摘要

欧亨利在美国和世界文学史上占有重要地位，被称为当代美国短篇小说的奠基人。他的代表作是《麦琪的礼物》与《最后一片长春藤叶》等，主要描写的是19世纪美国社会底层平民的人性之美。事实上，还有一部分不太为大众所熟悉的欧亨利小说以骗子、强盗等罪犯为主人公。与平民相比，他们的情感更加立体丰富。在他们身上所体现的人性更为复杂。但前人对这类人物的人性意识却未进行更深入的研究。
本文主要从《提线木偶》与《重新做人》两篇犯罪性小说出发，结合19世纪美国社会的时代背景及国家精神，对欧亨利笔下的人性意识进行分析。
本文将从三个方面出发，分析阐述19世纪美国的人性意识。第一部分从当时的社会背景与美国精神出发，叙述19世纪美国人性意识形成的根源。同时，简要介绍作者的生平，因为欧亨利小说里的人性意识，也是对自己坎坷一生的反思。    第二部分对《提线木偶》、《重新做人》中的人物进行分析。从他们的言行里感受社会底层小人物的善良、丑恶和冷漠。第三部分将虚构的小说与19世纪美国现实结合在一起。根据当时的社会、作者的生活阅历，表达欧亨利对人性丑恶的愤恨和对人性中爱与美的向往。
《提线木偶》和《重新做人》中的世界，是欧亨利眼中的真实世界。他的小说，构建了当时的美国；他笔下的人物，则见证了永恒的人性。

关键词：欧．亨利，提线木偶，重新做人，美国精神，人性意识

Abstract

O. Henry occupies an important role in the history of world and American literature. He's known as the founder of contemporary American short stories. "The gift of Magi" and "The last leaf" is his masterpiece, which mainly describes the beauty of humanity among the people at the bottom of American society in 19th century. In fact, there's a great part of stories portraying the criminals such as liars, robbers. Compared with the civilian population, their affections and the humanity embodied in them are far more complex. However, the human consciousness of this kind of people is rarely mentioned until now.
This paper is based on two novels about criminals, “The Marionettes” and “A Retrieved Reformation”, combining the historical background of American society and national spirit in 19th century, then having an analysis of humanity in O.Henry's novel.
My paper will explain the human consciousness of American in 19th century in three parts. The first part is based on social background at that time and American spirit to prevail the root of the formation of American human consciousness. Meanwhile, O.Henry's life is introduced briefly. In fact, the human consciousness in his novel is the result of a reflection for his hard life.
The second part is about the analysis of characters in “The Marionettes” and “A Retrieved Reformation”. The goodness, ugliness and apathy can be felt from the words and deeds of nobodies in the bottom of society.
The third part combines the fictional plots and social reality together. According to the society at that time and author's life experience, we can find the resentments of ugliness and aspirations of love.
The world in “The Marionettes” and “A Retrieved Reformation” equals to the real world in O.Henry's eyes. The United State at that time is constructed in his novel while the characters in his novel witness the eternal humanity.

Key words: O.Henry, “The Marionettes”, “A Retrieved Reformation”, American spirit, Human consciousness