英国文学第六讲批判现实主义

PartVITheVictorianAge

CriticalRealisminEngland

1832-1902维多利亚时期英国批判现实主义QueenVictoriaVictoria’sreign,thelongestinBritishhistory(64years),isknownastheVictorianeraoftheUnitedKingdomwhichwasmarkedbytheheightoftheBritishIndustrialRevolutionandagreatexpansionoftheBritishEmpire.QueenVictoria一. Introduction1.HistoricalBackground (1)Englandbecameatypicalcapitalistcountry.SotheBritishbourgeoisiestrengtheneditspolicyofcolonialexpansioninallpartsoftheworld.(TheIndustrialRevolution)(2)Fromthethirtiesofthe19thcentury,thestrugglebetweentheworkersandcapitalistsbecamethefundamentalcontradictioninEnglishsociallife.

(3)Theconditionsoftheworkersandthechartistmovement;(thefirstbroad,reallymass,politicallyformed,proletarianrevolutionarymovements)3.Duringtheperiod,sciencegrewintothedisciplineasitistoday.CharlesDarwin

OriginofSpecies

(Utilitarianism).4.Theperiodofsocialandeconomicdevelopmentwasalwaysdisruptedbywarswithothernations.(ThetwoOpiumWars)

2.

ChartistMovementTime:1832---1848Workers---People'scharter---basicrights,betterlivingandworkingconditionsfirstmassmovementoftheEnglishworkingclassearlysignoftheawakeningofthepoor,oppressedpeople.6Points:UniversalSuffrageVotebyBallotAnnuallyElectedParliamentAbolitionofthePropertyQualificationEqualelectoralDistrictsPaymentforMembersofParliament2.LiteraryOverview:criticalrealism.InVictorianperiodappearedanewliterarytrendcalledcriticalrealism.Englishcriticalrealismofthe19thcenturyflourishedinthe40sandintheearly50s.Itfounditsexpressionintheformofnovel.Thecriticalrealists,mostofwhomwerenovelists,describedwithmuchvividnessandartisticskillthechieftraitsoftheEnglishsocietyandcriticizedthecapitalistsystemfromademocraticviewpoint.ChartistLiteratureErnestJones

ThomasCooperW.JamesLinton1.ErnestJones–mosttalented

1845joinedtheChartistmovement1848,arrested,seditiousspeech:"greenflagofChartismwillsoonbeflyingoverDowningStreet".

1851journal,“ThePeople'sPaper”:socialistnewspaper,KarlMarxdiedin1869,100,000,hisfuneral

Hisworks＊Shortpoems“TheSongoftheLowerClasses”“ASongfortheWage-slave”＊Longpoem“TheRevoltofHindostan”:classstruggle

2.ThomasCooper“thelastoftheChartists”TheShakespeareanCharistsHymnBook“Shakespeargeneral”3.W.JamesLinton

“Blade—TimeWillCome”P275

EnglishCriticalRealism

(1)Inthisperiodoftenseclassstruggleappearedanewliterarytrend-criticalrealism.Englishcriticalrealismofthe19thcenturyflourishedinthefortiesandintheearlyfifties.ThecriticalrealistsdescribedwithmuchvividnessandgreatartisticskillthechieftraitsoftheEnglishsocietyandcriticizedthecapitalistsystemfromademocraticviewpoint.

(2)TheEnglishcriticalrealistsofthe19thcenturynotonlygaveasatiricalportrayalofthebourgeoisieandalltherulingclasses,butalsoshowedprofoundsympathyforthecommonpeople.(3)Intheirbestworks,thegreedandhypocrisyoftheupperclassesarecontrastedwiththehonestyandgood-heartednessoftheobscure“simplepeople”ofthelowerclasses.(4)HumorandsatirearegreatlyusedintheEnglishrealisticliteratureofthe19thcentury.Humormayattendtheactionsofthepositivecharacters,butsatireisusedtoexposetheseamysideofthebourgeoissociety.(5)Criticalrealismrevealsthecorruptinginfluenceoftheruleofcashuponhumannature.Hereliestherootofthedemocraticandhumanisticcharacterofthecriticalrealismofthe19thcentury.

