浅论欧亨利小说中的人性意识
论欧·亨利小说中的人性之美

要 】 欧 ・亨利 的 短 篇 小 说 往 往 以生 活 在 美 国下 层 社 会 的 小人 物们 为 主 角 。他 们 虽 然 生 活 困窘 , 却 难
掩其人性 的光辉。本文通过 对 < 市政报告 》以及 《 重新做 人》两篇小说 的解读 ,来分析欧 ・ 亨利对于其 中主
人 公 人 性 的 刻 画 。 在 他 们 身 上 , 善 与 恶 的 纠 缠 将 人 性 的 复 杂 性 表 现 得 淋 漓 尽 致 , 而 以 自我 牺 牲 为代 价 的结 局 又 让 读 者 体 会 到 难 以言 说 的 人 性 之 美 。通 过 欧 ・ 亨 利 细 腻 的讲 述 , 我 们 不 难 看 出作 者 对于 下层 人 民 的 同 情 , 对 于 一 个 更 为 公 正 ,更 为 人 性 化 的 美好 社 会 的憧 憬 。
笔下,柏油马路和钢筋混凝土组成 的大 城市是阴森沉默、 冷酷无情的庞然大物 。 但在这高楼大厦的森林里,在这不毛的 柏 油 路上 ,却 出 乎意 料地 长 出瑰 丽 的人 性 的花 朵 ”( 王 永 年 ,2 0 0 1 )欧 ・ 亨 利
的主 人 公们 总 在 最关 键 的时 刻 展现 出他 们 最 本 真 的 自我 ,散 发 着最 永 恒 的人 性 的光辉 而 “ 欧 ・亨利式的结尾”往往 将关 于 人 性善 与 恶 的评 判推 向高潮 ,让 读者们在情与理的抉择中回味无穷。 二 、 善 与 恶 的评 判 在 欧 ・亨 利 的小 说 中, 对 于 主 人 公
一
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姐 ( Az a l e a Ad a i r C a s we l 1 ) 。一面是带着 “ 那种贪 婪而怀有敌意 的神情”的 “ 海 盗” ,另一面 却是忠心耿 耿的老佣 人:
“‘ S h e a i n’ t g wi n e t o s t a r v e ,s u h , ’h e
论欧·亨利短篇小说所反映的人性

论欧亨利短篇小说所反映的人性赵阳;曹春燕【摘要】欧·亨利短篇小说以人性作为主题,引起读者广泛的共鸣。
在这些表现人性主题的篇章中,作者把二者巧妙地揉和在一起,两者映衬,强烈对照,使作品显示出永恒的魅力。
欧·亨利的短篇小说中都显示了他对下层平民的同情以及对身边熟悉的店员、医生、穷画家、律师、小偷等社会底层人物的怜悯之情。
当我们读完欧·亨利的作品,就会越发被他所刻画的这些小人物所吸引。
在他的许多作品当中,欧·亨利式的结尾使小说更加波澜迭起,进一步向读者展示了欧·亨利短篇小说中人性的主旋律。
【期刊名称】《产业与科技论坛》【年(卷),期】2016(015)014【总页数】2页(P164-164,165)【关键词】人性;欧· 亨利;短篇小说【作者】赵阳;曹春燕【作者单位】北华大学外语学院;吉林市丰满区艺术实验小学校【正文语种】中文作为美国短篇小说的创始人之一,二十世纪最著名的作家欧·亨利在美国文坛中扮演着重要的角色。
他善于从下层阶级的日常生活中挖掘出内在的人性,使读者在日常生活中思考善恶。
在他短篇小说中,最常见的主题是人性。
亨利一生中写了大量的作品,包括《麦琪的礼物》、《警察与赞美诗》、《最后一片叶子》等等。
他对普通人很熟悉,常给读者一种印象——他们每天都会遇到这些人物。
那些普通的人和你在公交车上遇到的人一样,但他们是如此的可爱和迷人。
虽然他们生活在恶劣的条件下,他们有最纯粹的感情——爱、牺牲、无私等。
亨利所要颂扬的是真正的爱以及人与人之间的友谊。
在欧·亨利的《最后一片叶子》中,我们可以感受到人类及其迷人的力量之美。
他描写了三个贫困但心地善良的艺术家:苏、琼西和贝尔曼。
在一个寒冷的冬天,年轻的画家琼西得了肺炎,在病房里看着窗外对面树上的叶子不断被风吹落,她认为最后一片叶子的凋落代表自己的死亡,于是她失去了活下去的意志。
医生认为再这样下去琼西会死去。
对欧亨利作品中复杂人性的探析

摘要欧·亨利是20世纪最著名的三大短篇小说家之一,他与契诃夫、莫泊桑齐名,被称为“美国短篇小说之父”。
他的小说以出其不意的结局,幽默的语言和小说人性主题而著称。
其中,人性主题使他的小说拥有更加独特的魅力,深受读者喜爱。
在他传奇的一生,他走遍了美国的各个角落,从乡村到城市,几乎体验世界上所有欢乐与痛苦,目睹了各个阶层的生活状况。
他十分关心下层人民的生活状况,他同情底层社会小人物的不幸遭遇,热爱他们天性中的美德,憎恨上层社会代表人物的剥削成性和丧尽天良,揭露他们的心狠手辣和丑恶嘴脸。
本文从三个方面对人性主题进行了探析。
第一章从真爱,珍贵的友谊和可贵的信义三方面赞美了人性的闪光点。
第二章从拜金主义,人性虚假和人性扭曲三方面贬斥了人性的弱点。
第三章从善恶并存,弃恶从善两方面赞颂了改过自新的人。
关键词:人性;美德;善与恶AbstractO·Henry, one of the three world famous short story writers in the early 20th century, enjoys equal status with Chekhov and Maupassant. He is called “The Father of American Short Stories”.His short novels are famous for its surprising ending, humorous language and humanity subject, among which humanity subject makes his works unique and popular, In his legendary life, he goes the grounds of most parts of the American, from the village to the big city, nearly experiences all of the happiness and misery in the word, witnesses people’s living condition at a variety of social levels, and especially keeps his eye on the lower level civ ilian’s living condition. He is full of deep sympathy to lower people who live in the deeper level of the society. He sympathizes with their unfortunate and bitter experience and deeply loves their moral excellence. But he hates the upper classes of society with their exploitation and cruelty, discloses their merciness and the ugliness. The humanity subject of his novels has profoundly embodied in this paper. Chapter one eulogies of human virtues from genuine love, precious friendship and valuable faith. Chapter two exposures of human defects from money worship, hypocritical humanity and distorted humanity. Chapter three praises repentant people from coexistence of good and evil and advantage of good over evil.Key Words: humanity; virtues; good and evilIntroductionO· Henry, originally named William Sydney Porter, is a distinguished American short novel writer. He writes more than 300 short stories in his lifetime. His story are filled with colorful characters,most of whom are originated from his inclination to wander streets and parks, and talk to all kinds of people. And all of his novels are ingeniously conceived, with surprising endings, humors language and humanity subject. He produces an original, typical American democratic form of short novels with a valuable critical awareness of life expressed through humor. Therefore, some people call him “The Founder of Americans Stories” Putting all his novels together constitutes a true panorama of American life.He writes a lot of works about the life of common people in New York City. The typical works such as The Gift of the Magi,The Last Leaf,A Service of Love,The Furnished Room,The Cop and the Anthem and so on. His works are filled with colorful characters and the complexity of humanity. His unique style produces deep and wide effect on American short novels. O· Henry’s short novels keep up a respectable position. Why are O· Henry’s works so popular? A lot of people attribute reason to the unique O· Henry’s style. In fact, the fundamental cause of the charm of O·Henry’s works lies in the humanity subject. Therefore, readers must centre humanity on when analyzing the charm of O· Henry’s novels. People can understand humanity well and know the real significance of their life by studying his works.I. High praise of Human VirtuesIn O· Henry’s short stories, he describes the life of American people to show the true panorama of American life. O· Henry is full of sympathy to the poor; he speaks highly of human virtues. Human being owes a lot of virtues from ancient to modern times .It includes: genuine love, precious friendship, valuable faith and so on.A. Genuine LoveTake The Gift of the Mag i as an example, the true meaning of love is shown. Both Jim and Della sacrifice their most possession to each other. They are a poor, young, loving couple. The most important thing in their lives is their love for each other. To buy Christmas gifts for each other, they sell the only valuable possessions in their house. Della has her beautiful hair cut off and sells to buy Jim a platinum watch chain as Christmas gifts. While Jim sells his heirloom watch to buy Della a jeweled hair combs. Although these gifts are useless, Della can not wear her combs without her hair, and Jim cannot use his watch chain without his watch. The gifts which they get lose its utilitarian value. Maybe the gifts are only luxury goods in their poor life. But they will treasure up his or her gifts forever. What is more important is that they will love each other more deeply. To them, the pure love is more than material possession.They feel happy because of the other. Although Della’s life is hard, she still feels happy because Jim loves her deeply. Jim works hard but he also feels beatific because he can meet his wife everyday when he gets home. They feel their life is not hard at all. On the contrary, they live comfortably. They lose the most valuable possession but they get pure love, which is the beautiful gift in Christmas Eve.There is another story which describes genuine love. In A Service of Love, Joe and Delia both sacrifice their time and chance to make enough money to support their spouse. Both of them sacrifice themselves to art. Delia works in a laundry for two weeks. They cheat each other by a white lie so that one of them can achieve the opportunity to make his or her dream or art come true. Until one-day Delia’s hand isburned by a smoothing-iron, do they find out the reality.“When one loves one’s Art no service seems too hard”.①But Joe and Delia show its true meaning to readers. In order that they can go in for art each other, they give up their own art pursuit. But they know they both not abandon art at all. They cheat each other because of their deep love.They trust and support each other. Joe and Delia both sacrifice themselves to support others. Although their ideals can’t come true, they firmly believe that his or her dream can carry out. The genuine love is the most beautiful works of art between Joe and Delia.Money pervades American society and marvelous emotion is scarce at that time. Most of people keep their eyes on money, but Jim and Della, Joe and Delia are not tempted by money. Although they are poor, they still persist in love. O· Henry speaks highly of genuine love among poor people.B. Precious FriendshipPrecious friendship is expressed well in The Last Leaf. Sue, Johnny and Berman meet by chance and are all interested in