Power and Space in Wise Blood 《智血》中的权力与空间叙事文献综述

 2022-01-05 19:53:46

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文献综述

1.1 Research backgroundMary Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964), American novelist, short story writer, critic, is an important representative of Southern American literature. Her novels are famous for discussing social issues such as racial discrimination, poverty, ignorance, violence, etc. The novel Wise blood was published in 1952, which not only explores the contradictions and conflicts in the innermost part of the characters on a spiritual level but also has a strong religious color.Michel Foucault (1926-1984), French philosopher, social thinker, is an important representative of French postmodern thought. The theory of space and power he put forward has subverted traditional cognition and also has a positive impact on contemporary social structure. Power is a core concept of Western political philosophy. Most scholars regard power as a tool or commodity to exercise the right to govern. However, in Foucaults opinion, power is not an object, but a relationship, which was formed by resistance. Whats more, resistance was spread over time and space at varying densities. Thus, power is exercised, rather than possessed (Foucault, 1977: 26). In other words, Foucault mainly focuses on the rules of power operation, not the controllers of power. To study the nature and operation of power, in Foucaults view, the attention should be paid mostly on the most marginal and bottom-level environment that can be involved in power relations, like prisons, monasteries, etc. Before the 19th century, society was still mainly concerned about time. Time was the subject of history, while space was a concrete and hard-to-change container controlled by people. Lefebvre conceptualized space, thinking that space is a place connected to consciousness, and proposed that space is of political significance. After abstracting the concept of space, Foucault also proposed that space is not continuous, independent, which was created through social relations, becoming a concentrated point of power and a container for power operation. The opinions of space proposed by Foucault have important characteristics, which are structural, closed and hierarchical. Foucault also put forward the concept of heterotopia. Heteropias refer to the way in which different spaces can come into contact with other spaces that seem to bear no relation to them (Shabanirad Dadkhah, 2017: 117). Specifically, heterotopia has a definite space, and it can connect conflicting things together. The production of space is related to human consciousness. Human consciousness can be controlled by culture and system. Therefore, the spaces presented are different, but they can exist at the same time. For example, the socialist system and the capitalist system, two very different systems, can exist at the same time. In addition, space is also diachronic. For example, we could read a book written two thousand years ago. Therefore, the features of space are synchronic and diachronic. But we cannot change this book written two thousand years ago, so the space is also featured closure. Although space exists as a network of relationships, in Foucaults view, it is also hierarchical. Foucault cited panopticism, and used it as a metaphor for the process of social standardization and social control. In his view, society is like a prison, divided into one cell after another, hierarchized and subject to monitoring. Human power is also restricted in discipline, so space can also restrict power. Therefore, in Foucaults view, space is a network of connections between points, a container for power operation. It is structural. Human consciousness has a stimulating effect on the production of space while the space is subject to social discipline, which can restrict the operation of power. It is hierarchical. And we cannot change a formed space, it is closed. Space and power are intertwined, which discipline peoples consciousness. The institutional rules and culture, which have a huge effect on human consciousness, are important factors affecting space and power. The historical background of Wise blood is set at the end of the second industrial revolution. With the invention and widespread application of electricity, the economy has developed rapidly, wealth has been accumulated rapidly, and material things have been greatly satisfied. Society has also gradually become mechanized. Simultaneously, the World War II has just ended. Faced cruel war, peoples spirits gradually declined, their hearts turned to the desire for material things, and the flesh was indulged for happiness. In addition, Wang Defeng (2008) put forwards that the individuals extreme desire for material desires caused a strong individualism, and began to ignore family affection, causing the family to begin to lose position. The traditional family began to break up. The social status was that the family was out of position, the society uses money as the main link, which creates a crisis of moral trust and belief in people. Foucaults theory of power and space can help us understand the impact of the system on the social structure and individuals.1.2 Literature review Mary Flannery OConnor is an important spokesperson for American literature and is recognized as the most outstanding writer in the America South after Faulkner, who also has a huge influence on world literature. Most of the critical texts focus on single topic, discussing characterization and themes of OConnor's novels. This is the same case with the research articles on Wise blood.Some articles aim to reveal the theme in Wise blood. Butler (1981: 23-28) thinks that Wise blood is full of contradiction and that Motes characterization is not intended for sympathetic identification; he is a caricature of a romantic hero, the laughingstock, which in particular proved by that desecrator reverences the truth. Ikeo (2018:189) examines how the characterspresuppositions are linguistically triggered and how they are exploited as prompts to the ensuing communication, through being ignored, dismissed, or accommodated by participants engaged in the confabulation. Min (2016) compares different personalities and beliefs of Hazel Motes and Enoch Emery as well as their spiritual quests when facing the same religious crisis. She proposes that OConnor uses this work to express her point of view that men are born evil and only God can save people by the depiction of two characters. Schnepp (2019) compares Antoni Gauds Sagrada Familia with Flannery OConnors Wise Blood and puts