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

摘要： 保罗•哈丁的首部作品《修补匠》围绕乔治•克罗斯比家族三代人在新英格兰西海湾的家园建设而展开，当时的西海湾正处在美国殖民化合资本化的进程中，从某种程度上说，平凡的家族生活却承载着该地区的空间变迁和时代印记。本文拟用空间理论从三代人典型的家园生活以及印第安人的家园变迁来解读小说中的空间意蕴。研究发现，祖父所坚守的灵魂家园败落、父亲的诗意家园夭折、乔治的物质家园呈虚无，而伴随乔治祖父三代的印第安人则躲进丛林继而被圈禁保留地，可以说他们在各自的层面上呈“无家”之状。作者哈丁通过虚构乔治家族的家园创伤以及印第安人的“失家”揭示，欧洲殖民与资本扩张不仅破坏了西海湾的地理风貌，而且伤及居住者的心灵家园，从而展示自己对人类唯一共同家园——地球——未来的忧思。笔者希望本文的阐释能为小说的解读提供一个新视角。

关键词: 《修补匠》, 新英格兰, 生存空间, 家园意识