对欧亨利作品中复杂人性的探析

1、摘 要欧亨利是20世纪最著名的三大短篇小说家之一，他与契诃夫、莫泊桑齐名，被称为“美国短篇小说之父”。他的小说以出其不意的结局，幽默的语言和小说人性主题而著称。其中，人性主题使他的小说拥有更加独特的魅力，深受读者喜爱。在他传奇的一生，他走遍了美国的各个角落，从乡村到城市，几乎体验世界上所有欢乐与痛苦，目睹了各个阶层的生活状况。他十分关心下层人民的生活状况，他同情底层社会小人物的不幸遭遇，热爱他们天性中的美德，憎恨上层社会代表人物的剥削成性和丧尽天良，揭露他们的心狠手辣和丑恶嘴脸。本文从三个方面对人性主题进行了探析。第一章从真爱，珍贵的友谊和可贵的信义三方面赞美了人性的闪光点。第二章从拜金主义，

2、人性虚假和人性扭曲三方面贬斥了人性的弱点。第三章从善恶并存，弃恶从善两方面赞颂了改过自新的人。关键词：人性；美德；善与恶AbstractO Henry, one of the three world famous short story writers in the early 20th century, enjoys equal status with Chekhov and Maupassant. He is called “The Father of American Short Stories”. His short novels are famous for its surprisi

3、ng ending, humorous language and humanity subject, among which humanity subject makes his works unique and popular, In his legendary life, he goes the grounds of most parts of the American, from the village to the big city, nearly experiences all of the happiness and misery in the word, witnesses pe

4、oples living condition at a variety of social levels, and especially keeps his eye on the lower level civilians living condition. He is full of deep sympathy to lower people who live in the deeper level of the society. He sympathizes with their unfortunate and bitter experience and deeply loves thei

5、r moral excellence. But he hates the upper classes of society with their exploitation and cruelty, discloses their merciness and the ugliness. The humanity subject of his novels has profoundly embodied in this paper. Chapter one eulogies of human virtues from genuine love, precious friendship and va

6、luable faith. Chapter two exposures of human defects from money worship, hypocritical humanity and distorted humanity. Chapter three praises repentant people from coexistence of good and evil and advantage of good over evil.Key Words: humanity; virtues; good and evilIntroduction O Henry, originally

7、named William Sydney Porter, is a distinguished American short novel writer. He writes more than 300 short stories in his lifetime. His story are filled with colorful characters，most of whom are originated from his inclination to wander streets and parks, and talk to all kinds of people. And all of

8、his novels are ingeniously conceived, with surprising endings, humors language and humanity subject. He produces an original, typical American democratic form of short novels with a valuable critical awareness of life expressed through humor. Therefore, some people call him “The Founder of Americans

9、 Stories” Putting all his novels together constitutes a true panorama of American life.He writes a lot of works about the life of common people in New York City. The typical works such as The Gift of the Magi，The Last Leaf，A Service of Love，The Furnished Room，The Cop and the Anthem and so on. His wo

10、rks are filled with colorful characters and the complexity of humanity. His unique style produces deep and wide effect on American short novels. O Henrys short novels keep up a respectable position. Why are O Henrys works so popular? A lot of people attribute reason to the unique O Henrys style. In

11、fact, the fundamental cause of the charm of O Henrys works lies in the humanity subject. Therefore, readers must centre humanity on when analyzing the charm of O Henrys novels. People can understand humanity well and know the real significance of their life by studying his works. I. High praise of H

12、uman Virtues In O Henrys short stories, he describes the life of American people to show the true panorama of American life. O Henry is full of sympathy to the poor; he speaks highly of human virtues. Human being owes a lot of virtues from ancient to modern times .It includes: genuine love, precious

13、 friendship, valuable faith and so on.A. Genuine LoveTake The Gift of the Magi as an example, the true meaning of love is shown. Both Jim and Della sacrifice their most possession to each other. They are a poor, young, loving couple. The most important thing in their lives is their love for each oth

