前言:想要写出一篇令人眼前一亮的文章吗?我们特意为您整理了5篇葛朗台太太范文,相信会为您的写作带来帮助,发现更多的写作思路和灵感。
【关键词】葛朗台 行动描写 守财奴形象
行动描写是对人物在一定的环境和社会关系中的行为动作进行具体生动的描绘,它是反映人物思想、性格、心理等的有效手段之一。黑格尔曾经说:“能把个人的性格、思想和目的最清楚地表现出来的是动作,人的最深刻方面只有通过动作才能见诸现实。”在《守财奴》中,有关葛朗台的行动描写生动传神,给读者留下了极为鲜明深刻的印象,让人回味无穷。归纳起来,《守财奴》中有关葛朗台的行动描写有以下几个特点:
一、用不符合人物年龄的动作描写人物。课文在“抢夺梳妆匣”一节对葛朗台这样描写:“老头儿身子一纵,扑上梳妆匣,好似一头老虎扑上一个睡着的婴儿。”“老头儿”葛朗台已是76岁高龄,这样的年龄虽不是必然的老态龙钟,也定会显老气横秋。但是,当他看见查理留给女儿那个金匣子后,却是让人两眼放光的“一纵一扑”敏捷凶猛的动作,行为夸张怪诞,看上去与实际年龄极为不称。可是,这不符合人物年龄的动作却强烈地辐射着老葛朗台的一股占有欲。这一纵一扑的动作,形象而又巧妙地揭示出“老头儿”对金子的执著以及贪婪凶狠的性格特征,也让人感知了一个极端利己主义者和十足拜金主义者的丑恶嘴脸。
二、用人物反常的动作描写刻画人物。在“交回梳妆匣”一节中,“箍桶匠马上把梳妆匣扔在床上”,“他到密室去拿了一把路易来摔在床上”,“他一边说一边把钱拈着玩”……视财如命、贪婪成癖是“箍桶匠”葛朗台的主要性格特征。而在这里,读者看到他――一个资产阶级的暴发户对金子的态度却是“摔”、“扔”、“拈”。葛朗台这时的动作与他刚发现金匣子时“一纵一扑”的动作相比,是冷漠的、理智的,可愈是冷漠理智愈让人感觉反常。这里看似逆情悖理的反常的举动,是他唯恐太太死后失掉太太的财产,为了哄骗她们母女装出来的,是“吃不到葡萄说葡萄酸”心理活动的折射,是他心疼钱、舍不得钱的吝啬心理的别样表现。生活辩证法告诉我们:反常的举动,更能表现正常的情感,行为越反常,情感越正常。作者反常的动作描写,独辟蹊径,不落窠臼,真实刻画了占有狂箍桶匠扭曲的心态,收到了既出人意料之外,却又在情理之中的艺术效果。
三、用人物下意识的动作行为塑造人物。课文是这样描写葛朗台抢夺梳妆匣的:“老家伙想掏出刀子撬一块金板下来,先把匣子往椅子上一放。欧也妮扑过来想抢回,可是箍桶匠的眼睛老盯着女儿跟梳妆匣,他手臂一摆,使劲一推,欧也妮便倒在母亲床上。”这里,葛朗台“撬”、“盯”、“摆”、“推”一连串的动作,都是他下意识的行为,不是也不需要深思熟虑的。“下意识”,是指不知不觉、没有意识的心理活动,是有机体对外界刺激的本能反应。心理学认为,“下意识”是潜伏在意识之下的一种精神实质,能支配人的一切思想、行动。因为一看见金子葛朗台便会痴狂,所以会情不自禁地出现上述粗野的下意识动作。这里,动作描写细腻地表现了葛朗台爱金如命的占有狂。在葛朗台弥留之际,“神甫把镀金的十字架送到他的嘴边,给他亲吻基督的圣像,他却作了一个骇人的姿势想把十字架抓在手里……”这一个“抓”字是占有狂葛朗台临终看到金子的本能反应。这一细节性的动作描写,形神兼备地揭示了老葛朗台对金钱的强烈占有欲望至死也没有改变的畸形心态,也让人感叹贪欲具有多么大的爆发力!
