Image and symbolism in Great Expectation

摘要

查尔斯.狄更斯，被誉为19世纪英国最伟大的批判现实主义作家之一，他也被称为维多利亚时代最杰出的作家。他的作品生动而形象的描绘了英国资产阶级的精神面貌，英国社会风气的日益腐化等等。《远大前程》是狄更斯后期一部非常有影响力的作品，这部作品对各种社会弊端进行了辛辣的批判，并对普通劳动人民身上所具有的美德进行了大力的赞扬。狄更斯在作品中运用了大量的隐喻来揭露社会现实，用雾，监狱，坟场，沼泽等意象象征社会的黑暗而与乔的铁匠铺这一象征光明的意象形成对比。小说通过对“光明”和“黑暗”这组意象的分析来强调普通大众身上的可贵品质。

【关键词】   狄更斯   远大前程    意象   象征

Outline

Thesis statement: In Great Expectation, Dickens applies negative images to severely attack the evil and greed of bourgeoisie and the inhuman social system in Victorian Age. However, he chose positive things to embody kindness, integrity of populace. A set of inconsistent images composed a contrast to emphasize the valuable quality of ordinary people.

 

I. Introduction

Ⅱ.The description and emblem of gloomy images

1. Four scenes of fog-

A. The first scene of fog---a footstone to the whole novel

B. The second scene of fog---embody strongly gruesome atmosphere

C. The third scene of fog---preparation for the Great Expectation

D. The fourth scene of fog---the token of happiness

2. The image of prison— Satis House 

3. The image of grave yard and marsh—hotbed of evil.

III. The depiction and representation of positive images

1. Joe’s blacksmith---a mental asylum 

2. Beacon---symbol of road sign

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Ⅳ. The contrast of gloom images and active images reveal the darkness of society and the valuable quality of common people.

V. Conclusion 

Image and symbolism in Great Expectation

Abstract

Charles Dickens is one of the most outstanding critical realistic novelists of the 19th century, who is also considered as the most distinguished critical realism writer in Victorian Age. His works vividly describe the mind state of bourgeoisie in British and the gradually deteriorated social atmosphere etc. Great Expectation is one of the most prominent works in the late phase of Dickens’ creation, which spicily reveals the dark side of the capitalistic society and highly prizes the merits which lower-class people widely possess. In this novel, Dickens uses a sea of images to reveal the social reality. He makes a contrast through choosing some images such as prison, grave yard and marsh etc to symbolize the gloomy side of society while selecting Joe’s blacksmith to represent the bright side of society. The novel stresses valuable merits of common people through analyzing the images of “darkness” and “brightness”.

【Key words】   Dickens  Great Expectation  Images   Symbolism