Searching for Flow—An Interpretation of Wang Menmen’s Novel “Nomadism”

Abstract

In “Nomadism”, the protagonist “Ren” integrates the modern society and “One-Hua Land” through the flow of perception and thought, exploring the fluidity of individual existence from multiple perspectives. The presentation of fluidity in this novel unfolds primarily through narrative flow, spatial fluidity, and bodily fluidity. By comparing the names and living spaces of the characters, the novel reflects on the existential dilemmas in fluid narrative and fluid spaces, and explores the meaning of existence amid the complex changes of subjective perception and external objects. The search for meaning involves not only perceiving it but also grasping its fluidity, which is a challenge not only for people in modern society but also for human beings throughout history.