art. Unfortunately, Johnny is attacked by pneumonia and go sailing down, down, just like poor tires leave. In order to restore Johnny, Mr. Berman paints the leaf outdoor in the storming night. But he dies at night by Pneumonia. The ivy leaf which stands against the brick wall after beating rain and fierce gusts of wind gives Johnny the hope of living. The leaf is saturated by Berman’s blood and sweat. It is filled with feelings and love. The ivy leaf possesses infinite vitality. It is not merely an ivy leaf, but it is the fruit of life, ties of friendship.Berman gives the great gift-love to the girl. This kind of love is the most sacrificial and grateful. Exactly, the sacrificial and grateful love provides regenerated power to Johnny. The last leaf fears no fierce gusts of wind and rain. It will not fade, dry out and fall off forever. It is not only a works of art but also precious friendship. Although the old painter dies, his artistic life is left. The art life will live forever with Johnny’s life.Interdependent friendship is shown thoroughly among common people. Thefriendship beyond relationship and love moves readers. A small wizened leaf sets human virtues figure off to glitter. O·Henry speaks highly of precious friendship among common people.After Twenty Years also shows precious friendship. Bob’s behaviors thoroughly reveal friendship. Although Bob may be arrested, he also makes a decision to keep his promise without any hesitation. He looks forward to their reunion this time, even he is excited. At stormy night, he early gets to the place they appoint twenty years ago. When the cop comes up to him, he tells him that he is waiting his old friend and the rendezvous is “Big Joe” restaurant. Even, he clearly remembers the time they leave each other twenty years ago. “It was exactly ten o’ clock when we parted here at the restaurant.”②The readers can know that he is agitated when he meets his old friend. They have never met for twenty years, but he clearly remembers the time and place. At the same time, he also clearly remembers Jimmy’s height and appearance: “I never thought you were so tall by two or three inches.”“Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change a man’s nose from a Roman to a pug”③When he describes the caring friend, he uses “best chum”“the finest chap”These words express that Jimmy has impressed Bob. “But I know Jimmy will meet me here if he’s alive.”“If Jimmy is alive on earth he’ll be here by that time”④He firmly believes that Jimmy will come, it indicates that he trusts Jimmy. Therefore, although at stormy night, he still waits Jimmy. Bob’s honesty to friendship is so obvious.C. Valuable FaithThe story of Two Thanksgiving Days Gentlemen tells a story about valuable faith. In order to keep their promise, both Stuffy and the old gentleman sacrifice themselves.A wealthy man goes hungry himself, but he insists on performance of duty which provides a big meal to poor Stuffy every Thanksgiving Day. In order to satisfy the old gentleman, Stuffy also plays the part of himself faithfully. They are not even family, but in order to keep their promise, both of them sacrifice themselves to comfort each other. These things aren’t vigorous and only ordinary incidents. But in these matters, they reach good and top of sprit.The sprit of them is precious. In high-speed economy development of American, the pace of life speeds up. At the same time, the pressure of life and work become more and more high. It leads that people become more and more indifferent. In American society, everyone keeps their eyes on money. Interpersonal relation has disintegrated money relation. Under this kind of social environment, the old gentleman and Stuffy are not polluted by it. On the contrary, they firmly keep their promise. In American society, there still exists human virtues and not totally vicious. O· Henry eulogizes people’s purity and kindness.II. Severe criticism of human defectsIn O·Henry’s stories, besides good qualities, he also criticises severely many human defects like money worship, hypocritical humanity and distorted humanity. A. Money WorshipSome people show more respect to money than anything else. In Mammon and the Archer, Anthony Fuckwell is proprietor of Rockwall’s Eureka Soap. But now he retires, he loves money more than anything else. He says: “I bet my money on money every time, I’ve been through the encyclopedia down to Y looking for something you can’t buy with it, and I expect to have to take to the appendix next week, I’m for money against the field. Tell me something money won’t buy.”