从远大前程看狄更斯人物刻画的特点

1、摘要文学史上有为数不多的继往开来的人物，他们是走在时间前向的先知前辈，是富有独创精神的艺术大师，他们的作品超越时间和空间的局限，成为全人类不朽的精神财富。在英国文学史上，乔叟、莎士比亚、狄更斯可以算是这样不同凡响的文学巨匠。对于狄更斯，也许有人不以为然。的确，在十九世纪英国文坛上除了狄更斯尚有一批才华出众的小说家:简·奥斯汀、乔治·艾略特、威廉·麦克佩斯·萨克雷等等。然而狄更斯的风格之独特，题材之广泛，影响之深远，非这些作家能企及。狄更斯是一个极为严肃的艺术家，他创作的人物，即使是怪诞，乖庚，不合常情的人物，也不是凭空捏造出来传达作者古怪念头的傀儡，他们

2、的相貌衣着，举手投足，一颦一笑，一言一行都为我们架起了一座通往大物内心世界的桥梁。狄更斯是伟大的批判现实主义作家。远大前程是他晚期的代表作。也是他最具代表性的作品之一，从中我们可以看到狄更斯创作的一般特点。诙谐幽默的艺术夸张、难忘的形象刻画、人道主义的奏鸣曲，使得他的小说具有巨大的艺术感染力和认知价值。查尔斯·狄更斯成功塑造了许多个性鲜明、形象独特的人物。这些人物非常有活力,令人难以忘怀。狄更斯小说中的人物,在情节甚至书名被遗忘之后,仍然能久久萦绕于人们心中。本文是对狄更斯的经典小说远大前程的人物刻画分析,全文内容紧紧围绕着人物刻画展开，研究了作品中的三种人物形象塑造,即童话式人物、

3、双重性格人物、内涵丰富的圆形人物;以及狄更斯小说人物刻画的特点，如夸张，反讽等。揭示了人物之间的关系;探讨了这部作品的不朽的艺术魅力。关键词：狄更斯；人物；夸张；反讽AbstractThere are a few persons who were contributed in the literature history, they were the predecessors ahead of the time; they were the art masters with creative spirit; their works has beyond the limitations of t

4、ime and space, and become the enduring spiritual wealth to the human mankind. In the history of English literature, Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Dickens all can be regarded as the extraordinary literature masters. For Dickens, maybe someone would hold disagreement, indeed, it does have many talented no

5、velists besides Dickens in the 19th century British literary world: Jane Austen, George Eliot and William·Macbeth·Thackeray and so on. However, the style of Dickens is the most unique; the theme of Dickens is the most broad, and the influence of Dickens is the most far-reaching. Dickens is

6、 a great critical realism writer. The “Great Expectations” is his master work in his late period, it is also one of his most representative works from which we can know general features in his writing .humorous artistic exaggeration, and unforgettable image depiction and humanitarian sonata make his

7、 novels have drastic artistic infection and perceived value. Dickens mould many figures with vivid characteristics and unique images successfully. These figures are very energetic and memorizable .these figures among novels of Dickensian can still haunt in peoples mind after plots even names of book

8、s are forgotten. This paper makes a profound analysis on figures of classical novel the “Great Expectations” ,the content is spreaded out around characterization ,and it researches three kinds of image- building ,namely fairy tale-type figure, double character-type ,and round character with great ch

9、arm .it also presents the features of characterizations ,such as exaggeration ,irony etc. it reveals relations among figures and discusses everlasting artistic charm of this work.Keywords: Dickens, characters, exaggeration, irony .IntroductionCharles Dickens (born Feb. 7, 1812, Portsmouth, Hampshire

10、, Eng.-died June 9, 1870), British novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period .The defining moment of Dickenss life occurred when he was 12 years old. With his father in debtors prison, he was withdrawn from school and forced to work in a factory. This deeply affected the se

11、nsitive boy. Though he returned to school at 13, his formal education ended at 15. As a young man, he worked as a reporter. Dickenss early life was marked by both humiliation and ambition. Dickens never forgot the period of financial crisis during his childhood, when following his fathers bankruptcy

