英语毕业论文The-Analysis-of-Symbolic-Writing-in-Great-Expectations

PAGETheAnalysisofSymbolicWritinginGreatExpectationsPAGE第20页共18页TheAnalysisofSymbolicWritinginGreatExpectations摘要:狄更斯是英国文学史上维多利亚时期著名的批判现实主义小说家之一；他的作品享誉世界，具有很高的研究价值。《远大前程》是他晚期被认为是较成熟的一部作品。细腻的描写，简明的语言使得小说通俗易懂；而各种写作手法的使用更加使得故事生动有趣，令读者回味无穷。象征手法是狄更斯惯用的写作手法；也正是因为象征手法的应用，他的文章往往含蓄委婉，给读者留下充分的想象空间。本文对狄更斯生平及部分作品和相关情况作了简单地分析，重点分析了象征手法在《远大前程》中的应用及它们在小说中的作用。关键词:狄更斯《远大前程》象征手法分析Abstract:CharlesDickensisoneofthemostfamouscriticalrealistnovelistsintheEnglishliteratureofVictorianAge;hisworksarewellknownallovertheworld,theyareworthresearching.GreatExpectationswasconsideredasthemostmatureofhislaterwork.Delicatedescriptionandsimplewordsmadehisnovelsattractive,easytounderstand;andvariouswritingstylemadethestoryevenmoreinteresting,madethereaderslingeronthem.Dickensalwaysusessymbolsinhiswriting,andalsobecauseoftheuseofsymbolshisarticlesarealwaysveiledandtactful,leaveaspaceofimaginationforthereaders.IsimplyanalyzeDickens’lifeandsomeofhisworksinmyessay,andmainlyanalyzethesymbolicwritinginGreatExpectationsanditsusageinnovels.KeyWords:DickensGreatExpectationssymbolismmethodsanalysisContents111122233446779910131717Abstract………………Keywords…………………I.Introduction……………..II.LiteratureReview………………….…III.BriefIntroductionoftheWriter……………….…..3.1.Thehistoricalbackgroundandthewriter’slife…………...3.1.1ThehistoricalbackgroundofVictorianAge………..3.1.2Dickens’life……………..3.2.Dickens’mainworksandhiswritingstyle………………..3.2.1BriefintroductionofDickens’mainworks……………3.2.2Dickens’writingstyle…………………...IV.AnalysisofSymbolicWriting………4.1Briefintroductionofthenovel……………...4.2Definitionofsymbol…………4.3AnalysisofsymbolsinGreatExpectations…………………4.3.1SymbolsinSatisHouse………………….4.3.2SymbolsoutsideSatisHouse……………V.Summary……………….Reference………………….I.IntroductionCharlesDickenswasoneofthemostfamouscriticalrealistnovelistsintheEnglishliteratureofVictorianAge;hewrotelotsofnovelsandtheywereverypopularinthewholeword.Manyofhisworksweretranslatedintodifferentlanguages,andlotsofreadersweremovedbythestoriesinhisnovels.HewasconsideredasthegreatestEnglishrealistofVictorianAge.Inmyessay,I’mgoingtowritesomethingaboutsymbolicwritinginGreatExpectations.Mythoughtislikethis:First,IwillintroducethewriterCharlesDickens,thehistorybackgroundinhistime,hislife;hismainwork,andhiswritingstyle.Inmyopiniontheseareimportant,becausetheseallinfluencedthenovel.Second,givethedefinitionofsymbol,itsusageinwriting.Givethedefinitionisveryimportant,onlywhenyouknowthedefinitioncanyouknowhowitwasusedinaworkandtoanalysisit.InthethirdpartIwillmainlyanalyzesymbolsinthenovelGreatExpectations,thewriter’spurposeofthesesymbolsandwhatrolestheytakepartinthenovel;thisisthemainbodyofmywriting.InthelastpartIwillsummarizethewholewriting.Thisisanoutlineofmyessay.II.LiteratureReviewGreatExpectationsispopularwithpeopleforyears.Atfirst,Dickens’magazineAlltheYearRoundhadbecomeextremelypopularbasedonthesuccessofworksithadpublishedinserial,suchashisownworkATaleofTwoCitiesandWilkieCollins’sThewomaninwhite.ButithadexperiencedadeclineinpopularityafterpublishingadullserialbyCharlesLevercalledADay’sRide.DickensconceivedofGreatExpectationsasameansofrestoringhispublication’sfortunes.Thebookisstillimmenselypopularacenturyandahalflater.OneofGreatExpectations’translatorscalledLuoZhiye(2000)wrote:CharlesDickenswasoneofhisfavoritewriters;hehadreadalmostmostofhiswork,andhaddeepimpressionofhim.HethoughtthatbecauseGreatExpectationswasCharlesDickens’latterwork,hehadexperiencedalot;forthesurroundingsandhislifehehadnewanddeeperunderstanding.Sowhenwritingthisnovelheputallthesethoughtsandexperienceinit,itisamaturework.AnothertranslatorChangZixia(2003)pointsoutthatfromGreatExpectationsyoucanfindCharlesDickens’shadowofhisearlyday’slife.ZhangBoxiang(2005),themainwriterofACoursebookofEnglishLiteraturepointsoutthatDickens’laterworksbecomeheavilysymbolic,notonlyprovidingtheworkapredominantatmospherebutalsohighlightingitscentralconcern.Sosymbolsareimportantinthisnovel,youcanfindalottowrite.III.Briefintroductionofthewriter3.1Thehistoricalbackgroundandthewriter’slifePeoplewhohavereadlotsofarticlesindifferenttimesanddifferentcountriesmayfindthatnovelsareusuallydifferentaccordingtothehistoricalbackgroundandculturedifference.Generallyspeaking,anovelusuallyhassomefeaturesofthathistory;andawriter’sworkusuallyhassomelikenessofhisownlifetosomeextent.Maybewecansayatime’sworkcanshowthattime’slifeandawriter’sworksarealwaysthewriterhisownlife’sportrait.SoIthinkit’snecessarytoknowthehistoricalbackgroundandthewriter’slife.DickenslivedintheVictorianageofEngland.ThemostimportantfeatureofthattimewasIndustrialRevolution.Inthenoveltherearemanydescriptionofthis.3.1.1ThehistoricalbackgroundofVictorianAgeTheVictorianAgeperiodcoversthegreaterpartofthenineteenthcentury.TheearlyyearoftheVictorianBritainwasatimeofrapiddevelopmentaswellasserioussocialproblems.IndustrialRevolutionhadtransformedthesociallandscape,enablingcapitalistsandmanufacturerstoamasshugefortunes.Steam-poweredengineswereexploitedforrailwaysandironships,forloomsprintingpresses,andfarmers’combines;scientificdiscoveriesandtechnologicinventionsquicklybroughtamazingchangestothecountry.“ForatimeBritainwasthe‘workshopoftheworld’;largeamountofprofitwereaccumulatebothfromexpandingtrademarketsandfromexploitingitshuge-sizedcolonies.”(ZhangBoxiang2005:147)Towardsthemid-century,Britainhadreacheditshighestpointofdevelopmentasaworldpower.GreatExpectationswasjustbasedonthepost-IndustrialRevolutionmodelofVictorianEngland.3.1.2Dickens’lifeCharlesDickenswasbornin1812atPortsmouth;hislifewasfullofhardships.Whenhewasnine,hisfamilymovedtoLondon,andhisfatherwasarrestedandtakentoprisonfordebt.Hismothermovedhissevenbrothersandsistersintoprisonwithhisfather,butarrangedfortheyoungCharlestolivealoneoutsidetheprisonandworkwithotherchildrenpastinglabelsonbottlesinablackingwarehouse.Atthatperiodhesufferedalot,thejobwasmiserable;hethoughthimselftoogoodforthejob,andalwaysearnedthecontemptoftheotherchildren.Tothisexperience,also,mayevidentlybetracednosmellpartoftheintensesympathywiththeoppressedpoor,especiallywiththehelplesschildren,whichissoprominentinhisnovels,likePipinGreatExpectations,OliverinOliverTwist,DavidinDavidCopperfieldandsoon.Afterhisfatherwasreleasedfromtheprison,Dickensretunedtoschool.Whenhewasfifteen,inordertoearnhisliving,CharlesworkedasaclerkinaLondonlawyer’soffice,whereheobservedallsortsandconditionsofpeoplewithcharacteristickeenness