⑤His son, Lichard, falls in love with a beautiful girl, but she will leave here and go to Europe. In order to delay time and help his son achieve love, he costs 6000 dollars to make an accident. He feels money can buy anything even can buy love. The theme of this story is exposed: To Anthony and his coeval, in their minds, the only valuable thing is money.Anthony Fuckwell is influenced by social environment. American is situating “The Gilded Age”at that point. Money worship prevails and corruption overrun in American. Only when people make money, it seems that he is successful. No one cares for whether money is legal. No wonder that money becomes the focus people concerns. So many people live in the world which dominates by money. Their motivation, situation and anger, grief, joy and happiness have many relations with money. Anthony Fuckwell lives in stagnant atmosphere, so he is contaminated seriously. He is the typical representative of money worship. In the process of making money, people’s soul is corroded seriously.On the surface, O· Henry criticizes these people like Anthony Fuckwell, but in fact, he shows deep sympathy to their sad fate. In the meantime, he severely repudiates American capitalism. It is the roots that causes ignorance and numb.B. Hypocritical HumanityAfter Twenty Years is a typical work which exposes the theme of hypocrisy.Jimmy’s hypocrisy is revealed by the means in which he arrests Bob. When he finds that his good friend becomes a wanted man, he has made a decision to arrest him. When he knows that his friend needs to wait for half an hour again, he farewells to Bob at once. And then, he informs another police. About twenty minutes, the plainclothesman reaches here and talks to Bob: “twenty years is a long time. The old gone, Bob; I wish it had lasted, so we could have had another dinner there.”⑥Readers can know that Jimmy has told information to the man so that Bob can believe he is Jimmy. How apathy and guile Jimmy is! Hypocritical humanity is thoroughly exposed by the last slip. On one hand, Jimmy arrests Bob by taking advantage of his loyal in order that he can get ahead. On the other, he expresses the friendship to his friend and explains himself. How hypocritical he is!C. Distorted HumanityHenry Maxwell only exists as a “machine”rather than a “person”. In The Romance of a Busy Broker, in New York Stock Exchange, there is a broker, named Henry Maxwell. He is bound up himself so busy in his work that he loses sight of everything. “H e was working like a strong machine-strung to full tension, going at full speed, accurate, never hesitating...”⑦He forgets whether he has married or not. He asks his wife to marry again. Henry Maxwell is a typical example whose soul is distorted in American.Henry Maxwell is influenced by the social environment. In America, the miserable condition of the difficult life is covered by superficial flourishing. The capitalism develops and expands as mad as a march hare. It bases on ruthless exploitation to laboring people. Under this kind of social environment, distorted humanity can be found everywhere in big city. Human nature is devoured gradually. As a member of this society, Henry Maxwell also can’t get rid of miserable destiny. O·Henry vividly describes Henry Maxwell to disclose hypocritical humanity and criticize the darkness of American society.There is another story which shows distorted humanity. In After Twenty Years, the distorted humanity can be reflected from Jimmy. Jimmy’s behaviors showmechanical numbness and apartness. When he goes to meet his best friend, he isn’t anxious and happy. “Trying doors as he went, twirling his club with many intricate and artful movements.”