14、er. To buy Christmas gifts for each other, they sell the only valuable possessions in their house. Della has her beautiful hair cut off and sells to buy Jim a platinum watch chain as Christmas gifts. While Jim sells his heirloom watch to buy Della a jeweled hair combs. Although these gifts are usele

15、ss, Della can not wear her combs without her hair, and Jim cannot use his watch chain without his watch. The gifts which they get lose its utilitarian value. Maybe the gifts are only luxury goods in their poor life. But they will treasure up his or her gifts forever. What is more important is that t

16、hey will love each other more deeply. To them, the pure love is more than material possession.They feel happy because of the other. Although Dellas life is hard, she still feels happy because Jim loves her deeply. Jim works hard but he also feels beatific because he can meet his wife everyday when h

17、e gets home. They feel their life is not hard at all. On the contrary, they live comfortably. They lose the most valuable possession but they get pure love, which is the beautiful gift in Christmas Eve.There is another story which describes genuine love. In A Service of Love, Joe and Delia both sacr

18、ifice their time and chance to make enough money to support their spouse. Both of them sacrifice themselves to art. Delia works in a laundry for two weeks. They cheat each other by a white lie so that one of them can achieve the opportunity to make his or her dream or art come true. Until one-day De

19、lias hand is burned by a smoothing-iron, do they find out the reality. “When one loves ones Art no service seems too hard”.But Joe and Delia show its true meaning to readers. In order that they can go in for art each other, they give up their own art pursuit. But they know they both not abandon art

20、at all. They cheat each other because of their deep love.They trust and support each other. Joe and Delia both sacrifice themselves to support others. Although their ideals cant come true, they firmly believe that his or her dream can carry out. The genuine love is the most beautiful works of art be

21、tween Joe and Delia. Money pervades American society and marvelous emotion is scarce at that time. Most of people keep their eyes on money, but Jim and Della, Joe and Delia are not tempted by money. Although they are poor, they still persist in love. O Henry speaks highly of genuine love among poor

22、people.B. Precious FriendshipPrecious friendship is expressed well in The Last Leaf. Sue, Johnny and Berman meet by chance and are all interested in art. Unfortunately, Johnny is attacked by pneumonia and go sailing down, down, just like poor tires leave. In order to restore Johnny, Mr. Berman paint

23、s the leaf outdoor in the storming night. But he dies at night by Pneumonia. The ivy leaf which stands against the brick wall after beating rain and fierce gusts of wind gives Johnny the hope of living. The leaf is saturated by Bermans blood and sweat. It is filled with feelings and love. The ivy le

24、af possesses infinite vitality. It is not merely an ivy leaf, but it is the fruit of life, ties of friendship.Berman gives the great gift-love to the girl. This kind of love is the most sacrificial and grateful. Exactly, the sacrificial and grateful love provides regenerated power to Johnny. The las

25、t leaf fears no fierce gusts of wind and rain. It will not fade, dry out and fall off forever. It is not only a works of art but also precious friendship. Although the old painter dies, his artistic life is left. The art life will live forever with Johnnys life.Interdependent friendship is shown tho

26、roughly among common people. The friendship beyond relationship and love moves readers. A small wizened leaf sets human virtues figure off to glitter. O Henry speaks highly of precious friendship among common people. After Twenty Years also shows precious friendship. Bobs behaviors thoroughly reveal

27、 friendship. Although Bob may be arrested, he also makes a decision to keep his promise without any hesitation. He looks forward to their reunion this time, even he is excited. At stormy night, he early gets to the place they appoint twenty years ago. When the cop comes up to him, he tells him that

28、he is waiting his old friend and the rendezvous is “Big Joe” restaurant. Even, he clearly remembers the time they leave each other twenty years ago. “It was exactly ten o clock when we parted here at the restaurant.” The readers can know that he is agitated when he meets his old friend. They have ne

29、ver met for twenty years, but he clearly remembers the time and place. At the same time, he also clearly remembers Jimmys height and appearance: “I never thought you were so tall by two or three inches.” “Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change a mans nose from a Roman to a pug” W

