1、 Introduction

This article introduces Russian writer Dovlatov and his work "Suitcase", emphasizing the academic neglect of the role of "things" in novels. The article introduces the theory of "new materialism" and explores the relationship between things and power, especially the subjectivity of things in power networks. By analyzing the objects in "The Suitcase," such as suitcases, statues, and suits, the article explores how these objects affect human identity, visual power, and physical discipline, as well as the author's coping strategies under the suppression of property rights.

2、 Suitcase: The Construction of Identity through Power Discourse

In the perspective of New Materialism, power discourse shapes identity through social norms and values. In "The Suitcase," the protagonist's "suitcase" undergoes changes in its nature and the power discourse it represents as it migrates from the Soviet Union to New York, USA. In the context of exile, the suitcase becomes a symbol of the protagonist's marginalized identity, revealing a crisis of identity. The Soviet items in the suitcase evoke the protagonist's memories of their homeland, but in the political environment of the United States, these items become unstable, reflecting the generativity and fluidity of material in the new materialist theory. The suitcase being shelved in the United States serves as proof of the protagonist's identity as an 'other', reflecting the exiles' confusion about their individual identity. The author Dovlatov expresses the helplessness and melancholy of being an "other" through the tragic ending of the suitcase. Jane Bennett believed that non-human substances can also be political participants, and the suitcase is the voice of political voices, constructing the protagonist's exile identity.

3、 Sculpture: The Discipline of Visual Power on Humans

Foucault proposed the concept of visual power in panoramic open view prisons in "Discipline and Punish", which influenced the study of power over objects. Under the theory of "object turning", the visual display of objects is believed to be able to regulate the subject. The Leather Shoes of the Imperial Envoy "showcases how sculptures of great figures were transformed from passive objects to disciplinary subjects through the story of the construction of sculptures during the Soviet era. The visual oppression and power discourse transmission of the sculpture at the unveiling ceremony reflect its social and cultural functions in the Soviet system. New materialist theorist Bill Brown proposed the concept of "hybridity", believing that things have the overlapping characteristics of object and subject. The sculptures in Dovlatov's works are precisely this kind of "hybrid" that has a disciplinary effect on humans at the visual and conscious levels. The author uses humorous narration to stimulate reflection on the relationship between things and people, pointing out that maintaining human subjectivity under the authority of things is an important issue in modern society.

4、 Suit: the shackle of property rights on the human body

In modern society, power institutions influence individual behavior and thoughts through norms and constraints on the body. New materialistic scholars focus on the materiality of the body, believing that the body has positive, self changing, and practical functions in society and culture. The paper in the book "The Body and Things in 19th Century Literature and Culture" points out that the material characteristics of the body provide a field for the construction of power discourse, enabling power mechanisms to discipline humans through the body. Dovlatov's novel "Suitcase" showcases the operation of power mechanisms through the use of "suits". In the story, "suit" becomes an important criterion for dividing characters' identities, completing the definition and standardization of the group through the body. Jane Bennett believed that although objects are not directly related to political interests, they constitute the environment of human action and play a driving or hindering role in action. In 'The Suitcase', the 'suit' infiltrates ideology through the body, shaping the subject's cognition and self-awareness. The protagonist is trapped in creative stagnation due to the inability to write press releases that contradict the facts, and is suspected of having connections with Swedish "spies", forcing him to carry out a "political mission". The 'suit' has become an important role in conveying ideology, naturally infiltrating power discourse into the subject consciousness through the body. A dynamic relationship has been formed between suits, bodies, and power, with suits exerting power discipline on humans through their bodies.

5、 Strategies for Dealing with the Tyranny of Things

In the perspective of "New Materialism", Dovlatov demonstrated the complexity of the relationship between things and power through "The Suitcase". In the works, suitcases, statues, and suits are no longer simple items, but "dynamic objects" with the ability to exercise power and discipline. Faced with the oppression of property rights, Dovlatov did not surrender, but instead used absurd techniques and the pursuit of spiritual aspects to deconstruct the power of things and create a space for resistance. At the unveiling ceremony of the statue, the authority of the mayor was shattered by absurd scenes. The protagonist stole the mayor's leather shoes, causing him to leave awkwardly. The statue was eventually dismantled, and the symbol of power was dissolved. The function of the suit shifts in the protagonist's life, and he places more emphasis on spiritual connotations, choosing to wear a meaningful "Lei Re jacket" to cope with the power discourse of the suit. The items in the suitcase, although of no material value, carry Soviet memories and become the protagonist's weapon against identity suspension. Dovlatov deconstructed the shackles of power imposed on humanity by objects through humor and pursuit of the spiritual level, demonstrating the subjectivity and resistance spirit of humanity under the oppression of property rights.

6、 Conclusion

From the perspective of new materialism, items such as suitcases, sculptures, and suits in Dovlatov's "The Suitcase" are endowed with the ability to influence human consciousness and action. Suitcases construct new power discourse through environmental changes, triggering identity anxiety; Sculpture trains humans through visual power and threatens subjectivity; The suit integrates humans into the power system through the intermediary of the body. The author deconstructs property rights through absurd techniques and spiritual pursuits, revealing their limitations and human subjectivity. The work showcases the formation of power relations and provides new insights into the relationship between things and power. Dovlatov captures the crisis of modernity, warns against human alienation, deconstructs the power of objects, and explores the paradigm of intersubjectivity between humans and objects. The postmodernism and new materialism of 'The Suitcase' provide a new perspective for examining the relationship between things and people.