⑧The police image is showed fully. When he knows that Bob becomes a wanted man, he leaves quietly and still passing on along his beat, trying doors as he goes. He just like an accurate and ruthless patrol. On the surface, he is loyal to duty. During twenty years, Jimmy exists as a docile tool instead of a person. He is devoured by American society. In order to maintain social order, the good nature of Jimmy is ruined by external force. Finally, Jimmy is twisted seriously.No matter what Henry Maxwell or Jimmy, both of them are damaged by American society. O· Henry criticizes human defects and American capitalism.III. Complexity of Good and EvilIn O·Henry’s short novels, there is the third kind of people. Their behaviors have no obvious distinction between good and evil. They want to give evil up and turn a new life. O· Henry also praises these repentant people.A.Coexistence of Good and EvilIn The Cop and the Anthem, in Soapy’s behaviors there is no obvious distinction between good and evil.In order to be arrested, Soapy does a lot of evil things. For example, he smashs the glass of a shop window. At a corner of sixth Avenue electric lights and cuningly displayed wares behind plate-glass made a shop window conspicuous. Soapy took a cobblestone and dashed it through the glass. He refuses to give money after a big meal. He seduces a woman. He made eyes at her, was taken with sudden coughs and hems, smiled, smirked, and went brazenly through the impudent and contemptible lit any of the “masher”. He stoles an umbrella in a cigar store. He disturbs social orders. On the sidewalk, Soapy began to yell drunken gibberish at the top of his harsh voice. He danced, howled, raved and otherwise disturbed the welkin. Soapy destroys social orders. Therefore, his behaviors are evil. But, deep in Soapy’s mind, the good nature is still shining.“He had known it well in the days when his life contained such things as mothers androses and ambitions and friends and immaculate thought sand collars.” “He co njunctionof Soapy's receptive state of mind and the influences about the old church wrought asudden and wonderful change in his soul. He viewed with swift horror the pit intowhich he had tumbled, the degraded days, unworthy desires, dead hopes, wreckedfaculties and base motives that made up his existence.”⑨These words are simple, but they contain abundant contents. These words tell Soapy’s lifetime from his childhood. Like many other people, he had parents, friends and wife. He had naïve childhood and marvelous green years. He had enjoyed maternal love and friendship. He had ambitions, ideals and pursuit. At that time, hithought is pure and his clothing is decent. Like Anthem, everything is sanctity and noble. Therefore, readers can know his nature is good.The society makes his destiny sad and not provides a renewed chance to him. The sad destiny leaves a miserable memory in his mind. The miserable memory is detrimental intellect. These words remind remembering the origin of much young man who lives in American society. They step into social with illusion and ambition. They hope to become successful, but most of people fail. More than ever, like Soapy, they tramp the streets and become down and out.Soapy’s ideal and future are damaged by the dark society. Soapy becomes depraved, but the society doesn’t allow him to restart a new life. The society ruins the future of a young man and pushes him to evil again. More brutal fact is that it breaks off his hope to turn over a new life. The society forces him to agony continually. B.Advantage of Good over EvilIn O·Henry’s works, there are some people who have done a lot of evil things, but they give evil up and turn over a new leaf at last. O· Henry speaks highly of these people.In A Retrieved Reformation,Jimmy Valentine sets a good example. He is a larcenous expert who can break up safes. He has severed nearly ten months of a four year sentence. Now he is set free, after he leaves the prison, he