(6)Butthecriticalrealistsdidnotfindawaytoeradicatesocialevils.Theydidnotrealizethenecessityofthechangingthebourgeoissociety.Theywereunabletofindagoodsolutiontothesocialcontradictions.(7)

Sofarastheliteraryformor“genre”isconcerned,themajorcontributionmadebythe19thcenturycriticalrealistsliesintheirperfectionofthenovel.(8)ThegreatestEnglishrealistofthetimewasCharlesDickens.Withstrikingforceandtruthfulness,hecreatespicturesofbourgeoiscivilization,describingthemiseryandsufferingsofthecommonpeople.Anothercriticalrealist,WilliamMakepeaceThackeray,wasanolesssevereexposerofcontemporarysociety.Thackeray’snovelsaremainlyasatiricalportrayaloftheupperstrataofsociety.ThemethodofcriticalrealismwerefurtheradoptedbysuchwritersasCharlotteandEmilyBronte,andElizabethGaskell.EnglishCriticalRealistNovelistCharlesDickens狄更斯bornin1812WilliamMakepeaceThackeray萨克雷1811CharlotteBrontë

夏洛蒂•勃朗特1816EmilyBrontë

艾米莉•勃朗特1818GeorgeEliot乔治•艾略特1819CharlesDickens狄更斯

thegreatestnovelistofVictorianperiodandthegreatestrepresentativeofEnglishcriticalrealismPortsmouth,startedschoolatnine,hisfatherimprisonedfordebtin1824,forcedtosupporthimselfbyworkinginashoe-polishfactory.(“DavidCopperfield”).

self-educated,legalclerk,reporterinthecourtsandParliament.marryCatherineHogarthin1836firstnovel“ThePickwickPapers”,famous,influencedthepublishingindustry,issuedininexpensivemonthlyinstallments,becamepopularamongDickens'stime.

1842lecturedintheUnitedStatesinfavorofaninternationalcopyrightagreementandinoppositiontoslaveryyoungactress,EllenTernan,separationfromhiswifein1858,afatalstrokeonJune9,1870,andwasburiedinWestminsterAbbeyfivedayslater.ThreeperiodsofDickens’sliterarycareerFirstperiod(1836-1841):ThePickwickPapers《匹克威克先生外传》1836-1837OliverTwist《奥列佛•特维斯特》1837-1838

NicholasNickleby

《尼古拉斯•尼克尔贝》1838-1839

TheOldCuriosityShop《老古玩店》1840-1841

BarnabyRudge《巴纳比•拉奇》1841Themoralsofthisperiodis“virtuewilltriumphinthelongrun.”Thenaïveoptimismischaracteristicofthepetty-bourgeois(小资产阶级)humanitariansofhistime.这一时期英国资产阶级正进行议会改革，宪章运动也如火如荼。这些作品开始触及社会问题，揭露丑恶现象，对下层人民表示同情，对资产阶级进行温和的批评。作品的主人公是理想化的资产阶级和小人物，创作基调是乐观幽默的。Secondperiod(1842-1850):AmericanNotes《游美札记》1842MartinChuzzlewit《马丁•朱什尔维特》1843-1845AChristmasCarol《圣诞欢歌》1843

DombeyandSon《董贝父子》1846-1848

DavidCopperfield《大卫•科波菲尔》1849-1850AfterhisvisitfromAmerica,hisnaiveoptimismtowardthecapitalistsocietywasprofoundlyshaken.这一时期英国经过社会改革,经济有了很大发展,但底层人民仍然处于无权和被压迫状态,社会矛盾激化，宪章运动再掀高潮。狄更斯因此对社会现实有了更深刻的认识，怀疑、失望代替了幻想和乐观，作品中的“仁爱者”不见了，在保留幽默讽刺风格的同时，作者加强了现实主义的批判倾向。Thirdperiod(1851-1870):BleakHouse《荒凉山庄》1852-1853

