The Enlightenment of Cultural Identity in Coetzee’s Diaspora Writing on the Integration of New Citizens in China

Abstract

As a diaspora writer, Coetzee has a deep understanding of the identity crisis, and his works reflect the profound thinking on this issue and the positive exploration of the solution to the problem. This paper starts with the narrative strategy of Coetzee’s works and analyzes that diaspora subject constantly encounters the identity crisis in the environment and through the expression of discourse constructs a new identity. This study examined the issue of identity of new citizens in the fast development of urbanization in China, which became an obstacle for them to get integrated to the city. After the analysis of questionnaire among new citizens, this study found that language use functions as a major element to influence their identity. Through the analysis of discourse mode and identity issues of Coetzee’s novels, the paper showed that the concept of respecting the individual, equality and harmony to get the identity adaptation of the new citizen is conducive to promoting the integration of different regional cultures, enhancing the understanding between people, and alleviating the personal pressure and social contradictions caused by the difficulties of integration. Thus the study can provide a feasible solution for the immigrant integration problem faced by new citizens in the process of urbanization in China.