is deceived and took advantage of by a governor. So he begins to steal again. A week after the release of Valentine, 9762, there was a neat job of safe-burglary done in Richmond, Indiana author. Two weeks after that a patented, improved, burglar-proofs safe in Logansport was opened. Then an old-fashion bank-safe in Jefferson city.The power of love makes him decide to begin his life anew. In order that he can fall in love with Annabel, he makes a decision to open a shoe store and begin a new life. Jimmy Valentine is a robber who is deceived and took advantage of by a governor. But O· Henry describes him as a robber who takes a risk of helping others and decides to make a fresh start in life. The author idealizes Jimmy Valentine and makes him possess humanity.In addition, the theme can be reflected from two different names. From “Jimmy Valentine” to “Spencer” is the process of the robber turns. It is the theme of O. Henry praise. Therefore, O. Henry gives two different names so as to distinguish two different statuses. When the robber commits crimes and is arrested, the author calls him “Jimmy Valentine” When he turns a new life; the author calls him “Spencer”.O. Henry hates evils; therefore, he provides repentant chance to the robber. At the same time, he endows him with beatific love and happy fate. It shows that O. Henry is full of expectation to these people who wants to give evil up.ConclusionO. Henry’s short novels contain extensive subjects, abundant contents and profound ideas. His novels draw materials from trivial affairs. But the writer is good at describing the life of common people. His works vividly and deeply reflect the true American appearance in the late 19th century early and 20th century from different angles. O. Henry shows deep sympathy to the poor and pays attention to the lower class. He recounts their ups and downs. He speaks highly of human virtues and severely criticizes human defects. Therefore, the theme of humanity is expressed well in his short novels. Throughout O’ Henry’s short novels, the depth and extent of the life reflection is miraculous. Some express the pulse of the times and real imbroglio, others express spiritual path and local customs. At the same time, he severely hits the restricted area of politics, economy, culture and moral. The level that it reflects American real life performs equally with other literary works. His sharp brush sweeps up every corner of American and bursts bits of festers under brilliant garments of American capitalist society. American society has not yet become total vicious because of human virtues. The adorable and kind humanity can encourage these people who live in lower class. In New York “jungle” a “flower” of humanity is still in bloom. In brief, serious social problems and themes can be reflected from O. Henry’s short novels. His works are called “perpetual encyclopedia of American life”.Notes①Taylor, Barry. American Short Stories. Longman Group Limited, 1969.P.61.②欧·亨利. 欧·亨利短篇小说精选[M].北京:人民文学出版社, 2003. P.18.③Ibid. P.19.④Ibid. P.25.⑤Ibid. P.65.⑥Ibid. P.12.⑦Ibid. P.69.⑧Ibid. P.19.⑨Ibid. P.89.BibliographyStephen Leacock. The Literary Structure of an O. Henry Short[M].America: Routledge, 1984.Taylor,Barry(ed.) AmericanShortStories[M]. America: LongmanGroupLimited.,1969. 陈华,何晓曦译注. 四百万[C].上海:外国教学与研究出版社, 1988.樊林,“人性的光辉,永恒的魅力”欧亨利小说中的人性主题探索[J].盐城师范学院学报(人文社会科学版),2006.李艳云,欧阳友珍“欧亨利小说中的人性意识”[J].江西社会科学,2003.欧·亨利. 欧·亨利短篇小说精选 [M].北京:人民文学出版社, 2003.赵莉,黄春妮. 欧·亨利作品导读[M].武汉:武汉大学出版社, 2003.赵书颖.“含泪的笑”与“含笑的泪”浅析欧·亨利的主题[J].黑龙江教育学院学报,2004.朱文,朱碧恒. 欧·亨利作品赏析[M].北京:中国和平出版社, 1996.。
《欧·亨利的短篇小说》读后感

《欧·亨利的短篇小说》读后感欧·亨利是一位让人敬仰的文学大师,他的短篇小说以其简洁、生动的语言和深刻的寓意而著称。
在阅读了他的作品后,我深深感受到了他对人性、生活和情感的深刻洞察,同时也被他那独特的叙事技巧所折服。
在《欧·亨利的短篇小说》中,我最喜欢的作品之一是《礼物的最高境界》。
这个故事讲述了一个男孩和他的朋友之间的友谊,以及他们之间的一次特殊的礼物交换。
通过这个故事,欧·亨利深刻地揭示了友谊的真谛,以及人与人之间的情感纽带。
这让我深思:在现实生活中,我们是否也能像故事中的男孩一样,懂得真正的友谊和珍惜他人的情感呢?另一篇让我印象深刻的作品是《最后一片叶子》。
这个故事讲述了一个老画家在生命的最后时刻,为了完成自己的作品而坚持不懈的故事。
通过这个故事,欧·亨利展现了艺术家对于艺术的热爱和执着,以及生命的意义和价值。
这让我深深感受到了艺术的力量和生命的脆弱,让我更加珍惜每一个当下。
欧·亨利的短篇小说中充满了对人性的探讨和对生活的思考。
他用简单的语言和直白的叙事,深刻地揭示了人类内心的复杂和矛盾,让人不禁感叹他对人性的深刻洞察。