四、用人物前后矛盾的动作表现人物性格。前后矛盾的动作主要表现在对女儿的态度上。葛朗台发现女儿把6000法郎的积蓄送给了查理,为此他怒不可遏,大发雷霆,把女儿囚禁在冷室,只给她冷水和面包,后又抢夺女儿的梳妆匣,把女儿逼得想自杀。当看到奄奄一息的太太时,葛朗台对女儿的态度是“他搂着她,拥抱她”。太太死后,葛朗台对女儿的态度是“他来搀了她去用午饭,几小时地望着她……”、“他热烈地、紧紧地拥抱她,使她几乎喘不过气来”。这里又是“搂”又是“搀”又是“拥抱”,葛朗台前后判若两人,这前后矛盾的举止,为的是诱骗女儿的财产继承权。对女儿巴结讨好、曲意逢迎、装模作样,是他贪婪执著、金钱至上的心理反应。“他热烈地、紧紧地拥抱她”是利用女儿的感情占了便宜,占有欲取得胜利后,欣喜若狂的逼真表演。这里的动作描写不仅表现出葛朗台爱财如命的特点,还透露出他欺诈狡猾虚伪的性格特征。
巴尔扎克(1799~1850),经历了法国近代史上一个动荡的时期(拿破仑帝国,波旁王朝,七月王朝)。大学毕业后巴尔扎克便进了律师事务所,但不久就不顾家庭反对,辞去工作专心写作。在一处贫民窟的阁楼上,巴尔扎克开始了作家生涯。为了生计,他为通俗小报写过一些光怪陆离的东西,开办过印刷厂。但这些活动不仅没有赢利,反而使巴尔扎克负债累累。但他并未消沉,在书房中布置了一座拿破仑的小像,并写下了激励自己一生的座右铭:“我要用笔完成他用剑所未能完成的事业。”巴尔扎克在生活中跌跌撞撞地前行,但也就在这碰撞中他认识了生活,而且比别人认识得更深刻。巴尔扎克留下的巨著《人间喜剧》包括91部作品,它们就是19世纪法国生活的一部百科全书。其中著名的篇章有:《高老头》《古物陈列室》《纽沁根银行》《幻灭》《农民》等,在短短20年内,他每年要写4~5部小说,每天伏案至少18个小时,《乡村医生》用了72小时,而长达几十万字的名著《高老头》竟三天内一气呵成。
【创作背景】
《欧也妮・葛朗台》是巴尔扎克最优秀的小说之一。据说是他与后来成为他妻子的俄国贵妇韩斯卡夫人热恋时的产物。初稿曾寄往遥远的俄罗斯,中途未曾遗失真是万幸。巴尔扎克也称此文为“最出色的画稿之一”。这部小说充分体现了他丰富的艺术实践和创作特色。
【艺术特色】
《欧也妮・葛朗台》以欧也妮的故事贯穿全书,但是突出的成就是塑造了既贪婪又吝啬的老葛朗台的形象。巴尔扎克用漫画式的夸张、真实的细节描写和个性化的语言,塑造了爱财如命、毫无亲情的吝啬的葛朗台。在金钱的导演下,葛朗台时而忧,时而喜;时而如虎,时而如羊;他的一言一行、一嗔一怒,都离不开他的最高任务:占有金子,保住金子。通过欧也妮的悲剧形象则控诉了拜金主义对社会的毒害。从艺术上看,作品在塑造人物、描写环境、叙述故事等方面取得了惊人的成就。精细入微的环境描写,反映了时代风貌,生动再现了社会各个层面的生活,可以说是整个法兰西历史的一个真实断面。另外,作品结构紧凑,步步深入,一气呵成,各线索之间互相联系,显得跌宕有致。行文如滚滚洪流,直泻而下,笔势酣畅,具有浓厚的抒情意味。这部小说以一部批判现实主义的杰作震撼着每一位读者,在法兰西文学史上具有独特魅力。
对于巴尔扎克本人来讲,《欧也妮・葛朗台》也是他小说创作的一次飞跃。葛朗台的形象已成为世界文学人物长廊中四大吝啬鬼之一而流传后世。
不管他愿意与否,也不管他同意与否,《欧也妮・葛朗台》这部庞大而又奇特的作品的作者,在他不知不觉之中,加入了革命作家的强大阵营。巴尔扎克朝着目标勇往直前,他紧紧地抓住现代社会。他从所有人身上都抽出某种东西来,他写出一些人的幻想,另一些人的希望,这些人的呼声,那些人的假面。他搜索恶习,解剖。他发掘和探查人、灵魂、心地、肺腑、头脑以及每个人身上都深藏着的奥秘。
――《巴尔扎克传》
【故事梗概】
葛朗台是法国索漠城一个最有钱、最有威望的商人。1789年法国大革命时,葛朗台已经是个富裕的箍桶匠了。拿破仑执政时期,葛朗台当上区长,还得到拿破仑颁发的荣誉团十字章。后来他又从丈母娘、外婆、外公处得到三笔遗产,成为州里“纳税最高”的人物,由原来只有2000法郎的商人变为拥有1700万法郎的大富翁。
由于吝啬和爱财,葛朗台在家庭生活中是个锱铢必较的人物。为了省钱,全家的衣服都由妻子、女儿缝制。她们整天做着女红,女儿已23岁了,葛朗台根本还没想到过要让她成亲。家里杂务由女仆拿侬包办,她“像一条忠心的狗一样保护主人的财产”。
葛朗台在巴黎的同胞兄弟破产,准备自杀前,打发儿子查理来投奔伯父。查理比欧也妮小一岁。欧也妮自出生以来,没有离开过索漠城一步。初见堂弟,她被迷得神魂颠倒。这使公证人和银行家都忧心忡忡起来,他们担心欧也妮会被堂兄弟查理夺去。
欧也妮偷看了查理写给朋友的信件,更加引起她对破产堂弟的同情。她把自己全部积蓄6000法郎送给堂弟作盘缠。查理回赠给她一个母亲留给他的镶金首饰盒。他们私订了终身。欧也妮表示一定要等他回来,查理也表示了同样的决心,便启程到印度去了。
