亨利詹姆斯的理想主义与现实主义的碰撞

III. Henry James
His “International Theme”
“International Theme” refers to the conflict of America and Europe. Compared to Europe, America was still an innocent and new country. Europeans in James’s novels are more cultured, more concerned with art than James’s Americans. Americans were innocent, and more concerned about moral issues.
I. Background
II. Major Features
truthful treatment of material familiar aspects and everyday scenes, without abstract interest in nature, death, etc. characters from all social levels are examined in depth open ending focus on commonness of the lives of common people emphasize objectivity, objective rather than idealistic view
Nineteen Century Twenty Century Socialist NewFra bibliotekdoctrine
Southern France English Russia America Eastern Europe Europe Northern Europe Balzac The human comedy Mark Twain Million pound Milan Kund Latin America
American personalities of
innocence, enthusiasm, vulgarity(庸俗), ignorance, unsophistication, freshness, freedom, individuality
contrast with
European personalities of
III. Henry James
“Daisy Miller”: p97 His style: ·a. his narrative point view: avoid the authorial authority, with his minimal intervention ·b. language: not easy to understand large vocabulary; accurate in wordselection; trying to find best expression; difficult, complicated, but subtle
movement – period concept Realism refers to the approach of realist fiction occurred at the latter part of the 19th century. In part, the rise of realism came as a protest against the falseness and the sentimentality which the realists thought they saw in romantic literature. The realists are determined to create a new kind of literature that was completely and totally realistic.
III. Henry James (1843-1916)
His life: P95 His literary career: novelist, literary critic; novels “Daisy Miller”, “The Portrait of A Lady”, “The Wings of the Dove”, etc. His “International Theme”
Golgi Mother
Vegan Death of Annis
Dickens Tale of two cities
Tolstoy War and piece
Kunt Hamsun
Paz
erage
I. Background (1865-1918)
·reaction – “the lie” of romanticism（浪 漫主义） and sentimentalism（感情主义） ·the battle between “idealists”（理想主义 者） and “realists”（现实主义者） – major issue after the Civil War
idealism:idealism is the beliefs and behaviour of someone who has ideals and who tries to base their behaviour on these ideals.
Comparisons
realism origin categories France (19th century) Literature, painting, philosophy, international relations, etc The details are real, the image is typical, the description is objective Pay more attention to the evil of human nature and expose the darkness of society Pessimism(悲观主义), critical, social improvement now idealism Πολιτεία(理想国)` 427 BC - 347 BC; Literature, politics,etc
III. Henry James
The Conflict in personality
Americans in Europe ·Europeans: over-refined, degenerate and artificial by Americans Americans; vulgar by many Europeans ·Americans: fresh, enthusiastic, not cultured, but eager to learn, basically good --- morality European: high cultivated and urban, sometimes boring, but always correct --- manners
•highly cultivated, elegant (优雅 的)in manners, but sophisticated.
American heroes and heroines, who confronted European sophistication, either triumphed(克服，战胜)over it or were overwhelmed.
Chapter 5
Realism and Idealism --- Henry James
Definition
realism:When people show realism in their behaviour, they recognize and accept the true nature of a situation and try to deal with it in a practical way.
characteristics
Choose and make heroic activities Emphasize human values
tendency
manners
Optimism,
focus of attention
future
DEVELOPMENT
Realistic literature