A Dsytopian Interpretation of Character Relationships in The Memoirs of a Survivor from the Perspective of Marxist Theory of Tragic Conflict_英语论文

摘要

多丽丝·莱辛作品题材广泛，涉及种族矛盾、战争、环境污染、两性关系、人类未来等诸多领域，并通过作品对社会现实问题进行批判。莱辛在反乌托邦作品《幸存者回忆录》中刻画了社会现实中统治阶级与边缘群体的矛盾，以及新兴力量内部的矛盾。

本文将运用马克思主义悲剧冲突理论来分析小说中叙述者与艾米丽，艾米丽与杰拉尔德之间的人物冲突，进而揭示该作品在描述和批判社会资本化过程中所蕴含的反乌托邦性政治问题指向。通过解释构成作品中人物冲突的原因，本文旨在解读作品中反映的资本主义社会信仰危机及伴随而生的对绝对权力的质疑。

关键词：《幸存者回忆录》  多丽丝·莱辛  悲剧冲突  人物关系  反乌托邦

Abstract

Doris Lessing’s works are rich in subjects, including ethnic conflicts, wars, environmental pollution, gender relations, human future, which she criticized through her own fictions. Lessing depicted conflicts between the ruling class and the marginal population, and the contradictions within the new forces in society within her dystopian work The Memoirs of a Survivor. 

This paper is to analyze two pairs of conflicts, between the narrator and Emily, between Emily and Gerald with the help of the theory of tragic conflicts from Marxism criticism. It is intended, therefore, to address palpable political issue of dystopia in the process her work describes and criticizes social capitalization. Through explanation of the reasons behind the creation of conflicts among characters in the novel, the dissertation aims at providing an understanding of the work in accordance with its projected faith crisis and the accompanied question of absolute authority in capitalist society.

Key words: The Memoirs of a Survivor  Doris Lessing  tragic conflict  character relationships  dystopia 

Contents

Chapter One  Introduction 1

Chapter Two  Literature Review 4

Chapter Three  Theoretical Framework 10

3.1  Marxist Conflict Theory 10

3.2  Philosophical Basis of Conflict Theory in Marxism 12

Chapter Four  The Innate Contradiction within two Pairs of Conflict in 

the Dystopian Narration 14

4.1 A General Introduction to the Relationship between the Narrator and Emily 14

4.1.1 The Representation of the Narrator and Her Features in the 

Relationship with Emily 15

4.1.2 The Representation of Emily and Her Features in the Relationship with

the Narrator 17

4.1.3 The Social and Historical Situation Reflected by the Narrator and Emily 19

4.2 The General Introduction to the Relationship between Gerald and Emily 21

4.2.1 The Representation of Emily and Her Features in the Relationship 

with Gerald 23

4.2.2 The Representation of Gerald and His Features in the Relationship 

with Emily 24

4.2.3 The Social and Historical Situation Reflected by Gerald and Emily 26

Chapter Five  Conclusion 28

Bibliography

Acknowledgments