1827年,葛朗台已经82岁了,他患了风瘫症,不得不让女儿了解财产管理的秘密。他不能走动,但坐在转椅里亲自指挥女儿把一袋袋的钱秘密堆好。当女儿将储金室的房门钥匙交还他时,他把它藏在背心口袋里,不时用手抚摸着。临死前,他要女儿把黄金摆在桌面上,他一直用眼睛盯着,好像一个才知道观看的孩子一般。神甫来给他做临终法事,把一个镀金的十字架送到他唇边亲吻,葛朗台见到金子,就做出一个骇人的姿势,想把它抓到手。这一下努力,便送了他的命。最后他唤欧也妮前来,对她说:“把一切照顾得好好的!到那边来向我交账!”说完就死了。
葛朗台死后,欧也妮富有而孤单。对她来说财富并不是一种安慰,她需要的是温暖和爱情。7年过去了,查理都连个音讯也没有。查理在印度发了财。人口贩卖、放高利贷、偷税走私等,只要能发财,什么都做。他心狠手辣,贪婪到了极点。还和侯爵小姐订了终身。他写信给欧也妮,寄还6000法郎的赠款,外带2000法郎的利息。
查理无情的行为吓坏了欧也妮,她精神上受到极大的刺激。最后,她答应嫁给公证人的儿子初级裁判所所长特・篷风,可就在他当选法院院长第8天便离开人世。欧也妮33岁守了寡,她用150万法郎偿清了叔父的债务,让堂弟查理过着幸福、名誉的生活,自己则幽居独处,过着虔诚慈爱的生活,并“挟着一连串的善行义举向天国前进”。
【人物性格】
1、葛朗台:贪婪、吝啬、狡猾
贪婪 “看到金子,占有金子,便是葛朗台的执著狂。”当查理为了父亲的死而大哭时,葛朗台无情地说:“可是这孩子没有出息,把死人看得比钱还重。”当他得知欧也妮把自己的积蓄送给了查理后,竟然将自己唯一的骨肉打入了冷宫,直到从公证人那得知女儿将继承妻子的遗产时,才与欧也妮言归于好,为的是将欧也妮应得的那份算在自己账上。在葛朗台身上,人的正常情感已经荡然无存。对金钱的贪欲使他成了冷酷的恶魔,甚至弥留之际还关心他的金子。
吝啬 对金钱的追逐欲、占有欲使葛朗台变成了金钱的奴隶。每一顿饭的面包、食物,每天要点的蜡烛,他都要亲自分发,一点也不能多。当他的侄子从巴黎来到他家时。他竟自己亲自下厨,为的是节省食物。欧也妮为堂弟在饭桌上多放几块糖和一些葡萄,他就用霹雳般的目光瞪着女儿说:“再不阻止的话,她们为了你要把索漠城抢光呢,侄儿。”他的吝啬使他的妻子过早谢世,女儿也失去了幸福,终生过着寂寞的生活。
狡猾 为了更好地控制金钱、榨取金钱,口吃和耳聋是葛朗台狡猾的典型表现。他利用这套本领,在生意上让敌人不耐烦,逼得对方老是替他这方面打主意,而忘掉了他自己的利益。平时耳聪目明、口齿清楚的葛朗台,一到关键时刻就变得耳聋口吃,装疯卖傻兜圈子,把自己的思想藏起来。
形象意义:巴尔扎克指出了发财的欲望怎样使葛朗台心灵空虚,禽兽的本能又怎样在他身上蔓延并把他身上人类的感情摧残殆尽。对金钱的贪婪吝啬使他成了吝啬鬼中的吝啬鬼,他的发迹正是资产阶级暴发户的血腥罪恶史。
2、欧也妮:渴望爱情,淡漠金钱
热恋中人从抠门里品出浪漫
在何欢眼中,阿提勉强能跻身“第二眼美男”行列,长得干净,穿着体面,待人诚恳,不抽烟不喝酒更不赌博,和何欢相亲时偶尔还会羞涩一把。她最抵抗不了男人露出的这种三分纯真。
恋爱关系确认,男友接女友下班的戏码自然每天上演。两家公司相距7个公交站的距离,因为比何欢早下班一个小时,阿提通常都选择步行前往。
每天步行的结果是何欢不得不在下班后继续加班半小时。时间长了,她有点熬不住,“为什么不坐公交车啊?”
阿提羞涩地一笑:“走路可以锻炼身体,而且下班高峰期万一遇到塞车,不是让你等更久。”
何欢又被这羞涩的一笑冲昏了头脑。好几天后才惊觉自己被男友的回答带偏了话题,她不是应该理直气壮地要求对方“那就更应该下班就挤公交,早点到我公司楼下等我”吗?
恋爱中的人只要在一起就好,阿提不安排购物消费吃大餐,何欢也乖巧地不提。于是下班后的约会路线不是往东就是往西:从何欢单位往东走4站路,是公园;往西走5站路,是个游乐场。
在公园里看老人家们锻炼身体是免费的,在游乐场看小朋友玩耍也是免费的。何欢一边评论一边说,这真有点“我们在桥上看风景,却点缀了别人风景”的情致。在被荷尔蒙迷了眼的那几个月,何欢能从阿提的任何举止中看到浪漫和体贴,哪怕是男友买的一个红薯。
压马路压饿了,阿提会体贴地买个煎肉饼或者烤红薯,小情侣在风中将滚烫的饼或红薯小口小口地分而食之。何欢自拍下这画面,小清新范儿地发在微博上:遇见对的人,吃什么都甜,有多冷都不怕。
省到这种程度真极品也
压了半年马路,何欢决定和阿提结婚。何欢妈在考察过未来女婿后,很赞成女儿的决定。自己女儿是个月光族,就该嫁个勤俭族的好青年。
但勤俭过头也让人吃不消。
夏天,何欢妈来女儿家避暑,顺便负责伙食,何欢每月给她一千元的伙食费。妈的到来结束了小两口饥一顿饱一顿的苦逼青年生活,每天回家都能吃上热饭热菜。
热饭热菜的影响力太牛逼了,阿提连中午都要不辞辛劳地回家,匆匆吃完饭又匆匆赶回公司上班。天天如此,给丈母娘造成巨大压力。她私下和何欢商量:“能不能让阿提别每天中午都回来?我每周一、三要参加社区老年中心的活动,因为阿提要回来,我那几天中午都要来回跑,人老了,累啊。”
大热的天,何欢看阿提来回奔波也觉着累,可老公的表情清白无辜,“我喜欢吃妈做的饭啊。”
何欢如今已能清楚地区分“节俭”和“抠门”,她冷笑一声:“你是想省午饭钱吧?”
