康拉德与《了不起的盖茨比》

Conrad and The Great Gatsby

在普林斯顿大学求学期间,菲茨杰拉德就认真拜读了康拉德的作品,并称《"水仙"号上的黑水手》的序言为他一辈子提供了文学创作的"金科玉律"。《了不起的盖茨比》的主题和技巧都明显受到了康拉德的影响,在该作品从主题思想、对故事叙述者的设计到小说的艺术表现手法等三个方面,都有具体表现,菲茨杰拉德之所以受到康拉德的影响是与作家本人所处的社会环境及个人文化心态密切相关的。

As a college student at Princeton, Fitzgerald has made a thorough reading of Conrad＇s works. Even he claims that Conrad＇s Preface to The Nigger of Narcissus provides life-long golden rules for his literary creation. The theme and techniques of The Great Gatsby are significantly influenced by Conrad. Therefore, this paper attempts to discuss the manifestations in the novel by analyzing its theme, design of the story narrator, and the artistic devices. It points out further that the reason why Fitzgerald can he influenced is closely related with the social surroundings and his own cultural psychology.