汤姆琼斯的矛盾.doc

毕业论文专用纸 TOM JONESA MAN OF CONTRASTSByXX, XA ThesisSubmitted to the Department of Foreign Languages in partial fulfillment of the requirementsfor the degree ofBachelor of Arts in the English Language and LiteratureSupervisor: X, XXOxbridge CollegeKunming University of Science and TechnologyJune, 2013ContentsAcknowledgements . iAbstract.ii摘要.iii1. Introduction .12. Literature Review.43. Social Background.64. Toms Contradictory Personality.74.1Dishonest but Kind-Hearted. 84.2 Upright but Irrational.95. Toms Attitudes toward Love.105.1 Loyalty to Love .11 5.2 Betrayal of Love.126. Toms Contradictory Identity.147. Conclusion.16 References.18AcknowledgementsI would like to express my gratitude to all those who helped me during the writing of this thesis. I gratefully acknowledge the help of my supervisor, Mr. XXx who has offered me valuable suggestions in the academic studies. In the preparation of the thesis, he has spent much time reading through each draft and provided me with inspiring advice. Without his patient instruction, insightful criticism and expert guidance, the completion of this thesis would not have been possible. I also owe a special debt of gratitude to all the professors in Department of Foreign Language, from whose devoted teaching and enlightening lectures I have benefited a lot and academically prepared for the thesis. I also owe my sincere gratitude to my friends and my fellow classmates who gave me their help and time in listening to me and helping me work out my problems during the difficult course of the thesis. AbstractAs the founder of English realistic literature, Henry Fielding not only gives us a panoramic view of English life in the 18th century, but also pictures the most outstanding character Tom Jones in his masterpiece. From Henry Fieldings acknowledgements to George Lyttleton, ESQ, he states that one of his purpose to write the novel is “displaying that beauty of virtue which may attract the admiration of mankind.”Henry Fielding objects to the bloodless hero with no faults in chivalry romance. So, Tom Jones is a contradictory mixture of ration and perception. To explain more fully the contrasts of Tom Jones, this article undertakes a dialectical discussion of his qualities. Through an analysis of the character of Tom Jones, this paper aims at dealing with the contrasts in terms of his personality, love and identity.Key Words: Henry Fielding; Tom Jones; Contrasts; Personality; Love; Identityi摘 要作为英国现实主义小说的创始人亨利菲尔丁不仅向我们全景展示了英国十八世纪的社会生活也在他的巨著汤姆琼斯中描绘了汤姆琼斯这样一位杰出的人物。在他写给乔治利特尔顿先生的“献词”中作者声言写作此书的其中一个意图是“展示道德所具有的朴实的美以促使人们向往它。”菲尔丁反对骑士传奇里那种十全十美没有血肉的“英雄”。因此他笔下的汤姆琼斯是一个充满理性与感性的矛盾混合体。为了更加详尽地阐述汤姆琼斯身上所具有的矛盾性这篇论文将会对他个人品质的好与坏展开辩证地讨论。通过对汤姆琼斯人性的分析本课题旨在从他的性格,他的爱情观以及他社会身份所反映的矛盾展开研究。关键词：亨利菲尔丁；汤姆琼斯；矛盾；性格；爱情；身份TOM JONESA MAN OF CONTRASTS1. Introduction Henry Fielding, the greatest novelist and dramatist of the eighteenth century, and one of the greatest that England ever produced, was born on the 22nd of April 1707 in the family of General Fielding. He was well educated, having spent several years at the famous Eton school, and taken a degree in letters at the University of Leyden in 1728. Moreover, he had a deeper knowledge of life, gained from his own varied and sometimes riotous experience. Henry Fielding is direct, vigorous, hilarious, and coarse to the point of vulgarity. He is full of animal spirits, and he tells the story of vagabond life, not for the moralizing, or for emphasizing a forced repentance, but simply because it interests him and his only concern is “to laugh men out of their follies”. So his story, through it abounds in unpleasant incidents, generally leaves the reader with strong impression of reality. In 1742, Henry Fielding published his first novel, Joseph Andrews. His later novels are Janathan Wild, the story of a rogue, which suggests Defoes narrative; The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, and his best novel: Amelia(1751), the story of good wife in contrast with an unworthy husband. In his works, Fielding strongly criticizes social relations in the contemporary England. He used natural scenes to express his meditation and feelings. The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, often known simply as Tom Jones, is a comic novel by the English playwright and novelist Henry Fielding. The novel is both a Bildungsroman and Picaresque novel. In 1749, after spending many years occupied in various professions, during which time he suffered sickness and problems, Henry Fielding finally finished his greatest novel The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling which introduces us to a healthy, hearty figure, who good as nearly balances evil as it does in real life. The novel, totaling 346, 747 words, is divided into 18 smaller books, each preceded by a discursive chapter, often on topics totally unrelated to the book itself. As one of the pioneers of English realistic literature, Fielding portrayed the real lives of men without disguising anything at that time. He exposed the hypocrisy and depravity of the upper class, and pictured the poverty and innocence of the lower people. Tom Jones is a new generation of civilian class. The novel reflects that human beings are eagerly to set free from the industrialization of materialism. In the novel, Fielding mocked the British law system, illustrated how the bourgeoisie manipulate laws and how a judge bends the law for personal gain. In the novel, the writer told a story about a judge who uses authority to extort money from the poor. In order to get a sum of money, the judge engages a second lawsuit. This is a way they often use to enrich themselves. Fielding revealed the corruption of judicial organs nakedly. He denounced the corruption of the judge furiously. Fielding has always been standing in the position of the working people. On the contrary, Tom Jones is progressive in politics. “Jones had some historic ingredients in his composition, and was a hearty well-wisher to the glorious cause of liberty and of the Protestant religion.”