浅析中西方不同地爱情观

AcknowledgementsMy deepest gratitude goes first and foremost to Professor Yang Ling, my supervisor, for her constant encouragement and useful suggestions on my thesis. I am deeply grateful of her help in the completion of this thesis. Without her consistent and illuminating instruction, this thesis could not have reached its present form.Second, I am also greatly indebted to all the other tutors and teachers for their direct and indirect help to me.Last, my thanks would go to my beloved family for their loving considerations and great confidence in me all through these years. I also owe my sincere gratitude to my friends and my fellow classmates who give me their help and time in helping me work out my problems during the difficult course of the thesis.AbstractThere are more different views on love between Chinese and western, which reflected in literatures and films. love is the enduing theme of human beings, which is the peculiar character and one of the best behaviors for human beings. Meanwhile, the love words are considered to be the most beautiful words of human beings. But because of different traditional culture, different mode of thinking, different racial character, Chinese and Westerners have so many different points on love. Through comparison, discuss the similarities and differences of Chinese -Western view on love in the Hawthorn Love and Titanic.Key words: Culture difference, Chinese and Western views on love摘要中西方爱情观有极大不同，这在文学作品和影视作品得到了反映。

爱情是人类永恒的主题，表达爱慕之情是人类最美好的行为之一, 而表达爱情的语言被认为是人类最美好的语言。

尽管在爱的路途中双方都面临诸多阻隔，但双方彼此追求真爱的心会永远长青！由于传统文化、思维方式、民族性格等不同, 中西方在对爱的理解和表达上表现出较大的差异。

本文通过对比分析电影《山楂树之恋》和《泰坦尼克号》所体现的不同中西方爱情观。

关键词：文化差异，中国爱情观，西方爱情观ContentsAcknowledgements (i)Abstract (ii)摘要 (iii)1 Introduction (1)2 Literature Review (2)3 Analyses on Different Love Views between Titanic and Hawthorn Love (5)3.1 The Similarities (5)3.1.1 The same structure and the story content (6)3.1.2 The same end of two stories (6)3.1.3 The same fate of the Heroine (6)3.1.4 The same symbols (6)3.2 The Contrast.................................................. . (6)3.2.1The expression of love in different ways (6)3.2.2The different view on sex (7)3.2.3 The different view onlove....... . . (9)3.2.4 The different view of marriage (10)4 Conclusion (13)Bibliography (14)Analysis on Different Love Views between Titanic andHawthorn Love1 IntroductionTitanic, the ship of dreams, also known as Unsinkable, sank after its departure on April 10th, 1912. And on its epic journey a poor artist named Jack Dawson and a rich girl Rose DeWitt Bukator fell in love, until one night their fairytale love turned into the struggle for survival or being dead at the bottom of the North Atlantic. Rose left her fiancée Caledon Hockley for this poor artist, but when the Titanic collided with the Iceberg on April 14th, 1912, and then when the ship sank on April 15th, 1912 at 2:20 in the morning, Jack died and Rose survived. When Rose was saved by one lifeboat that came back, she was taken to the Carpathia with 700 people saved in the lifeboats. The Carpathia Immigration Officer asked Rose what her name was and she said her name was Rose Dawson. And 84 years later Rose Calvert is 100 years old and she tells her grand daughter Lizzy Calvert the whole story from departure until the death of Titanic on its first and last voyage. And to Rose Titanic and her real love of in her life Jack Dawson is all an existence inside her memory.The film Hawthorn Love told us a story that happened around 1975. The heroine Jingqiu was a pretty girl. Because of her family’s historical problems, she always felt herself inferior. Laosan, the handsome son of a commander, was full of literary talents and paid much attention to affection. They loved each other at the first sight. He waited Jingqiu for the right time to marry her. When Jingqiu grew up, he died of leukemia.This thesis aims to make English learners have a better understand of the cultural differences of love views between China and the west by analyzing these two movies. This research will give some suggestions to the young people living in the contemporary era about the love views. Although they may differ in family background and social status, they can join their hands together and go through the difficulties in the rest of their lives.2 Literature ReviewIn an analysis of emotion-related concept from Chinese, Shaver, Wu, (1992) found that love had distinctive “hedonically negative”connotations in the Chinese conception of love, which they labeled “sad or painful love.”Wu (1992) found differences between Chinese (Beijing, China)and American (western New York state) university students when they