London, one of the most popular settings in literature, is portrayed in many literary works not only as the centre of power, dreams, expectations, and fears, but also as the city of plurality and multiplicity of cultu...London, one of the most popular settings in literature, is portrayed in many literary works not only as the centre of power, dreams, expectations, and fears, but also as the city of plurality and multiplicity of cultures. Considering V. S. Naipaul＇s The Mimic Men （1967） in terms of the depiction of London, what comes to the fore is that Naipaul＇s own background has an undeniable impact upon his illustration of London. Naipaul, as an in-between individual belonging to his hometown Trinidad and also to England, where he received his education, has experienced a metaphorical colonization due to his inner conflicts because of his hybridity. In this sense, in The Mimic Men, he creates his character Ralph Singh, who is struggling with the social and political forces and trying to find a place not only in his own country on the Caribbean Island of Isabella, but also among the English in London as a politician. In the novel, London is regarded as the city of freedom and hopes as well as the city of disillusionments and hopelessness. Therefore, in this paper, hybridity, otherness in London, and the influence of Naipaul＇s own biography upon his portrayal of London in The Mimic Men will be explored.展开更多
文摘London, one of the most popular settings in literature, is portrayed in many literary works not only as the centre of power, dreams, expectations, and fears, but also as the city of plurality and multiplicity of cultures. Considering V. S. Naipaul＇s The Mimic Men （1967） in terms of the depiction of London, what comes to the fore is that Naipaul＇s own background has an undeniable impact upon his illustration of London. Naipaul, as an in-between individual belonging to his hometown Trinidad and also to England, where he received his education, has experienced a metaphorical colonization due to his inner conflicts because of his hybridity. In this sense, in The Mimic Men, he creates his character Ralph Singh, who is struggling with the social and political forces and trying to find a place not only in his own country on the Caribbean Island of Isabella, but also among the English in London as a politician. In the novel, London is regarded as the city of freedom and hopes as well as the city of disillusionments and hopelessness. Therefore, in this paper, hybridity, otherness in London, and the influence of Naipaul＇s own biography upon his portrayal of London in The Mimic Men will be explored.