HardTimes《艰难时事》1854

LittleDorrit《小杜丽》1855-1857ATaleofTwoCities《双城记》1859GreatExpectations

《远大前程》1860-1861OurMutualFriend《我们共同的朋友》1864-1865

EdwinDrood

(unfinished)Hisnovelsaremuch“darker”incontentthantheirpredecessors.Therewasan“underlyingtoneofbitterness”whichshowedthenovelist’slossofhopeforEnglishbourgeoissociety.作品反映了英国社会风尚的日益腐化,经济生活的剧烈动荡.作者的乐观基调减弱,呈现出冷峻的色彩.尤其60年代后,狄更斯思想中悲观主义色彩增加了,他越来越来感觉到阶级鸿沟不可调和,早期的幽默与讽刺手法更加弱化,取而代之的是感伤与悲苦的艺术描写。OliverTwistThenoveltellsthestoryofanorphanboywhoseadventuresprovideadescriptionofthelowerdepthsofLondon.OliverTwistisofunknownparentage.Heisborninaworkhouseandbroughtupundercruelconditions.ThetyrantatwhosehandsheespeciallysuffersisBumble,theparish(教区)beadle(仪仗官).Aftersurvivinganunhappyapprenticeshiptoanundertaker(殡仪业人员),herunsawaytoLondon,wherehefallsintothehandsofagangofthieves.TheheadofthegangisoldFagin,andtheotherchiefmembersaretheburglar,BillSikes,hismistressNancy,andtheArtfulDoger,ayoungpickpocket.EveryeffortismadetoconvertOliverintoathief.HeisrescuedbythebenevolentrichmanMr.Brownlow,butthethieveskidnaphim,makehimjointhemonceagainandparticipateintheirfouldealings.AbadpersonnamedMonks,handinglove(相互勾结)withthethieves,hassomehowaspecialinterestinkeepingOliverinthegang.ThenOliverismadetoaccompanyBillSikesonaburglingexpedition,inthecourseofwhichhereceivesagun-shotwound,andcomesintothehandsofMrs.Maylieandherprotegee(女门徒)Rose,bywhomheiskindlytreated.Afteratime,NancyrevealstoRosethatMonksknowsOliver’sparentage,andwishesallproofofitdestroyed;alsothatthereissomerelationshipbetweenOliverandRoseherself.Theymakesomeinquiryaboutthematter.ButFagindiscoversNancy’sactionandtellsSikes,who,inafitofrage,murdersher.Ahueandcryisraised.Sikes,tryingtoescape,accidentallyhangshimselfandtherestofthegangarearrestedandFaginexecuted.Monksisnowcompelledtoconfesswhatremainsunknown.RoseisthesisterofOliver’sunfortunatemother.OliverisadoptedbyMr.Brownlow.Monksdiesinprison.Bumble,thecruelpersecutorofOliver,endshiscareerintheworkhouseoverwhichheformerlyruled.CommentThisnovelisapowerfulexposureofbourgeoissociety.Dickensmakeshisreadersawareoftheinhumanityofcitylifeundercapitalism.Thefirst11chaptersprovideamostbitterandthoroughgoingexposureoftheterribleconditionsintheEnglishworkhouseofthetimeandthecrueltreatmentofapoororphanbyallsortsof“philanthropists”(慈善家).ThefamoussceneinChapterII,inwhichOliverwasbeatenupandpunishedmerelybecauseheventuredtoaskforanextraportionofgruel(稀粥)

toalleviate(减轻)

hisintolerablehunger,isonlyoneofthemanyofdetailstoshowtheextremebrutalityandcorruptionoftheoppressorsandtheiragents(代理人).Insceneslikethisweseethegreatcriticalrealistvoicedthehelplesssufferingsofthepoorandoppressed.Dickenssucceedsincallingforthsympathyforthedown-troddenpeopleofthelowerclasses,who,degradedandcorruptedbythesocialenvironmentofthetime,eitherclimbuptobeparasitesoroppressorsorfalltobevictimsofsocietyorevencriminals.Oliveristheonlyonewhoemergeshappyandsuccessfulintheend.ThishappyissuewhichDickens’novelsusuallyendincomesaboutasaresultofhisoptimisticbeliefintheinevitabletriumphofgoodoverevil.Thechiefdefectsofthenovelincludetheimprobabilityoftheplotandtheunconvincingnessofsomecharacters.Towardtheendofthenovel,theplotgetstobeveryintricatewithimpossiblecoincidenceswhichleadtothehappyending.AtcriticalmomentsOliverhasbeenonceandagainsavedby“kindly”gentlefolkwhohappentobehisparents’kith(亲属)

andkin.Asforunconvincingcharacters,Oliverhimselfisapalefigurewhoseemstobeeverthehelplessvictimoffate.FaginandBillSikesaretooinhumantobetrue,whiletherichMr.BrownlowandMissMayliearevaguelypicturedasbenevolentandgood.HerewemayseethatDickens,whilesympathizingwiththemiseriesofthepeople,didnotknowwhatorwhowasresponsibleforsuchmiseriesandevencherishedillusionaboutrichandidlepeoplelikeMr.Brownlow.Thewholesocialquestion,hebelievedwouldbesettledifonlyeveryemployerfollowedtheexamplesetby“goodgentleman”likeBrownlow.

