关键词: 《修补匠》; 新英格兰; 生存空间; 家园意识

Abstract: Tinkers, the maiden novel of Paul, tells about the three generations’ home construction of the Crosbys in the West Cove of the New England during the period of colonization and the capitalization. However, to some degree, the common life of the three generations really reflects the tremendous changes in spatial and temporal aspects of the West Cove. This paper attempts to interpret the major images of the spaces in the novel by analyzing the typical spatial activities of the Crosbys and the changes of living space of the native Indians who accompany the three generations by using spatial theory. The author of this article finds that the spiritual home of George’s grandfather vanishes, the poetic home of George’s father Edward aborts, George’ material home is meaningless, while the native Indians take shelters in the forest and soon then are confined in the reservation places. So to some extent, all of them are homeless. The author, Paul Harding, reveals that the expansion and invasion of the European colonialism and the capitalism not only destroy the geographical features of the West Cove but also hurt the local residents’ spiritual homes by making up the Crosbys’ trauma of home construction and the Indians’ sufferings from losing homeland. Meanwhile, he demonstrates his unique comprehension on the individual’s living space as well as his concern about the fortune of the earth, the only home of all the human beings.

Keywords: Tinkers; New England; living space; the sense of homeland