12、. His fiction career began with short pieces reprinted as Sketches by “Boz” (1836). He exhibited a great ability to spin a story in an entertaining manner and this quality, combined with the serialization of his comic novel The Pickwick Papers (1837), made him the most popular English author of his

13、time. “Great Expectations” is the story of the orphan Pip, writing his life from his early days of childhood until adulthood and trying to be a gentleman along the way. The story can also be considered semi-autobiographical of Dickens, like much of his work, drawing on his experiences of life and pe

14、ople. In this article, I will analysis the characterization in “Great Expectations”.II Characterization in Great Expectations2.1round character with rich contentsRound character means personal character is very full and gives expression to personal complexity and versatility .this sort of character

15、is often such figure of ambiguity and variety. feature of this kind of character is that their personality have process of formation and development .the basic feature of round character is that shape of round character breaks the simple sorting technique “good all the good, bad all the bad “.it dep

16、icts portraits based on the true features of life, reveals humanistic complexity and richness much more authentically and deeply and has higher aesthetic value. The method of shaping figure leaves a multi-sided and spatial impression on readers, which can often cause psychical shock. The personality

17、 of round character is quite full, complicated and of strong dimension .this kind of figure is stable in their center of personality, meanwhile it presents different personal profile and level, these different personal profile and level blends and mixes together so as to make up one world which is i

18、ndependent, self-contained, majestic and grand.The image of protagonist Pip is multifaceted and changeable in the novel; the personality of minor character reflects personal features of Pip from different aspects and points of view. The development and change of Pips image reveals the theme of the n

19、oveldisillusion.2.1.1 Development and level of round characterPip of childhood was naïve, nice and helpful. he showed sympathy to escaped prisoner ,just as Joe did, he considered blacksmiths shop as warm home and regarded labors as honest and glory since he went to Miss Havishams finca “Saris”,

20、 and met beautiful but arrogant Miss Estella ,Pip began to become dissatisfacted. He found his coarse hands ,cumbersome shoes ,and own lack of courtesy; he realized the blacksmiths shop was simple ,old and shabby ,labor of forging iron was dirty and low and it seemed uninteresting to him at all .Pip

21、 became above himself ,his heart was loftier than the sky and greedy .when he knew that one rich man sponsored him for his study ,Pip jumped out his skin ,and scolded Biddy arrogantly that he was jealous of him ,he said it was deep-rooted bad habits of human being .Pip was ambitious ,he planned to m

22、ake him way in high society in London and dreamt of marrying beautiful and cold Estella. To save his own appearance, he was shamed of meeting his poor relative Joe who was very kind and helpful to him .although Pip was contracted traits of hypocrisy and cold-blood in high society in London, but mean

23、while he still reserved his kind-hearted nature, especially for pure friendship with Herbert. It embodied his complicated and contradictory character. The duplicity of his character was fully refracted on Wemmick .though Pip feel ashamed and hatred of Magwiths feeling of subsidizing, in order to pay

24、 back, he still took infinite risks helping him escape .it show his kind nature. When Pips sweet dreams became vacant eventually, involved in debt and could not get away with illness, kind-hearted Joe came to look after him carefully and pay off debts for him. Pip felt deeply sorry for his own falli

25、ng and bona naïve nature then came back to him2.1.2 Significance of round figureThe complicated and changeable portraits like Pip explores humanistic change and development regarding humanistic good and evil from dynamic view ,and it refutes heavily Fosters standpoint. According to shatter of T

26、he “Great Expectations” built in the sand ,the novel reveals influences on peoples consciousness and behaviors social environment makes ,it says illusions far from reality will only contribute to moral false ,also ,love ,loyalty and conscience are much more important then wealth and social status.2.

