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1、美国社会的葛朗台现象AbstractGrandet 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 Amer
2、icans 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 Americans outlo
3、ok 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 daughters happiness, and sold his so
4、ul. Meanwhile, it is believed that some Americans are the lovers of money. In Americans 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 reco
5、gnition 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.K
6、ey WordsEugenie 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
7、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 IntroductionEugenie Grandet is a famous French novel，written by Balzac,
8、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 persp
9、ectives. 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 Frenchmens outlook on money influenced Americans. And from philosophic
10、al 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. Its a common knowledge that everyone
11、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
12、 disadvantages of the outlook on money in appropriate way. And show them that money is just for better life. . The Introduction of the Major Roles in Eugenie GrandetMany people consider Balzac to be the greatest of all novelists. Eugenie Grandet, his spare, classical story of a girl whose life is bl
13、ighted by her fathers 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 cent
14、ral 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 a
15、ppreciated 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 h
16、ad 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,
17、 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
18、 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
19、 to possess money, he gave up his true love, and pursued a noblemans daughter. To some extent, his outlook on money was similar to Grandets. Both of them were materialists and the lovers of money. IIGrandet Phenomenon in AmericaEugenie Grandet is the novel of France. And many people consider that th
20、ere 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 communi
21、cation 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. T
22、he 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. Individual Frenchme
23、n, 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 Jan
24、uary 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
25、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 Americans.From the philosophical perspective, they learn that ever
26、ything 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 h
27、as 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 mo
28、ney 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 Gods presents. Just for private donation, it is not just the riches that donate in American society. In fact, a majority of the USAs popu
29、lation 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 Grandets daughter did.So this thesis should have deep analyses of Gran
30、det phenomenon in America, which help us understand the Americans outlook on money.IIIThe Americans Outlook on MoneyA. Relevant InformationFirstly, 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 pay
31、ment, especially corns and banknotes, given and accepted in buying and selling. 2. Wealth; total value of somebodys property. However, in modern American society, money doesnt just mean cash, dollar bills and coins. The United States is becoming a cashless society quickly. Nowadays, checks and credi
32、ts 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 spendi
33、ng 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 American
34、s 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 peoples worth by how much they have. For that reasons, keeping up with the Jone
35、ses 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 respon
36、ses 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”, w
37、hile 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 Americans outlo
38、ok on money decides on what kind of life they want to have. B. The Reasons for the Americans Outlook on MoneyWhy 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
39、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
40、 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, ex
41、pressed 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. Its easy to allow money to corrupt us.” However, those advertisements
42、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 ad
43、vertisement 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 TVs advertisement. For buying beautiful clothes, she has a deepest love of money. She thinks money is
44、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 worlds largest, richest, and most productive economy. And people have gotten well to ma
45、terial wealth. Besides that, Americans believe that everyone has an equal opportunity to success. People arent 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 ha
46、s 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 worl
47、ds 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
48、 the 1970s and 1980s. Americas 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 econo
49、my 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 Americans 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
