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1.2 Research Object
This paper requires an understanding of the origin and evolution of nationalism, and then gets know of the forms of ethnic conflicts before and after World War II. On this basis, this paper will analyze the characters and plots of the film The English Patient to conclude that it will only be a utopianism with pan nationalism.
The first part of my paper is a brief introduction. Then, this paper will introduce the origin and evolution of nationalism together with the different connotations of nationalism. Next this paper will analyze the theme of nationalism in The English Patient from four main characters. Finally, this paper will illustrate the transcendence of traditional nationalism in The English Patient as well as its defeats.
2 Literature Review
2.1 The Evolution Of Nationalism
2.1.1 The origin of nationalism
Nationalism is a shared feeling in the sense of a geographical and in some cases demographic region who seeks independence for its culture that holds the group altogether and it can be considered as a belief that a person becoming attached to his or her nation. Nationalism includes national identity, compared with another concept called patriotism, which involves the personal behaviors that support a nation’s decisions and actions ( Rothi, 2005).
Generally, there are mainly two theories about the origins of nationalism. One is the primordial perspective. It describes nationalism into a reflection of the perceived evolutionary tendency of humans to organize into distinct groupings based on an affinity of birth. The other is the modernist perspective that describes nationalism into a new look which requires the structural conditions of modern society in order to exist( Motyl, 2001).
National flags, national anthems and many other symbols of national identity are considered as important symbols of the national community.
It is generally believed that nationalism is raised after the French revolution in 1789. As for the origin of nationalism, different scholar have different viewpoint. For example，Kay Dorie insist that nationalism origin in Europe in 19th century. Anderson and Giddens considered it to be the end of the 18th century. Another expert Hobsbawm believed it to be the end of the 19th century, While Gail and Smith considered it in the early 19th century ( Morgenthau, 1990). No matter how much they debate, the French revolution and the subsequent Napoleonic wars are recognized as a turning point of modern nationalism, "Napoleon war began the nation's foreign policy and the war; that is to say, many citizens accept state power and the identity of national policy to replace the identity for the interests of the dynasty" (Ye Jiang, 2008, p, 44). The model of this period was the French revolution of Jacobin nationalism. It is also a free, democratic nationalism, people expects that they can built a new nation，in the principle of freedom, democracy, equality, human rights.,源^自#优尔*文·论~文]网[www.youerw.com
2.1.2 The evolution and pision of nationalism.
Researches of western national theory can be classified into three historical stages in order of time: the first period is from the middle of the 19th century to the First World War, the second period is from the First World War and the Second World War, and the third period is from the Second World War to the present. At each stage, there emerged a large number of national theory experts, such as Hobsbawm, Thomas Arne, Benedict, and so on. They made great contribution to solve the ethnic problems and the contradiction between the nation state. They played an important role in opening the field of national theory field.
The first historical stages, namely, the middle of the 19th century to the first world war. Intellectuals or European countries during this period, have written national history, myths to establish national symbols to invent national traditions. These "invented traditions", including the National Day, the national flag, national anthem, sculpture, monument, etc. Nationalism has become one of the most important political and social forces in history.