were asked to list freely the features of love. More negative features were listed by the Chinese sample compared to the Americans (Wu, 1992) suggesting that this aspect of love was more spontaneously salient to the former group. Moreover, Wu (1992,) also found that Chinese students agreed more strongly than did students in her US sample with the statement that“Love without pain is not true love.”According Wu’s survey, Very few of Chinese students stated that they were willing to marry without being “in love” (5.8% in the Hong Kong sample and 2.3% in the Japanese sample). Comparable percentages for the samplesAverill (1985), in his social constructionist account, proposed the following features: idealization of the romantic partner, suddenness of onset, physiological arousal, and commitment to the well-being of the loved person. In their discussion of an evolutionary account of romantic love, he pointed out that, from this perspective, romantic love emerged “from forces within the hominid brain that are independent of the socially-constructed mind”. However, they similarly defined romantic love as “any intense attraction that involves the idealization of the other, within an erotic context, withthe expectation of enduring for some time into the future”. From our view, both realization of the partner and idealization of the experience distinguish the concept of romantic love from sexual attraction or infatuation. The partner is regarded as unique and special; experience love is expected to be all-consuming, fulfilling, and transcendent. A cultural perspective is necessary to identify the conditions under which similarities and differences in the meaning and the reported experience of love might occur. What is needed is an evolutionary perspective on culture itself. Cultural differences are not simply variations reflecting a biological core. These variations offer insights into qualitatively different views about love that have developed and evolved across different societies and in the same society at different phases of its history.The film conveys the differences between eastern and western views on love and culture. First, we talk about love views. When Rose and Jack like each other, Rose is very bold, open and dare to pursue their love. In face of the finance’s aggressive behaviors and all kind of barriers, she still insisted. Generally speaking, the westerners always have this spirit. Most western countries border the sea, so the thoughthas a sense of adventure, and bones have a sense of courage. However, Asians are different. For they are introverted, their feelings are always hidden in their hearts. Especially girls, they are afraid to express their true thoughts. If they want use some words to describe them, we think grace and implicitness will stand for them. This point is reflected in the eastern and western notions of love, direct and subtle. At the end of the film, Rose lost the frozen hand of Jack. According to the Chinese people’s thinking, Rose and Jack should die together, likes Concubine Yu died for the King of Chu. So, this habit of thinking is in line with the Chinese people. But Rose chose to live, for she remembered the word Jack said: “Never give up, no matter what happened.” Ah, if you love someone, why you can’t choose to live better, to complete lover’s unfinished business.3 Analyses on Different Love Views between Titanic and the Hawthorn LoveThe two movies are touching love story and all the classic tragedy of love. They share some similar views and also some different views.3.1 The Similarities3.1.1 The same structure and the story contentNot only Hawthorn Love, but also Titanic, they are all arranged in chronological order.3.1.2 The same end of two storiesMost happy type of love is not moving, so the heroes of two stories finally died.3.1.3 The same fate of the HeroineRose has gone to America and Jingqiiu also has gone to America by chance. Although Rose and Jingqiu all married others, they all love one person respectively in their hearts forever.3.1.4 The same symbolsThe heart of ocean is symbol forever. After jack died, Rose threw the heart of ocean in the sea that means their love would be lasted forever such as the words sung in the song My Heart Will Go On.In the Hawthorn Love, the symbol is the pursuit and bright red sweet and sour love. Laosan (Sun Jianxin ) died, his body was buried under the hawthorn tree. Hawthorn tree does not wither and fall, like his love for Jingqiu never change. 