阿提被看穿,习惯性露出招牌羞涩表情,“在公司吃一顿至少要10块钱,回来就那点车费,来回也才三块钱。而且反正咱们交了伙食费。”
下一句他没敢说出来,但何欢猜也能猜到――“不吃白不吃”。真是令她恨得牙痒痒。
怎么能节约到我妈头上
何欢部门大开小金库,一人补了500元高温费。晚上吃饭时,她顺手把钱给了妈。又过了几天,想起该交伙食费了,何欢顺口问妈:“阿提把伙食费给你没有?”
妈说给了。何欢忽然灵光一闪,追问:“给了多少?”
“五百啊,加上那天你给我的五百,刚好。”
何欢张了张嘴,人怒到极点还真是什么都说不出来了。
阿提人是不错。对老婆体贴忠贞,顾家,工作也认真,这些优点是可以抵消抠门的副作用,可如今他竟然连给自己妈的伙食费也要省!一个男人能抠门到这种程度,他是觉得没安全感处处防着,还是太把一家人当一家人看了啊?
因为被踩到底线,以前的琐碎不满都被放大成了“罪证”:比如家里的水电费和物管费说好是一人负担一月的,可他能为了银行那几厘钱的利息拖到不能再拖了才交:比如那次在外面请客吃饭,付账时他用手机里的计算器算了三遍,还为了米饭是一块钱一碗还是两块钱一碗和服务员计较:还有结婚都一年了,竟然不带老婆看一场电影,对着电脑看“枪版”像占了多大便宜似的;甚至能干出天天晚上去超市和大妈们抢打折菜的事,太丢脸了!
舍不得为老婆花钱,何欢能忍,反正钱都在存折里,是共同财产。可节约到丈母娘头上,天王老子都要发飙!
抠门的怕耍横的
何欢真是怀念那个“想买就买,要买得豪爽”的自己,为了阿提她改变了多少?因为顾忌阿提的脸色,曾经的月光女神逛街少了,出门玩耍少了,回家开灯都养成“亮了客厅就熄灭卧室”的习惯,整一个抠门大婶形象。其实月光又怎么了,她就不信阿提会因为自己刷爆信用卡和她闹离婚。
疯狂购物让何欢的灵魂充实了,阿提的脸色一天比一天发青,但他挑不出刺。何欢给自己买衣服时也会给他买,买回的零食里有一半都是他喜欢的,团购回的大餐优惠券都是情侣餐,刷卡分期付款买的相机是送他的生日礼物,难道他能抱怨老婆太记得自己的喜好太照顾自己了?
11月1日,家里突然停电了。打电话到电力公司咨询,答复是“10月份没交电费”。10月该何欢负责缴费,“但是我的钱都拿去还信用卡了,没有钱交,后来就忘了。”看着她一脸比自己还无辜的表情,阿提的后牙槽都磨酸了,“老婆,钱要用在刀刃上!”
可哪里才是刀刃呢?何欢继续装无辜,是不是火山地震泥石流以及火星撞地球才算呢?
阿提知道老婆是故意的,她就是看不惯自己节约,就是想和自己对着干。每次某小国挑衅某超级大国时,安理会都怎么说的?“大家不要生气,坐下来好好谈,用谈判解决争端啊。”
存折不能兑付的幸福
阿提拿出纸笔,画了一个简单的账表。每月收入、开销明细都在里面。“你看,我们每个月的收入除开各项开销,根本存不够以后养孩子的钱,我们退休以后的退休金绝对很低,所以还要存买商业养老保险的钱,还有父母以后生病要准备的大额紧急用款……”他相信何欢懂自己的潜台词:我们没有钱按照你的消费习惯来经营生活。
何欢惊讶地看着阿提,她只知道他像葛朗台一样拼命存钱,为了防止自己偷花存款连密码都不告诉她,原来他已经计划到30年后去了。感动之余她又有些好笑,拿过阿提画的表在纸背面画了另一个表格:“我先道歉,像以前那样月月光是我的不对。但是你能听听我的想法吗?”何欢注视着激动的阿提,“首先,说好给父母多少钱就是多少,如果你发了奖金要额外给你爸妈钱,我绝对不说二话。这是孝道的原则。”
“然后,在你的消费计划上稍微宽松一点,如果没有必须的大额开销,每年能省下至少8000元。我的建议是存一部分用一部分。”
她一笔一笔继续写出来。相机5000元,可以用五年;大衣1000元,可以穿至少三年;每年全家旅游费4000元,“这4000元换回的美好回忆,是可以享受一辈子的。”
阿提陷入思考中。他们从没讨论过如何消费才是最合理的问题。何欢为他改变了自己的消费习惯,他理所当然认为这是因为自己的想法是对的缘故。如今,何欢却告诉他:你的想法已经不是节俭而是自私了,你对未来太悲观,怎么就能确定以后的收入会和现在一样?就不能越来越好?
Grandet is the background of this thesis. From analysis of the major role in Eugenie Grandet-Grandet, this thesis introduces Americans’ outlook on money. It points out Grandet reflects the phenomenon in America. From historic and philosophical perspectives, the Frenchmen helped Americans win the War of Independent, and built a close relationship with Americans. The Frenchmen brought their outlook on money to America. The French immigrants worked together and created American culture which was blending of French cultures under new circumstance. It influenced the American’s outlook on money. Grandet reflects phenomenon in modern American society. In Eugenie Grandet, Grandet was a materialist and a lover of money. He considered money as his life. To some extent, money is even much more valuable than his life. Just for money, he sacrificed daughter’s happiness, and sold his soul. Meanwhile, it is believed that some Americans are the lovers of money. In American’s mind, the material and money are very important. They are obsessive with money very much. However, everyone should consider one thing from two sides. In this thesis: the first place, they should have a basic recognition about the outlook on money, the definition of money, and reasons that influenced on Americans; the next place, this thesis should analyze the advantages and disadvantages of outlook on money. At last, this thesis points out the methods to deal with the disadvantages of the outlook on money.