在阅读这些作品的过程中,我不仅感受到了文学的魅力,也更加了解了人类的情感和生活的真谛。
总的来说,《欧·亨利的短篇小说》是一部令人深思的作品集,它让我重新审视了人性、友谊、爱情和生命的意义。
通过欧·亨利的作品,我学会了更加珍惜每一个当下,感恩生活中的点滴幸福,也更加珍惜身边的亲人和朋友。
欧·亨利的作品让我深刻地感受到了文学的力量和生活的意义,让我对未来充满了希望和勇气。
愿我们都能像欧·亨利的作品中的人物一样,勇敢面对生活的挑战,珍惜每一个美好的瞬间,活出自己的精彩人生。
欧.亨利短篇小说人性主题

欧.亨利短篇小说人性主题探析摘要欧·亨利是美国近代最著名的短篇小说家之一。
其作品题材广泛,构思巧妙,幽默诙谐,既有对人性善的一面的赞颂,如小人物之间真挚的友情、美好的爱情等;也有对人性弱点的鞭挞,如社会上层资本家的利欲熏心、丧尽天良等。
本文通过对欧·亨利具有代表性小说的分析,阐述了其作品中所包含的人性主题,并进一步探讨了人性主题产生的社会根源。
关键词:欧·亨利短篇小说人性根源中图分类号:i106文献标识码:a一引言美国作家欧·亨利,原名威廉·西德尼·波特(william sydney porter),是美国著名批判现实主义作家,世界三大短篇小说大师之一。
他所创作的《最后一片藤叶》、《麦琪的礼物》和《警察与赞美诗》等文章都给我们留下了深刻印象,而小说中的人物至今还栩栩如生地活在我们的脑海之中。
欧·亨利出生于美国北卡罗来纳州的一个小镇,15岁辍学,曾从事过很多职业,受过牢狱之灾,尝尽了人世间的酸甜苦辣,窥见了人生的美丑百态。
他善于描写下层平民的悲剧人生,作品充满了喜剧的氛围,虽以幽默的笔法刻画平凡小人物的伟大品格,读后却让人心酸。
欧·亨利的小说表现出强烈的现实主义和人道主义精神,处处散发着人性之美。
二对人性美德的赞颂1 赞颂真挚的友谊欧·亨利赞颂人性之美的小说有很多,其中讴歌人性美、赞颂真挚友谊的杰作是《最后一片藤叶》。
这是一篇不可多得的传世佳作,文章充满的人性之美,使其艺术魅力永不褪色。
小说描写了琼珊身患重疾,并因此对生活失去了信心,她把正在枯萎凋谢的常春藤叶作为自己生命的象征,相信终有一天自己会随着最后一片叶子的飘落离开这个世界。
琼珊的好友苏想尽一切办法安慰她、鼓励她,并且找到了老画家贝尔曼寻求帮助。
老画家为了挽救琼珊的生命,在一个风雨交加的晚上,用自己的生命画上了一片永不凋谢的藤叶。
欧·亨利通过凄切的笔触,挖掘了人性的深刻内涵,成功地塑造了老画家善良、舍身忘我、无私奉献的主人公形象,描述了平凡的下层小人物之间相濡以沫的真挚友谊。
解析欧·亨利小说中人性元素的产生及表达

解析欧·亨利小说中人性元素的产生及表达摘要欧·亨利作为20世纪初期最广为人知的小说家,被誉为“现代美国短篇小说的奠基人”。
他的小说题材内容广泛、内涵丰富,在日常生活中司空见惯的小事中融入跌宕起伏的故事情节和出人意料的结局,特别是对小人物的细致刻画,充分展现了资本主义社会中的种种不公,强烈呼吁人性真善美的自然回归,表达对美好人性的执着追求,表现出了强烈的人性意识。
关键词:欧·亨利短篇小说真善美人性意识中图分类号:i106.4 文献标识码:a一欧·亨利小说富含人性元素的根本原因作家的人生体验和经历与作品创作密不可分,主题的选择和把握并非偶然,甚至完全可以说是对自我人生的反思。
欧·亨利作为蜚声海内外的短篇小说艺术大师,其作品独具风格魅力,要想理解其间的深刻意味,必须围绕人性元素抽丝剥茧,而理清这种元素产生的根本原因能够达到事半功倍的效果。
1 坎坷的个人经历欧·亨利一生坎坷艰难,他曾深深感受到底层挣扎的困苦和无奈,目睹了一次次悲剧的发生,因此对美国社会豺狼虎豹的剥削本质通透明了,非常的经历带给他悲天悯人的情怀,无论是在作品本身感情色彩还是情节设置中,都蕴含着他自身整个生命历程的缩影,与一生的生命色彩遥相呼应。
《麦琪的礼物》一文中,欧·亨利感叹道:“人生是一个多面体,由啜泣、抽噎和微笑共同组建而成,但令人感慨的是抽噎占据了其中的绝大部分。
”这句话可谓欧·亨利人生之路的真实写照,他先后经历了不平常的冒险、颠沛流离的生活和情人带来的痛苦,正印证了命运多舛、生命短暂的悲剧。
欧·亨利和马克·吐温一样从东部都市到西部乡村,体验和感受截然不同,备受世人冷眼,这种丰富的人生阅历,对小说题材乃至情感色彩的设置起到了深刻的影响,甚至可以说深深地影响着作家的创作,创作上他擅长以小见大,在平凡琐碎中折射深刻的社会意义,进而在有限的篇幅和场景中自然流露人性、生命和生活的真谛。
浅论欧亨利小说中的人性意识

浅论欧亨利小说中的人性意识浅论欧亨利小说中的人性意识论文关键词:欧·亨利小说人性意识论文摘要:欧·亨利被称为“现当代美国短篇小说的莫基人”,"20世纪初期美国最广为人知的作家”,他的小说题材广泛,内涵丰富,于司空见惯的寻常事件中,达到不奇而奇的神效,对资本主义社会中的种种不平之事进行了琳漓尽致的批判和鞭挞,而对于合乎人性的真善美则给予了热情的讴歌和赞美,表现出了强烈的人性意识。
美国小说家、文学评论家亨利·詹姆斯说“在最广泛的范围里,可以把小说看作个人的和直接的生活印象的反映”,即作家小说主题的选择不是偶然的,往往与他们各自不同的体验,及对人生的感受和无止境的思考等相关,可以说,作家所写的是其对人生的反思。
欧·亨利在(麦琪的礼物》中的感叹,“人生是由吸泣、抽噎、微笑组成的,而抽噎占了大部分”,可谓是他人生之路的真实写照!他短暂的一生命途多外,不堪回首,“经历了生活中所有的主要场景—不平常的冒险、城市生活、上流社会,以及…”更多的“底层生活”,这一切使他经历了炼狱似的人生,深切地感受了底层社会的痛苦、不幸,看透了美国豺狼社会的罪恶本质,非常的经历带给他非常的痛苦,却也令他“得到经验所能给他的一切世故人情”,换来了他特有的小说创作素材,造就了杰出的世界性作家。
欧·亨利善于综合自己所熟知的各种生活现象,并用小说中的人物来体现他对生活的理解。
他的小说题材广泛,内容丰富,思想深邃,从各个不同视角,真实、生动、深刻地反映了19世纪末20世纪初的美国社会现实面貌。
他的整个创作没有什么惊天动地的重大社会事件,也绝无波澜壮阔的生活画面,他所描写的都是现实生活中的侧面、局部甚至是反面,选用的则是普通生活中的细小琐事、平凡素材。
但作者有着丰富的社会经验和生活库存,以及新颖、锐利的眼力,善于以小见大,从平常的小事中反映出不平常的社会意义,从而能够在有限的场景里极自然地推出生活中最深刻的真实,使读者于管窥兹测中见到腾飞的龙、汹涌的波,达到不奇而奇之效。
浅议欧.亨利短篇小说中艺术性与人性的结合

浅议欧.亨利短篇小说中艺术性与人性的结合摘要:欧亨利独特的个人阅历使得他从平凡人中体验到不同的感受。
他了解下层人民的疾苦以及上层人民的奢侈。
他揭示了当时美国社会的黑暗与不公,同情下层人民的生活,用自己的人生阅历描绘一幅20世纪美国社会的全景。
欧亨利致力于在平凡人生活中寻找人生的真正价值,解释人性的伪善与人性的真善美。
他将这些糅合到自己的作品中,并通过“欧亨利式结尾”体现出来吗,使读者深思人生价值。
欧亨利小说的框架可以概括为“含泪的笑”,这种艺术性在他的作品中彰显的淋漓尽致。
这就是欧亨利小说艺术性与人性的结合。
关键词:艺术性人性大逆转诙谐幽默含泪的笑1、引言欧·亨利,原名为威廉·西德尼·波特(William Sydney Porter),一位杰出的美国短篇小说家。
在他的一生中,撰写了300多个短篇故事。
他的作品中充满了形形色色的人物。
他的故事都巧妙构思,总是与读者的想象的结局背道而驰。
尽管小说的结局出乎我们的意料,但这不难解释,在这些结局后,我们总是能够发现一些生活的逻辑。
他创建了原始的、典型的美国的民主形式的短篇小说。
因此,一些批评人士称他“美国故事的创始人”。
被赋予诙谐的幽默感和敏锐洞察力,欧·亨利客观地向我们展示当时美国的真实样貌。
基于欧·亨利本人的人生阅历,与他在日常生活中所遇到的那些下层社会的人们:文员、警察,女服务员以及像他们这样的人,他将所有的故事都放在一起就构成了当时的美国生活的真实全景。
正如一些人所说他的作品是“美国生活的大百科全书”。
欧·亨利与另两位著名短篇小说家契诃夫和莫泊桑一道被称为世界三大短篇小说家。
2、正文本文讨论的是欧·亨利短篇小说中艺术性与人性的结合。
在他的短篇小说的作品中,他经常使用幽默,讽刺,漫画和巧合等写作风格与写作手法。
在作品中,他用这些方法揭示人性的弱点。
在这些手法中,我要重点分析他的大逆转结局。
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浅论欧•亨利小说中的人性意识〔论文关键词]欧•亨利小说人性意识〔论文摘要]欧•亨利被称为“现当代美国短篇小说的莫基人”,"20世纪初期美国最广为人知的作家”,他的小说题材广泛,内涵丰富,于司空见惯的寻常事件中,达到不奇而奇的神效,对资本主义社会中的种种不平之事进行了琳漓尽致的批判和鞭挞,而对于合乎人性的真善美则给予了热情的讴歌和赞美,表现出了强烈的人性意识。
美国小说家、文学评论家亨利•詹姆斯说“在最广泛的范围里,可以把小说看作个人的和直接的生活印象的反映”,即作家小说主题的选择不是偶然的,往往与他们各自不同的体验,及对人生的感受和无止境的思考等相关,可以说,作家所写的是其对人生的反思。
欧•亨利在(麦琪的礼物》中的感叹,“人生是由吸泣、抽噎、微笑组成的,而抽噎占了大部分”,可谓是他人生之路的真实写照!他短暂的一生命途多外,不堪回首,“经历了生活中所有的主要场景—不平常的冒险、城市生活、上流社会,以及…”更多的“底层生活”,这一切使他经历了炼狱似的人生,深切地感受了底层社会的痛苦、不幸,看透了美国豺狼社会的罪恶本质,非常的经历带给他非常的痛苦,却也令他“得到经验所能给他的一切世故人情”,换来了他特有的小说创作素材,造就了杰出的世界性作家。