3.2 The Contrast3.2.1 The expressions of love in different waysThe ways westerners expressing love are direct, exposed,and open. In Titanic, although Rose and Jack met firstly as strangers, they fell in love and only spent short days, their hearts always linked together. Rose always said, “He saved my life, he saved my soul, and I do not even have a picture of him. But he will always live in my heart.” In fact, falling in love with one person only needs several seconds. The most touching line is at the end of the movie, Jack said to Rose,” To win the raffle ticket is the luckiest thing in my life that brought me to your side, I am very pleased, really, I am very pleased that Rose.”“You have to promise me to live, never give up, no matter what happening, no matter how slim hopes, promised me, Rose, you will never go back on the right, quickly.” The Chinese, by contrast, always express their feelings with the most implicit ways. They make the feelings into lives. In Hawthorn Love, in many scenes plots have expressed the Chinese people’s euphemism of love views. For example, the minds of euphemism make Laosan felt sorry to pulling Jingqiu’s hand. So, when they cross the river, they only use a small stick to walk through the river quickly. Also, when Laosan watched Jingqiu ferry riding across the river, he separated the deep green of the river to the other side to make a embrace gesture. At this time,the soothing sound of music was played, Jingqiu also made the hug Gestures to the Laosan. They looked each other across the river with the music, Laosan’s eyes filled with tears, and jingqiu even burst into tears too. Film still has other plots: Laosan promised girl’s mother that never meet jingqiu. So before leaving, to bandage Jingqiu’s Lime burned feet, Laosan crouched there was weeping while binding up the feet. At the same time, jingqiu can not help but bursting into tears.3.2.2 The different view on sexIn human history, sex is a way for human contact and it is the most intimate form in living experience. It is also one of the basic elements for human nature. Sex is the perfect harmony of love and desire. The ancient Greeks believed that drink, food, color are three desires. Chinese saying goes: food color, sex also. These have revealed the importance sex for survival and development of the individual from one aspect. Dr. Yang Jingjian pointed in his essay “Erotic Literature : Interpretation in Western comparison”, the sex is defined as the kind of people get especially intense physical pleasure and pleasure between heterosexual and homosexual person on the basis of instinct arising and spiritual enjoyment. Westerners recognize sex as early as in ancient Greece.Aphrodite embodies the image of ancient Greece who regards sex as fate. A view of sex is not dominated by person. Platonic concept is based on the dualism of human nature, and divided it into the rational, emotional. And spiritually sexy concept in China is different from ancient Greek and Roman view of sex. Chinese traditional concept not only ashamed to talk about love but also negated to pursue love. Chinese love’s growth is based on traditional marriage. In China, the first order is marriage, and then is sex, because Chinese recognize that marriage still is marriage. If there is no giving birth, marriage would be difficult to maintain, “China is absolutely opposed to the traditional concept of non-marital sex. Chinese think that it is a moral turpitude if lovers have sex before marriage. Westerners have the bad performance Their Order is completely reversed, “Westerners are based on sex, and then marriage to give birth. In westerners, they think that sex is the physiological requirements. It is natural for lovers to have sex relationship.3.2.3 The different view on loveIn Titanic, when Rose and Jack liked each other, Rose especially was very bold. Her open heart filled with a strong sense of rebellion. She felt very helpless for the future ofmarriage, and she dared to pursue things she liked. In spite of aggressive fiancé and the mother’s request, she still insisted in abandoning life for money. Even life is poor, even nothing she had, as long as there is love’s tenderness and emotion, it is enough. The hero and heroine stood on the ship with the wind. The scene is elegant and beautiful that makes audience unforgettable. At this time, they wiped out spark of love. In the bedroom Rose let Jack to draw her own nude painting that wearing the heart of ocean. When they escaped and hid in the bottoms of the car, she completely broke the passion of love. At this time, Rose decided to betray his mother and her fiance to be with Jack.Unlike Rose, in the Hawthorn Love, Jingqiu’s attitude towards love is very implicit and tactful. Her character lacks perseverance, and she is too weak. The Cultural Revolution environment increased