30、hen he describes the caring friend, he uses “best chum” “the finest chap” These words express that Jimmy has impressed Bob. “But I know Jimmy will meet me here if hes alive.” “If Jimmy is alive on earth hell be here by that time” He firmly believes that Jimmy will come, it indicates that he trusts J

31、immy. Therefore, although at stormy night, he still waits Jimmy. Bobs honesty to friendship is so obvious.C. Valuable FaithThe story of Two Thanksgiving Days Gentlemen tells a story about valuable faith. In order to keep their promise, both Stuffy and the old gentleman sacrifice themselves. A wealth

32、y man goes hungry himself, but he insists on performance of duty which provides a big meal to poor Stuffy every Thanksgiving Day. In order to satisfy the old gentleman, Stuffy also plays the part of himself faithfully. They are not even family, but in order to keep their promise, both of them sacrif

33、ice themselves to comfort each other. These things arent vigorous and only ordinary incidents. But in these matters, they reach good and top of sprit. The sprit of them is precious. In high-speed economy development of American, the pace of life speeds up. At the same time, the pressure of life and

34、work become more and more high. It leads that people become more and more indifferent. In American society, everyone keeps their eyes on money. Interpersonal relation has disintegrated money relation. Under this kind of social environment, the old gentleman and Stuffy are not polluted by it. On the

35、contrary, they firmly keep their promise. In American society, there still exists human virtues and not totally vicious. O Henry eulogizes peoples purity and kindness. II. Severe criticism of human defectsIn O Henrys stories, besides good qualities, he also criticises severely many human defects lik

36、e money worship, hypocritical humanity and distorted humanity.A. Money WorshipSome people show more respect to money than anything else. In Mammon and the Archer, Anthony Fuckwell is proprietor of Rockwalls Eureka Soap. But now he retires, he loves money more than anything else. He says: “I bet my m

37、oney on money every time, Ive been through the encyclopedia down to Y looking for something you cant buy with it, and I expect to have to take to the appendix next week, Im for money against the field. Tell me something money wont buy.” His son, Lichard, falls in love with a beautiful girl, but she

38、will leave here and go to Europe. In order to delay time and help his son achieve love, he costs 6000 dollars to make an accident. He feels money can buy anything even can buy love. The theme of this story is exposed: To Anthony and his coeval, in their minds, the only valuable thing is money.Anthon

39、y Fuckwell is influenced by social environment. American is situating “The Gilded Age” at that point. Money worship prevails and corruption overrun in American. Only when people make money, it seems that he is successful. No one cares for whether money is legal. No wonder that money becomes the focu

40、s people concerns. So many people live in the world which dominates by money. Their motivation, situation and anger, grief, joy and happiness have many relations with money. Anthony Fuckwell lives in stagnant atmosphere, so he is contaminated seriously. He is the typical representative of money wors

41、hip. In the process of making money, peoples soul is corroded seriously.On the surface, O Henry criticizes these people like Anthony Fuckwell, but in fact, he shows deep sympathy to their sad fate. In the meantime, he severely repudiates American capitalism. It is the roots that causes ignorance and

42、 numb.B. Hypocritical HumanityAfter Twenty Years is a typical work which exposes the theme of hypocrisy. Jimmys hypocrisy is revealed by the means in which he arrests Bob. When he finds that his good friend becomes a wanted man, he has made a decision to arrest him. When he knows that his friend nee

43、ds to wait for half an hour again, he farewells to Bob at once. And then, he informs another police. About twenty minutes, the plainclothesman reaches here and talks to Bob: “twenty years is a long time. The old gone, Bob; I wish it had lasted, so we could have had another dinner there.” Readers can

44、 know that Jimmy has told information to the man so that Bob can believe he is Jimmy. How apathy and guile Jimmy is! Hypocritical humanity is thoroughly exposed by the last slip. On one hand, Jimmy arrests Bob by taking advantage of his loyal in order that he can get ahead. On the other, he expresse