欧•亨利善于综合自己所熟知的各种生活现象,并用小说中的人物来体现他对生活的理解。
他的小说题材广泛,内容丰富,思想深邃,从各个不同视角,真实、生动、深刻地反映了19世纪末20世纪初的美国社会现实面貌。
他的整个创作没有什么惊天动地的重大社会事件,也绝无波澜壮阔的生活画面,他所描写的都是现实生活中的侧面、局部甚至是反面,选用的则是普通生活中的细小琐事、平凡素材。
但作者有着丰富的社会经验和生活库存,以及新颖、锐利的眼力,善于以小见大,从平常的小事中反映出不平常的社会意义,从而能够在有限的场景里极自然地推出生活中最深刻的真实,使读者于管窥兹测中见到腾飞的龙、汹涌的波,达到不奇而奇之效。
他认为受注意的应当是纽约的“四百万”个普通人—纽约的基础,而不是那些被视为城市精华的、“四百个”脑满肠肥的、所谓的成功的上流人物。
他在自己的作品中充当起了小人物的代言人,诉说他们的苦辣酸甜,挖掘和歌颂他们的人情味和人性美,而对资产阶级上流人物,则进行了深刻的揭露和抨击,揭露和抨击社会生活中的不公平、不合理、不正常的现象。
因而,扬清击浊、褒美贬恶、歌颂人性世界中的真善美,抨击美国世界中违反人性的假恶丑,便成了他小说的总主题,表现出强烈的人性意识。
一、孜孜为利—摩天大厦“丛林中的孩子们的生存法则”作为一个年轻的国家,美国是个平民社会,没有什么天生就高人一等的王公贵族,衡量人们高低贵贱、成功与否的唯一尺度就是金钱,所以贫富就成了社会的主要矛盾。
而欧•亨利所处的时代正值美国由资本主义自由竞争阶段迈人垄断帝国主义阶段,“黄金时代”露出了“镀金时代”的真相,国内贫富尖锐对立,极少数资本寡头—“强盗大亨”成了“美国的实际主宰”。
美国并没有成为资产阶级革命家所描绘的“人人享有民主、自由、幸福权利”的天堂,却一变而为世界上“贫富鸿沟最深的国家之一,在那里一方面是一小撮卑鄙醒凝的沉溺于奢侈生活的亿万富翁,另一方面是千百万永远在饥饿线上挣扎的劳苦大众”。
当时拜金主义盛行,为了金钱,人人趋之若鹜,真可谓坑蒙拐骗样样齐全,贪污舞弊泛滥成灾,偷盗抢劫稀松平常。
只要能弄到钱,便是成功,根本无人问津金钱的来路。
人与人之间的关系,成了赤裸裸的金钱关系,人的心灵体系也为金钱所维系和异化。
与欧•亨利同时代的马克•吐温对此曾有过人木三分的评论:“在世界上任何地方,贫穷总是不方便的。
但只有在美国,贫穷是耻辱”。
欧•亨利对美国这个名利场的把戏也看得十分透彻,并对这个“金元帝国”的金钱崇拜进行了深刻的揭露、讽刺和批判。
作家笔锋所指,是美国大城市,因为“在大城市里,本性丧失得最快”。
大城市是“四百个”富豪的天堂,“四百万个”贫民的地狱,是罪恶的渊蔽,抓住了大城市,就能击中资本主义的要害。
欧•亨利的小说可谓刺向资本主义社会的一把看似小巧实则锋利无比的匕首。
在欧•亨利笔下,那些摩天大厦的“丛林中的孩子们”,一个个尔虞我诈,勾心斗角,惟利是图,损人利己,巧取豪夺,行的都是“丛林法则”,为的则是追金逐银。
华尔街的百万富翁原是靠抢劫、谋杀、吞赃的手段发迹,后又通过卑鄙手段操纵股票,把朋友剥夺得倾家荡产,他们的强盗逻辑是“一匹马驮不动两个人”,似乎一切权利和金钱都该归之所有,揭露了资本主义社会中,资本家就是强盗、投资商就是匪徒、百万富翁就是鱼肉他人的“鳌鱼”的实质((我们选择的道路》)。
已退休的肥皂大王“始终认为钱能通神”,凭借每天能调度上千万美元的财力,过问少爷“发动的太迟”的婚事,使纽约在三分钟内发生一次空前的交通堵塞事故,从而使得财神战胜了爱神,揭露了资本家勾心斗角、明抢暗夺、损人利己、危害社会的本质((财神与爱神》)。
抢、骗、偷,是资产阶级发财致富的手段;狡猾与奸诈、残暴与毒辣、冷酷与无情是他们成功的因素。
就连杀人放火犯,也耻与为伍,鸣冤叫屈说没有他们的罪孽深重((没有完的故事》)。
他们是“领有许可证的抢劫无产阶级的人”,不放过“能搜刮克扣的每一块钱”(《新天方夜谭》)。
欧•亨利小说题材中出现最多的当属骗子,这是大有用意、令人深思的。
因为这正是作者对身处其间的现实社会的总体的印象,是对当时整个历史时代的真实的写照,旨在向人们展示“文明社会”黑暗与滑稽的本质:在资本主义制度下,是非混淆,人妖颠倒,骗子、强盗当道,罪犯凶手发迹,资本家、上流人物则是隐身的、最合法的真正的骗子和强盗。
所谓的“慈善事业”,实际是最赚钱的营生(《慈善事业数学讲座》);而堪称成人之美的“婚姻介绍所”也成了投机赚钱,轻松取财兼玩弄别人感情于股掌的生财之道((精确的婚姻学》);分别“代表劳动力、贸易和资本”的三个不名一文的“贪心汉”聚会一起,自鸣得意的强盗抢来钱财,却被骗子骗走,骗子把骗来的钱转向金融家的企业投资,金融家却大搞买空卖空,把骗子的钱全部吞掉,真个是,“蝗螂捕蝉,黄雀在后”((黄雀在后》),“强中更有强中手”(《催眠术家杰甫•彼得斯》、(刮狼皮》)。
另外,对人性丑的批判,还表现在一些描写被金钱扭曲异化了人性的市民的作品中,借助这类滑稽荒诞的故事,欧•亨利深刻揭示出一个存在于西方社会中的重大、严肃的社会问题:物质文明的发展,却带来了芸芸众生精神上的极端空虚匾乏,包括家庭亲属成员在内的整个社会人际关系受到严重恶化、扭曲和异变,人与人之间仿佛隔着一堵坚厚无比的墙,横亘着一片茫茫沙漠那样,难以甚至根本无法理解、沟通,彼此孤独、隔绝乃至于互相敌视、仇视。
忙碌的经纪人成了赚钱的机器,忘掉了一切,上演了一出婚后求婚的丑剧((忙碌经纪人的浪漫史》);为了追富求贵,青年男女弄虚作假,出尽洋相,假扮演着富男贵女的角色,却弄巧成拙,断送了有望成为事实的好姻缘((华而不实》、(汽车等候的时候));原本有着草原主人纯真和清新天性的夫妻,一来到“高耸人云的公寓悬崖和大楼绝壁”的城市,成了“纽约岩洞的居民”,便没了人性,夫妻关系“变得麻木不仁”。
妻子爱宠犬胜过丈夫,丈夫却沦为狗的奴隶《俄底修斯和狗人);因为没钱,火气却盛,夫妇整天在空虚、无聊、打闹和敌对中混日子((回合之间》、(春天的先兆》);而另一些人则因此有热闹可看,且以此为乐,乐此不疲,一对市侩典型居然在看热闹的喜剧中相识、相爱、及至结婚,而更好笑更可悲的是他们竟然在自己的婚礼上,难以自持地加人到看热闹的人群中,结果,上演了一个被“挤扁踩烂”,一个“浑身是伤”悲剧((看热闹的喜剧》)。
通过这一类作品的创作,作者意在开掘更值得人们在哈哈大笑之后需要去思索的悲剧性内涵。
二、逆境施爱—夹缝中盛开的人性之花欧•亨利通过心细如尘的观察,一方面对丑恶的社会现实进行了无情地批驳,另一方面,作为来自社会底层的作家,他始终站在被压迫被剥削的底层人民一边,以现实主义的手法和人道主义的思想,塑造了为数可观的小人物的形象,反映他们在弱肉强食的法则下展转反侧、备受欺凌、饥贫无告的凄惨情景,并热情讴歌了他们身上人性的闪光,纯洁的爱情和友谊、自我牺牲、相濡以沫、同舟共济的人情味等,这和有钱人之间的金钱关系形成鲜明的对照。
作者在他们身上,追求着合乎人性观点的社会理想,使人们从铜臭四溢的华尔街闻到人情味的芬芳,在纽约摩天大楼的“森林”里看到了美丽的人性之花。
欧•亨利小说中感人至深的是在生活重压下落魄、挣扎的小人物,虽身处艰苦的求生环境,他们仍能对他人表现出真诚的爱,做出难能可贵的牺牲。
贫穷潦倒的老画家贝尔门,为了帮助青年女画家琼珊重树生的希望,打消她因藤叶片片凋落而日愈一日想死的“傻念头”,不顾年老体弱,于一个“凄风苦雨的夜里”,在琼珊窗口对面的墙壁画上了一片绿色的、永不凋落的藤叶,终于使琼珊战胜了死神,而老画家却因此被肺炎死神夺去了生命(《最后的常青藤叶》);贫贱夫妻为了向对方表达深沉的爱意,不惜牺牲自己最宝贵的东西,而使对方得到快乐和惊喜((麦琪的礼物》、(爱的牺牲》);为了掩护新婚姊妹的爱人逃脱警察的追捕,新娘机智巧妙地把误会和灾难引到自己新郎身上,无私地让自己的新郎在抗拒逮捕的搏斗中吃尽了苦头,为逃脱者赢得了时间,保护了新婚夫妇蜜月旅行的幸福(《新婚的姊妹们》)。
欧•亨利喜欢引用吉卜林(1865 -1936 )年的一句话:“西方是西方,东方是东方,它们永不会相遇”,但他所说的西方是指广阔自由、富有浪漫气息的美国西南部各州。
在他看来,西部大草原是“美国的希望”,“第二天堂”,它远离东部大都市文明的污染,没有染上金钱的铜臭,这里有清新的空气,芳香的泥土,勃发的活力。
离开草原或乡村,人们就会失去人性,而一旦返回大自然,美丽的人性之花,便会自由开放。
患有不治之症的病人,只要在这儿呆上一段时期,定然能够不药而愈((索托利牧场的卫生学》);这里人情醇厚,人们彼此信任,无有猜疑((活期贷款》、(划颈之交》);这里是爱情和幸福的温床,迷失于都市中的青年,在这儿可找到爱情和人生的幸福((牧场上的博皮普夫人》)。
作者把他的希望和快乐寄托在他心目的净土,梦幻中的伊甸园,心驰神往的极乐世界,神奇美丽的人性之邦—西部大草原。
可以说,西部牛仔小说表现了作者的理想主义追求,标志着欧•亨利创作的又一座文学丰碑。
对人性美的赞美,还包括那些在某种力量的感召下,所产生的良心的发现、感情的激发、爱的醒悟等人性的闪光。
在爱情的感召下,盗窃高手吉米决心放弃旧业,规矩做人,但为了救出意外反锁保险库中、生命岌岌可危的孩子,他冒着失去爱情的危险,“重操旧业”,面对改过自新的罪犯,侦探班也表现出很人性的一面,放弃了逮捕吉米的念头((重新做人》);杀人诈骗犯小利亚诺受美国领事的唆使和诱惑,冒充老绅士夫妇幼年走失的儿子,在老夫妇无微不至的爱护之下,人性得以复苏,尤其不忍心让刚刚重享天伦而精神焕发的老人,再次经受失去儿子的致命打击,断然与阴谋家领事决裂,表现了一定程度的人性色彩(《双料骗子》)。