刘炳善，《英国文学简史》，342-343CommentThenovelisapowerfulexposureofbourgeoissociety.Itshowstheextremebrutalityandcorruptionoftheoppressorsandtheiragentsunderthemaskofphilanthropy(慈善事业).Dickensgivesvividdescriptionsofthesufferingsofthepoorandoppressed.Whilesympathizingwiththemiseriesofthepeople,hedidnotknowwhatorwhowasresponsibleforsuchmiseriesandevencherishedillusionaboutrich,idleandbenevolentpeoplelikeMr.Brownlow.Hebelievedthatthewholesocialproblemswouldbesolvedifonlyeveryemployerfollowedtheexamplesetby“goodgentleman”likeBrownlow.

李正栓，《英国文学学习指南》，312Dickens’Novels:FeaturesHisnovelsofferamostcompleteandrealistpictureoftheEnglishbourgeoissocietyofhisage.Theyreflecttheprotestofthepeopleagainstcapitalistexploitationandcriticizethevicesofcapitalistsociety.Dickensisapettybourgeoisintellectual.Hecouldnotoverstepthelimitsofhisclass.Hebelievedinthemoralself-perfectionofthewickedpropertiedclasses.Hefailedtoseethenecessityofabitterstruggleoftheoppressedagainsttheiroppressors.Thereisadefinitetendencyforareconciliationofthecontradictionsofcapitalistsociety.Almostallhisnovelshavehappyendings.Hisnovelstellmuchoftheexperiencesofhischildhood.Heisagreathumorist.Hisnovelsarefullofhumorandlaughter.WilliamMakepeaceThackeray

(1811-1893)VanityFair:ANovelWithoutaHero

《名利场》TitleThesub-titleofthebook,“ANovelWithoutaHero”,emphasizes?Thetitlewastakenfrom?thefactthatthewriter’sintentionwasnottoportrayindividuals,butthebourgeoisandaristocraticsocietyasawhole.Bunyan’sPilgrim’sProgressThackeraycalledtheEnglishbourgeoisandaristocraticsociety“VanityFair”:ThePilgrimsarrivetothecityofVanity,wheretheyfindVanityFair,thatis,“afair,whereinshouldbesoldallsortsofvanity…”VanityFairThesceneofthestoryisEnglandinthefirsthalfofthe19thcentury.ThebookopenswiththedepartureoftwogirlsfromtheirschoolinaLondonSuburb,wheretheyhavestudiedfor6years.OneofthemisAmeliaSedley,thedaughterofawealthyLondonmerchant.TheotherisRebecca(Becky)Sharp,anorphan.ThetwoaretogetherforashorttimeinAmelia’shome.Becky,shrewdandunscrupulous,sophisticatedbeyondheryears,isdeterminedtowormherwayintouppersocietyatallcosts.SheattemptsbutfailstoentrapAmelia’sbrotherJosephforahusband.Sosheisobligedtobecomegovernessinthefamilyofacertainbaronet准男爵SirPittCrawley.ComingtoSirPitt’scountryseat,Rebeccafindsherselfinanatmosphereofavarice,hypocrisyandimmorality.Shedoesherbesttogaintheconfidenceofheremployersandmakesherselfagreeable.ShesoongainsthefavorofSirPittCrawley,whoiscaptivatedbyhercharmstosuchadegreethatafterthedeathofhiswifeheproposestoher.ButRebeccahastogiveupthisdazzlingchance,havingbeenalreadysecretlymarriedtotheoldman’syoungersonRawdonCrawleybecausetheyoungmanhasthebrightprospectofinheritinghisrichaunt’sproperty.Theperverse执拗的