Key Words
Eugenie Grandet; Grandet; money; Americans; outlook on money; America
摘 要
本文以葛朗台为背景,通过对葛朗台这一角色的分析,引出当代美国人的金钱观。而葛朗台现象的确反映了美国人的金钱观。从历史和哲学的角度,笔者了解到法国人曾帮助美国人取得独立战争的胜利,并建立了亲密关系,与此同时,法国人将自己本国的金钱观带给了美国人,两国的文化交流也进一步的扩大,并对美国人的金钱观带来了巨大的影响。而小说中的葛朗台是一个典型的金钱、物质主义者。他视金钱如生命,在一定程度上说,金钱甚至高于他自己的生命,他可以为金钱牺牲女儿的一生幸福,可以为金钱出卖自己的灵魂。而就此分析当今美国社会,作为世界最发达的国家,拥有世界最多的财富,而在美国人的价值观中却有一条不可取代的物质、金钱主义。但看问题不能只看一面,应从多方面进行分析,因而本文我们应该正确对待美国人的金钱观。首先让我们对当代美国人金钱观有一个初步的认识,知道美国人的金钱观是什么,在什么样的条件下产生。进而从正负两面分析金钱观带来的利与弊,最终指出如何树立正确的金钱观。
关键词
《欧也妮.葛朗台》; 葛朗台;金钱;美国人;金钱观;美国
Introduction
Eugenie Grandet is a famous French novel,written by Balzac, whose characters are Grandet, his daughter, and Charles. Grandet are the representatives of greed and money. He is obsessive with money. He represents some of the greedy Americans, though Eugenie Grandet is a famous French novel. And the Americans can learn it from historical and philosophical perspectives. From history perspective, they learn that France has a close relationship with America. The French immigrants worked together and created American culture which was blending of French cultures under new circumstance. The Frenchmen’s outlook on money influenced American’s. And from philosophical perspective, they learn that everything has a connection in the world, so they cannot separate one thing from another.
Many people say that money is the root of evil. However, every coin has its two sides; they can analyze the function of money from two sides. It’s a common knowledge that everyone likes money and needs money. Without money, they cannot buy food, clothes and other daily necessities. Without money, they cannot go to school, go to cinema or other places. In my thesis, it analyzes the disadvantages and advantages of the outlook on money, and gives the methods for dealing with the disadvantages of the outlook on money in appropriate way. And show them that money is just for better life.
Ⅰ. The Introduction of the Major Roles in Eugenie Grandet
Many people consider Balzac to be the greatest of all novelists. Eugenie Grandet, his spare, classical story of a girl whose life is blighted by her father’s hysterical greed, goes a long way to justifying that opinion.
For better understanding of the novel, there are three people they need deep analyses. They are Grandet, his daughter-Eugenie and Charles.
Firstly, this thesis puts their emphasis on Grandet.
Grandet was one of the central roles in the novel. He was terribly greedy. He was the representative of greed and money. In his mind, money was everything, and he could not live in the world without money. He had a strong desire to possess money, though he had an abundant of money. He always left himself in a back room, and appreciated money for a long time. When he was dying, he asked his daughter to put money on the table, and money could make him feel warm.
In order to collect money, he lost human nature. He considered no love was in the world, and money is even much more valuable than his life. For example, Grandet had a servant, who had worked for 30 years. But he never received any gift from Grandet, except one old watch.
Though Grandet was a Christian, but actually he was not a real one. In his opinion, the existence of God was for his need. For him, money was real God and all the hope.
Compared with Grandet, his daughter was very kind and humane. She considered money as a method for helping others. She devoted her whole life to serving the people. And she had done a lot of public works. For example, she had built one restroom, eight primary schools and one library; she used money to help those who need it.
Lastly, they should put their attention on Charles. He was born in a rich family and spoiled. The turning point in his life was to do business abroad. The change of life condition made his moral standard and value concept change. He became a very self-fish man. He wanted to become rich. In order to possess money, he gave up his true love, and pursued a nobleman’s daughter. To some extent, his outlook on money was similar to Grandet’s. Both of them were materialists and the lovers of money.
II.Grandet Phenomenon in America
Eugenie Grandet is the novel of France. And many people consider that there is a big distance between their cultures: the French culture and the American culture, so the major role in Eugenie Grandet-Grandet cannot reflect the American society. However, this thesis considers the two countries’ people have great cultural communication. And it analyzes the cultural communication from two sides: the history and the philosophy.
From the historical perspective, they learn that the Frenchmen and the Americans had cultural communication long ago. For example, the War of Independent in the U.S, without the help of France, however, the Americans would not have won the day. The hope of such aid was one important reason why Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776, for European states would not interfere so long as the colonies still recognized the English kings. Agents sent secretly to France were able to procure clothing and muskets. Inpidual Frenchmen, served as volunteers in the American army. The great victory of Saratoga in 1777, made possible by gunpowder received from France, seemed to assure the final triumph of the American cause. France now recognized the independence of the United States and formed an open alliance with Congress in January 1778. The new alliance enabled Congress to borrow an immense sum of money from France. French troops were sent to take part in the war and they fought to the end at York town. France also induced Spain to make war on England in 1779. After the Americans won the war, the Frenchmen presented the Statue of Liberty to Americans. The Frenchmen built close relationship with Americans. And many Frenchmen immigrated into America for pursuing money, business, and happiness. To some extent, the French outlook on money influenced the American’s.
