本論文以霍米巴巴(Homi K. Bhabha)的矛盾心理(ambivalence)及模擬行為(mimicry)理論為研究視角,用以檢視奈波爾《浮生》一書中主角威立(Willie)如何在後殖民的情境下以內心對殖民論述的矛盾，及模仿殖民者的行為做一對殖民論述的反抗。霍米巴巴做為後殖民理論的三巨頭之一提出矛盾情結及模擬行為等論述，用以推翻被殖民者在殖民時期甚或後殖民時期的艱困處境。在霍米巴巴的闡釋下，被殖民者的他者性(difference)被賦予一更加正面、更具反抗性的意義。被殖民的他者性(difference/otherness)及其所衍生的被殖民者的不完全性(partiality)給予被殖民者的是過去在被殖民者身上所缺乏的反抗動力。
本論文第一章闡述霍米巴巴矛盾情結及模擬行為之理論如何成為一幫助被殖民者反抗殖民論述的力量。在第二章中，主角威立在後殖民的環境下顯露其被殖民者同化也同時被排拒的矛盾情結。在其內心矛盾的影響下，威立轉而反抗欲同化又欲排拒他的殖民論述。被殖民者的模擬行為亦建立於此心理矛盾上。第三章中以主角威立的模擬行為為例，闡述被殖民主體一方面藉由模仿殖民者的行為及其價值觀以表現自己為一被同化的客體。同一時間，被殖民主體又藉由不完全的模仿諷刺壓迫他的殖民者。藉由對殖民者的諷刺嘲笑，被殖民者得以介入以往由殖民者所書寫的殖民論述，而殖民威權也因此而遭到破壞。
本論文利用霍米巴巴的後殖民理論對奈波爾《浮生》一書做進一步的分析，並從而得出二點結論：一、本論文就《浮生》一書及其充滿爭議性的作者奈波爾提出一個更全面、更正面的閱讀。研究者藉由霍米巴巴的理論，在本論文中幫助作者奈波爾洗刷其被視為西方霸權共謀者之污名。二、本論文說明殖民者內心矛盾及其模仿殖民者的行為並非同化或屈服的表徵，而是一股被殖民者反抗殖民論述的力量，而由矛盾情結及模仿行為所產生的顛覆力量將使得被殖民者不再迫使成為順從且無力反抗的一群。

This thesis adopts Bhabha’s ideas of ambivalence and mimicry to examine the colonial subject—Willie—in Naipaul’s novel, Half a Life. As one of the postcolonial Trinity, Bhabha proposes the concept of ambivalence and its strategy—mimicry—in order to subvert the plight where the colonized suffer not only in the colonial age but also in the post-colonial age. In Bhabha’s illustration, the difference of the colonized/the ‘Other’ has a more positive and subversive meaning. The difference of the colonized and its derivative—‘partiality’ provides the colonized with subversive power.
This thesis is composed of three chapters. Chapter One depicts how ambivalence and mimicry function. Based on Bhabha’s ideas of ambivalence and mimicry, this thesis examines how the colonial subject in Naipaul’s Half a Life turns to resist the colonial discourse. Chapter Two investigates Willie’s ambivalence between being appropriated and being rejected. The ambivalence leads to Willie’s resistance to the colonial discourse. Chapter Three explores Willie’s mimicry, which is a strategy constructed on ambivalence. As a colonial subject, Willie reveals himself as an appropriate object by imitating the values and behavior of the colonizer; however, Willie does actually satirize the oppressor by partially imitating/representing the colonizer. With the ridicule on the colonizer, the colonial discourse is challenged, the colonial narcissism is mocked and the colonial authority is disrupted.
By confirming that Half a Life is a novel about the colonial subject’s resistance, Naipaul, as a controversial author, can be rid of his notoriety as an accomplice with the western hegemony. Moreover, this thesis also aims to illustrate that ambivalence and mimicry empower the colonized. With the subversive power generated from ambivalence and mimicry, the colonized redeem themselves from the condemnation of being powerless and passive.

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