存在主义视角下《嘉莉妹妹》中嘉莉的悲剧命运解读 英语学专业

1、题 目 存在主义视角下嘉莉妹妹中嘉莉的悲剧命运解读 AcknowledgmentsFirst and foremost, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Li Yahong, my supervisor, for his continuous support and helpful instruction, for his valuable and constructive advice through the development of my thesis. Without his generous instruction

2、 and painstaking revision, the thesis would have never been finished.I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all the professors and teachers in the College of Foreign Languages. They have given me generous instruction and kind encouragement during my study. And their inspiring guidance will contin

3、ue to have a profound impact on my study and my work.Special thanks should be given to my family for their support for me during all these years. Deep love, continuous support and expectation are always my strongest backbone whenever I am confronted with the challenges in my study and life.AbstractT

4、heodore Dreiser is one of the outstanding American realistic writers, who published his first successful novel Sister Carrie in 1900. Theodore Dreiser relates a story of Carrie s rise from a poor country girl to a famous actress in his masterpiece Sister Carrie. The novel sets the American metropoli

5、s at the turn of the 19th century and the 20th century as background. At this time, the United States was undergoing tremendous changes, the process of industrialization had changed people s way of life and had changed people s ideas and moral concepts. At that time, people s ideals and moral values

6、 had been seriously distorted, and people s success was not through hard work to get, and they blindly sought money. Especially for women, their bodies were the best means to gain success. The heroine Carrie of the novel, as the weakest woman in the bottom of society, she was inevitably tempted by t

7、he society of upholding money and materialism; and she was persecuted by the increasingly materialized and commercialized society. In such a dark society, in order to survive, Carrie had to step by step to compromise to the social reality, and had to sell her bodies and souls. Later, she succeeded b

8、y chance, but yet she had no the pleasure of success, and she would never feel the sense of happiness. She is a successful loser. This paper analyzes Carrie s tragic fate from the perspective of existentialism and aims to use the important concepts of existentialism to interpret Carrie s life experi

9、ences and further explore the cause of Carrie s life tragedy. The study reveals that people cannot get real happiness in the money-oriented society.Key words: tragedy; existentialism; absurd; freedom of choice; the relationship with other people摘 要西奥多德莱塞是美国杰出的自然主义作家之一，1900年发表的嘉莉妹妹是他的成名作。嘉莉妹妹讲述了一位农村女

10、孩到城市谋生最后成为名演员的故事。小说以19世纪初二十世纪末的美国大都市为背景。此时的美国正经历着巨大的变革，工业化的进程改变了人们的生活方式，也改变了人们的思想和道德观念。在那个时代人们的思想和道德观都发生了严重的扭曲，人们的成功不是通过辛勤劳动来获得，而是盲目的追求金钱。尤其是对于女人来说，自己的身体是获得成功的最好手段。小说的女主人公嘉莉，作为那个时代生活在社会最底层的弱女子，不可避免地被那个物欲横流的社会所诱惑，被那个日益物化和商品化的社会所迫害。在这样的一个黑暗社会里，嘉莉为了生存，不得不一步步向社会现实妥协，不得不出卖自己的身体和灵魂。后来一个偶然的机会她成功了，然而她却没有成功该

11、有的喜悦，她也永远体会不到幸福的感觉。她是一个成功的失败者。本文从存在主义角度分析嘉莉的悲剧命运，探究存在主义哲学的重要概念在她的悲惨的人生经历中的体现以及她的命运悲剧的原因。本研究揭示了以金钱为中心的社会中人们不可能得到真正的幸福。关键词：悲剧；存在主义；荒诞；自由选择；与他人关系Contents TOC o 1-3 h z u HYPERLINK l _Toc448338314 云南民族大学毕业论文(设计)原创性声明 PAGEREF _Toc448338314 h i HYPERLINK l _Toc448338315 Acknowledgementsii HYPERLINK l _Toc

12、448338316 Abstract PAGEREF _Toc448338316 h ii HYPERLINK l _Toc448338316 摘要iv HYPERLINK l _Toc448338318 1.Introduction PAGEREF _Toc448338318 h 1 HYPERLINK l _Toc448338319 1.1 A General Introduction of Dreiser1 HYPERLINK l _Toc448338320 1.2 A General Introduction of Sister Carrie3 HYPERLINK l _Toc4483

