Happiness is the balance between freedom and legitimacy ——Narrative analysis of Alice Munro's "Free Radicals"

Abstract

Alice Munro's short stories are intriguing due to their ingenious plots. To interpret her works, one often needs to piece together numerous details from the convoluted narrative to grasp the core of the story. Her short story "Free Radicals" attempts to uncover the complexity of human nature within a meticulously constructed textual narrative. Through the inner growth of the protagonist Nita after a robbery, it reveals a philosophical reflection on life: happiness is the balance between freedom and legitimacy. By focusing on the role reversal between Nita and Bette, the nested narrative method, and the dual metaphor of the title "Free Radicals", this discussion from a narratological perspective enables a more incisive understanding of the story.