Explored the concept of "Britishness" as a core characteristic of British national identity, and analyzed the connection between the rise of its research and the decline of the British Empire. With the decline of British national strength and the disintegration of the British Empire, the British people are facing the dilemma of identity, which makes "Britishness" elusive and ambiguous. Under the influence of postcolonial discourse in the 1980s, critics analyzed "Britishness" from multiple perspectives with the aim of reshaping the identity of the British people. The article will sort out the discussion and evolution of the connotation of "Britishness", revealing the constructiveness and fluidity of national identity.

1、 The origin and connotation of 'Britishness'

Explored the origin, connotation, and evolution of the concept of "Britishness". The Oxford Dictionary defines "Britishness" as the trait and state of British people, which is closely related to national identity and national culture. The term 'Britishness' first appeared in 1804, and over time, scholars have interpreted it from different disciplines, endowing it with more connotations. In the 19th century, Britain's national strength and territory reached their peak, and the people attributed virtue to "Britishness". Scholars' understanding of "Britishness" can be mainly divided into three categories: national, traditional, and phased characteristics. Although the academic community has different understandings and focuses on 'Britishness', it is generally believed to be a discourse construction with evolving connotations. With the diversification of British culture, the connotation of "Britishness" will continue to be reinterpreted.

2、 'Britishness' and the Decline of Communities

Explored the origin and development of the concept of "Britishness", as well as its relationship with the decline of the community. In the 18th century, Britain gradually established its national identity through comparisons and confrontations with France, as well as events such as Protestantism, imperial expansion, and the Anglo French War. The rationalism and empiricism of the British Enlightenment influenced the political and cultural tradition and became a proud part of the British people. In the 19th century, with the development of capitalism, the middle class became dominant, and pragmatism and pursuit of personal interests became mainstream. However, the Industrial Revolution and class culture led to the disintegration of the community, and Britishness faced a crisis. Victorian literati attempted to reshape Britishness through intellectual cultivation, imagination, and empathy, in response to the lack of community.

3、 'Britishness' and Postcolonial Perspective

Deeply explored the construction and reconstruction of "Britishness" from a postcolonial perspective. Edward Said criticized Western stereotypes of the East and the racial superiority of the British Empire through his works Orientalism and Culture and Imperialism, emphasizing the role of British novels in consolidating imperial status. Jayatri Spivak reminds readers that imperialism is a key part of cultural expression. The postcolonial and post structuralist critical paradigms break the essentialism of binary opposition, believing that national identity is the construction of culture and ideology. Homi Baba proposed the concept of "hybridity", emphasizing the process of cross-cultural negotiation and exploring the fictionality of ethnicity and the ambiguity of language. He distinguished between didactic and performative national narratives and criticized Benedict Anderson's historicist national theory. Jennifer Dewell Brody questions the purity of British national identity. Peter Fryer, Gretchen Gerlache, and Paul Gilroy emphasize the presence of black and Asian communities. Ian Bocom and Simon Guigendy explored the relationship between "Britishness" and the British Empire, arguing that "Britishness" is a product of imperial colonial culture. Contemporary British society has become a diverse and mixed field, with cultural identities constantly being adjusted and reconstructed, reflecting a more diverse and inclusive "Britishness" connotation.

4、 'Britishness' and British Literature

Explored the close connection between British literature and the construction of national identity. Thomas Huxley and German Romantic nationalists emphasized the role of literature in the formation of national identity. Anderson viewed ethnicity as an imagined political community, and novels and newspapers played a crucial role in the formation of this community. Samuel Huntington believed that language is one of the means of distinguishing different ethnic groups and cultures. British literature has played an important role in shaping national identity and citizenship, becoming the focus of attention for different literary works. From Beowulf to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and to Shakespeare's historical plays, English literature continuously shapes and strengthens the national image. Francis Bacon's empiricist philosophy became an important representation of 'Britishness'. In the 18th century, literature played a more important role in education, combined with the cultivation of national taste. Realist novelists such as Daniel Defoe created outstanding representative images of the rising bourgeoisie in England by depicting the lives of lower class individuals. In the 19th century, realistic novels documented and presented the problems, crises, and threats and challenges to "Britishness" caused by social changes at that time. At the beginning of the 20th century, modernist writers such as James Joyce and Lawrence portrayed the loneliness and disappointment of their hometown people, reflecting the dilemma and crisis of "Britishness" in the era of alienation. British literature has become a powerful tool for imperial cultural hegemony ideology, but it is also seen as a force for uniting citizens and integrating society. In recent years, Booker Prize winning works have shown diverse characteristics, reflecting the contradiction between traditional Britishness and new strategies in contemporary Britain. In short, British literary works have played an important role in shaping national imagination and building a core national value system, influencing people's imagination and cognition of the country, shaping the national image and national character of Britain.

5、 Conclusion

Discussed the diversity and contradictions of "Britishness" in the context of globalization, pointing out that it is no longer a single national identity or character, but full of confusion, struggle, and embarrassment. At the same time, it also reflects the thinking of the British people about their own survival situation, and the academic exploration of "Britishness" may provide inspiration for people in different times and spaces to reflect on their own identities.