On the using of flashback approach at the beginning of Nettles

刘子华

【Abstract】Nettles， published in 2001 by Alice Munroe， is very popular for its narrative style. With space-time transformation， especially the use of flashback structure， the author displays us a middle-aged womans confusion and understanding of love. Flashback means， the outcome or the most prominent part of a story is placed in the beginning of the article， and the remaining part is described according to chronological order. Instead of following a linear line， the author begins her story in a rather extraordinary way. Taking the beginning part of Nettles as example， this essay would talk about the key roles of using a flashback approach.

【Key words】Nettles； flashback； suspense； lasting appeal

1. Set up the suspense

Todays literary works often use suspense to attract audiences， and suspense is often created through changes in space and time. In Nettles， Munroe starts her narration from 1979 in the brief beginning paragraph. “I” met a man who “I” had already known before in “my” friend Sunnys house. With such a sort of floating suspense， the author successfully pricks readers interest. As readers， we would ask why the author wrote it in this way. Who is the man？ What is the relation between he and “I”？ What will happen between us？

Famous French dramatist Baker has made a clear explanation of suspense. He indicates that suspense represents continuous interest and urgent requirements to know what will happen later. When we come to doubt and show our attractiveness for this story， suspense is playing its role.

There is a big time gap between the narration in the first paragraph and the second one since the author switches to “years afterward” in the second paragraph immediately. In the whole story， the author doesnt mention what happened in the intervening years. Consequently， readers dont know what was really going on during this time. In this， the plot is more intricate and full of interest， once again leaving some room to the imagination. We can employ our imagination to judge and deduce what has happened on the leading character over the years. Whats more， in the second paragraph where there is no access to specific information， it is not clear why “I” look for the house. Perhaps， based on different understandings， every reader would have his own unique answer. The proper use of imagination and analysis can propel ideas in the directions people desire. Whatever the true idea of Munroe is， she has successfully achieved her aim to keep readers being curious from beginning to end. All of these questions just like magnets push us to move on to seek for the reason as well as explore the cause of the incident.

2. Be realistic

The special arrangement brings interjected scene which takes the narrative back in time from the current point in the story. One can back up into the distance past easily and appreciate it as if we are experiencing it ourselves.

In the film writing， people also often use this method to create a better sense of reality. The famous romantic movie Titanic directed by James Cameron is told in flashback. It begins with a group of present-day treasure hunters exploring the wreckage of the Titanic （which results in some brilliant underwater footage）. They find and old safe thats completely empty safe for a drawing of a woman. An elderly woman suddenly phones them and says shes the woman in the picture. She then tells the divers and her granddaughter the main plot of the film. By handling content in this manner， the film looks even more intense and realistic from which the audience is easily to enter into the plot that has been designed.

We have already heard of the “stop at frame” of the methods of making movie. It is no difference with what the two paragraphs has shown to us. Furthermore， the whole story breaks through the common narrative method， starting with the intermediate phase and back to the distant past and then continue to follow the beginning of the story. When it comes to the first phase， people seem to feel a deja-vu at once. At the same time， a sort of “real effect” that Roland Barthes once said has been produced.

From opposite perspective， if the author follows the time order strictly， this kind of “real effect” would not so obvious. That is to say， readers have been always keeping an invisible distance from the story， since the past time is too distant to catch with the authors mind. Thus， such an arrangement is the best choice， namely， it is where Munroes wisdom lies.

3. Highlight the theme

In literary creation， a good beginning is essential to good writing. It often highlights the theme and fully expresses the theme. And， at this point， Munroe succeed to do this at just the right level.

“I walked into the kitchen of my friend Sunny s house near Uxbridge， Ontario， and saw a man standing at the counter， making himself a ketchup sandwich.” This sentence seems to be simple， but there are several important things which echo the theme fitly. That is， one time， one place， and two people. Superficially， no relationship is embodied with the theme for this short sentence. But when we investigate it we find out that it tightly connects with the theme. The year 1979 is quite something revealing events that will occur in the future on account of in the latter part of this story “‘I meet my puppy love Mike by chance in 1979” is mentioned. The author devotes a great deal of the narration to the events in Sunnys house in 1979. From reading and doing further research， we get to know that her new understanding of love and her thought on complexity of human emotions were generated then.

It is easily to accept that the scene is set in Sunnys house according to our relationships as good friends the author has referred. The other figure is a man， more specifically， a sight of the mans back. The author doesnt show us his name even his face so we have no idea of who he is. However， the unique motion of making a ketchup sandwich is of great concern. In the latter part of the story about “my” recollection of childhood， “I” remembered clearly that “he” likes to put ketchup on “his” bread. Despite all of the years， “I” never forget “him” and recognize “him” at first glance. It stands to reason that the importance of the man to “me”. Therefore， we get to know what we should pay attention to when continuing reading.

Everything she has mentioned intentionally has meanings. They dont occur at random or with no reason and relationships. As a matter of fact， Munroe applies flashback method to begin with so many unknown things so that her illustration of the themes is served， which is a triumph of artistic craftsmanship. The theme is becoming more and more distinct in this way. In the end of the story， she expresses her epiphany—a moment of sudden intuitive understanding， a flash of insight.

4. Conclusion

Adapted a distinctive flashback approach， Nettles lays a deep impression and lasting appeal on us readers. In reality， many of Munros works applies flashback approach skillfully， which gives us a direction when we are going to do more research on her other works as well.

References：

[1]申丹.敘事形式与性别政治——女性主义叙事学评析[J].北京大学学报（哲学社会科学版），2004（01）.