forward that they share the same grotesque structure, which aims to startle the reader with an examination of Enoch and thereby into self-examination and self-reorientation. Xiao Mingwen (2015) proposes that the car symbolizes not only Hazels identity, but also his love object and spiritual carrier, which clarifies the futility of personal will and also points out the theme of belief in Christianity and obedience to God. Xie Tianhai (2017) expounds the influence of the characters personalities in the novels through changes in the social environment, revealing the split nature of the characters desires in the novels. Zeng Zhuqing (2013) uses Hazels eyes as a symbol of the search for truth, proposing that people need to recognize themselves and distinguish between the physical eye and the spiritual eye. The way to obtain the spiritual eye that perceives the outside world is to cut off the desires, so that the soul can go back the spiritual home.Other scholars focus their attention on the interaction between society and the individual, which involves some personal psychological analysis and changes in social space. Tucker- Abramson（2017: 1168）allegorizes the transformation of the South in the postwar period by Motes journey to salvation and also puts forwards that Wise blood offers an astute vision of the racial struggles over the postwar Southern city, out of which the neoliberal revolution was forged . Huang Zhenzhen (2020) studies the spatial narrative structure of the novel. She mentions the displacement of the citys physical space in the novel, and then explains the dissolution of its urban social space and the breakdown of the characters psychological space. Another study explores OConnors thoughts of spatial politics from three aspects: physical space, social space and psychological space (Yan Wang, 2020: 251-254).Above works mainly analyze the religious images and thematic ideas of Wise blood. A few scholars, however, analyze the social structure and the psychological changes of characters from the perspective of Space and Power. The distribution of space and power can objectively and concretely present the social status. And this can help us to understand the changes in the social structure of the United States during the industrial era and how this change affects racial, gender and belief issues.1.3 Need of the studyInterpreting Wise blood from the perspective of space and power can not only help us understand the power relationship between individuals and society, but also help us further explore the development and evolution of culture and economy. We can also discover how the personal spiritual world collapsed and rebuilt under during the 1950s. Therefore, we can also appreciate the authors delicate psychological description and profound thoughts.1. Introduction1.1 Research backgroundMary Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964), American novelist, short story writer, critic, is an important representative of Southern American literature. Her novels are famous for discussing social issues such as racial discrimination, poverty, ignorance, violence, etc. The novel Wise blood was published in 1952, which not only explores the contradictions and conflicts in the innermost part of the characters on a spiritual level but also has a strong religious color.Michel Foucault (1926-1984), French philosopher, social thinker, is an important representative of French postmodern thought. The theory of space and power he put forward has subverted traditional cognition and also has a positive impact on contemporary social structure. Power is a core concept of Western political philosophy. Most scholars regard power as a tool or commodity to exercise the right to govern. However, in Foucaults opinion, power is not an object, but a relationship, which was formed by resistance. Whats more, resistance was spread over time and space at varying densities. Thus, power is exercised, rather than possessed (Foucault, 1977: 26). In other words, Foucault mainly focuses on the rules of power operation, not the controllers of power. To study the nature and operation of power, in Foucaults view, the attention should be paid mostly on the most marginal and bottom-level environment that can be involved in power relations, like prisons, monasteries, etc. Before the 19th century, society was still mainly concerned about time. Time was the subject of history, while space was a concrete and hard-to-change container controlled by people. Lefebvre conceptualized space, thinking that space is a place connected to consciousness, and proposed that space is of political significance. After abstracting the concept of space, Foucault also proposed that space is not continuous, independent, which was created through social relations, becoming a concentrated point of power and a container for power operation. The opinions of space proposed by Foucault have important characteristics, which are structural, closed and hierarchical. Foucault also put forward the concept of heterotopia. Heteropias refer to the way in which different spaces can come into contact with other spaces that seem to bear no relation to them (Shabanirad Dadkhah, 2017: 117). Specifically, heterotopia has a definite space, and it can connect conflicting things together. The production of space is related to human consciousness. Human consciousness can be controlled by culture and system. Therefore, the spaces presented are different, but they can exist at the same time. For example, the socialist system and the capitalist system, two very different systems, can exist at the same time. In addition, space is also diachronic. For example, we could read a book written two thousand years ago. Therefore, the features of space are synchronic and diachronic. But we cannot change this book written two thousand years ago, so the space is also featured closure. Although space exists as a network of relationships, in Foucaults view, it is also hierarchical. Foucault cited panopticism, and used it as a metaphor for the process of social standardization and social control. In his view, society is like a prison, divided into one cell after another, hierarchized and subject to monitoring. Human power is also restricted in discipline, so space can also restrict power. Therefore, in Foucaults view, space is a network of connections between points, a container for power operation. It is structural. Human consciousness has a stimulating effect on the production of space while the space is subject to social discipline, which can restrict the operation of power. It is hierarchical. And we cannot change a formed