Everything I Never Told You

Abstract

Celeste Ng employs spatial narrative to make Everything I Never Told You a multi-dimensional novel. This paper analyzes its spatial narrative in terms of the physical space, social space, spiritual space and textual space. Through the body and some other spatial images, the novelist constructs a suffocative micro-physical space that is in line with the anxiety and gloom felt by the characters. Through Marilyn's disillusionment and James' sense of alienation, the novelist introduces the social space about mixed marriages and the second wave of feminism in the late 20th century. Through the spiritual space, the subtle inner feelings of Marilyn, James and Lydia are unveiled. Through the textual space, non-linear narrative and intertextuality lends enchantment to the novel. Hence, the author enhances readability, flexibility and artistry of the novel by virtue of spatial narrative.

Alienation of Intergenerational Relationship in Everything I Never Told You

“…Marilyn's disappearance had a huge impact on the family, especially Lydia. For Nath and Lydia, "Their mother's absence gnawed at them quietly, a dull and spreading hurt" [2] . In the days when Marilyn escaped from home, Lydia began to dream terrible things and whenever she woke up from the nightmare, she could no longer sleep.…”

“…"It's not your fault, her father had said, but Lydia knew it was. They'd done something wrong, she and Nath" [2] . This event made Lydia struggle to find a way to vent her loneliness and sadness.…”