Abstract

     “Love Is a Fallacy”, a story mainly about the campus love among Dobie, Polly and Petey, is very popular. This paper begins with a general review of the author, Max Shulman’s writing achievements, then introduces the definition and classification of irony, makes an analysis of the skillful use of irony in the characters, and, between the Author’s Note and the story. Through analysis of the unexpected ending of the story and the contrast of the characters’ fate before and after, finally, the essay comes to the conclusion that the ingenious use of irony in “Love Is a Fallacy” contributes immensely to the manifestation of the theme of the short story that the failure of Dobie’s pursuit for Polly is inevitable and that the social values of materialism has become a driving power in America.

Key words: Max Shulman, “Love Is a Fallacy”, irony

摘 要

《爱情是谬误》是一则很著名的校园爱情故事，它主要讲述了多比、波利、皮蒂之间的感情纠葛。本文首先对作者马克斯•舒尔曼的写作成就进行了整体的回顾，然后介绍了反讽手法的定义以及它的分类，赏析了反讽手法在人物以及前言和故事的应用。通过对人物前后命运的反差以及故事出乎意料的结局的分析，从而得出结论：《爱情是谬误》中反讽手法的巧妙运用有助于深刻地揭示主题——多比对波利的追求不可避免失败以及嘲讽物质至上论已经成为美国社会的主流价值观。

关键词：马克斯•舒尔曼；《爱情是谬误》；反讽
   
1.    Introduction
It is undeniable that Max Shulman is one of the most important American screenwriters and novelists in the third quarter of the 20th century in America. He is one of the best-known American humorists. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, he began his writing career for the college humor magazine at the University of Minnesota. He has written novels, stories, Broadway plays, movie scenarios, and television scripts. His masterworks include Barefoot Boy With Cheek, The Feather Merchants, The Zebra Derby, Rally Round the Flag, Boys! I Was A Teenage Dwarf, as well as The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. He is best known for his television and short story character Dobie Gillis as well as for best-selling novels and has been acknowledged as a prolific writer of satirical humor. His works often focus on young people, particularly campus love in the collegiate setting, and his literary accomplishment is largely characterized by the technique of antithesis and irony in his writing.