《远大前程》与《献给爱米丽的玫瑰花》的主角对比研究_英语论文

A Comparative Study Of Miss Havisham In Great Expectations And Miss Emily In A Rose For Emily

摘要

在英美文学发展史上,查尔斯•狄更斯 和威廉•福克纳可被视为两座傲然耸立的里程碑。狄更斯在《远大前程》中塑造的郝薇香和福克纳在《献给爱米丽的一朵玫瑰花》中塑造的爱米丽，可被称作两朵绚丽的奇葩。狄更斯和福克纳这两位不同年代的文豪，以他们各自独具的慧眼在作品中表达了对女性生存现状的关注与思索。爱米丽与郝薇香这两个人物形象的刻画在社会背景、家庭背景以及报复社会的手段等三个层面上具有互文性。不少学者甚至认为，福克纳的爱米丽很有可能是以郝薇香为原型塑造的。她们扭曲的性格、人生悲剧的根源，在于当时束缚女性的，反人性的社会习俗与道德规范。

首先，本文通过研究二人所处的时代背景、家庭环境，以及当时针对女性的普世价值，探索分析造成两位女性角色悲剧人生的多种原因；揭示当时女性低下的社会地位，从而进一步挖掘当时女性与社会之间的根本矛盾。其次，研究在不同时代背景的影响下，福克纳与狄更斯在塑造同一类人物形象时，由于个人价值观的不同，对同类角色从主观态度上造成的根本差异。从而间接地导致这两位相似的女性角色，在性格与心理上的根本不同。最后，本文将力图对她们进行全面且完整的分析。本文认为，郝薇香小姐的悲剧更多来源于她自身性格的原因；福克纳在塑造艾米丽这个人物形象时，并未照搬郝薇香小姐的原型。而是在将人物置于与前者截然不同的时代背景的同时，注入了与狄更斯截然不同的个人观点。

以上对郝薇香与艾米丽的形象对比研究，不仅有利于加深我们对两部文学作品的整体理解，同时也有利于提高我们对唤醒女性意识的重视；还有利于鼓励现代女性努力拼搏，提高个人素质，形成独立自强的人格与意识，摆脱过去对于家庭与配偶的单一式依赖，最终赢得社会的尊重与真正的男女平权。

关键词：郝薇香；爱米丽；狄更斯；福克纳；女性地位

Abstract

Charles Dickens(1812—1870) and William Faulkner(1897—1962) can be considered as two milestones in the history of British and American literature. Miss Havisham in Dickens’ Great Expectations and Miss Emily in Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily are two famous characters in their works, which could be considered as two miracles in literature images. As two splendid writers in different times, Dickens and Faulkner have expressed their unique thoughts on females’ survival situations. Therefore, there are several similarities between Miss Havisham and Miss Emily in their social background, family background and ways of revenge society. Because of these similarities, many scholars even think that Faulkner probably remodeled the image of Emily on Dickens’ Miss Havisham. Beyond all doubt, the causes of these woman tragedies come from patriarchal tradition of society at those times.

First of all, by introducing the historical background, social environment and peculiar universal value judgment against women at that time, which reveals women’s low social status, we can analyze several reasons for the two female characters’ tragedies, and find the fundamental contradiction between women and the society at that time. Secondly, this paper is going to further discuss Faulkner and Dickens’ different personal value judgment towards women, which is influenced by their different growth experiences. It is these different subject attitudes that indirectly lead to these two female characters’ fundamental differences in their characteristics and inner worlds. And finally, this paper will make a comprehensive analysis of them in social, family and personal factors. Furthermore, the above statement shows that Faulkner didn’t remodeled the image of Emily on Dickens’ Miss Havisham, instead, he injected this character with his distinct personal views.

The comparative study of Miss Havisham and Miss Emily will not only deepen our understanding of the two literature works, but also arouse people’s attention on the female consciousness, and to encourage more women establish their individual thinking, and to earn the real equality between men and women in the society.

Key Words: Havisham; Emily; Dickens; Faulkner; female status

Contents

Introduction 1

1. Social Environment and Cultural Traditions 2

  1.1 Women in Victorian Society of England 2

  1.2 Women in Puritanical Society of America 3

2. Dickens and Faulkner’s Ideas of Women 4

  2.1 Charles Dickens’ Limited Gender Prejudice Towards Women  4

  2.2 William Faulkner’s Praise and Criticism Towards Women 4

3. Comparison of The Causes of Their Tragedies 6

  3.1 A Patriarchal Society 6

  3.2 A Tyrannical Father 8

  3.3 Failure of Marriage 9

Conclusion 11

Reference 13