Abstract and Key Words

Abstract: Charles Dickens (1812-1870) is the representative of English critical realistic literature. In his works, he discloses the social reality of that time and shows sympathy towards the oppressed, which reflects his humanitarianism thought. The thesis intends to expound Dickens’ humanitarianism though by analyzing the major characters in A Tale of Two Cities. Embedded in the long history river of humanitarianism thought and nurtured in the Victorian Era, an age of fluctuation, Dickens’ humanitarianism thought is distinguished. The thesis, through the analysis of three kinds of images: Madonna represented by Lucie, Penitent represented by Sydney Carton, and Villain represented by Madame Defarge, presents Dickens’ humanitarianism thought to full. It is found that Dickens applauds benevolence, love and kindliness, the core of the humanitarianism thought; besides, he condemns the cruelty and defects in humanity, and the evil sides of the society.

Key words: Character images; Humanitarianism; Madonna; Penitent; Villain

摘要: 查尔斯•狄更斯（1812-1870）是英国批判现实主义文学的代表。在他的作品中，他揭示了社会现实，表达了对受压迫者的深切同情，这也正体现了他的人道主义思想。本文试图从《双城记》中的主要人物的形象着手，解读狄更斯的人道主义思想。根深于人道主义思想流变的历史长河，发展于动荡不安的维多利亚时期，狄更斯的人道主义思想特征鲜明。本文通过分析该部作品中的三类形象：由露茜代表的圣母形象，由卡尔登代表的悔过者形象以及由得伐石太太代表的恶棍形象，充分展现了狄更斯的人道主义思想。可以得出结论，狄更斯称颂博爱和友善（人道主义思想的核心），谴责人性的缺失和残暴的一面。

关键词：人物形象；人道主义思想；圣母形象；悔过者；恶棍

1. Introduction  
Charles Dickens, born on 1812 at Landport Portsea, is regarded as one of the greatest English novelists in the world. Living in Victorian Time, Charles Dickens is a leading writer of Critical Realism, the main, splendid and most meaningful literary genre that rose against the social reality.
Living in the British capitalist society, due to his own hardship, combined with his keen observation of the British and American social situation, Dickens creates numerous works with various styles and shows many-sided life of English society at Victorian Age . Through his novels, the panorama of that special period is presented and the sufferings of the toilsome mass can be tasted. In this way, Dickens is mostly viewed as a famous classical writer. In his whole life, he appeals to the poor, advocates freedom, equality, and charity, and believes that the human nature decides the human value.