无奈的妥协-《少校芭芭拉》赏析

1、湖 南 科 技 大 学毕 业 设 计（ 论文 ）题 目: 论萧伯纳芭芭拉上校原则的 让步作 者： 刘盈盈学 院： 外国语学院专 业： 英语学 号： 0862010207指 导 教 师： 王程辉二 0 一一 年 六 月 十二 日An Analysis of concession of principe in George Bernards Major Barbara A Thesis Submitted to School of Foreign StudiesHunan University of Science and TechnologyIn Partial Fulfillment of T

2、he Requirements forThe Degree of Bachelor of ArtsByLiu YingyingUnder the Supervision ofAssociate Prof. Wang Cheng HuiJune, 2011AbstractGeorge George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) is an outstanding Irish-born realist dramatist, literary critic, and socialist activists. As the twentieth century representat

3、ive of the British theater, is recognized as the most English literature in the history of artistic life long playwright. Hes Major Barbara (1905) is a major social problem of capitalisms most powerful analysis and critique. Major Barbara in the main by the Salvation Army as a hero in the post of Ma

4、jor Barbara and her father that ends justify means a millionaire arms dealer Andrew Undershaft the conflict to end in a dark reality Society, Barbara had to compromise their principles, their beliefs and ideals helpless compromise. This is mercilessly exposed and attacked the capitalist system under

5、 the various social evils.Key Words：Major Barbara； Realism； Principle； Concession.中文摘要乔治萧伯纳(1856-1950)是爱尔兰出生的杰出的现实主义戏剧家，文学评论家和社会主义活动家。作为二十世纪英国戏剧的代表人物,被公认为英国文学史上艺术生命最为长久的剧作家。他的巴巴拉少校(1905)是对资本主义重大社会问题的最为有力的分析和批判。巴巴拉少校主要通过主人公在救世军中担任少校之职的芭芭拉和她那为达目的不择手段的父亲一百万富翁、军火商安德鲁安德谢夫的冲突，到最终在充满现实主义的黑暗社会下，芭芭拉不得不对自己原则作

6、出让步，对自己的信仰与理想作出无奈的妥协。这无情地揭露和抨击了资本主义制度下的种种社会罪恶。关键词：芭芭拉上校； 现实主义； 原则； 让步。ContentsAbstract.中文摘要.Introduction.Chapter1 A Brief Introduction to the drama.1.1 Life and literary career of George Bernard Shaw. .1.2 The synopsis of Major Barbara.1.3 Critism on Major Barbara.Chapter 2 A General Survey of Reali

7、sm.Chapter 3 Why Major Barbara Have Given up Her Principles in the End. 3.1 The principles of Major Barbara. 3.3 The Concession of Major Barbara.3.4 The Relation with the Writers Experience.Conclusion. Introduction George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) is an outstanding Irish-born realist dramatist, liter

8、ary critic, and socialist activists. As the twentieth century representative of the British drama, up to 58 years in his career, completed the creation of 51 plays, the history of English literature is recognized as the most artistic life long playwright. His widowers estate (1892) Mrs. Warrens care

9、er (1893) and Major Barbara (1905) is a major social problem of capitalisms most powerful analysis and critique.Major Barbara, mainly through the character of the Salvation Army in the post as Major Barbara and her father that ends justify means - millionaire arms dealer Andrew Undershaft Luan De co

10、nflicts, mercilessly exposed and attacked the capital capitalist system under the various social evils. Realism by contemporary playwrights, particularly the impact of Ibsen, Shaw created a new style of drama, it has great significance to the subject matter and innovative techniques and mature toget

11、her. This article attempts to realistic drama from the perspective of Major Barbara and explain the artistic features of the 20th century George Bernard Shaws great contribution to British theater. George Bernard Shaw permanent artistic life and a strong creative energy in the UK literary scene is u

12、nmatched. In his 94-year-olds life that completed five novels, many literature reviews and 51 scripts.Followed by Major Barbara, the story outline and the related comments. Major Barbara The birth of the play to be a lot of critics attention. Some of them are from the perspective of comparative lite

13、rature, the characters and the characters in other works compared to some of the basic elements from the theater talking about the play. But most critics play by George Bernard Shaw artistic features only the overall evaluation and summary, not a comment really from Major Barbara to start, realistic

14、 drama from the perspective of this work to evaluate and analyze.Chapter 1 A Brief Introduction to the Drama1.1 Life and literary career of George Bernard ShawGeorge Bernard Shaw(1856-1905) was born in Dublin, Ireland. His fathe, George Carr Shaw, was a petty official, and mother, Lucinda Elisabeth,

15、 the daughter of an impoverished landowner. George Carr Shaw was a drunkard and not responsible for the family. When he died in 1885 his children and wife did not attend his funeral, Mis. Carr Shaw was herself a talented amateur singer who performed a good deal in public, and for a time, George John

