Conflicts Between Biological And Cultural Characters

The controversial human nature is the key word in the dissertation, and the word has the widespread and abstract meaning. Never do we stop exploring the nature of human beings in history, theories propounded by philosophers, psychologists, biologists and ancient Chinese scholars contribute to the understanding of the nature of human beings and our position in the universal cosmos. More than two thousand years ago. the Greek Philosopher Plato states that true understanding of human nature is the foundation to recognize the virtues of human beings and the only way to obtain individual’s happiness and social stability; Since the1960s, post structuralism which dominates the field of literary studies has been influenced by language and cultural theories advocated by Jacques Derrida and Foucault. The culture-autonomy which opposes the existence of universal human nature leads the field of social science. However, in the past decades, Joseph Carroll, the English professor in University of Missouri, St Louis, constructs a new critical theory-Literary Darwinism, which attempts to regard biology as basis for literary studies. Under influence of the multidisciplinary theories such as biology, evolutionary theory, and psychology. Literary Darwinists emphasize the fusion of biology and culture and regard human nature as the key object to study literature. Shakespeare remains the most celebrated playwright in world literary history. Since the18th century, his reputation has become more and more impressive. As his works were handed on from generation to generation, they have received new honors. The reason that Shakespeare’s works have great vitality is his adherence to universal nature. Samuel Johnson in his From Preface to Shakespeare claims that Shakespeare "exhibits the real state of sublunary nature". Readers at whichever age may perceive the cordial and familiar emotion from Shakespeare, so they make unremitting efforts to read and to study something valuable and new from Shakespeare’s works.By description of the mixed conflicts between parental love, sexual love, friendly affection and honor, social responsibility, political power, the purpose of this dissertation is to explore biological and cultural conflicts which reflect complicated human nature in Shakespeare’s Roman Plays. So the tragic destiny can be explained. Literary Darwinism provides the best framework for study of characters" behavior, motive, emotion, and psychology in Roman plays. Shakespeare’s long-tested works always maintain as touchstone for all kinds of literary theories. Literary Darwinism which pays attention to human nature helps readers to have a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s ancient plays. The dissertation analyzes Shakespeare’s five plays, including Titus Andronicw. Coriolanus. Antony and Cleopatra, Troilus and Cressida, and Julius Caesar. In addition to Introduction and Conclusion, the main bodyconsists of three parts.The Introduction offers several reasons for research of Shakespeare’s ancient plays which are literary canon. The importance of the Roman plays lies in exploring of ancient society, culture, thought, and the sense of value. Based on the collected data. the research situation concerning Shakespeare’s Roman plays is comprehensively classified and analyzed. And then. the key word "human nature" and the source. development. practice of the theory of Literary Darwinism are particularly explained.Chapter one mainly analyzes Titus Andronicus and Coriolanus. The two plays are about the blood relations between parents and children. From biological and cultural perspectives. the parental love discloses the conflicts between emotion and culture. Titus’s contradictory behavior and perplexed disposition come from the contradiction between his pursuit of personal honor and his expression of paternal love. In the end. the incompatible contradiction leads to cruel revenge. Coriolanus paints a vivid example of how honor worship can undermine a mother’s affection for her offspring. Volumnia, mother of Coriolanus, shows lacking of mother’s feelings which is rooted in the outlook of family. The divided personality of Coriolanus and his tragedy represent a failure on the part of mother’s instruction of social ability, because the hero is shown always in relation to the society, and conditioned by it. Shakespeare pushes the complex parental instinct to the extreme circumstance. The disposition and motive of Titus and Volumnia reveal conflicts between biological and cultural characters in human nature.Chapter two studies the Roman play Antony and Cleopatra, and the Greek play Troilus and Cressida. The theme of mate selection and romantic emotion between lovers has been reflected in the plays. Antony and Cleopatra is concerned with the transformation of Mark Antony from a military leader to slave of sexual desire. Mark Antony, a Roman general who conquered the world with his military might, is growing old, but he is crazily in love. The Egyptian Queen. Cleopatra, uses both her sexual allure and regal authority not only to seduce but also to manipulate Antony. Finally. Cleopatra’s fatal love brings danger and death to him. A series of oppositions between desire and duty, bed and battlefield, the philosophies of Epicureanism and Stoicism between Egypt and Rome in the play reflect the fusion of biological and cultural characters of human nature. In Troilus and Cressida, Shakespeare is repeating the pattern of mate selection, where the ardent male is always refused by the female who seeks to assess his real intentions because she suspects that his oaths may not be entirely believable, In the game of mate selection, woman will have a greater incentive than man to prolong the courtship because female intends to have more time to assess and choose their sexual partner. Cressida is always regarded by critics as immoral even dangerous. In fact, Cressida’s behavior and motive in the play can be disclosed from evolutionary psychology and biological perspectives.Chapter three reveals the main social relationship from a cultural perspective through analysis of characters" behaviors. The intense struggle between two political groups and complex political circumstance before and after Caesar’s assassination uncovers the relationship between individual and Others, individual and society. According to Carroll, humans have the basic motives for gaining or keeping power, prestige, wealth, and forming alliances. The relationship between individual and Others, or individual and society reveals the participator’s difficult living surrounding. To maintain honor and belief or to obtain wealth, power, prestige and social status, people may plot conspiracy, assassinate others or suicide.Shakespeare takes humanity as principal subject matter. The behaviors such as parental and romantic love, ambition, honor, revenge, inner conflict, social responsibility reveal incompatible biological and cultural contradictions which always throw people into dilemma. Literary Darwinism upgrades our understanding on human nature in Shakespeare’s Roman plays to a higher level. The academic studies of humans and their nature may help us understand Shakespeare, ourselves and the world.