自由之路—论毛姆小说对现代人如何摆脱精神桎梏的探索

论文摘要

在西方文学从传统主义走向现代主义的过度时期,英国作家毛姆通过他不同时期的三本小说《人性的枷锁》、《月亮和六便士》以及《刀锋》,展现了现代人的精神危机并且为其提供了一条摆脱精神枷锁的独特的道路,其作品在读者中有着广泛的影响并且给予人以启发。二十世纪以来,人类思想意识经历了重大的变化,理性主义的发展动摇了人类对上帝和宗教的信仰,在现代人的心中播下了危机的种子；《物种起源》和科技的发展震撼了人类对自我的认识,意识到自己离动物只有一步之遥,而并非是“宇宙之精华,万物之灵长”；最后,两次世界大战和经济的大萧条使现代人理想幻灭,现代人的精神危机愈演愈烈。本文仔细研读毛姆的三本小说,运用了精神分析和叔本华的悲观主义论分析《人性的枷锁》,用加缪的荒谬论来解读《月亮和六便士》,并且分析尼采的超人论在《刀锋》中的体现,展现出19世纪末二十世纪初西方社会的精神危机。同时,本文论述了毛姆在对人性认识不断深入的基础上,对现代人摆脱精神枷锁、获得人性自由的渐进式的探索。

论文目录

• Acknowledgements
• Abstract
• 摘要
• Contents
• Chapter One General Introduction
• 1.1. Maugham and His Works
• 1.2. Literature Review
• 1.2.1 Study Abroad
• 1.2.2 Study at Home
• 1.2.3 Organization of the thesis
• Chapter Two of Human Bondage:Philip's Pursuit of the Meaning of Life andHis Resignation to the Reality
• 2.1 Philip's Hesitation and Disillusion with Christianity, Love and the Money-almighty Society
• 2.1.1 The Transformation from a Pious Christian to an Atheist
• 2.1.2 Philip's Strong Desire and Disillusionment for Love
• 2.1.3 The Escape from the Grip of Money
• 2.2 A Resignation Rather Than a Desirable Way to Liberty
• Chapter Three The Moon and Sixpence:Strickland's Efforts to Seek Freedomand Its Extremeness
• 3.1 Strickland's Mediocre Middle Class Life
• 3.2 The Absurd Man and Strickland's Escape from His Middle Class Life
• 3.2.1 Absurdity in Camus's philosophical world and Strickland's Awakening
• 3.2.2 Strickland's Revolt Through Art and Its Extremeness
• Chapter Four The Razor's Edge:Larry,an Overman Who Achieved The FinalTranquility of Man's Soul
• 4.1 The Motivation for Larry's Quest for the Meaning of Life
• 4.2 Larry's Quest for His Spiritual Salvation
• 4.2.1 The First Obstacle Larry Met on His Way to Salvation:American Utilitarianism in the 1920s
• 4.2.2 The Second Obstacle:the Grip of Sympathy and Self-sacrifice
• 4.2.3 Larry:An Overman Who Found the Spiritual Salvation
• Chapter Five Conclusion
• Works Cited
• Publications