Tess’ Tragedy under the Social Conflicts of the Victorian Age_英语论文

摘要

《德伯家的苔丝》的故事背景建立在以托马斯·哈代的家乡为原型的威塞克斯区域，其中对社会现状的描述很大程度上与维多利亚时期的社会背景相似。小说中的女主人公苔丝生于一个贫困的家庭，接受传统道德教育，思想受到禁锢，也最终导致了她的悲剧结果。在工业革命的影响下，维多利亚时代的资本主义日益发展并取得重要的社会地位，金钱和权力逐渐对等，富有的资产阶级通过贿赂等渠道在政府中取得举足轻重的地位。同时工业的发展也使得工人阶级孤立无援，贫困成为不容忽视的一大问题。农民地位低下，生存举步维艰，而中产阶级却挥霍浪费，一度忽视贫困问题。维多利亚时代表面上呼吁“节制”，但暗地里却私生活极其混乱，女性地位极低。在这样一个社会中，地位低下的苔丝不得不一再的向社会权威和传统道德屈服，被一步步逼向死亡。本文就贵族以及资产阶级腐败、传统社会道德观念还有男权主义的压迫这三个维多利亚时代社会特点所导致冲突进行分析，讨论这三个因素如何推动小说情节发展，最终导致苔丝的悲剧。

关键词：《德伯家的苔丝》 维多利亚时代 苔丝的悲剧 性别歧视

Abstract

Tess of the D’Urbervilles was depicted in a region called the Wessex, which was based on Thomas Hardy’s hometown, and resembled the society of the Victorian Age. Tess, the protagonist of this novel, was born in a poor family, educated with traditional moralities, and fettered by Christian ethics. With the rapid growth of industrialization, capitalists gained fortune in the Victorian society. And with the fortune came the power. The upper and middle classes were highly corrupted. Labor forces were less needed due to the development of machines, thus the lower class faces an ever-growing loss of jobs. Poverty became one of the major social issues in the Victorian Age but was ignored by the government for a long time. They called for restraint while prostitution was commonly seen during that period. Female status was in an all-time low. Under-privileged Tess in this society had to succumb to the powers and the so-called moralities, which eventually led her to death. This thesis discusses the three following issues: social corruption, traditional moralities and sexism, to see how the three factors have a pushing effect to Tess’ tragedy.

Key Words：Tess of the D’Urbervilles; Victorian Society; Traditional Moralities; Sexism

Contents

1  Introduction 1

2  The Corruption of the Capitalists and Twisted Definition of Social Class in     Victorian Age 3

2.1 Money Versus Blood 4

3  Tess’ Dilemmas in Old Christian Ethics 7

3.1 Tess’ Sacrifice for the Family 7

3.2 Tess’ Loss of Virginity 8

4  Ubiquitous Male Dominance 11

4.1 Alec’s Explicit Dominance over Tess 11

4.2 Angel’s Implicit Dominance over Tess 12

5  Conclusion 15

Bibliography 16

Acknowledgments 18