From the philosophical perspective, they learn that everything has a connection in the world, so they cannot separate one thing from another. From Eugenie Grandet, they know that Grandet is the representative of money. However, when they mention Americans, the majority of people consider Americans as materialists and the lovers of money. Pursuing money has really become a key part in the American life and in a very important position. In one survey in America, there are 89 percent agreed that their society is much too monetary, 74 percent said love of money is a serious social problem. In their life, they believe money is bound to come true, and money is everything.
However, in the Unites states, there are still a lot of people who are kind and warm-hearted. They give their money to help others. They are the God’s presents. Just for private donation, it is not just the riches that donate in American society. In fact, a majority of the USA’s population contributes to charitable causes, even from the middle-class and the working classes. In this point, they are different from Grandet. They are not the rich men, but they are warm-hearted. What they have done is the same as Grandet’s daughter did.
So this thesis should have deep analyses of Grandet phenomenon in America, which help us understand the Americans’ outlook on money.
III.The Americans’ Outlook on Money
A. Relevant Information
Firstly, they should have a deep understanding of money. From the Oxford English dictionary, they know that the word “money” has two definitions: 1. Means of payment, especially corns and banknotes, given and accepted in buying and selling. 2. Wealth; total value of somebody’s property. However, in modern American society, money doesn’t just mean cash, dollar bills and coins. The United States is becoming a cashless society quickly. Nowadays, checks and credits cards work just as well as “real money”, if not better. A checking account has become almost a necessity for most Americans. Stores accept checks drawn on local banks as payment for purchase. Even teenagers have their own credit cards in modern America. This “plastic money” allows a person spending free. But it also gets them into a lot of debts. Just for so many types of “money” and different usages, to some extent, the modern Americans are changing their outlook on money. They make most of Americans think that money is not all, but it is most of all.
Can money buy happiness? Many Americans think so. Americans believe life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness have a certain connection. And what does the pursuit of happiness mean? For many, it means pursuing money. Success-oriented Americans often measure people’s worth by how much they have. For that reasons, keeping up with the Joneses has become almost a fulltime occupation. In the United States, not all Americans are rich, but most concern about money. They have a nationally representative survey of active Americans. They have interviewed more than 150 people from various faiths and occupations in greater depth. Their responses provide Americans have deepest obsession of money. “Money is regarded as a means for attaining our possessions.” When asked how important “having a beautiful home, a new car, and other nice things” was to them, the data show 78 percent of the people said “very important” or “fairly important”, while only 22 percent said “not very important”. The responses were similar when people were asked about the importance of being able to travel for pleasure, wearing nice clothes, and eating out at expensive restaurants. In conclusion, money is a main part in modern American life. The American’s outlook on money decides on what kind of life they want to have.
B. The Reasons for the Americans’ Outlook on Money
Why do Americans emphasize the important of money? They should consider the question from four sides:
Firstly, the materialism is one of reasons for the outlook on money. America is a society in which workers must buy and sell to live. Every part of life becomes a commodity, something to be bought and sold, whether it is a computer, the latest automobile, technological skills, or our ability to work. The media bombard people with advertisement. Commercials interrupt TV and radio programs with catchy appeal to the Americans to go out and buy. Shopping has almost replaced baseball as the national pastime. The Americans were induced by those factors. And the main way to achieve them is money. For example, Margarat Anderson, an accountant who works in a large firm on the west coast, expressed it well when she say: “we overemphasize on material goods very much, like computers. We always have to add things to our lives. We buy things just because of how beautiful and useful when we see it from TV, advertisement. It’s easy to allow money to corrupt us.” However, those advertisements not only have influence on the adults, but also have a great impart on the young people. The young people have become more material, and obsessive of money. In one survey on the Internet, 90 percent of parents agreed that children today wanted too many material things.” And 75 percent agreed that advertisement was corrupting our basic outlook on money. For example, Teri silver, a college student who studies at the New York, said she was silenced by the greed she saw the beautiful clothes from TV’s advertisement. For buying beautiful clothes, she has a deepest love of money. She thinks money is the only access to help her own these clothes.
Secondly, the competition makes the Americans have a deep obsession of money. This “land of plenty” has long enjoyed abundant material and human resources. It has the world’s largest, richest, and most productive economy. And people have gotten well to material wealth. Besides that, Americans believe that everyone has an equal opportunity to success. People aren’t abandoned by social class. They can work hardly to improve their status. Many immigrants reach this land of opportunity just for seeking a better future. This belief in equal opportunity has produced a spirit of competition. It likes a race to the top of the success ladder. However, if you want to be on the top of the success ladder in the United States, the first thing you have to do is collecting money. Especially for nowadays’ American situation, the United States stands as the world’s most prominent power, the Americans are living in a country both the military investment and the foreign policy achievement. However, now America is facing a series of challenges in the world economy. It was once the dominant exporting nation, but its competitive superiority was lost gradually in the 1970s and 1980s. America‘s biggest challenge is coming from the Pacific rim countries, such as Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. American leadership and research in technology and its vast agricultural industry are being threatened by other nations. And the relative importance of American economy in the world has declined. The situation of the American economy tells Americans that they must have enough money, only in this way can they succeed, and they can still keep the leadership of the world.