.InGreatExpectations,hedescribedsomecharactersthathavesomethingwithlawlike:JaggersandtheclerkWemmick,theyareallvividandrealistic.Thereisnodoubtthatthisisduetohisexperienceofearlytime’swork.LaterhebecameaParliamentaryreporterfornewspapers.ThisexperienceenabledhimtogetacquaintedwiththeinsideoftheBritishlegalandpoliticalsystem,givehimthechancetometpeopleofallkinds,andpreparedhimbothinartandstuffforhiscomingliterarycareer.Hisliteraturecareerishardbutitisasuccessfulone.Afterleftlotsoffamousworksforus,in1870,hediedofoverwork3.2Dickens’mainworksandhiswritingstyleInDickens’shortlifehewrotealotofnovels,theyareallpopularwithpeople.Theyaredifferentstories,buttheyhavesomesamefeatures.Forexample:mostofhisnovelsusesymbols;mostofhismaincharactersarelittlepoorboys.Anotherexample:DavidCopperfieldandGreatExpectationsallhavetwomaincharacters:oneactorandonenarrator.Inthefollowingparagraph,Iwillwritethemonebyone.3.2.1BriefintroductionofDickens’mainworksDickenswasconsideredasthemostpopularandproductivenovelistsinVictorianAge.Duringhislife,hewrotealotofnovelswhichshowedusamostvividpictureoftheeverydaylifeoftheordinarypeopleofhistime;peopleusuallydividedthemintotwoparts:theearlyworks(1836-1850)andthelaterworks(1852-1870).Let’sjustseesomeofthem.1)ThePickwickPaper(1836-1850)DickenswasfirstfamousbyThePickwickPaper.Inthisnovelheattackstheuglysideofthepoliticalsystemofthetime;however,itisstillfullofgaietyandhappylaughterofayouth.Lifeisstillpleasantandenjoyablethoughriskyfortheinnocentortheinexperienced;theharmdoneisstillretrievable.Hewassaidasthemostfamouscriticalrealistnovelistsofthattime;however,itseemsthatthemainpurposeofthisbookistoentertainratherthancriticize.2)OliverTwist(1837-1839)Thisnovelisbasedonreallifematerialsuchasthecurrenttrialofanotoriousfenceandthief-trainer.BywritingthemostunfortunateexperienceofapoororphanboyOliverhemeanstogiveavividpictureoftheunderworldwithkindsofthieves,prostitutes,andmurdersaswellasthehorriblecrueltyoftheworkhousesystemofthattime.“Thenovel,forthefirsttime,alsoshowstheauthor’stalentforthegrotesquebecauseoftheexcellentcharacterportrayalofFagin,Sykesandmonks”(ZhangBoxiang2005:197).3)DavidCopperfield(1849-1850)Thisnovelisthelastoftheearlygroup.PeoplethinkthisnovelhadsomemeansthatitisDickenshisownautobiographicalofhischildhood,retracinghisownlife.BecauseDavid,themaincharacterofthisnovelalsohadthesamelifeashim:humiliatinglaborinablackingfactory,apprenticeshiptoalawoffice,lifeasajournalistandeventuallysucceededasanovelist,alllikeDickens’sownlifeandtheywerevividlytoldinthenovel.InthisnovelDavid’searlysufferingisadequatelycompensatedwitharich,happymarriageandasuccessfulliterarycareer,justliketheauthor’s,andtheworldisstillfullofhopeandsunshine.“AccordingtoDickenshimself,thisnovelishis‘favoritechild’;withreaderstooitisoneofthemostpopular,anditscriticalreputationisveryhigh”(ZhangBoxiang2005:196).ThesenovelsaboveareDickens’earlyworks;nowlet’shavealookathislaterworks.4)HardTimes(1854)“Thisnovelmakesafierceattackonthe‘perfect’bourgeoissystemofeducationandbourgeoisutilitarianism”(GuoQongying2001:197).ThetwomaincharactersTomandLouisaarechildrenofafolloweroftheutilitarianismManchesterSchool.Hebroughthischildrenonthephilosophyoffacts,carefullydistinguishinganyimaginativenessoryouthfultendenciesinthem.However,attheend,hissonTomwascaughtandhustledoutofthecountrybecauseofcommitstheft;andhisdaughteralsobecameavictimofhisheartlessprinciple.Theunhappystateofhischildrenopensthefather’seyestotheknowledgethatlifecontainssentimentsaspowerfulasfacts.Sothisstoryisalittledifferentfromtheabovethree,hewrotesomeotherthingsaboutthesociety.5)ATaleofTwoCities(1859)ThisnoveltooktheFrenchRevolutionasitsbackground.TwocitiesareParisandLondoninthetimeofthatrevolution.Fromthisworkwecouldsee“Dickensshowshisfurywiththeinhumanlawlessaristocrats,withtheinjusticedonetoDr.Manette”(ZhangBoxiang2005:198).Inmyopinionthisbookisworthreading;Ihavereadtheplotofit.“ThedescriptionoftheMarquisbrothers’crime,theimprisonmentofDr.Manette,theheatedatmosphereoftherevolutionembodiedinMrs.Defarge’scalm,resoluteneedling,andthepartaboutSydenyCarton”(ZhangBoxiang2005:198),theyaresowonderful!DickenswrotethelifeofbothinLondonandParis,andtherevolutionofFrenchinastory;hereallydidaverygoodjob.6)GreatExpectations(1860-1861)SothisisthenovelofhisthatIammostfamiliarwith.Inthisstory,Pipasthemaincharacterwasonlyapoorboywithoutparents;hewasbroughtupbyhissisterandherhusband,amanwithsimpleandgoodnaturewhoisablacksmith.ActuallyPipwasalsoaverygoodboyatthefirst;however,hewasafterheownedasecretbenefactor,themansettledPip“GreatExpectations”forPip,PiphadtogotoLondontogethigheducationtobeagentleman.Forthechangeofhislifeheisashamedofhisrelationshipwithhisoldfriends;however,intheendthemanwhichhefeltashamedhelpedhimwhenhewasinbadtrouble.Thegentleman’seducationandlifehaveturnedhimfromasimple,honest,kind-heartedcountryboyintoavain,selfish,snobbishgentleman;Ithinkit’sanironyofEngland’ssocialsystem.Awriter’sworkincertaintimeshowsthewriter’sthoughtofthattime.FromtheseofDickens’workswecouldclearthatasthetimegoesbyhisopinionaboutlife,aboutthesocietyisalsochanging.Atthebeginning,thoughlifeishardhestillcouldseeitsgoodside,stillhaveconfidenceinlife;thenaftersometimeshebegantoshowhisdispleasureaboutthesocietyandthesympathytothelowerclass;andhisworksbecamemoreandmoremature.IthinkamongtheseGreatExpectationsisthemostsuccessfulandmostmatureone,Ilikeitbest.ZhangBoxiang(2005:197)wrote:thelaterperiodmarksthedevelopmentofDickenstowardsahighlyconsciousartistofthemoderntype;thenovelsbecomeheavilysymbolic,notonlyprovidingtheworkapredominantatmospherebutalsohighlightingitscentralconcern.3.2.2Dickens’writingstyle1)AMasterStory-tellerZhangBoxiang(2005:200)saidDickensisageniusinstory-telling.InhisnovelDavidCopperfield,asstory-tellinghecertainlydidanexcellentjob;butIthinkhedidbestinGreatExpectations.InthenovelPipnarratedhisstorymanyyearsaftertheeventsofthenoveltookplace.Narratethestorybythecharacter,soactuallytherearetwoPipsinthenovel.Howeverhecanstilldistinguishthemverywell,thevoicetellingthestoryandthepersonactingitout.ImbuingthevoiceofPipthenarratorwithperspectiveandmaturitywhilealsoimpartinghowPipthecharacterfeelsaboutwhatishappeningtohimasitreallyhappens.ThisisaclearfeatureofGreatExpectations.2)Characterization“Dickensisacomprehensivenovelist.Hischaracter-portrayalisthemostdistinguishingfeatureofhiscreation.Hiswordseemstobefullerandricherthanmanyothernovelists’.”