智慧的现实主义——论亨利·詹姆斯的文学批评思想

Intelligent Realism:An Analysis of Henry James' Literary Critical Idea

亨利·詹姆斯是美国文学现实主义的代表人物。他的一生都在强调文学应该反映现实。然而,詹姆斯的现实有别于物质主义的现实,也超越了清教主义的道德意识。他反对小说对现实进行刻板的模仿,以及生硬的道德说教。他的"智慧的现实主义"主张现实与想象相结合去反映深刻的人性。他最重要的文学批评论文《论小说的艺术》力主小说的创作和评论都应打破物质主义的现实和教条的约束,而去贴近文学和生活的本质和自然规律。

As a representative realist in American literature, Henry James insisted that literature should represent reality throughout his literary career. However, his realism deviates from the material realism by rejection of descriptions of superficially realistic details; it also surpasses the puritan moralism by denunciation of preaching moral in novels. His ＂Intelligent Realism＂ advocates a combination of reality and imagination for the reveal of humanity under the superficial reality. His most important literary critical essay, ＂The Art of Fiction＂, intends to transcend any literary rules which confine literary creation and criticism to material realism and dogmatism, and appeals to a literature which reveals the essence and follows natural rules of both literature and life.