读康拉德《青春》的三个重要启示_英语论文

Three Striking Enlightenments of Conrad’s Youth

摘要

约瑟夫·康拉德是19世纪末20世纪初英国杰出的现代主义作家，其丰富的航海经验为海洋小说创作提供了大量的素材，被誉为“海洋小说大师”,具有非凡的国际影响力。《青春》是康拉德的著名短篇小说，是他1882年航海经历的真实写照，这部小说也以其独特的魅力被英国著名作家和评论家爱德华·加奈特称为“现代英国的海洋史诗”。本论文着重探讨研读《青春》后得出的三个重要启示。首先，主人公马罗的海洋精神，突显出他勇立潮头的冒险精神以及永不放弃的顽强意志。面对困难，我们只要激流勇进、百折不挠，就能够笑傲人生、搏击未来。其次，《老人与海》主人公圣地亚哥和《青春》主人公马罗，他们各自与自然作斗争的海上经历刷新了成功与失败的定义。在前进的道路上失败在所难免，但只要我们学会从过程中汲取经验，不断完善自己，又何尝不是一种成功。最后，青春没有失败，青春是放飞梦想的摇篮。只有不畏言败，勇于尝试，努力实现理想，才能在年轻的岁月里不断前进，不断成长。本论文对《青春》主题的探讨，对构建当代青少年积极向上的精神面貌具有良好的指导作用。

关键词：青春；海洋精神；成败观

Abstract

Joseph Conrad is a distinguished writer of English modernistic literature in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. His wealth of sailing experience provides plentiful writing materials for sea stories. Honored as “Author of the Greatest Sea Stories”, Conrad is of great international influence. Youth, one of Conrad’s famous short stories, truly reflecting his sailing experience in 1882, is called “Modern English epic of the Sea” by English famous writer and critic Edward Garnett. This paper is to discuss three striking enlightenments of Youth. First, Marlow’s marine spirit highlights his sense of adventure and indomitable will of never giving up. In the face of difficulties, we should be brave enough to confront them. Second, the contrastive study on Santiago’s and Marlow’s struggles against nature redefines success and failure. Failures are inevitable on the way forward; however, so long as we are able to draw experience from process and perfect ourselves continuously, success is within reach. Third, adolescence is in no company with failure. Young people should be confident enough to pursue their dreams bravely. Only dare to make mistakes, face challenges and take lessons from failures can we youth keep forging ahead. It’s meaningful to guide the construction of contemporary teenagers’ positive spiritual outlook.

Key words: youth; marine spirit; success and failure

Contents

1 Introduction.1 

2 Literature review.2 

3 Marlow’s marine spirit3 

3.1 Strong sense of adventure4 

3.2 The indomitable will of never giving up5 

4 The definition of success and failure6

4.1 Two struggles between man and nature.7

       4.2 Marlow’s attitude towards success and failure8

5 The significance of youth9

5.1 No failure in adolescence.10

       5.2 Youth—the cradle of dreams11

6 Conclusion.12

References 14