27、2 typical characters with double personality2.2.1 Flat characterThe feature of flat character is quite single, prominent and lively. when some feature of this character is standing out ,other features profiles then are often overwhelmed and absorbed ,it seems become one way to present such kind of c

28、haracter . the way is one to mould figure statically ,it only represent the most obvious characteristics which is dominant in figures or been put up in social life .so although flat character is placed in various environments ,and faced kinds of relations ,it is only related to one contradiction. It

29、s character is consistent and rather stable, there is nearly no development and change occurred to it.To mould character in this way, it inevitablely contributes to features of simple substance, and one way. obviously, flat character is rather exaggerating one ,as for its exaggeration, the character

30、 of figures is often bucking of common rules ,then lead to be comical ,then causes comic effects .at the same time ,such exaggerating expression often brings about abstraction, and makes figures become symbolism of some character so as to achieve own surpassingness, it makes flat character seemingly

31、 far away from life, but actually realize some profound holding on some life in a much higher level ,and therefore acquires some typical significance.Forster points out in “Aspects of the Novel”, that figures of Dickensian are almost flat “.namely personal character is single and always rooted on so

32、me level .the sentence is being rated by people in literary circles. Minor character Wemmick in the “Great Expectations” refutes the view powerfully by his lively double character.2.2.2 Performance of double characterAmong these figures with double character in novels of Dickens, as for the limitati

33、ons from subjective and objective conditions, such kind figure as Wemmick have to develop another character system in the basis of original character in order to acclimatize themselves to survival. for instance , Wemmick was a professional attorney assistant in the law firm, he was as cold as marble

34、 ,did official business according to official principles and did not care others faces ,he was scrupulous just like a cold machine .at home ,however ,he was ardent master, obedient son ,amorous lover and warmhearted man. He was reasonable and had his own hobbies and ideal. he managed his own family

35、carefully .nay ,for the same matter ,in the law firm or at home ,he held entirely different standpoints .Pip wanted to help his friends, while Wemmick set himself against it in business premises ,however, when Pip dropped by at his home , Wemmick offered advices for him positively.Working in law fir

36、ms in Britain, Wemmick separates business and private life sharply .when at work, he was as cold as marble, just like a cold machine .what people see in law firm is mechanical Wemmick “the squared face seemed to be made of stones, expression in the face was chiseled out by chisel from blunt head, mo

37、uth was like mail box, so hangs unconscious smile in the face all the time.” Wemmick at home is kind-hearted ,passionate and have deep love for life .he built one castle himself where there is a garden, drawbridge, pavilion, fountain, windmill, fort barbette inside, he served his father carefully ,h

38、elped friends passionately ,feel in love with Miss Stiffen ,and they married each other happily. W Wemmick explained to Pip that “law firm is just law firm, private life is private. When I enter into law firm, then the castle is gone out of my mind, when I am into the castle, then I forget the law f

39、irm”.2.2.3 Significance of double characterThe double character of Wemmick presents dissimilation of deformed society to humanity .under the stress of life, Wemmick becomes one machine of criminal justice regime in London and conceals his humanity. His double character reflects counterpoise of good

40、and evil. he is not such figure who Dickensian compliments ,as he is cold ,greedy and selfish in the law firm ,which reflects bad .he is neither the figure hated by Dickensian ,as he is helpful and emotional .the mould of Wemmicks double character adds artistic charm to the novel ,and stand out the

41、theme of criticizing the structure of the law in Britain .2.3 Fairy tale characters When in the 19th century of the Victorian area，Children's upbringing， welfare and education，is regarded as the common and serious social problem. And the common bourgeois writers pay little attention to the theme

42、 of children, particularly for the poor children theme. Under such circumstances, Dickens expanded a new way on image building. The original intention of Dickens children's image writing is critical, by revealing the Society wrecked to children and the children know, to achieve the criticism to

43、the society, the Critical sharpness pointing to the Money rules, the Asset class education, and the Bourgeois society directly. Dickens' works not only deeply attract the adult readers, but also cater to the interest to the young readers According to the survey, In many countries of the world, e

44、ach speak English spoken family, On the cold winter night, Parents often accompany with their children in front of the fire, reading dickens' works to promote each other's feelings. Though Dickens is not a Children's literature writer, his works did very well in shaping the fairy tale ch

