Thomas carlyle(1795~1881)

Thomascarlyle(1795~1881)OutlineHislifeHisworksThecharacteristicsofhisworksPastandPresentSelectedreading:chapterⅪLabourHislifeAnessayist,historian,andphilosopher.Oneofthemostinfluentialmanoflettersinthemid-Victorianperiod.Bornintoapeasant’sfamilyinScotland;EnteredEdinburghUniversity;teachingmathsinaschoolinsteadofbecomingaclergyman;studiedlaw.MarriedJaneWelsh(in1826),aScottishladyofstrongcharacter;latersettledonafarmwhichwasthepropertyofhiswife.In1834movedtoLondon.TheCharacteristicsofHisWorks•HedenouncestheprivilegedclassesofEngland—thearistocratsandthenewindustrialrich.•Attacksthearistocratsfortheiruselessness,andtheirbeingidle.•Attackstheindustrialbourgeoisiefortheirworshipofmoney.•Hecallsforspiritualforcewhichhasbeencorruptedandbenumbedbymercantilism(重商主义).•Thespirithedesiresisthatofrenunciation/self-denial（克己）,duty,workandreverence.•Heroesarewantedtogovernthesocietyefficiently.Hisworks•SartorResartus,（旧衣新裁）1833-1834•HemadefameforHistoryofFrenchrevolution,1837•GermanLiterature,1837•PeriodsofEuropeanCulture,1838•HeroesandHeroWorship,1841•PastandPresent,1843,•Reminiscences,(回忆录)1881PastandPresent•Histimes—“decadence”•“TheGreatManwasalwaysaslightningoutofheaven;therestofmenwaitedforhimlikefuel,andthentheytoowouldflame.”•“Thehistoryoftheworldisbutthebiographyofgreatmen.”PastandPresent•1.Thegenre—essay—politicalliterature:itcombinesmedievalhistorywithcriticismof19th-centuryBritishsociety.•2.Thegist:“ThisaccountofamedievalmonasteryhadtakenCarlyle’sfancy,andhedrewuponitinordertocontrastthemonks’reverenceforworkandheroismwiththeshamleadershipofhisownday.”PastandPresent•3.Thestructure•Book1:Proem-CarlyleexpresseshisideasabouttheConditionofEnglandquestioninanelevatedrhetoricalstyleinvokingclassicalallusionsandfictionalcaricatures.•CarlylecomplainsthatdespiteEngland'sabundantresources,thepoorarestarvingandunabletofindmeaningfulwork,asevincedbytheManchesterInsurrection.•Carlylearguesthattherulingclassneedstoguidethenation,andsupportsan“AristocracyofTalent.”butinlinewithhisconceptof“hero-worship”,CarlylearguesthatfirsttheEnglishmustbethemselvesbecomeheroicinordertoesteemtrueheroesratherthanquacks.PastandPresent•Book2:theAncientMonk-CarlylepresentsthehistoryofSamsonofTottington,a12th-centurymonkwhobecameAbbotofBurySt.Edmunds.•CarlyledescribesSamsonasalowlymonkwithnoformaltrainingorleadershipexperiencewho,onhiselectiontotheabbacy,workedearnestlyanddiligentlytoovercometheeconomicandspiritualmaladiesthathadbefallentheabbey.•Carlyleconcludesthatdespitethemonks’primitiveknowledgeandsuperstitions,theywereabletorecognizeandpromotegenuineleadership,incontrasttocontemporaryEnglishmen.PastandPresent•Book3:TheModernWorker:heextolslabourandcallsforaForcetorevitalizedecadentcapitalistsocietyandaherotoleadthemassforward.•Book4:Horoscope(占星术)PastandPresent•4.Thefeaturesofthebook•A.spontaneousproduction(2months)•B.thesameargumentsasbefore:demandsfordutyandresponsibility,forearnestness;setsupthestrongmanastheonlyremedyforthepoliticalrotteness.•C.thescornfulcontemptforthedemocraticremedies;•D.aclearnessofdelineationanddramaticactuality;•E.apoeticandarchaicstylePastandPresent•5.Thefeaturesofhisessays•A.mixed,leapingnotflowing,coiningstrangewordsandperformingextravagantevolutions•B.suffusedwithhumor,irony,andpassion;personal,burning,andconvincing,atrenchant,cranky(古怪的)BookIIIchapterXI--1•Forthereisaperennialnobleness,andevensacredness,inWork.Wereheneversobenighted,forgetfulofhishighcalling,thereisalwayshopeinamanthatactuallyandearnestlyworks:inIdlenessaloneisthereperpetualdespair.Work,neversoMammonish,mean,isincommunicationwithNature;therealdesiretogetWorkdonewillitselfleadonemoreandmoretotruth,toNature’sappointmentsandregulations,whicharetruth.1.benighted–ofthenight,ignorant;2.mammonish—devotedtomoney-grabbing;3.appointment—assignment,mission.4.perennial—lastingthroughtheyear.Thetruthistowork!劳动有一种永恒的高尚性，甚至于神圣性。不管一个人是多么愚昧，忘记他的高尚的任务，只要他切实认真劳动，他总是有希望的：只有在懒惰中才有永远的绝望。劳动，即使是拜金主义的、卑贱的工作，也是和“自然”打交道：真正想要去作好一件工作，这本身就会愈来愈把人导向真理，导向“自然”的安排和规则，这些也就是真理。chapterXI--2•ThelatestGospelinthisworldis.Knowthyworkanddoit.‘Knowthyself:’longenoughhasthatpoor“self”ofthinetormentedthee;thouwiltnevergetto“know”it,Ibelieve!Thinkitnotthybusiness,thisofknowingthyself;thouartanunknowableindividual:knowwhatthoucanstworkat;andworkatit,likeaHercules.Thatwillthybetterplan.Workissacred;thinkwork,notthyself!chapterXI--3•Destiny,onthewhole,hasnootherwayofcultivatingus.AformlessChaos,oncesetitrevolving,growroundandeverrounder;rangesitself,bymereforceofgravity,intostrata.sphericalcourses;isnolongeraChaos,butaround-compactedWorld.WhatwouldbecomeoftheEarth,didsheceasetorevolve?InthepooroldEarth,solongassherevolves,allinequalities,irregularitiesdisperse(分散)themselves;allirregularitiesareincessantlybecomeregular.Theworldisformedthroughwork!chapterXI--4•Hastthoulookedonthepotter’swheel,--oneofthevenerablestobjects;oldastheprophetEzekielandfarolder?Rudelumpsofclay,howtheyspinthemselvesup,bymerequickwhirling,intobeautifulcirculardishes.AndfancythemostassiduousPotter,butwitho