Thirdly, Immigrants have put their outlook on money into the modern American’s mind. Their outlooks on money have great influence on their descendants in America. It is a false opinion to say that the United States has no history, or not much of it, if you are to understand the modern nation. She has her own history, full of features, and differences for any other nation, and its history of how America has become what she is today. On the morning of Oct.12, 1942, Christopher Columbus stopped ashore on an island in what has since become known as America. The arrival of his ships in the Western Hemisphere was one of the pivotal events in the world history. It opened up a new world for Europeans and initiated the spread of Western civilization to a new hemisphere. Large number of immigrants, not only from England, but also from France, Germany and many other countries, poured in. The new land also opened its doors to welcome those seeking political and religious freedom as well as the adventurer, the persecuted, the fortune seekers, and others. They all adopted the English language but their own culture did not disappear completely. These immigrants worked together and created American culture which was blending of European cultures under new circumstance. However, most immigrant groups came to America for full of hopes and dreams of the “promised land”, and sought their fortune in a new country which was thought to have unlimited resources. Because the immigrants had the aim to earn money, they cared about money very much. Money became a very important part in their life. They taught their children about the important of money.
Fourthly, the religious faith has great impact on the outlook on money. Religion is a very important part of life in America, just as some westerners comment that religion shapes the western character and culture. In America, the constitution may well establish a separation between church and state, but rare is the citizen who walks into a voting booth without a particular set of religious or moral outlooks, outlooks that often affect me outcome of a political race. On the whole, we cannot deny the influence of religion on American life. Meanwhile, religion is national. Over 90 percent of Americans say that they believe in God. For example, the Southern Baptist Church has sixteen million members, the largest Protestant group in the U.S. Over 40 percent go to the church or synagogue at least once a week. Half of the American Protestants are active church members. Even American money reminds them of religion. The words “In God We Trust” are stamped on the coins. The church encourages Americans to be less materialistic and monetary. When journalists write of greed, 71 percent agree that being greedy is a sin against God. Religious faith provided earlier generations of Americans with a moral language that help curb the pursuit of money. We should agree that religious faith is a source of wisdom and guidance in some degree. Just for the religious faith, it helps Americans believe that money is not everything. That means money is not all.
C. Advantages of the Americans’ Outlook on Money
Though the Americans’ outlook on money emphasize on money very much, it is beneficial to the modern Americans. Once an English writer said: “lack of money is the source of the evil.” Though money cannot bring happiness, no money will produce greater pain, and the happiness cannot exist. That is to say money maybe regarded as a means for attaining other things, rather than as an end in itself. Most of Americans draw a tight connection between money and other things. The outlook on money can help American achieve a lot of things. Freedom, for instance, is one of our deepest values, and in one survey, 71 percent agreed that “having more money means having more freedom.” Or 76 percent agreed that “having money gives me a good feeling about myself. The survey also showed that worrying about not having enough money is significantly relating with not feeling good about oneself.
Meanwhile, if they can consider money as a mean for helping others, it can also help Americans to have a successful life. And the outlook on money makes Americans do many charitable donations. We notice that good works and organized charity were an integral part of the American’s characters. The Americans are obsessive with self-improvement and earn money have been accompanied by an urge to improve their life. For example, the president of Amway, Doug De Vos who use money in proper position, and spends his money on helping others. He does a lot of charities, which can help their company have a good reputation. And in his families, they believe when people have redundant money, they should spend their money on appropriate position, such as charity, which can help their company have a better condition. In the United States, about 90 percent of people are confident in the products of Amway. Meanwhile, the outlook on money makes some people work hardly. They believe that money is one access to success. In the way to pursue money, they attain more than money. They learn wide knowledge, the way to treat others and so on. Money makes them own a better life.
However, it is not just the rich that donate in American society. In fact, a majority of the U.S population contributes to charitable causes, even from the middle-class and the working class. The following are a lot of data and examples to prove it. Since 1990, charitable donations by inpiduals in the USA have grown by more than half, from 110 billion to 180 billion USD in 2003. About 70% to 80% of Americans contribute annually to at least one charity. According to the American Association of Fundraising Counsel Trust for Philanthropy’s annual “Giving USA” report released June 13, 2005. Americans gave nearly 250 billion USD to charities in 2004, a 3.7 percent increased over the 241 billion dollar contributed in 2003. Meanwhile, a lot of funds are built in the United States. For example, the Carnegie Corporation of New York created in 1911 by Andrew Carnegie, the foundation award, some 80 million dollar in grant annually. It focuses on four area- educations, international peace and security, international development, and strengthening US democracy. Grant recipients include the Affair Fund, and the Harvard University. The Rockefeller Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest private charitable organizations. It supports grants, fellowships, and conferences for programs that tries to identify and alleviate need and suffering around the world.
D. Disadvantages of the Americans’ Outlook on Money
Just for love of money, the Americans have caused serious social problems. A part of moral monsters cheat others for money. Under the attractive of money, they want to gain the most money from the customers. They often produce violent film, games, or bad quality products to gain money. There is a warning from one newspaper: the adults should be alert to companies that sell violent films to their children. With the extensive use of cable TV, video tapes and computers, children have more opportunities to see bloody violent scenes. These things have made youth believe that the gun can “solve” all problems. It is a serious social problem. An investigative reports issued on August 1, 2001 by a U.S non-governmental watchdog group- Parents Television Council (PTC) said that violence in television programs from 8 to 9 p.m. even CBS, regarded as the “cleanest” TV network, had 3.2 scenes of violence and abusive language per hour. International Herald Tribune reported that one American youth could see 40, 000 murder cases and 200, 000 other violent acts from the media before the age of 18. I surprise of such a big number. As they know that the young people are the hope of a nation, however, nowadays, they are in danger. For example, on March 7, 2005, a 15 years old student killed two and wounded 13 fellows’ students at Santana High School in California. Two days later, on March 7, 2005, a 14 years old girl student shot dead a schoolmate of hers in the cafeteria of a Roman Catholic school in Pennsylvania. Just for gain money from media, it has caused a high rate of crime.