wealthyoldwoman,however,disinheritsRawdononaccountofhismarriagewithadowrylessgirl,andBecky’shopesofbeingweddedtoarichhusbandaredashed.Inthemeantime,AmeliaisabouttobemarriedtoGeorgeOsborne,alight-mindedyounglieutenant,pampered娇惯byanuntroubledandwell-to-dolife.Thetwofamilieshavelongbeenoffriendlyterms.Unexpectedly,Amelia’sfathergoesbankruptandleaveshisdaughterpenniless.OldOsborneturnshisbackonhisoldfriendandordershissontobreakwithAmelia.GeorgehasanintimatefriendCaptainDobbinwhoissecretlyandhopelesslyinlovewithAmelia.BeingagoodmanandwishingtoseeAmeliahappy,DobbinarrangesthemarriagebetweenherandGeorgeandasaresult,theangryoldOsbornedisowns断绝与…的关系hisson.NowthewarwithNapoleonhascometoaclimaxandBritishtroopsaresenttotheContinent.GeorgegoestowarandiskilledintheBattleofWaterloo.(InthisparttheauthordrawsvividpicturesofvariousrepresentativesofEnglishsocietywhofollowedthearmytotheContinent.ThedescriptionoftheBattleofWaterlooisbriefandvigorous.)WidowedAmeliagivesbirthtoasonandentirelydevotesherselftohisupbringing.Thewarover,Dobbin,nowadistinguishedofficer,leavesforIndia.Inthemeantime,Rebecca,afteranumberofadventures,makesherwayinto“goodsociety”andentersintoaliaison私通

withLordSteyne,arich,wickedoldaristocrat.TheCrawleycouplemanagetoliveagrandstyleonnothingayear.ButRawleyisimprisonedfordebt.Whenhereturnshome,hefindsBeckyentertainingLordSteynealone.Asaresult,Rawdonbreakswithhiswife.ThenheleavesEnglandfortheWestIndiesanddiesoffeverthere.Aftermanyvicissitudesandwanderings,RebeccameetsherformerfriendAmeliaagain.AmeliastillholdsdearthememoryofherdeadhusbandGeorgeOsborne.ButBeckydisclosesanoldsecret,showingGeorge’sletteraskingBeckytoelopewithhimontheeveoftheBattleofWaterloo.Amelia’sidolatry偶像崇拜

shattered,shedecidestorewardDobbin’slifelongaffectionbymarryinghim.BeckygoesonlivingwithJoseph,Amelia’sbrother,untilhedies,leavingallhispropertytoher.ShereturnstoEnglandandliveslikeagrandlady.

《名利场》主要是围绕利蓓加和爱米丽亚·赛特笠的荣辱沉浮的际遇展开的。

爱米丽亚秉性善良柔弱，她把全部的青春献给了乔治·奥斯本，可是现实中的乔治是一个毫无真情的纨绔子弟，结婚才几天，就沉溺于赌博声色之中，甚至准备偷偷地同利蓓加私奔。都宾真心地爱着爱米丽亚，她享受着这种爱，但她又自私的不肯用自己的爱来报答他。爱米丽亚在厄运面前，逆来顺受，使人感到她楚楚可怜。与爱米丽亚相比，利蓓加是个冷酷自私、虚伪狡诈而又泼辣能干的女人，她具有自由竞争时代资产阶级的冒险、投机精神。利蓓加是穷画家的女儿，她是爱米丽亚的朋友，在社会环境的影响下逐渐堕落。她一生浪荡江湖，浪迹上流社会，招摇撞骗，追求的生活目的无非是想填满其名利的欲壑。她初出校门在爱米丽亚家就一眼看出乔斯是自命不凡的大傻瓜，于是投其所好，对乔斯装出又崇拜又多情的样子，可是因为乔治的从中破坏，她没能成为乔斯·奥斯本的太太。

