摘 要乔治•萧伯纳(1856-1950)是二十世纪英国戏剧的代表人物之一,他较少关注戏剧情节,而擅长于运用讽刺等手法揭露社会问题。他的《芭巴拉少校》(1905)主要讲述了在救世军当中担任少校一职的芭巴拉和他的父亲——一个百万翁、军火商、安德谢夫的冲突,戏剧揭露了和抨击了资本主义社会的黑暗与罪恶。本论文以剧作的主要内容为线索,结合19世纪英国的社会背景以及萧伯纳的人生经历,从剧作的人物、语言、情节等方面分析了萧伯纳剧作中的讽刺手法的体现,体其中的艺术魅力。对萧伯纳讽刺手法的研究,不仅有助于人们更好地了解他的写作特点,而且有助于理解当时美国所存在的社会问题和资本主义的本质。 32144
毕业论文关键词: 《芭巴拉少校》;讽刺;理想主义;现实主义
Abstract George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) is one of the representatives of the British theaters in twentieth century. His works focus on the writing techniques of satire, so as to expose the social problems rather than to present the dramatic plot. His Major Barbara (1905) mainly describes the conflicts between Barbara, a major in the Salvation Army, and her father Undershaft, a millionaire and arms dealer, this drama exposes and attacks the darkness and evil of the capitalist society. This paper takes the main content of the drama as clues, combining with the British social background of the 19th century and George Bernard Shaw’ s personal experiences, and gives a specific analysis of the technique of satire from the aspects of the characters, plot and language, appreciating the artistic charm. Through the study of Bernard Shaw's satire, not only can we know better about his writing style, but also help to understand the social problems of American society as well as the essence of capitalism.
Key words: Major Barbara; Satire; Idealism; Realism
An Analysis of Satire in Major Barbara
Contents
摘 要 i
Abstract ii
I. Introduction 1
II. Formation of George Bernard Shaw’ s Satirical Writing Style 2
2.1 Social Influences 3
2.2 Bernard Shaw’ s Personal Experiences 3
III. Analysis of Satire in Major Barbara 5
3.1 Satire through Typical Characters in the Play 6
3.2 Satire through the Plot of the Play 9
3.2.1 Satire on Religion through the Salvation Army 9
3.2.2 Satire on Society through the Ending of the Play 10
3.2.3 Satire on family through the foundling 11
3.3 Satire through the Language 12
3.3.1 Satire through Dialogues of the Characters 12
3.3.2 Satire through Irony and Overstatement 12
IV. Conclusion 14
Bibliography 16
Acknowledgement 17
I. Introduction
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was born in Dublin. He is an outstanding Irish realistic dramatist, literary critic, and a socialist spokesman. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama. He was a dramatist without a peer not only for the range of his writing but also for the length and vigor of his life. He wrote more than 50 plays during his lifetime and is regarded as a playwright who possesses the longest literary career in the history of British drama. Major Barbara is among Shaw’s most powerful dramas from his earliest days.
George Bernard Shaw has been a complex and controversial figure in English literature for more than one hundred years. His works focuses on the writing technique of satire so as to expose the social problems rather than dramatic plot. His Major Barbara deals with a social problem of capitalism and gives powerful penetration and critique. Major Barbara reveals ruthlessly the social evils under the bourgeois system mainly through the conflict between the two protagonists Barbara and her father Undershaft. George Bernard Shaw is a master of satire and contributes a lot to English literature. He had great influence upon writers after him, especially his writing vehicle—satire. He adopted the roundabout way or, in other words, the indirect way. George Bernard Shaw criticized people and things in an indirect way. This kind of satire creates an effect of humor. Major Barbara is based on the topic of the Salvation Army. In response to the inequality between the rich and the poor, the author wants to reveal that greed is the essence of human nature through the use of satire. Major Barbara reflects the language features of Shaw from his language, figures of speech, detailed stage directions and long speeches of discussion. The work gives the capitalism a sharp criticism. It also criticizes social reality, though we can not find any evaluation or conclusion from the novel. In Major Barbara, some of the questions Shaw raises focus on issues of economy, religion, politics, family and education, among which the most important is poverty. The publication of Major Barbara caused a huge reaction in literature with its faithful portrayal of life and fierce criticism of society. Major Barbara makes us see through human nature and know the weakness of it. 《芭巴拉少校》中的讽刺:http://www.751com.cn/yingyu/lunwen_28588.html