On Modernist Characteristics Of Maugham's Novels

William Somerset Maugham's golden time in literary creation refers to the period between 1920s and 1930s. With the rise of modernism, Maugham inextricably absorbed its nutrient both in ideas and aesthetic skills.The research on Maugham in China begins from 1980s, while mainly limited in the area of naturalism and traditional modernism, Few research has touched the area of anti-traditional modernism. This thesis discusses the characteristics of modernism in his works from the perspectives of the consciousness of modernism, skills of modernism and characteristics of modernism. In the first part, the writer makes an analysis of the particular embodiment and profound meaning in Maugham's works, Special emphasis is given to the relationship between the consciousness of death and nihilism. In the second part, the writer discusses Maugham's excellent aesthetic skills of modernism from the perspectives of narrative ways, plot structure and figures. From the aspects of social times, personal subjective element and traditional philosophical culture, the writer presented the true reason which renders characteristics of modernism in Maugham's novels.