16、 Vandaleur Lee, the eccentric teacher who trained her voice and conducted the concerts in which she sang, lived with the family. When he went to London, Mrs. Carr Shaw followed with her daughters, leaving her son and husband behind. Shaw finished his formal education at the Dublin English Scientific

17、 and Commercial Day School. At the age of 14, he started to work as a junior clerk. When he was 20 years old, he went to London and remained there jobless for 9 years, living in his mothers house and devoting much time to self-education at the British Museum. He bagan his literary career by writing

18、music and drama criticism and novels. George Bernard Shaws plays the most prominent feature is the close connection with the reality of political struggle, dare to touch on the nature of capitalist society the most problems, exposed the ugly face of the exploiting classes in public. In artistic tech

19、nique, he is good at dialogue and through characters to express thoughts and feelings clash personality clashes and the main ideas. George Bernard Shaws dramatic language sharp pungent, full of wit, witticism police were blurted out. His most famous plays are: widowers estate(1893) Mrs. Warrens prof

20、ession(1898), Arms and the Man1894), Man and Superman (1903), Major Barbra (1905), The Doctors Dilemma(1906), Getting Married(1908), Misalliance(1910), Androcles and the Lion (1913) and so on. The comedy, Pygmalion(1913) for being Alan Lerner adapted for the musical My Fair Lady the Hollywood musica

21、l adaptation of the same name has been known for blockbuster films. .2.2 T he synopsis of Major BarbaraAn Officer of The Salvation Army, Major Barbara Undershaft, becomes disillusioned when her Christian denomination accepts money from an armaments manufacturer (her father) and a whisky distiller. S

22、he eventually decides that bringing a message of salvation to people who have plenty will be more fulfilling and genuine than converting the starving in return for bread.Although Barbara initially regards the Salvation Armys acceptance of Undershafts money as hypocrisy, Shaw did not intend that it s

23、hould be thought so by the audience. Shaw wrote a preface for the plays publication, in which he derided the idea that charities should only take money from morally pure sources. He points out that donations can always be used for good, whatever their provenance, and he quotes a Salvation Army offic

24、er, they would take money from the devil himself and be only too glad to get it out of his hands and into Gods.1.3 Critism on Major BabaraMajor Barbara is one of the representative works during Shaws second period of playwriting. It is “a realistic picture of the first decade in the 20th century whe

25、n monopoly capitalism holds tis sway in Britain and all other bourgeois nations” (Chen Jia 103). Shaw himself called Major Barbara a “discussion”, and the first production, in November 1905 in London, pleased the British Prime Minister and most of the audience. The critic of the London Times accused

26、 Shaw of not being convincing as a dramatist, but of being a god thinker. It is among Shaws three most powerful dramas, the other two being WidowersHouses and Mrs. Warrens Prefeeion,for in these three plays, Shaws satire was “aimed at the capitalist system itself and not simply at some of the vices

27、or foibles of the bourgeois society”(Chen Jia97). Literary critics hold various views on Major Barbara ever since it was put on the stage. Margery morgan analyses the play from a dramatic perpective in his his book York notes: Notes on Major Barbara. He offers us a brief introduction of Shaws life a

28、nd plays, a summary of Major Barbara and its commentary, including mainly its themes, the settings, the theatrical styles, characterization,etc. He also presents us wtihe hints and suggestions for study and further reading. Chapter two A General Survey of Realism 30s first in the 19th century France

29、, the UK and other places of literary trends, the future spread of Russia, Scandinavia and the United States to become the mainstream of 19th century European and American literature, but also created a modern European and American literature of the peak. Realism as a strong social criticism, Gorky

30、called critical realism. Realism is the main theories in international relations, it is also an ambiguous and controversial concept. Although critics of realism and supporters often thought it as a unified whole, but in fact, realism is not a single or unified theory. Realism as a social philosophy

31、and artistic style developed in the European theatre about 1860, influencd by philosophers, naturalists,and scientists. As a revolt against writing and theatre conventions of the past, especially the excesses of romantic character and situation, realism demanded that playwrights, through direct ober

32、vation of the world around them, depict that world truthfully, or give a candid presentation of the natural world. The “real” meant essentially the impersonal and objective obsevation of the physical world and direct scruiny of contemporary life and manners. The realists focus on the observed, mater

33、ial world around them and on contemporary social issues. Realistic literature in the 19th and 20th centuries gave a truthful picture of the existing bourgeois society. They exposed social injustice, revealed its vices and shouwed great sympathy for people;s miseries and sufferings, thus, it was also

34、 named critical realism for its explicit and strong exposure and criticism of the existent social order. However, as a literary trend of bourgeois intellectuals,realism has its own limitations. It was strongly critical of the social realithy of the day but did not want to overthrow its social order.