13、38321 1.3 The Purpose of the Study4 HYPERLINK l _Toc448338322 2.Literature Review of Sister Carrie 6 HYPERLINK l _Toc448338323 2.1 Domestic Studies6 HYPERLINK l _Toc448338324 2.2 International Studies6 HYPERLINK l _Toc448338324 2.3 Critical Comments7 HYPERLINK l _Toc448338327 3.Existentialism Theory

14、83.1 A Brief Introduction of Existentialism83.2 Existentialisms Contribution to the Study of Literary Works9 HYPERLINK l _Toc448338328 4.Anlysis of Carries Tragic Fate10 HYPERLINK l _Toc448338329 4.1 A Brief Introduction of Carries Tragic Fate10 HYPERLINK l _Toc448338332 4.2 Analysis of Carries Trag

15、ic Fate from the Perspective of Existentialism 11 HYPERLINK l _Toc448338333 4.2.1 Living Environment of the Absurdness11 HYPERLINK l _Toc448338334 4.2.2 Freedom of Choice13 HYPERLINK l _Toc448338335 4.2.3 The Relationship With Other People16 HYPERLINK l _Toc448338340 5.Conclusion20References21Introd

16、uctionTheodore Dreiser is one of the most prominent writers in American literature history. His contributions to the American literature have been tremendous. As Dreisers first novel, Sister Carrie is a representative of naturalism. It has attracted a great number of critics since its publication in

17、 1900.1.1 A General Introduction of DreiserTheodore Dreiser is one of the most prominent literature figures in the American history of the 20th century literature, who published his first successful novel Sister Carrie in 1900. Dreiser s family background and personal experiences had a decisive infl

18、uence on his literary creation. Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser (August 27,1871-December 28,1945) was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, grew up in poverty in a religious immigrant German family, ninth of ten children, and he was subjected to torture by his father s religious paranoia. “I was born poor, a

19、nd sometimes in November and December, I couldnt even wear my shoes, I saw my dear mother extremely nervous and worried about lacking a lot of supplies, and even painfully rubbing her hands”，Dreiser says in a letter to critics Menken when Dreiser mentioned his childhood. Dreiser came to Chicago at t

20、he age of fifteen and imagined change his social status materially. At that time, he washed the dishes and sold the metal groceries. At the age of eighteen, Dreisers talent was appreciated by a former high school teacher who helped him to study at the University of Indiana. But Dreiser hated the use

21、less stuff in the university and he left school a year later to go to Chicago. He spent two years of all kinds of lowly living, witnessed the darkness of society, and accessed to the bottom of the people struggling in society, which had great influence on his future creation. In 1892, Dreiser entere

22、d the journalistic circles began his journalist career; he successively worked for Chicagos The Globe, St. Louiss Global Democracy and Republic. In Chicago, Dreiser witnessed the poverty of the poor and the hypocrisy of the rich, for which his future literary creation has laid a firm ideological fou

23、ndation and life foundation. He saw the reality of American society, so he abandoned the work of journalists, and he began to write to expose the dark side of American society.Dreiser is a productive writer, his works include novels, short stories, plays, poems and essays and others. Before Dreiser

24、entering the community, he not had much literary skill, he had only family and personal sad tale and keen observation, and as a journalist, he had expanded his horizons. Dreisers aesthetic ability has not been systematically cultivated. There was a decided influence on Dreisers creation that was Bal

25、zac, most of Dreisers works were autobiographical or came out of his relatives, his friends, and his acquaintances experience. He created many works throughout his life. These works are almost a true portrayal of American social life from the late nineteenth century to the thirties and forties. In 1

26、900, Dreiser published her first novel, Sister Carrie, whose anti-traditional image was criticized by the public，that because American readers have been accustomed to women in novels that had been displayed under the severe rewards and punishments. In1911, Dreiser published Sister Carries companion

27、novel Jenny Gerhardt, depicting the poor girl Jennys love story with the rich children Lester and late Jennys tragedy of lonely life. His bold and full of original works was attacked immediately by the American society, and even was threatened by the New York Association. Dreisers another novel, Gen

