Through the interweaving of regional scenery and character life narratives, 'Leaving Traces of Wine' showcases Jack's family and friends're examination of the scenery and proactive life choices during their journey of scattering ashes. The flow of "non local" and detours during the journey changes the spatial confinement of characters, allowing them to experience the scenery from an individual and private perspective, redefine the scenery, and stimulate the pursuit of life initiative. The novel uses the alternation of place names and personal names as chapter titles, symbolizing the blending of scenery and life. The chapter on place names narrates travel events and scenery, while the chapter on person names interweaves the characters' inner monologues about their life experiences. The narrative of migration and journey unifies the dimensions of regional space and life time, reflecting the integration of regional experience and life experience. Jack and his friends' confinement and passive survival in London echo each other, and the detours on the journey of scattering ashes make them re-examine the scenery from different perspectives, actively choose life, and reflect on the past. This echoes their desire for free choice in life. Dabi pointed out that people from different social classes can re-enter the scenery through spatial practice, seek a sense of commonality across social classes, and engage in new experiences, gazes, and references to the scenery. The journey in 'Leaving Traces of a Cup of Wine' is a process in which the characters rediscover the place, arrange their perspective, and interpret the meaning of scenery and life.

Place and Life

Explored the close connection between the characters' survival experience and their spatial and local experiences in the novel 'Leaving Traces of Wine'. By analyzing the relationship between characters and locations such as London and Smithfield Market, it is revealed that places are not only an inherent part of life activities, but also core participants in individual survival and emotional activities. Landscape and life are mutually constructed, and the theory of landscape biography emphasizes the interactive relationship between landscape and the world of life. Swift's novel writing emphasizes the importance of a sense of place, believing that people are both in a certain place and in a state of nothingness, reflecting the contrasting landscape and life state between reality, existence, and stillness. The journey in the novel depicts a series of spatial flows that are both here and not here, with the endpoint of Margate Beach serving as the ultimate 'non place', strengthening the integration of place and life. The journey provides a new perspective for characters to examine scenery and life, transcend social labels and survival dilemmas, and touch upon eternal propositions of existence.

The stagnant 'carriage': confinement and passivity

The novel depicts the lives of Jack and his friends, who are confined to a corner of the city due to their social class and economic situation, and have never truly "seen the world". Their lives are constrained by the family business, lacking the right to choose and unable to achieve their personal dreams. In the "Carriage and Horse" tavern, their lives stagnate, symbolizing a passive life. Despite their desire to travel and appreciate the scenery, their economic situation and survival status make it a luxury. Their experience of scenery is always disconnected, and scenery is abstract and official to them, not part of real life. However, on the journey of scattering Jack's ashes, they began actively seeking scenery, attempting to reinterpret and possess it, facing the fears and regrets of life, and choosing the remaining path.

'Seeing the World': Migration and Choice

The novel 'Traces of Wine' explores the possibilities of fluidity and life through the characters' desire to 'see the world'. Jack's death became an opportunity for others to awaken, guiding them to reflect on their lives and form a new consciousness of active migration, observation, and choice. On their journey to Margate, the characters experienced the "non local" state brought about by fluidity, which is both present and detached, inspiring them to examine life and living space. The fluidity of car travel not only brings spatial displacement, but also unique flow patterns, reflecting the coexistence of "flexibility and restraint". In this state, characters actively seek scenery and confront life, reclaiming them in a private way and transcending boundaries.