)身份、阶级身份和民族身份。马修/威尔的身份认同过程阐明了小说家对二战后英国个体和群体身份的理解,并且以此为基础为工人阶级的未来发展提供了一种选择方案。

Raymond Williams＇ s Border Country is a novel about memory and its function in identity construction. The novel provides a unique perspective on the protagonist Matthew/Will＇s identification process through discourses on family memory, class memory and national memory. Through his memories and homecoming experiences, Matthew/Will realizes that he should carry on the patriarchal tradition of his family, fight for the cause and spirit of peasants and workers, raise his national consciousness and work for national independence. In the end he successfully constructs his family identity（mainly gender identity）, class identity and national identity. Matthew/Will＇s identification process illustrates Williams＇ s understanding of individual and collective identity in Britain after 1945 and his consequent proposal of a future path to empower the working class.