28、ius, published in 1915; the novel depicted the degeneration of a talented painter, and exposed the poisoning of capitalist society to art. In the United States, any art, if it wanted to exist, it would become a commodity what ruler demanded, and it must be subjected to the rule of money. Dreisers Th

29、e Financier (published in1912), The Titan (published in 1914), and The Stoic (not published until 1947), the three works composed his realism masterpiece Trilogy of Dreiser. Russias October Revolution to Dreiser had great encouragement, after this his world view and creation had a significant change

30、. In 1925, he published the novel American Tragedy, marking the Dreisers realist creation had achieved new achievements，and he was well-known for a time when the novel was published. After Dreiser visited the Soviet Union in 1927, he published a number of works, the important ones included in Dreise

31、r Looks at Russia (1928), political set Tragic America (1931), and short stories A Galley of Women (1929) and so on. Dreiser spent his lifelong efforts to make the American realism in the nineteenth century to Mark Twain as the representative of the excellent tradition on the basis of the formation

32、of a more profound, more complete and stronger era of color system, in 30s the American new realism literature has been finally pushed to an unprecedented climax by him.Dreisers distinctive writing style made him hoist his own unique banner in the history of American literature.1.2 A General Introdu

33、ction of Sister CarrieSister Carrie was Dreisers first novel and also an important one in which he had done a detailed and realistic depict of American society, and he broke the traditional standards which were in the male-dominant on Sister Carrie. Sister Carrie, Dreisers first novel and most famou

34、s production, traces Carries rise from a country girl to a famous Broadway star. Carrie, 18 year old, she was looking forward to the good material life of the big city. She came from the peaceful countryside of the western United States to the glamorous Chicago alone, and she wanted to seek a way to

35、 make a living. However, lived with her sister, she was neglected, and even as a tool to make money. Not any work experience, she spent the tremendous effort finally found a job in a shoe factory, but the hard had tired work of the daily caused her sick. Both in four and a half a week of salary and

36、her sisters familys cold reception let her become a “prisoners” in the upper class. Carrie met a salesman Drouet on the train, and then became his mistress. Later she was introduced to the bar manager Hurstwood by Drouet. Then, Carrie was deceived by the bar manager to take the train to New York, an

37、d was driven by greater desire, she did not resist the bar managers cheat. Hurstwood had stolen large sums of money in Chicago, soon he made a failed investment In New York, and finally become a beggar, and Carrie abandoned him. Carrie, for her beauty and ingenuity, became a most famous actress in N

38、ew York. Ultimately, she entered the upper class and achieved material dream her wanted. However, she was not happy, she felt like her had an extremely empty life, and she sat on the rocking chair by the window and dreamed of the happiness she never learned toSister Carries creative background is th

39、e American metropolis. Heroine Carrie employed immoral means to achieve her dream of wealth and entered the upper society. The novel exposed the disparity between the rich and the poor in capitalist society, and criticized the ruthless reality of American metropolitan money omnipotence and moral dec

40、ay. In the novel, in order to pursue her dreams, Carrie lived with a salesman Drouet firstly. Later, she became hotel manager Hurstwoods mistress to satisfy greater desire, but it violated traditional morality at that time. In spite of Carrie finally achieved her dream, she is still a failure, that

41、because she always could not find happiness what her wanted.Sister Carrie is an epoch-making work in the history of American novels. It breaks through Victorian, Howells timidity and elegance, opening a new world of faithfulness, boldness and passion for life.Dreisers Sister Carrie has been received

42、 critical attention since its publication. Initially, it was an extreme blocking, and then got both praise and blame from people, and now it was generally accepted by people, and even some people think it is the best one of Dreisers works. 1.3 The Purpose of the StudySister Carrie is one of the clas

43、sics works of naturalism; few critics study it from the existentialism perspective in a sound way. In order to enrich the researches of Theodore Dreisers worksSister Carrie, and further arouse Peoples tragic consciousness, this thesis analyzes Sister Carrie tragic fate from the perspective of existe