利蓓加从繁华的伦敦到人烟稀少的乡间，在毕脱·克劳莱男爵家做教师，她施展八面玲珑、上下奉承的策略，在这个充满勾心斗角的权利之争的地方站稳了脚跟。控制了这个乡间贵族之家的主宰-毕脱爵士。她想尽办法讨好克劳莱小姐，因为克劳莱小姐拥有7万镑存款。罗登是克劳莱小姐的宠侄，利蓓加满心欢喜的决定和罗登私奔，以为可以稳得遗产，从此混迹上流社会，名利随之而来。可是她的如意算盘打错了。她不爱丈夫，只把丈夫当作高等佣人，但又装出体贴入微的姿态，哄得罗登服服帖帖。她对儿子小罗登漠不关心，却在大庭广众间亲亲热热抱吻他。她与丈夫一起靠赌博、诈骗来生活。爱米丽亚是她的朋友，她照样同罗登设计斗牌骗爱米丽亚丈夫乔治的钱，而见面时却对爱米丽亚装出亲亲热热、十分关心的样子。除了赌博和诈骗，利蓓加还用自己特有的姿色，闪烁的绿眼睛、美丽的鬈发、动人的歌喉、俏皮的谈吐勾引着一群花花公子和达官贵人，面对着权势盖天的政客、情场老手司丹恩侯爵，她巧妙地装出天真烂漫“依人小鸟”的样子，搞得司丹恩侯爵如醉如痴。最后连这些驰骋疆场的风月老手都倒在她的怀里，成了她的靠山和摇钱树。利蓓加像一个“天才”的演员，逼真地扮演各种各样的角色。她不但用诡计和姿色骗取钱财，混迹上流社会，而且还替罗登骗得了总督的职衔。即使由于同司丹恩侯爵的暧昧关系被揭穿而声名狼藉、流落江湖，最后还弄到了乔斯死后的一笔人寿保险金.CommentInthenovelThackeraydescribesthelifeoftherulingclassesofEnglandintheearlydecadesofthe19thcentury,andattacksthesocialrelationshipofthebourgeoisworldbysatirizingtheindividualsinthedifferentstrataoftheuppersociety.Itwasaworldwheremoneygrubbingwasthemainthinginthemindsofallmembersoftherulingclasses,andtheyhadnoscruples(良心上的不安,顾忌)whateverinemployingallpossiblemeanstoattainthatend.CharacterizationBeckySharpisaclassicexampleofmoney-grubbinginstinct.Heronlyaspirationinlifeistogainwealthandpositionbyanymeans,throughlies,meanactionsandunscrupulousspeculatingwitheverysacredideal.DrawingthecharacterofBeckySharp,Thackeraydoesnotregardherasanexception.Everyonewishestogainsth.intheVanityFairandactsalmostinthesamemannerasBecky.Sheisagiftedwomanwithakeensenseofhumoranddeepunderstandingofpeople.Cringing阿谀奉承totherichandtitledsnobs,cleverRebeccaatthesametimeperceiveshowshallow,vainandworthlesstheyare.Nevertheless,sheflirtsandcarriesonillicit不正当

relationswithallrichandpowerfulmen,youngandold,withinherreach,forthesolepurposeoflivingacomfortablelife.CharacterizationAmeliaSedley,anotherheroineofthenovel,merelyatame,sentimentalbutuselesswoman.TheonlypersonthatappearssomewhatlikeapositivecharacterisDobbin,heisagoodman,honestandhelpfultoothers.Butheisalsoaproductofhisage,particularofthemoralcodesofthebourgeoissociety.Sohefallsfarshortofbeingarealhero,apositivecharacter.

刘炳善，英国文学简史，370MakeacommentonAmeliaandBeckyThackeraysuccessfullycharacterizestwoheroineswhostandincontrastintheircharactersandattitudestowardslife.Ameliaisacharacterofmilk-and-watertype,goodinnature,tameandmoral,sentimentalandsympathetic,butunabletomasterherownfate.Becky,whoismoreimpressivelycharacterized,isdifferentfromAmelia;sheiscrafty,unscrupulous无道德的,andresourcefulandsheisneverobedienttoherdestinyandalwaysrebelsinordertohaveachangeinherlife,regardlessofmoralityandsocialjudgmentofher.Thetwoheroinesare,toThackeray,thevictimsofthesocialenvironmentthatisinhumaninitsnature.