45、s the friendship to his friend and explains himself. How hypocritical he is!C. Distorted HumanityHenry Maxwell only exists as a “machine” rather than a “person”. In The Romance of a Busy Broker, in New York Stock Exchange, there is a broker, named Henry Maxwell. He is bound up himself so busy in his

46、 work that he loses sight of everything. “He was working like a strong machine-strung to full tension, going at full speed, accurate, never hesitating.” He forgets whether he has married or not. He asks his wife to marry again. Henry Maxwell is a typical example whose soul is distorted in American.H

47、enry Maxwell is influenced by the social environment. In America, the miserable condition of the difficult life is covered by superficial flourishing. The capitalism develops and expands as mad as a march hare. It bases on ruthless exploitation to laboring people. Under this kind of social environme

48、nt, distorted humanity can be found everywhere in big city. Human nature is devoured gradually. As a member of this society, Henry Maxwell also cant get rid of miserable destiny. O Henry vividly describes Henry Maxwell to disclose hypocritical humanity and criticize the darkness of American society.

49、There is another story which shows distorted humanity. In After Twenty Years, the distorted humanity can be reflected from Jimmy. Jimmys behaviors show mechanical numbness and apartness. When he goes to meet his best friend, he isnt anxious and happy. “Trying doors as he went, twirling his club with

50、 many intricate and artful movements.” The police image is showed fully. When he knows that Bob becomes a wanted man, he leaves quietly and still passing on along his beat, trying doors as he goes. He just like an accurate and ruthless patrol. On the surface, he is loyal to duty. During twenty years

51、, Jimmy exists as a docile tool instead of a person. He is devoured by American society. In order to maintain social order, the good nature of Jimmy is ruined by external force. Finally, Jimmy is twisted seriously.No matter what Henry Maxwell or Jimmy, both of them are damaged by American society. O

52、 Henry criticizes human defects and American capitalism.III. Complexity of Good and Evil In O Henrys short novels, there is the third kind of people. Their behaviors have no obvious distinction between good and evil. They want to give evil up and turn a new life. O Henry also praises these repentant

53、 people.A. Coexistence of Good and Evil In The Cop and the Anthem, in Soapys behaviors there is no obvious distinction between good and evil. In order to be arrested, Soapy does a lot of evil things. For example, he smashs the glass of a shop window. At a corner of sixth Avenue electric lights and c

54、uningly displayed wares behind plate-glass made a shop window conspicuous. Soapy took a cobblestone and dashed it through the glass. He refuses to give money after a big meal. He seduces a woman. He made eyes at her, was taken with sudden coughs and hems, smiled, smirked, and went brazenly through t

55、he impudent and contemptible lit any of the “masher”. He stoles an umbrella in a cigar store. He disturbs social orders. On the sidewalk, Soapy began to yell drunken gibberish at the top of his harsh voice. He danced, howled, raved and otherwise disturbed the welkin. Soapy destroys social orders. Th

56、erefore, his behaviors are evil. But, deep in Soapys mind, the good nature is still shining. “He had known it well in the days when his life contained such things as mothers and roses and ambitions and friends and immaculate thought sand collars.” “He conjunction of Soapys receptive state of mind an

57、d the influences about the old church wrought a sudden and wonderful change in his soul. He viewed with swift horror the pit into which he had tumbled, the degraded days, unworthy desires, dead hopes, wrecked faculties and base motives that made up his existence.”These words are simple, but they con

58、tain abundant contents. These words tell Soapys lifetime from his childhood. Like many other people, he had parents, friends and wife. He had nave childhood and marvelous green years. He had enjoyed maternal love and friendship. He had ambitions, ideals and pursuit. At that time, hi thought is pure and his clothing is decent. Like Anthem, everything is sanctity and noble. Therefore, readers can know his nature is good.The society makes his destiny sad and not provides a renewed chance to him. The sad destiny leaves a miserable memory in his mind. The miserable memory is detrimental intellect.