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摘要狄更斯是十九世纪杰出的批判现实主义小说家。以法国大革命为背景的历史小说《双城记》是他比较有名的作品。狄更斯从人道主义的角度审查法国大革命的原因是为了提醒英格兰的统治者在这样一个时期社会阶层冲突很严重。一方面，作者表达了他对贵族的愤怒，他对贫苦大众的同情以及革命爆发的必然性和公正性。另一方面，他用血腥的场景来描写革命的残酷，以及未能实现的穷人的革命理想。本文从他小说中的各种人物分析了他的人道主义思想，通过小说中人物的对比，我们可以很明确地看出他的人道主义思想。20435
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关键词：冲突；人道主义；法国大革命
Abstract
Charles Dickens is the outstanding realistic novelist in the 19th century. A Tale of Two Cities, his most famous novel, is a historical novel with the background of French Revolution. Dickens reviews the reasons of the French Revolution from the viewpoint of humanitarianism to warn the rulers of the England in such a period when the social classes conflict seriously with each other. On the one hand, the author expresses his great anger to aristocrats, his sympathy to the sufferings of the public and the inevitability and justice for the revolution to break out; on the other hand, he uses the bloody scene to describe the cruelty of the revolution, and the failure to achieve the poor man’s ideal which the revolution intends to pursue. A lot of textual evidences are provided to illustrate the progressiveness and limitation of his humanitarianism, which has somewhat significance for the construction of harmonious society in this new historical period. This paper analyzes his humanitarianism from the characters in this novel. And according to the comparison and contrast of the characters, we can see his humanitarianism clearly.
Key words: conflict; humanitarianism; French Revolution
Dickens’ Humanitarianism in A Tale of Two Cities
Contents
摘 要 i
Abstract ii
I. Introduction 1
II. Humanitarianism 2
2.1 Origin of Humanitarianism 3
2.2 Definition of Humanitarianism 3
III. Humanitarianism in A Tale of Two Cities 4
3.1 Humanitarianism Reflected by the Characters 4
3.2 Humanitarianism Reflected by the Criticism of the Aristocrats 10
3.3 Humanitarianism Reflected by the Criticism of the Revolutionaries 11
IV. Conclusion 13
Bibliography 14
Acknowledgements 15
I. Introduction
Charles Dickens is one of prominent realistic novelists in the 19th century. A Tale of Two Cities, his most famous novel, is a historical novel with the background of French Revolution. The author for his outstanding artistic talent expresses his humanitarian ideal, which is humanitarianism. As far as we know, humanitarianism begins from the Renaissance and it bases on the abstract and universal humanity. Humanitarians who believe that human beings are all kind and the morality can be improved start from humanity and set up their ideological system. They advocate that human beings should use the emotion and humanitarianism as the weapon to educate people. As a representative humanitarian, Dickens’ works embody humanitarianism on all sides. He does not agree with the revolution, which he thinks is cruel and just one-way of human revenge. He dreams to use the morality to educate the society.
A Tale of Two Cities which embody Dickens’ mature thought and deep thinking reflects his attitude to the revolution and his humanitarianism. Dickens review the reasons of the French Revolution from the viewpoint of humanitarianism to warn the rulers of the England in such a period when the social classes conflict seriously with each other. On the one hand, the author expresses his great anger to aristocrats, his sympathy to the sufferings of the public and the inevitability and justice for the revolution to break out; on the other hand, he uses the bloody scene to describe the cruelty of the revolution, and the failure to achieve the poor man’s ideal which the revolution intends to pursue. And then it advocates the author’s opinion that human beings should use the kindness to solve the real problems, use the humanity instead of cruelty and horror to harmonize the conflict, popularize the education and improve our society. In this novel, the author portrays some typical characters that embody the author’s view. First, he portrays some kind, upright and humane persons, such as Dr. Manette, Lucie Manette, Mr. Lorry, etc. But at the same time, he also portrays some cruel and ferocious persons, such as the Marquis of Evremonde Brothers, Mr. and Mrs. Defarge. He uses these characters to make a contrast, which clearly expresses his view.