李正栓，英国文学学习指南，317页

《名利场》不但成功地塑造了女冒险家利蓓加的典型，而且通过一系列资产阶级和贵族形象的塑造，深刻地揭露和尖锐地批判了19世纪前半期英国社会的金钱统治和门第权势。

奥斯本喜欢自吹是“老老实实做买卖的英国人”。萨克雷把他放在尖锐的矛盾中，用犀利的笔锋揭开了“老老实实”的实质。出身卑微的奥斯本靠证券经纪人赛特笠的栽培，才跃居为伦敦蜡烛业的巨头和市中心有信用的大财主。但是，当赛特笠老头因为公债跌价而倾家荡产时，奥斯本显现出以金钱为灵魂的本性，不但没有帮助赛特笠，还是最残酷对待他的人。

奥斯本的冷酷、自私，同样表现在他对儿子婚姻的态度上。他对儿子乔治婚事的态度，因为赛特笠破产而前后迥然不同。他不顾儿子的幸福，强迫乔治立刻向又黑又丑而家资万贯的施瓦滋小姐求婚。得知乔治与爱米丽亚秘密结婚后，他烧毁遗嘱，取消了乔治的继承权。通过这个形象，使我们看到，在资本家眼里，一切都是商品，人与人之间的关系就是赤裸裸的金钱关系。

尽管奥斯本很有钱，但他仍深感自己社会地位低微，他垂涎贵族门第，他对贵族卑躬屈膝，为了满足虚荣，也为了提高地位，奥斯本袭用与自己无亲无故的奥斯本公爵家的纹章，要儿子结交贵族子弟，花多少钱都行。幻想自己的孙子进大学，做议员，说不定还能封从男爵。奥斯本的势利心理，反映了资产阶级迫切要求有与自己的经济地位相称的社会地位的愿望。

司丹恩勋爵在《名利场》中，是上流社会的头面人物，有钱有势。他并不尊重妻子，却在大庭广众之中对妻子彬彬有礼，赢得人们的啧啧称赞。他的谈吐、装腔作势的本领，连利蓓加都十分佩服。他醉心于赌钱，整日整夜沉溺在宴会和情妇怀抱之中。表面上看，他气宇不凡，目空一切，骨子里虚弱得很。可笑的是，司丹恩勋爵死后，社会舆论却大肆颂扬他的品德、才学、善举。《名利场》通过司丹恩勋爵显赫的地位和下流的品行，生前的丑恶行迹与死后舆论对他的颂扬的鲜明对照，把有教养的、在一切庄严场合体面地代表民族的英国贵族的腐朽、堕落的寄生虫本质，刻画得入木三分。ThemeAlthoughtheplotisdiverse,thenovelisheldtogetherbythethemeofthefolliesanddeceptionsoftheresidentsofVanityFair.Thenovelcentersaroundtheduplicity(欺骗,口是心非)ofsocialclimbers,theweaknessofhumannature,and,inaword,thestrivingformoneyandposition,thetreasuresofVanityFair.Theconflictisalwayspersonagainstpersoninthisrespect.CharacteristicsofThackeray’sNovelsThackerayisoneofthegreatestcriticalrealistsofthe19thcenturyEurope.Hepaintslifeashehasseenit.Withhispreciseandthoroughobservation,richknowledgeofsociallifeandthehumanheart,thepicturesinhisnovelsareaccurateandtruetolife.Heisgoodatdescribingthelifeoftheupperclasswithwhichheisfamiliar.Thackerayisasatirist.Hissatireiscaustic刻薄的andhishumorsubtle.Besidesbeingarealistandsatirist,Thackerayisamoralist.Hisaimistoproduceamoralimpressioninallhisnovels.CharlotteBrontë