44、ntialism.The purpose of the study lies in three respects. Firstly, the study will interpret the author of Theodore Dreiser and the novel of Carrie Sister in a sound way. Through the analysis, the researcher wants people to be more familiar with the heroine Carries life experience.Secondly, this thes

45、is tries to employ the concrete theories of existentialism to analyze the text. Thus it will use the theory of existentialism to interpret to the cause of Carrie tragic fate. Thirdly, this thesis tries to interpret Carries tragic life and the causes of her tragedy; the present author hopes that Carr

46、ies tragic life has an enlightenment and reference to those people who are tempted by money, status and power.Literature Review of Sister CarrieThis part focuses on a general literature review of research results concerning Sister Carrie which have been heatedly discussed by the critics, scholars an

47、d the readers. After looking through the majority of the reviews and comments on both two novels, this thesis sorts out deep-rooted propositions in peoples mind, and it indicates that the new interpretation have emerged and there is still some room for people to go further on the exploration.2.1 Dom

48、estic StudiesIn recent years, scholars in China have done more detailed researches on Sister Carrier from the theme of tragedy. And they consider Carrie is a tragedy. Zhang Yank thinks “Carries life is tragic in terms of her insatiable desire, loss of identity and insignificance of her life”. Carrie

49、 is the victim of capitalistic society (Zhang, 2012: 27-35). Jing Xia holds the similar view to Zhang Yank that Sister Carrie relates a story of tragedy of Carrie. She supposes it is the desires and the social surrounding that Carries tragedy (Jing, 2001:39), and so on.2.2 International StudiesIn th

50、e early publication of Sister Carrie, the comments of American public criticism were divided into two parts. International Herald Tribune treated Dreiser as the American Zora and thought Sister Carrie was a great American novel. Charles Daldwin argued that Dreiser was the greatest and most unique no

51、velist in the United States and Dreiser has surpassed English novelists both in spirit and in writing. Burton Rascone defended for amorality in Sister Carrie and took Dreiser as an animator of free thought in the 1920s. F.O.Matheson regarded Sister Carrie as recordation of historical facts in Dreise

52、rs life time.On the other side, the opponents were represented by Life and Commercial News that held negative attitudes for Sister Carrie in general. StuartsherKazin, was the most powerful and most influential one for Dreisers attack ,in his essay of Theodore Dreisers Naturalism, he accused that Dre

53、iser did not give a realists description to the American society and mankind and neglected intentionally the lofty duty of novelists.2.3 Critical CommentsThrough the survey of the above researchers, we can find that the research perspectives of domestic and foreign schools on Sister Carrie focus on

54、Carriers tragic fate is single, lack of macro-system and in-depth study, so we cannot truly analyze itFrom the forties of the 20th century to the present day, existentialism has also exerted a great influence on literature. Carrie is an influential figure in the novel, and when we put it in existent

55、ialism, such a new, open and diverse theoretical background to be examined, not only contribute to deep analysis, but also helps understand the text more in-depth and comprehensively.Existentialism TheoryExistentialism applied to several philosophical currents which take mens existential situation a

56、s their departure point. This part gives an overview of existentialism and introduces to existentialism has also exerted a great influence on the study of literary works.3.1 A Brief Introduction of ExistentialismExistentialism is an irrationalism thought in philosophy which is one of the main school

57、s in modern western philosophy. As a school of thought, existentialism was formed in 1920sGermany; during the Second World War, it was spread to France and became one of the greatest influences of the philosophical schools; and then it gradually became popular in 1950s America. The representative pe

58、rsonages of existentialism are Jean Paul Sartre, Merlot Ponty, and Albert Camus etc.In the view of existentialism, in this subjective society, there is bound to conflict, struggle and cruelty between people and people, there is full with ugly and crime, and everything is absurd in this society. And

59、man belongs to miserable man in this absurd and cold situation, and the world only makes people feel endless frustration and disappointment.Existentialism argues that the freedom of the individual first is manifested in his recognition that he is not free from the shackles of traditional culture and

60、 customs; so for the people, the most important thing is to understand the importance of choice and according to their own choice to act and bear the responsibility of life.The relationship between people is a matter of common concern to the existentialists. On the relationship between people and pe