45、aracters, which strongly attracted the innocent romance children, In the 1980s, when Dostoevsky recommend a number of children's reading books, All works of dickens was included without exception.2.3.1 Fairy tale color on the characters named The novel's character naming was full of fairy ta

46、le color and symbolism. For example, Magwitch refer to the word “magic” witch Implied that he acted as a magician who can make a poor children reemergence, and make pips life a miracle. Havisham, “sham” means hypocritical behavior, “having” refers to property, symbolizing that she was not the real f

47、unders of Pip.” Biddy” means maid, symbolizing that she was born in straitened and humble circumstances, but with noble mind, like Cinderella, she will gain the real happiness. Pip means depression, symbolizing that his struggle will be end in failure. Meanwhile, the word is round structure, Symbol

48、his unusual process on self-made, Losing himself, and regressing.2.3.2Devil, the witch type imageThe writer shaped devil, the witch type character in the exaggeration, humor tone, and gothic style. In the first chapter of the novel, what have present to the reader is a macabre graveyard, a shudder s

49、wamp. It was a cold winter night, Little Pip could not stand his sisters unbearable beaten, and came to his parents grave to cry. Looking at the leaden gray rivers, the urgent wind tight blow to the sea, Pip was shivers growing afraid of it all and beginning to cry. In the depressing atmosphere, amo

50、ng the graves at the side of the church porch, suddenly cried a terrible voice Hold your nose! Keep still, you little devil, or Ill cut your throat! poor Pip was too scared to say a complete sentence because of the sudden fear. This terrible person also threatened that he has a companion hide in the

51、 side, who has a secret way peculiar to himself, of getting at a boy, and at his heart, and at his liver. In the children eyes, the image of the fugitive Magwitch at the moment was just like the monster in the fairy tale. This may allow people to associate with the fear-drenched appearance of Pip, a

52、nd arouse the readers sympathy. However, the panic was not comes from the readers, and it do increase the comedic effects of the works to some extent. For example, when the fugitive asked Pip where his mother was, he said she was there. The fugitive then became started and made a short run. He was j

53、ust coming back asking him some questions, when he saw Pip was pointing to a tombstone. Such description was full of gothic style and comedic effects, completely according with the psychological characteristics of the children. Afterwards, Pip grew up and became a gentleman; he found that the benefa

54、ctor who subsidized him was the criminal he had helped in those days unexpectedly; the disgusting feeling to Magwitch arises spontaneously. He regarded himself was just like the Frankenstein as Mary Shelley described, he wanted to get rid of him, but failed to get the solution. “The imaginary studen

55、t pursued by the misshapen creature he had impiously made, was not more wretched than I, pursued by the creature who had made me, and recoiling from him with a stronger repulsion, the more he admire me and the fonder he was of me. Such description revealed that Magwitch was the monster incarnation i

56、n Dickens heart. But the relationship between Pip and him havent run to kill one another, because Pips conscience and morality overcame his selfishness and prejudice.Havisham was the representative of the witch type character; she was one of the most successful female images Dickens had shaped in hi

57、s works. She lived an isolated life in a ghostly gothic old house. “In an arm-chair, with an elbow resting on the table and her head leaning on that hand, sat the strangest lady I have ever seen, or shall ever see.” When Pip met Miss Havisham the first time, it was impressive. “I saw that the bride

58、within the bridal dress withered like the dress, and like the flowers, and had no brightness left but the brightness of her sunken eyes.” This made him thought of the waxwork and the skeleton. “The frillings and trimmings on her bridal dress, looking like earthy paper Miss Havisham must have looked

59、as if the admission of the nature light of day would have struck her to dust.” This aristocratic miss who was abandoned by her fiancé, weaving her revenge dream day by day, she tried to break all the mens heart by her young beautiful adopted daughter Estella. The moment when she strongly urged Pip fall in love with Estella, she looked like passionate, never-come-out, and eagle-eyed, she said the word “love” again and again, As if “love” was the most vicious curse in the world. The violent, cruel and deliberat