夏洛蒂•勃朗特

1816-1855TheProfessor《教授》1846JaneEyre《简·爱》1847Shirley《雪丽》1849Villette

《维莱特》1853《简·爱》(1847)一位贫穷女子成长为独立女性的故事。简·爱是个孤女，从小被寄养在舅父母家，舅舅去世后，简·爱受尽虐待和欺凌。后来她被送到劳渥德寄宿学校，那里教规严厉，生活条件恶劣，经常有孩子病死。简·爱克服重重困难，毕业后被聘于桑菲尔德庄园当家庭教师。简·爱在与庄园主罗切斯特的接触了解中逐渐产生了爱情。但在婚礼教堂中有人出证说罗切斯特是有妇之夫，他的妻子就是那个被关在三楼密室里的女人。简·爱痛苦地离开了桑菲尔德庄园。流浪途中的简·爱病倒，被牧师圣·约翰和他的两个妹妹收留，并在当地一所学校任教。后来她叔父给她留下了一大笔遗产。圣·约翰请求她跟随他去印度传教，但简·爱拒绝了。她听从来自内心的呼唤，回到了罗切斯特的身边。此时的桑菲尔德庄园已成一片废墟，疯女人纵火后坠楼而亡，罗切斯特被烧瞎了眼睛。但简·爱和他结了婚，开始了他们的美满生活。JaneEyreThisnoveltellsthestoryofanorphangirl,JaneEyre,thedaughterofapoorparson,losesherparentsshortlyafterbirth.Herunclebecomesherguardian.Afterheruncle’sdeathheraunt,Mrs.Reed,aharsh,unsympatheticwoman,isrudeandunjusttoher.Mrs.Reed’sownchildrenalsofindpleasureinteasingandmockingher.Oneday,unabletobeartheill-treatmentanylonger,Janetellsstraighttoheraunt’sfacewhatshethinksofher.Mrs.ReedisfuriousandsendsJanetoacharityschoolforpoorgirlsinLowood,whereshelivesanintolerablelifeandstaysforeightyears.

ThenJanebecomesagovernesstoalittlegirlinthefamilyofasquireMr.Rochester.Thesquirefallsinlovewithher.Butwhiletheyareabouttoholdtheirweddingceremonyinthechurch,JanelearnsthatRochesterhasgotawifewhoismadandlockedinaprivateroom.Shockedbythenews,Janefleesfromthehouse.Shegoesthroughmanyhardships.Afternearlyperishingonthemoors,sheistakeninandcaredforbyaparson,Rev.Rivers.Hehelpshertogetthejobofateacherinavillageschool.Meanwhile,agreatmisfortunebefallsMr.Rochester:heloseshissightduringafiresetbyhismadwifewhodiesatragicdeathbyjumpingofftheroofinspiteofhisattempttosaveher.HearingthatMr.Rochesterispennilessanddisabled,JaneEyrehurriestohimandbecomeshiswife.JaneEyre:ACommentInthisnovel,Charlottedrawsagreatdealfromherownexperience,suchasthelifeatLowoodschoolandlifeasagoverness.Oneofthecentralthemesofthebookisthecriticismofthebourgeoissystemofeducation.TheLowoodschoolistheembodimentofthebourgeoisprinciplesofeducation,theaimofwhichistobringupobedientsalvesfortherich.Anotherproblemraisedinthenovelisthepositionofwomaninsociety.JaneEyre,theheroineofthenovel,maintainsthatwomenshouldhaveequalrightswithmen.CharlotteBrontë:AcommentCharlotteBrontëattackedthegreed,pettytyrannyandlackofcultureamongthebourgeoisieandsympathizedwiththesufferingsofthepoorpeople.Butherrealismiscoloredbypetty-bourgeoisphilanthropy.LikeDickens,shebelievesthateducationisthekeytoallsocialproblems,andthatbytheimprovementoftheschoolsystemandteaching,mostoftheevilsofcapitalismcouldberemoved.EmilyBrontë

艾米莉•勃朗特WutheringHeights

《呼啸山庄》WutheringHeights:ThenoveldealswiththestoryofHeathcliff,agipsywaifofunknownparentage,pickedupbyMr.Earnshawinthestreetandbroughtupwithhischildren.WutheringHeightsisthenameofMr.Earnshaw’shouseinNorthEngland,remotefromtheoutsideworldandamidstgloomysurroundings.HeathcliffistreatedwellbyEarnshaw,butwhentheoldmandies,theyoungmasterHindleybulliesandinsultshim.Hedriveshimfromtheircompanytotheservants,deprivedhimoftheinstructionofthecurate,andinsistedthatheshouldlaboroutofdoors,compellinghimtodosoashardasanyhandonthefarm.HeathclifffallspassionatelyinlovewithCatherine,Hindley’ssister,wholoveshimbutthinksitwoulddegradehertomarryhim.Heathcliff,findingitimpossibleforhimtobeunitedtoCatherine,leavesWutheringHeights.Threeyearslaterhereturns,becomingarichman,butfindsCatherinehasbeenmarriedEdgarLinton,aweakling.HelivesagaininWutheringHeightsandseekshisrevenge.HeresumeshislovetoCatharineandhisviolentlovebringshertohergraveatthebirthofherdaughterCathy.ThenHeathcliffmarriesEdgarLinton