We can hardly connect money with election. However, the view of money can destroy a democratic election in the United States. Election, especially for the election of president is very important in a country. If the election isn’t justice, the people would suffer the pain under the tyranny. It is believed that America is a democracy country and the process of election is justice. However, we are wrong; there are still some people use money to buy politic right and money. Money become the evil, money destroyed the American’s democracy. The federal and state governments have been taken over by those who are able to provide multi-million dollar election campaign funds. Wealthy person run for office or they “buy” their own candidates, then these elected officials carry out the programs of those who put them into power. The most visible example is Enron’s chairman, Keylay, giving 2 billion dollars to the Bush campaign and then allow by the Bush administration to manipulate the energy markets to make billions.
III. Solutions to the problems of the Americans’ Outlook on Money
In fact, money is a world language. Whether Chinese or American, money is just money. The money’s value is decided by human, so how to deal with money and the outlook on money are very important. What does the average America family do with money at present? For most of families, the first thing they have to do is to manage it. Families often keep careful financial records. Many of them spend their income in a planned way. They often plan for basic expenses like housing, food, clothes, and medical bills. On average, Americans save around 5 percent of their income. All of these conducts are appropriate. However, they need to find better methods for dealing with the disadvantages of the outlook on money.
Firstly, the Americans should remember God in their hearts. They believe God. And the Bible teaches them that enjoy their life. So they should remember that earning money is just for a happy life. Once upon a time, a black singer said: “though I sing the folk songs in the street and only can earn little money, they make me feel happy. I do the thing I really like.”
Secondly, the Americans should earn money through the proper way. Some TV program does investigations about the methods for earning money among millionaires. The following are the crucial factors in the success.
1. Honesty. They must be honest to everyone; only in this way can they gain other’s trusts.
2. Ability of self-restraint. We need control ourselves feelings and conducts. Don’t break the law.
3. Hard work. We need work hardly, and learn wide knowledge.
In conclusion, the Americans should remember that earning money is just for happy life. They shouldn’t consider money as everything. Only in this way can they be the real rich men.
Conclusion
Eugenie Grandet, Balzac’s spare, classical story of a girl whose life is blighted by her father’s hysterical greed, goes a long way to justify that opinion. In Eugenie Grandet, Grandet is the representative of greed and money.
The major role in Eugenie Grandet-Grandet reflects phenomenon in modern American society. From a great amount of information, I know that some Americans are obsessive with money very much, and they are the lovers of money. For earning money, they break the law. However, meantime, there are still a lot of people doing charities with money. They consider money as a means for helping others. As a larger sense, what they have done is the same as Grandet’s daughter did. So they should have a deep analysis of the Grandet phenomenon in America.
However, why do Americans emphasize the importance of money? We should consider the question from four sides: materialism, competition, immigrants, religion. All the factors influenced the outlook on money. For example, just for the religious faith, it helps Americans believe that money is not everything. That means money is not all. It helps us understand the Americans’ outlook on money.
Finally, under the analysis of the Americans’ outlook on money, this thesis points out the methods to deal with the disadvantages of the outlook on money. The Americans should regard earning money as a method for perfect life. Money is not the final objective in their life. There are still so many valuable things that need them to accomplish.
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暑假的时候没什么事做,利用这个假期我把《欧也妮•葛朗台》这本书一气呵成的读完。在知道这是一出没有毒药,没有尖刀,没有流血的平凡悲剧。
文章作者巴尔扎克是19世纪法国伟大的批判现实主义作家,欧洲批判现实主义文学的奠基人和杰出代表。一生创作96部长、中、短篇小说和随笔,总名为《人间喜剧》。其中代表作为《欧也妮•葛朗台》、《高老头》。100多年来,他的作品传遍了全世界,对世界文学的发展和人类进步产生了巨大的影响。
小说最大的成就是塑造了一个吝啬鬼典型。巴尔扎克选取了一系列富有典型意义的细节来表现他的悭吝性格。葛朗台阴森森的老房子年久失修,楼梯踏级都被虫蛀坏了,女仆差点摔了跤,他还怪她不挑结实的地方落脚;每一顿饭的面包食物、每一天要点的蜡烛,他都亲自分发,一点儿不能多;女儿生日那天,有客人来,只不过多点了一支蜡烛;他限制妻子的零用钱,连别人送给她的一点,也要想方设法刮走;来了亲戚,他不让加菜,吩咐佃户打些乌鸦来煮汤;妻子卧床不起,他首先想到的是请医生得破钞。葛朗台的吝啬渗透到他的每一句话、每一个行动中。这种吝啬的可恶在于贪得无厌地赚钱。
小说中描写到葛朗台一见到金币眼睛就放射出光芒就成功的塑造了一个吝啬鬼的特点。在小说中葛朗台似乎是个很勤劳能干的人,但他最大的失败就在于对于金钱的看法,我想假如有一天葛朗台失去了所有的积蓄,他面临的就会是精神的崩溃。葛朗台称雄一世,积累了万贯家则,一文也不带进坟墓,除了一种虚幻的满足感,可以说一无所获。葛朗台从不欠人家什么,当然不让别人欠他,他从不到别人家去,不搞吃请,他决不动别人的东西。意思是绝对尊重财产私有权。然而他毫无顾忌地无偿占有旁人的劳动,毫无顾忌地把私人的白杨种到河边公家的土地上。他认为手生来是捞钱的,让钱从自己的手指缝漏出去是不可饶恕的错误。所以欧也妮把私蓄送给堂兄弟自然是“罪大恶极”的了。
葛朗台这样的人,表面上是金钱的主人,其实是金钱的奴隶.可怜的女儿守着他的巨额财产,却既无家庭也无幸福,只能成为一帮利欲熏心之徒追捕围猎的对象!