(Fielding, 1967, p. 251) So, it is no wonder that the circumstance should occur to him to serve as a volunteer in this expedition. In depicting Tom, Fieldings purpose was obviously to emphasize the contrast between a good- hearted young man and others. The novel fully exhibits the social landscape, the lifestyle of people living in urban and rural place. Tom Jones, the hero of Henry Fieldings great work shows us true humanity which we admire for. On the contrary, his demerits are revealed in the novel as well. Just because the contradictions of the figure reflected in the novel, Tom Jones receives praise and also criticism from all walks of life home and abroad continuously. Henry Fielding said: “Though, as we have good authority for all our characters, no less than the vast authentic doomsday-book of nature,” (Fielding, 1967, p. 338) That is to say that Henry Fielding is unwilling to describe Tom Jones as super hero. Henry Fielding writes his human nature from his personality, his attitudes towards love and identity.This paper focuses on contrasting aspects of Tom Jones, and tries to make people analyze the quality of individuals dialectically. The thesis consists of six parts. Part one is a brief introduction of Henry Fielding and his novel The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling. We could have a better understanding of the writer and the novel through the introduction. The second part will give a literature review to deal with the subject convincingly. The third part gives a social background about the prejudice of illegitimate children during that time. Part four analyzes the merits and demerits of Tom Jones personality. For example, Tom is public-spirited and kindhearted. He always offers others a helping hand. Part five is the key part which discusses his attitudes toward love. The sixth part analyzes his contrasting identity. The hero of the novel is a new generation of civilian class of English society in 18th century. We could realize that the social environment has a strong impact on the whole humans marital status and responsibility. Taken together, the paper analyzes the heros complicated humanity. And we will find his thoughts and behaviors are real as life, but his artistic vitality lies in the truth of human nature. After the analysis, the writer draws a comprehensive conclusion which contains the major findings of the study and the limitations of the research. 2. Literature Review Chinese and foreign scholars have been researching The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling for a long time. The research about the novel can be divided into two parts. One is the analysis of the structure, the content and the writing strategy of the novel, the other is judgments about cultural connotation. Some scholars research its writing strategy of Realism, including: Tang Haibing, Discussion of the Realistic Factors in Tom Jones J. Changsha Railway Institute (Social Science), 2007(4); Majun, Research on Realism Features in Tom Jones J. Harbin Normal University (Science & Technology Information), 2002; Lijing, Talk about Henry Fieldings Realism Tendency in Tom Jones J. There are many scholars study the writers ironic writing strategy. Including: Gong Guangming, Discuss Satire and Humour in Tom Jones J. Journal of Jiangsu institute of education (Social Science), 1997(4); Zhou Xiaoqin, Discuss irony in Tom Jones J. Central South University, 2002. Other scholars research on moral principles and feminism. Many foreign scholars explore ethical view of the novel. For example, Jenny Teichman, Illegitimacy: a Philosophical Examination. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1982. In short, a masterpiece must be hashed out by time. This novel from the beginning of publication is controversial. Many novelists regarded The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling as the model of the novel. This is because the novel sets a good example in subjects performance, vivid characterization, gripping plots, structure and writing strategy. On account of the novel involves many adultery plots, it has come under fierce criticism after it was published. Famous writer Samuel Richardson (2011) criticized: “Tom Jones is a pornographic book.” However, the novel also won overnight fame as soon as it was published. By common consent The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling is generally held as Fieldings masterpiece. Some people suggest that if he had written only this one book, Fielding would still be regarded as a member of that inner circle of novelists to which but few have attained. As Byron (1788-1824) once commended: “Tom Jones brings its author the name of the Prose Home.”And Thackeray (1811-1863) even thought that its far behind that one can only see the dust of the rider ahead in the 19th century. The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling is also one of the novels that Karl Heinrich Max (1818-1883) likes most. There is no doubt that there are still many literary value contains in the novel. Its research is still an endless stream. 