her self-esteem and cowardice, from her birth to duty, the mother’s teachings, and other people’s observing all make her doing things carefully and more cautiously. Although Jingqiu always hid the relationship with Laosan and also sought for the opportunities to test Laosan’s love to her, she could not give correct judgment.However, Laosan touched Jingqiu with his own actions andmade Jingqiu believe him. So we believe Jingqiu and Laosan will be together. With the time went by, Jingqiu’s heart was attracted to Laosan step by step, but she has been in contract with herself. Later, Laosan is more and more dependent on Jingqiu. And it made jingqiu have great courage to pursue the true love.This reflects the different views on love from the West. First of all, for westerners said that love is their life and all of the life, love is everything. Zhu Guangqian has unique view for the westerners love. He thinks westerners pay attention to love, love is all! But China is not so, their love is plagued by a variety of factors. They both need love, but also fear love. Both of them desire for love but fear of injury. What is more, they directly fear love. That is China’s traditional concept. Secondly, in the point of view on love, the way to express love in Western culture seems open. Asians are different, they are always subtle and graceful, even feelings will hide their hearts. Especially girls, they are afraid of expressing their true thoughts. In Chinese tradition, marriage is the basis of birth, then marriage, and finally sex. But for the westerners, the order is completely different. Westerners think the sex is first, and then marriage and birth.3.2.4 The different view of marriageFrom the ancient Greece platonic love evolved into modern-day Knights of love, Independence, individuality liberation become the pursuit of modern western love marriage theme. Unity of love and marriage, insists on independence, freedom, they trust each other and respect each other. In the West, most people belief Christianity, they think that marriage is sacred, God blessing of marriage is not easily dissolved. They are loyal to each other, religion belief makes them think people are guilty, people live to atonement. The method of their prayer often with repentance or gratitude, they bring the grateful to life, to the marriage. Their marriage inject more tolerant and love, paying more than gaining. Meanwhile, Westerners believe that marriage is a personal privacy, no person shall interfere. One person has right to choose his favorite people living together, once find marriage is a mistake, he is entitled to make a second choice, which also part of individual rights. In the form of view, Westerners like love at first sight, like a warm forthright expression. From acquaintance, to kiss, and then sleep together, sometimes even need not spend a day. They always take the urgent release of a sudden passion frankly .In the film "Titanic ", although Roseand the wealthy descendants of Carl have a marriage engagement, she does not like Carl. After she ran into Jack, both of them fall in love quickly. They express to love each other enthusiastically. Although her mother found ways to separate them, ultimately was futile. Their true love can victory everything.Since Confucius age, love never appears for formal occasions. And Chinese saying goes “Only women and the villain are difficult to raise.” Ignorance is woman’s virtue. As the pioneer of Chinese, how can they advocate for an equitable of love? After the feudal Confucius, the society requires a woman three and four virtues, requires a woman faithful to her husband till death, asks a woman to be a virgin. But this opinion against human nature and humanity exist in the world for thousands of years. In fact, in the feudal period, men can marry three wives. But women must be single-mindedness of love. Inequality is obvious, illiberality and undemocratic is obvious too. In addition, marriage, grade, superstition and other factors are also profound impact on people’s love and marriage. In Chinese traditional marriage culture, the emphasis is on life forever and together forever. So if people divorce, she will be suffered from other people’s worldly scorn and ridicule.4 ConclusionThrough comparison, this thesis discusses and analyzes thedifferences between Chinese and western culture on love andmarriage from two movies Titanic and the Hawthorn Lov e. By comparison, we found that the historical background, ideas,ethical and religious differences, which lead to the differentvalues about love and marriage between China and the west.Bibliography1陈欣，“中西方传统爱情观比较”，浙江：《文教资料》，第1期,标准文案（2011年）：12-17。