Utvandrarna och friheten
En narratologisk undersökning
Vilhelm MobergUtvandrarnaThe EmigrantsNarratologyNarrative techniqueFreedomLiberationVilhelm MobergUtvandrarnaNarratologiFrihetBefrielse
The purpose of this essay is to do a narratological analysis of Utvandrarna by Vilhelm Moberg to see how the form affects the theme of freedom and liberation. I used narratology as the method of analysis and my questions for the text regards the significance of the narrator, the use of focalization, the powers, helpers and opponents, the locations and spaces, and how these aspects affect the theme. In my analysis of the novel I found that the narration took place in three levels. This gave the story different perspectives of the theme; an outer perspective, a semi-distant perspective and a more personal perspective. The focalization of the main characters creates sympathies, and the focalization of non-main characters gives the reader an outer perspective on the characters. This could both enhance the perception of oppression in Sweden and make clear that the characters move out of their comfort zone in order to travel to the new country. There are not many helpers in the novel, the main characters are often left to help themselves. The opponents found in the book were mostly characters in Sweden who kept the main characters from their freedom. Negative powers are the social structure and religious oppression, positive powers are determination that help the characters go through with their journey. The locations and the perception of space often enhances the feeling of being shut in which is contrasted to the longing for freedom. One of the main characters opposes the journey and does not see freedom at the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. This, together with the miserable conditions on the ship, problematizes the theme of liberation. The ocean can stand for opportunity and freedom, but once the main characters are on the ship the ocean becomes a threat and the ship holds them prisoners. Since it is not clear whether the main characters reach freedom in America or not, the focus in this novel is on the process of liberation. In my analysis I could see that the theme of freedom was visible in different ways in the different aspects of the narrative.