英语论文网

against a background of brick buildings, neon signs, plate glass and roaring traffic. There were even black girls in street. Even a black policeman is directing traffic and white drivers in the traffic who obeyed his signal as though it was the most natural thing in the world.” In this way, the senser is changed. Although all phenomena exist, readers will not have the same feeling as they happen in front of the narrator’s own eyes. Above all, first person narration makes readers accept everything naturally just as they had underwent all of them, such as social background, life experience, accidents, events, and even various feelings of the narrator. 3.2 Interpersonal Function of the First Person Narration in Invisible Man Based on the theories of mood and modality, this part analyzes the character of the narrator and other characters. 3.2.1 Characterization of the Narrator The interpersonal function serves to establish and maintain social relationship: for the expression of social roles, which include the communication roles created by language itself and the speaker’s comments on the probability and relevance of the message and his attitude towards it. Obviously, Invisible Man uses first person narration through the eyes of the narrator. As the protagonist, the narrator’s characterization can be analyzed based on the theory of mood and modality. Take Chapter 6 for example. In this chapter, Dr. Bledsoe asked the narrator to come to his office and he wanted to expel him. The main structure of this chapter is the conversation between the narrator and Dr. Bledsoe, using direct speech. There are 5 “could”s, 16 “would”s, 6 “will”s, 2 “have to”s and 1 “had to” in all in this chapter, which are used in different situations after the first person pronoun “I” (refers to the narrator). Before entering the office, the narrator said: “I couldn’t stand to face Dr. Bledsoe immediately.” Could is a weak modal auxiliary. Here it shows the feeling of the narrator that he was frightened. He didn’t know how Dr. Bledsoe would treat him. Then, when Dr. Bledsoe blamed him, he explained: “There was nothing I could do. (Ellison 2005: 138)” Could here shows the narrator’s hopeless. When Mr. Norton asked him to do something, he had nothing to do but to obey Mr. Norton because he was only a black student. In this respect, the narrator is a weak person. He has no courage to break the unequal relationship between whites and blacks, even has no courage to meet Dr. Bledsoe. Dr. Bledsoe continued blaming the narrator and didn’t believe his saying. So the narrator said: “I wouldn’t lie, sir. (Ellison 2005: 140)” Would is a medium modal auxiliary. Here it shows the honesty and dignity of the narrator. He strengthened his mood because he couldn’t bear other’s distrust of his honesty. In this respect, the narrator is an honest person. When Dr. Bledsoe broke his promise to Norton not to punish him, the narrator got angry. He said: “I’ll tell him. I’ll go to Mr. Norton and tell him. (Ellison 2005: 142)” He even screamed: “I’ll tell him. I’ll tell everybody. I’ll fight you. I swear it. I’ll fight! (Ellison 2005: 143)” Will is a medium modal auxiliary. Here readers can see the narrator’s first resistance. The narrator no longer said would or could. He used will instead. He couldn’t bear any more. In this respect, the narrator is not a coward. He is brave enough to strive for his own rights and benefits. But after hearing what Dr. Bledsoe said later, he gave up hi