Hua Wang
Centre for Literary and Intermedial Crossings, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
Symbolism is a cornerstone for exploring philosophical and existential themes in avant-garde fiction. This study examines how the symbolic elements in Can Xue’s novel The Last Lover are translated and assesses how these translated symbols alter the perception of the novel’s themes among English-speaking readers. Known for its surreal and fragmented narrative style, The Last Lover employs symbolism to convey existential themes, cultural ideologies, and philosophical explorations. Focusing on key symbols such as houses, animals, and dreams, this study explores their significance in both the original and translated texts during the translation process, analyzing how language choice, cultural interpretation, and translator strategies affect the symbolic depth and impact of the text. The study found that while some universal symbols ostensibly retained thematic coherence in the translated text, the deeper layers of symbolism inherent in the original language were lost during translation. This loss undoubtedly affects readers’ interpretations of the deeper themes of this avant-garde text and highlights the challenges translators face when translating culture-specific or abstract symbols. This analysis contributes to a better understanding of the complexities of translating symbolism, emphasizing the delicate balance between cultural fidelity and diversity.
Keywords: Symbolism, Avant-Garde Literature, The Last Lover, Can Xue, Cross-Cultural
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The above abstract is a part of the article which was accepted at The 10th International Conference on Languages, Linguistics, Translation and Literature (WWW.TLLL.IR), 1-2 February 2025, Ahwaz.
