College of Foreign Languages

Identity construction has always been one of the most sensitive issues the immigrants need to face. In Swing Time, Zadie Smith exemplifies a multi-perspective view of the identity status quo and crisis among the immigrant groups in contemporary British society with a keen and exquisite brushwork. Through the analysis of the legitimacy, resistance and project identity in the identity construction of the protagonist “I,” this essay argues from different levels, that the root of identity crisis lies in the fact that the protagonist has always been unable to establish an inclusive and moderate mentality in the face of multicultural and mixed society, due to the impact of her family and her lack of appropriate understanding of the social conditions. Starting from an individual diaspora’s position, and through depicting the heroine’s failure in her identity construction, Zadie Smith emphasizes the importance of an open and inclusive mind.