(ZhangBoxiang2005:200)AftergettingfamiliarwithhisworksIfindDickensisverygoodatchildcharacterdescription;hecanalwayswriteachildcharacterfromachild’spointofview,thusmadethewholeworkvividandattractive.InGreatExpectationsPipwasdescribedasfromalittleboytoayoungman,stillhisdifferenttime’sactionsareallsuitableforhisage;thisshowedDickens’perfectwriting.3)HisworkishumorandpathosDickensbelievedthatlifeisitselfamixtureofjoyandgrief;lifeisdelightfulbecauseitisatoncecomicandtragic.Heisagreathumorist;fromGreatExpectationsIcouldfindthisveryeasily.Forexample,hecalledhiswaiter“Avenger”,thisalsohassatiricaltonetosomeextent;andhewroteJoe’shatas“bird’s-nestwitheggs”,whichsoundveryinteresting.Inhisnovelhealwaysshowhisloveandsympathyforthosepoor,weak,innocent,injuredandneglectedgoodpeopleandfights;madethestoryfullofpathos.IV.Analysisofsymbolicwriting4.1BriefintroductionofthenovelPip,ayoungorphanlivingwithhissisterandherhusbandinthemarshesofKent,sitsinacemeteryoneeveninglookingathisparents’tombstones.Suddenly,anescapedconvictspringsupfrombehindatombstone,grabsPip,andorderedPiptobringhimsomefoodandafileforhislegirons.Pipobeys,butthefearsomeconvictissooncapturedanyway.TheconvictprotectsPipbyclaimingtohavestolentheitemshimself.OnedayPipistakenbyhisunclePumblechooktoplayatSatisHouse,thehomeofthewealthywidowMissHavisham,whoisextremelystrange:shewearsanoldweddingdresseverywhereshegoesandkeepsalltheclocksinherhousestoppingatthesametime.Duringhisvisit,hemeetsabeautifulyounggirlnamedEstella,whotreatshimcoldlyandcontemptuously.Nevertheless,hefallsinlovewithheranddreamsofbecomingawealthygentlemansothathemightbeworthofher.HeevenhopesthatMissHavishamintendstomakehimagentlemanandmarryhimtoEstella,buthishopearebrokenwhen,aftermonthsofregularvisittoSatisHouse,MissHavishamtellshimthatshewillhelphimfilloutthepapernecessaryforhimtobecomeacommonlaborerinhisfamily’sbusiness.WithMissHavisham’sguidance,Pipisapprenticedtohisbrother-in-law,Joe,whoisthevillageblacksmith.Pipworksintheforgeunhappily,struggletobetterhiseducationwiththehelpoftheplain,kindBiddyandfacingJoe’shelper,Orlick.Onenight,afteraquarrelwithOrlick,Pip’ssister,knowasMrs.Joe,isviciouslyattackedandbecomeamuteinvalid.Fromhersignals,PipdeducesthatOrlickwasresponsiblefortheattack.OnedayalawyernamedJaggersappearswithstrangenews:asecretbenefactorhasgivenPipalargefortune,andPipmustcometoLondonimmediatelytobeginhiseducationasagentleman.Piphappilyassumesthathisprevioushopeshavecometrue—thatMissHavishamishissecretbenefactorandthattheoldwomanintendsforhimtomerryEstella.InLondon,PipbefriendsayounggentlemannamedHerbertPocketandJaggers’lawclerk,Wemmick.Heexpressesdisdainforhisformerfriendandlovedones,especiallyJoe,buthestilllikeEstellaverymuch.Hefurthershiseducationbystudyingwiththetutor,MatthewPocket,Herbert’sfather.HerberthimselfhelpsPiplearnhowtoactlikeagentleman.WhenPipturnstwenty-oneandbeginstoreceiveanincomefromhisfortune,hewantstohelpHerbertbuyhiswayintothebusinesshehaschosenforhimselfsecretly.Butfornow,HerbertandPipleadafairlyundisciplinedlifeinLondon,enjoyingthemselvesandrunningupdebts.OrlickreappearsinPip’slife,employedasMissHavisham’sporter,butisfiredbyJaggersafterPiprevealsOrlick’sunsavorypastatonce.Mrs.Joedies,andPipgoeshomeforthefuneral,feelingtremendousgriefandremorse.Severalyearsgoby,untilonenightafamiliarfigurebargesintoPip’sroom—theconvict,Magwitch,whoshocksPipbyannouncingthathe,notMissHavisham,isthesourceofPip’sfortune.HetellsPipthathewassomovedbyPip’sboy-hoodkindnessthathedecidedhislifetomakingPipagentleman,andhemadeafortuneinAustraliaforthatverypurpose.Pipisshocked,buthefellsmorallyboundtohelpMagwitchescapefromLondon,astheconvictispursuedbothbythepoliceandCompeyson,hisformerpartnerincrime.AcomplicatedmysterybeginstofallintoplacewhenPipdiscoversthatCompeysonwasthemanwhoabandonedMissHavishamattheweddingandthatEstellaisMagwitch’sdaughter.MissHavishamhasraisedhertobreakmen’shearts,asrevengeforthepainherownbrokenheartcausedher.PipwasmerelyaboyfortheyoungEstellatopracticeon;MissHavishamwasdelightinEstella’sabilitytotoywithhisaffections.Astheweekspass,PipseesthegoodinMagwitchandbeginstocareforhimdeeply.BeforeMagwitch’sescapeattempt,Estellamarriesanupper-classidiotnamedBentleyDrummle.PipmakesavisittoSatisHouse,whereMissHavishambegshisforgivenessforthewayshehastreatedhiminthepast,andheforgivesher.Laterthatday,whenshebendsoverthefireplace,herclothingcatchesfireandshegoesupinflames.Shesurvivesbutbecomesaninvalid.Inherfinaldays,shewillcontinuetorepentforhermisdeedsandtopleadforPip’sforgiveness.ThetimecomesforPipandhisfriendstosendMagwitchawayfromLondon.Justbeforetheescapeattempt,Pipiscalledtoashadowymeetinginthemarshes,wherehefindsit’sthevengeful,evilOrlickwhowantstokillhim.OrlickisonthevergeofkillingPipwhenHerbertarriveswithagroupoffriendsandsavesPip’slife.PipandHerberthurrybacktocarryonMagwitch’sescapeplan.TheytrytopullMagwitchthroughtheriveronarowboat,buttheyarediscoveredbythepolice,whomCompeysontippedoff.MagwitchandCompeysonfightintheriver,andPiploseshisfortune.MagwitchfeelsthathissentenceisGod’sforgivenessanddiesatpeace.Pipfallsill;JoecomestoLondontocareforhim,andtheyarereconciled.Joegiveshimthenewsfromhome:Orlick,afterrobbingPumblechook,isnowinjail;MissHavishamhasdiedandleftmostofherfortunetothePockets;BiddyhastaughtJoehowtoreadandwrite.AfterJoeleaves,PipdecidestorushhomeafterhimandmarryBiddy,butwhenhearrivestherehediscoversthatsheandJoehavealreadymarried.PipdecidestogoabroadwithHerberttodobusinesstrade.Returningmanyyearslater,hemeetsEstellaintheruinedgardenatSatishouse.Drummle,herhusband,treatedherbadly,butnowheisdead.PipfindsthatEstella’scoldnessandcrueltyhavebeenreplacedbyasadkindness,andthetwoleavethegardenhandinhand,Pipbelievesthattheywillneverapartagain.4.2DefinitionofsymbolThedefinitionofsymbolindictionaryis:asignorobject,whichrepresentssomethingelseinbrief.ThedefinitionofitinthebookGreatExpectationsis:“symbolsareobjects,characters,figures,orcolorsusedtorepresentabstractidea1orconcepts”(ChangZixia:46).InChineserhetoricitexplainedsymbolindetail.Itsayssymbolisausefulrhetoricalmethod;inwritingitdoesn’tdescribesomethingdirectly,insteadituseassociationaccordingtotheconnectionbetweenthings,whensayingByouwillthinkaboutA(WangXijie:406).Froexample:redsymbolizesrevolution;pinesymbolizesgoodcharacterslikeperseveranceandstrong-willetc;whenpeoplesaycrucifixyouknowitsymbolizesChristianity;andpeopleusedovetosymbolizepeace.Usually,usingsymbolcanmaketheworkseemsmoretactfulandveiled;thuscanstimulatereaders’interest,makethereadertoimage.Thesymbolrelationsbetweenthingsaredifferent.Somecomefromthenature,likesunsymbolizeslightandheat;pinesymbolizesgoodcharacterslikeperseveranceandstrong-will.Somearefromfairytale,justlikeMilkWaysymbolizeshusbandandwife’sseparation.Somearefromsocialcustoms,someracethinkwhitesymbolizecondolences,andhowever,othersthinkitshouldbeblack.Somealsocomefromhistoryevents,forexample,theportraitofHitlersymbolizedtheFascistruling.Generallyspeaking,symbolsfromthenaturearemoreuniversal,othersusuallydifferaccordingtotheplace.4.3AnalysisofsymbolsinGreatExpectationsSymbolsarewidelyusedinGreatExpectations;Idividethemintotwoparts:symbolsinSatisHouseandsymbolsoutsidethehouse.4.3.1SymbolsinSatisHouse1)MissHavisham’sweddingdressonherdecayingbodyandtheweddingfeastareironicsymbolsofdeathanddegenerationaswellasMissHavisham’spast.MissHavishamwasalittlespecialinthenovel,sheissaidtobeawealthywomaninthetown.WhenPipwasaskedtoplayatSatisHouse,hersisterandMr.Pumblechooktookitveryseriously.Pipfinallyfoundherinaroomwithoutlightonlysomepoorcandles,hewasastonishedattheoldladyinthisroom.Hefoundshewasawealthyladydifferentfromothers.Shewasdressedinrichmaterials—satins,andlace,andsilks—allofwhite.Hershoeswerewhite.Andshehadalongwhiteveildependentfromherhair,andshehadbridalflowersinherhair,butherhairwaswhite.Somebrightjewelssparkledonherneckandonherhands,andsomeotherjewelslaysparklingonthetable.Dresses,lesssplendidthanthedressshewore,andhalf-packedtrunks,werescatteredabout.(Dickens:49)Theseareallsobeautifulthings;poorpeoplelikeMrs.JoeandBiddycouldn’thavesuchthings,theyevenhadtoworryaboutthebasicneedsoftheirlife.FromthiswecouldinferthatMissHavishamhadaverygloriouspast;shemustbeaveryhappygirl,havecomfortablelife.Isayshehadagloriouspastbecausesheisnotverywellnow.Themanythingsdescribedabovewereseemedlikethingsforawedding.Sayingweddingpeoplewillalwaysconnectthemwithhappyandpleasant;becauseahappyweddingcanbringpeoplenewlifeandhope.However,thingsinMiss.Havisham’sroomaredifferent:Isawthateverythingwithmyviewwhichoughttobewhite,hadbeenwhitelongago,andhadlostitsluster,andwasfadedandyellow.Isawthatthebridewithinthebridaldresshadwitheredlikethedress,andliketheflowers,andhadnobrightnessofhersunkeneyes(Dickens:50).Suchgoodthingsbuttheyaresodullinthishouse,inMiss.Havisham’splace.Thehouse,herdress,thesurroundingsevenMiss.Havishamlookedlikediedyearsago,theyaresodull.Youcouldn’tseeanylifeinhere;itisgloriousinthepastbuteverythingchanged,theynolongerweretheyyearsago.2)ThestoppedclocksthroughoutthehomesymbolizeMiss.Havisham’sdeterminedattempttofreezetimebyrefusingtochangeanythingfromthewayitwasjiltedonherweddingday.Inourdailylifetimeisveryimportant,theycouldhelpustoarrangeourlife.Tellusthedate,thetime,whatweshoulddonowandwhatweshoulddothen;tellusthepastofthetimetowarnusthepreciousoftime,foritwon’tcomebackonceitlost.Inmyopinion,timeiseverything,itslife;ifapersonnevercarestimethenhewouldn’tcarelife.Justasthesayinggoes:“timeisgold”.ThenhowaboutMiss.Havisham?Thereisnotimeinherlife.Shehadnothingtodoinherlife;shehadnoneedtocareabouttime.Shelivedintheblackroom;itwasisolatedwiththeoutside.Timeismeaninglesstoher.Pipnoticedthat“herwat