Alienation and Segregation in Ali Smith’s Autumn

Abstract

Ali Smith’s novel, Autumn, has a special status in terms of the date of its publication. The time of publication of Autumn, 2016, occurs almost at the same time with Brexit referendum with only three months difference. Based on the effects it constituted on society, Brexit became a cornerstone of literary evaluation. Eventually a trend called Brexit literature has started. Smith Autumn is regarded as the first work of Brexit Literature. The novel is a versatile novel in terms of the subjects it covers. In addition to being a political novel, subjects such as immigration, love, art, alienation and exclusion also come to the fore. This study focuses on practices such as alienation and segregation in the novel. In the referendum held in 1975 on the continuation of the EU membership, while the majority voted for the continuation of the membership, a counter result was obtained in the referendum held in 2016. The desire to sever certain ties with Europe is the result of social and political change in the country. It is observed that the separatist and conservative wing gains strength, while the open-minded wing that favours the union weakens. Among the consequences of this situation, items such as polarization in the country and segregation of immigrants can be listed. This study addresses such issues in the context of Brexit Literature.