3. Social BackgroundAfter the tempestuous events of the 17th century, England entered a period of a comparatively peaceful development. The Revolution of 1688, which banished the last of the Stuart kings and called William of Orange (husband of king James IIs daughter Mary) to the throne, marks the end of the long struggle for political freedom, in endless political discussions and in efforts to improve his government. No sooner were the people in control of the government than they divided into hostile parties: the liberal Whigs, who were determined to safeguard popular liberty, and the conservative Tories, with tender memories of kingcraft, who would leave as much authority as possible in the royal hands. Another feature of the age was the rapid development of social life. In the first half of the eighteenth century some three thousand public coffeehouses and a large number of private clubs appeared in London alone; and the sociability of which these clubs were an expression was typical of all English cities.Fielding was born of a decaying aristocracy family. The upper class consisted of landlords, aristocrats and the rising bourgeois during that period. His family declined, he drifted from place to place and experienced the hardship of life. He was a very upright man, abhorring evil as a deadly foe. He fought against class inequality, stagnation, prejudices and other survivals of feudalism. Fieldings work unfolded a spread panorama of life in all sections of English society. He exposed the depraved aristocracy, the avaricious bourgeoisie and contrasted the life of ruling classes to the lack of rights and misery of the people. Henry Fielding used his full talents and wits to express his indignation to the British society at that time. And he condemned the hypocritical morality at that time. In the novel, the writer focuses on the moral life of society with great enthusiasm. His understanding of human nature is precise and realistic. He tends to tell us that good and evil does not lie in identity. Obviously, its a rebel novel during that time, because it goes beyond the traditional moral criterion. To a certain extent, a bastard who is much more noble than the upper class dismissed the British social order. 4. Toms Contradictory Personality In the book The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling we see all kinds of persons: city aristocrats, country squires, pastors, philosophers, ruffians, baggers, hermits, gipsies, highwaymen, etc. Fielding does portray for us a vivid and truthfully panoramic view of English life in the 18th century. But among all characters, the author does all in his power to make his readers admire his hero, a young libertine. Instead of praising for others through whose conducts sound reasonable according to moral standard. Based on a deep understanding of his characteristics, the novel gives us a truthful and comprehensive description of him. In this part, I will mainly discuss the contrasts of Tom Jones characterization. The purpose is to see what kind of person he belongs to, and what his worlds of inner heart look like. Accordingly, Fielding must tend to invest him with the qualities of courage, generosity and kindness.4.1 Dishonest but Kind-Hearted No one is perfect, besides Tom. One of his weakness is dishonesty. For the first time, he hides the truth that he killed the partridge with Black George. For the second time, When Mr. Allworthy gives Tom a little horse as a kind of smart money for the punishment he imagines he has suffered innocently. But this time, he sold the horse secretly. But soon after, the same thing happened. He sold a fine Bible which Mr. Allworthy gave him. This time, he made a more heinous mistake. As a liar, how can we trust him. But every kind of conduct has its inducement. He is actually “one of the best natured fellows alike”. Tom is kind-hearted. He is never an indifferent spectator of the misery of others. He would not do even the most trifling harm on anybody. When Mr. Allworthy knew that Tom went hunting with Black George in others farm, he confesses all these bad things are made by his own. He concluded with very passionately begging Mr. Allworthy “to have compassion on the poor Fellowss family, especially as himself only had been guilty, and the other had been very difficulty prevailed on to do what he did.” (Fielding, 1967, p. 77)This childish incident, however, is seen as a good natured disposition in Tom Jones: “Your poor gamekeeper, with all his large family, ever since your discarding him, has been perishing with all the miseries of cold and hunger: I could not to see these poor wretch naked and starving, and at same time know myself to have been the occasion of all their sufferings.”“I sold the horse for them, and they have every farthing of the money.”(Fielding, 1967, p. 87) 4.2 Upright but IrrationalAnother embodiment of Toms spirit is that Tom is upright. When he learns that Mrs. Miller lives in misery, and her eldest daughter Nancy wants to commit suicide when her daughter was abandoned by Mr Nightingale, he volunteered to persuade Mr Nightingale to marry the girl he had made pregnant.When Tom Jones wished her joy of her safe arrival, and then departed, in order, as he promised, to send the landlady up with some clothes. The poor woman thanked him heartily for all his kindness, and said, she hoped she should see him again soon to thank him a thousand times more. He is willing to fight for his cou