英文摘要 |
The image of “Stranger” has held a signif icant position in Western literaturein the 20th century. After WWII, the image of “Stranger” was the most oftenseen theme in the works of the second generation mainlander writers. However,few attention has been paid to the fact that this image could also be found in thehistorical records and family stories written by native Taiwanese writers. This articletakes Song Ze Lai’s and Wu He’s novels as examples to analyze the characteristicsof “Stranger” in their works, focusing on the inheritance and transformation of thefate of “Stranger” between generations. Based on such analysis, this article intendsto show the way the native Taiwanese writers struggled to search for self-valuethrough writing about “Stranger” as well as reflecting upon and transforming thefate of “Stranger”.In Song Ze Lai’s and Wu He’s novels, the characteristics of “Stranger” duringthe Japanese colonial period are feebleness, helplessness or lunacy. This image ofdisabled men undoubtedly reflects the trauma of colonization. In contrast, theimages of “Stranger” during the authoritarian rule period and post-martial lawperiod show an effort by the writers to surpass the fate of “Stranger” they inheritfrom their fathers. With regard to Song Ze Lai’s novels, such effort takes the form of transforming illness and the world of death into criticisms of social reality andprojection of a utopia. In Wu He’s novels, such effort takes the form of followingthe tradition of redundancy and developing a philosophy of uselessness whichworks as a way to shake and subvert the institutions. I conclude that although thestranger’s experience of marginality seems passive and powerless, it actually containsabundant momentum for resisting the system and preserving selves. |