35、 It shoued great sympathy for the miseries and sufferings of the working class and deep concern for their stuggles, but could not come up with a sulution to eliminate poverty. In short, the realistic literature in the 19th to 20th century was full of contradictions, which reflected the resentment an

36、d perplexity of the progressive intellectuals and middle and lower calsses. Chapter 3 Why Major Babara Have Given up Her Principles in the End. 3.1 The principles of Major BarbaraMajor Barbara is the central character for whom the play is named and the symbol and voice of idealism. She is the daught

37、er of Lady Britomart and her estranged husband, Andrew Undershaft, a rich industrialist and owner of a munitions factory. In the beginning of the play, Barbara has had little contact with her father and totally disapproves of the source of his wealth. Young and idealistic, Barbara works with the Sal

38、vation Army, whose causes she totally supports. She believes her purpose in life is to save the souls of the poverty-stricken individuals who come to the Salvation Army shelter where she is employed. Both kind and patient, she is a hard worker and has risen to the rank of Major. Barbara is engaged t

39、o Cusins, another employee of the Salvation Army, and they plan to marry soon. Barbara grasp the underlying principle of life itself. For her, the ostensibly wicked Undershaft is not only essential to life as the master of reality, power, or salvation, but as the dialectical counterpart of goodness.

40、 In other words, the way of life lies through the factory of death, the raising of hell to heaven and of man to God, and the unveiling of an eternal light in the Valley of The Shadow. The work of salvation requires a pact with the Devil.Throughout the play, Barbara comes across as a sincere, strong,

41、 and committed Christian who truly believes her mission in life is to save souls. She goes about her work at the Salvation Army with a missionary zeal that is both inspiring and moving. When her father, Mr. Undershaft, observes her at work, he knows that she is the only one of his children that woul

42、d be capable of someday running his factory. He, however, is disturbed by her misplaced idealism, for he believes that people in poverty cannot truly be saved; they are too concerned about providing food and clothing for themselves to think about higher spiritual things. He makes Barbara realize tha

43、t she needs to temper her idealism with reality. In the end, he convinces her that she will have much greater success saving souls at his factory than at the Salvation Army. 3.2 The concession of Major Barbara Cusinss failure to perceive the logic of this somewhat sophistic dialectic and the unity o

44、f life indicates his middle-class morality. In contrast, as child of a foundling, Barbara has transcends social class and comes straight out of the heart of the whole people, so she can serve as savior to all. Ironically, Barbaras proclamation denies the very class status that makes her Salvationist

45、 career possible. As revealed by her assault on Bill Walker in Act II, Barbara is not only compelling because of the inspiration she exudes, but the authority she wields in her aristocratic heritage, a class background that marks her polished speech and professional manner.Barbara is shocked when Mr

46、s. Bains, the commissioner of the shelter where she works in West Ham, accepts donations from a liquor baron and from her own father, a munitions manufacturer; her ideals about the Salvation Army are shattered by the reality of its funding by rich industrialists who have questionable means of earnin

47、g money. Barbara is so disillusioned that she decides to permanently leave the Salvation Army; however, when she visits her fathers factory, she realizes that she can continue her work of saving souls among the workers in the factory; her mission will be easier since she will not have to bribe them

48、with bread and milk, as she used to at the shelter in West Ham. As with most conversion narratives, Barbaras epiphany requires the death of her prior incarnationMajor Barbara will die with the colors, and her rebirth immediately follows. In one of the stranger moments of the play, the composed and e

49、loquent Barbara becomes a child, calling for her mother and clinging to her skirts. This moment of the script seems particularly contingent on its staging. Interestingly, number of critics have identified the conclusion as a chilling one, a moment of terror. Undoubtedly the terror lies in Barbaras j

50、arring emergence as a new being, an emergence that, in unmooring the underpinnings of the world, teeters on madness.3.3 The relation with the writers experienceGeorge Bernard Shaw, born in Dublin, the youngest child of unhappoly married and inattentive parents. In 1876 he moved to London, joining hi

51、s mother and sister, and began his literay career.Shaw lives in highly organized society, the formation of monopoly capitalism period, people can not understand the system with the emergence of new relationships and new factors. George Bernard Shaw had a keen sense of economic factors have started t

52、o become an absolute force, the new wealthy has become one of the heroes, about the development of this society. New economic perspective to Shaw out of the traditional view of moral good and evil. In the moral and ethical society, the evil is the number one enemy, is the greatest sin, and in the ec

53、onomy and society, poverty is the most horrible crimes in society. And all of us to go beyond primary responsibility is to ensure that no poor. Thus, strong economic strength and the pursuit of money, so that they become Undershaft enlightenment of this society, who control the whole society, even t

54、o the direction of historical development. This heartless and Superman image appears, the requirements and call history. Although not in favor of moral decline Bernard Shaw, but he still saw the Undershaft have played a catalytic role in leveraging the development of history. He not only as the hero of a monopoly capitalists, the principle of affirmative rich plunder, be beautified, and by Barbara and his compromise, that only in the management of perfect capitalist system in order to achieve real religi