《飘》中的南方绅士白瑞德的矛盾统一_英语论文

Unity of Opposites in Rhett as a Southern Gentleman in Gone with the Wind

摘要

在美国内战时期，崇尚奴隶制的南方是一个典型的父权社会。人们眼中的南方绅士是一家之主，有着绝对的控制权。他们热爱南方的庄园生活，追求高端的生活品质，尊重妇女，有着强烈的爱国主义情怀。但是，战争使得传统的男权社会道德观受到了挑战。他们开始对绅士的标准有了一个更深一步的认识与了解。《飘》中的男主人公白瑞德便是作者通过对南方文化的个人理解所展示的一个典型的南方绅士形象，但他又是一个充满矛盾的统一体。本文从白瑞德的矛盾性格中来分析他所表现出的绅士形象。他如鱼得水地行走在广大的社交圈中却内心包含孤独，他忠贞于美国南方却依旧叛逆地嘲笑南方传统制度，他为人们理性地分析战争局势却依然我行我素崇尚金钱与爱情。在众人眼中，白瑞德是一个万人皆知的投机商，一个伪君子，但经过战争的洗礼，白瑞德的绅士形象变得更加突出，即便他表现出种种对南方人民和文化的轻蔑，也无法掩盖他内心对南方的忠贞与归属感。

关键字：白瑞德；南方绅士；南方人；南方文化

Abstract 

During the Civil War, the South, as a slave-holding society, is typically patriarchal. The Southern Gentleman is regarded as the master of a family, who loves the plantation life in the South, and pursues the high quality, and thus is of high loyalty and responsibility to South. But the conception of Gentleman Spirit in the South changes because of the Civil War, and the Southerners begin to have a better understanding of it. The hero, Rhett Butler, is the typical image of Southern Gentleman whose unity of opposites, depicted by the author, expresses her own understanding of the Southern Culture. This thesis analyzes the contradictory characteristics of Rhett to show his gentleman spirit. Rhett is sociable but solitary, traditional but rebellious, rational but aggressive. His gentleman image becomes more prominent after the war, and the sense of national ascription will never be covered by his disparagement of southerners and the southern culture. 

Keyword: Rhett: Southern Gentleman: southerner: southern culture

Contents

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Literature Review 1

1.2 Research Questions 1

2. The Gentleman Spirit of the South in the Novel 3

3. Rhett as a Sociable but Solitary Southern Gentleman 5

3.1 Rhett’s Sociability in the Society 5

3.2 Rhett’s Solitude 5

4. Rhett as a Traditional but Rebellious Southern Gentleman 6

4.1 Rhett’s Traditional Attitudes 6

4.1.1 Loyalty to the South 6

4.1.2 Respect for Women 6

4.2 Rhett’s Rebellious Behaviors 7

4.2.1 Rhett’s Strong Opposition to the Old System 7

4.2.2 Rhett’s Influence on Scarlett’s Release from the Old System 7

5. Rhett as A Realistic but Aggressive Southern Gentleman 9

5.1 Rhett’s Realistic Attitudes 9

5.1.1 A Realistic Attitude towards the War 9

5.1.2 A Rational Attitude towards the Love 9

5.2 Rhett’s Aggressive Attitudes 10

5.2.1 Aggressiveness in Business 10

5.2.2 Passion for Love 10

6. Conclusion 12

References 13