space, it is closed. Space and power are intertwined, which discipline peoples consciousness. The institutional rules and culture, which have a huge effect on human consciousness, are important factors affecting space and power. The historical background of Wise blood is set at the end of the second industrial revolution. With the invention and widespread application of electricity, the economy has developed rapidly, wealth has been accumulated rapidly, and material things have been greatly satisfied. Society has also gradually become mechanized. Simultaneously, the World War II has just ended. Faced cruel war, peoples spirits gradually declined, their hearts turned to the desire for material things, and the flesh was indulged for happiness. In addition, Wang Defeng (2008) put forwards that the individuals extreme desire for material desires caused a strong individualism, and began to ignore family affection, causing the family to begin to lose position. The traditional family began to break up. The social status was that the family was out of position, the society uses money as the main link, which creates a crisis of moral trust and belief in people. Foucaults theory of power and space can help us understand the impact of the system on the social structure and individuals.1.2 Literature review Mary Flannery OConnor is an important spokesperson for American literature and is recognized as the most outstanding writer in the America South after Faulkner, who also has a huge influence on world literature. Most of the critical texts focus on single topic, discussing characterization and themes of OConnor's novels. This is the same case with the research articles on Wise blood.Some articles aim to reveal the theme in Wise blood. Butler (1981: 23-28) thinks that Wise blood is full of contradiction and that Motes characterization is not intended for sympathetic identification; he is a caricature of a romantic hero, the laughingstock, which in particular proved by that desecrator reverences the truth. Ikeo (2018:189) examines how the characterspresuppositions are linguistically triggered and how they are exploited as prompts to the ensuing communication, through being ignored, dismissed, or accommodated by participants engaged in the confabulation. Min (2016) compares different personalities and beliefs of Hazel Motes and Enoch Emery as well as their spiritual quests when facing the same religious crisis. She proposes that OConnor uses this work to express her point of view that men are born evil and only God can save people by the depiction of two characters. Schnepp (2019) compares Antoni Gauds Sagrada Familia with Flannery OConnors Wise Blood and puts forward that they share the same grotesque structure, which aims to startle the reader with an examination of Enoch and thereby into self-examination and self-reorientation. Xiao Mingwen (2015) proposes that the car symbolizes not only Hazels identity, but also his love object and spiritual carrier, which clarifies the futility of personal will and also points out the theme of belief in Christianity and obedience to God. Xie Tianhai (2017) expounds the influence of the characters personalities in the novels through changes in the social environment, revealing the split nature of the characters desires in the novels. Zeng Zhuqing (2013) uses Hazels eyes as a symbol of the search for truth, proposing that people need to recognize themselves and distinguish between the physical eye and the spiritual eye. The way to obtain the spiritual eye that perceives the outside world is to cut off the desires, so that the soul can go back the spiritual home.Other scholars focus their attention on the interaction between society and the individual, which involves some personal psychological analysis and changes in social space. Tucker- Abramson（2017: 1168）allegorizes the transformation of the South in the postwar period by Motes journey to salvation and also puts forwards that Wise blood offers an astute vision of the racial struggles over the postwar Southern city, out of which the neoliberal revolution was forged . Huang Zhenzhen (2020) studies the spatial narrative structure of the novel. She mentions the displacement of the citys physical space in the novel, and then explains the dissolution of its urban social space and the breakdown of the characters psychological space. Another study explores OConnors thoughts of spatial politics from three aspects: physical space, social space and psychological space (Yan Wang, 2020: 251-254).Above works mainly analyze the religious images and thematic ideas of Wise blood. A few scholars, however, analyze the social structure and the psychological changes of characters from the perspective of Space and Power. The distribution of space and power can objectively and concretely present the social status. And this can help us to understand the changes in the social structure of the United States during the industrial era and how this change affects racial, gender and belief issues.1.3 Need of the studyInterpreting Wise blood from the perspective of space and power can not only help us understand the power relationship between individuals and society, but also help us further explore the development and evolution of culture and economy. We can also discover how the personal spiritual world collapsed and rebuilt under during the 1950s. Therefore, we can also appreciate the authors delicate psychological description and profound thoughts.ReferencesButler, R. R. (1981). Wise bloods joy in contradiction. The Flannery O'Connor bulletin, 10,23-28.Dadkhah, M., Shabanirad, E. (2017). A foucauldian study of space and power in two novels by Nadine Gordimer. The American Statistician, 17(4), 113-127.Guan, M. (2016). An analysis of religious images in Flannery OConnors novel Wise blood. Studies in literature and language, 13 (3), 48-52.Ikeo, R. (2018). Unshared presuppositions and assumptions in Flannery OConnors Wise blood. Style, 52 (3), 189-211.Jessica, S. (2019). The Catholic grotesque: Antoni Gauds Sagrada Familia and Flannery OConnors Wise blood. English studies, 100 (5), 564-577. Tucker-Abramson, M. (2017). States of salvation: Wise blood and the rise of the neoliberal right. Pmla, 132 (5), 1166-1180.黄真真(2020)，《智血》中的城市空间叙事研究，《牡丹江教育学院学报》，（5）：1-3。

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谢天海（2017），弗兰纳里奥康纳小说《智血》中的父权/神权中心崩塌与欲望分裂，《天津外国语大学学报》，24（6）：56-61。

闫丽静、王艳文（2020），空间理论视阈下《智血》中的空间政治观，《海外英语》，（8）：251-252,254。

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曾竹青（2013），弗兰纳里奥康纳《智血》中的眼睛，《湖南大学学报》(社会科学版)，27（6）：95-98。

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