《罗得里克·哈德森》中的唯美主义与道德

Aestheticism and Morality in Roderick Hudson

本文探讨亨利.詹姆斯的小说《罗得里克.哈德森》中所体现的唯美主义与道德的关系,特别是沃尔特.佩特所宣扬的审美“无为”的思想同美国传统的“作为”道德观的冲突。詹姆斯受到传统观念的影响,认为唯美主义的“无为”思想会引起道德堕落。他同时还看到美国传统的“作为”道德观的负面作用,认识到唯美主义“无为”所具有的更高的道德意义。

This paper deals with the relationship between aestheticism and morality in Henry James＇s novel Roderick Hudson, especially the conflict between ＂ being＂ advocated by Walter Pater＇s aestheticism and ＂ doing＂ emphasized by the Puritan work ethics. It shows that James, once influenced by the traditional prejudice against the aesthetic life, believed ＂being＂ may lead to moral collapse, but nevertheless recognized the higher morality of ＂being＂ at a time when ＂doing＂ had already seemed questionable.