外文论文正文On the Humanism in Robinson Crusoe.doc

榆林学院外语系 2014 届毕业论文 1 On the Humanism in Robinson Crusoe 1 Introduction Robinson Crusoe is the first and also the most famous novel of Daniel Defoe. With Defoe ’s wonderful imagination, he had presented tous an18 th century English adventurer — hero with strong will and intelligence. It became an immediate ess on its publication and has remained enduring popularity ever since. Most people were attracted by the vivid description of Robinson Crusoe ’s exciting adventure, especially his living on the island. But Defoe did not just take it as an adventure story. Robinson Crusoe was the embodiment of the rising bourgeoisie of the time. The novel was, in fact, a paean of human power and the acknowledgment of the importance of knowledge, which reflected the ideas of humanism. H umanism was originated in Italy and spread to England in the 16 th century, which had a great influence on English literature. Humanists regarded human values as making sense only in the context of human life rather than in the promise ofa supposed life after death. Hence, humanists made a strong objection to the obsolete doctrine of the Middle Ages. Humanism was also a philosophy of reason and science in pursuit of knowledge of the world. Humanists rejected arbitrary faith, authority and altered states of consciousness. When humanism arrived in England, it aroused great interests of the writers of the time. Chaucer was one of the earliest writers who expressed the ideas of humanism in his works. In the 16 th century, there was a growing interest in man and in their infinite capabilities against implicit faith in God. In England, we had names of Thomas More and Marlowe and Shakespeare. These progressive writers, sometimes known as humanists, at their best voiced the human aspirations for freedom and equality .These humanists chiefly stood for the progressive thought of the rising bourgeoisie together with their inevitable bourgeoisie limitations. On the humanism in Robinson Crusoe 2 In the 18 th cent