Returning Epic, Persistent Hero

Roman Rolland was an important writer in later 19th and earlier 20th. He was awarded"Nobel Prize"in 1915, for his masterpiece John Christopher,"filled with lofty idealism, describes human being vividly and achieves profound resonance". Rolland pursued the truth of human subsistence all his life and explored the method of saving human's spirit,which acted as beacon light at the later period of the century, illuminating the progressing direction for the depraved people living at sea. His style takes the realistic tradition of 19th century—fighting bravely against hardship, but at the same time it bears the artistic character of romantic literature—majestic vigor, and flushing enthusiasm. His works are reproduction of life, to put it in another way, each one is the fruit of his idea about life, so it can be considered as the diary recording the process of his growing. Roman Rolland inherited the kernel of European culture from the ancestor, philosopher and artist of humanitarianism. In the end he succeeded in constructing humanism with 20th century's characteristic, by adding his own understanding. Roman Rolland, in his work, advanced thoughts of humanism such as the spirit of opposing life, the power of grand personality and so on, which are viewed as the positive deposit of the long history of human beings ever since and as the most excellent part of human spiritual wealth.For the purpose of the important realistic significance of the research on Roman Rolland and his works, this thesis presents a series of events in his life which contributed to his character, and probes into the cause of forming humanism. The author further tries to catch hold of both the kernel of his humanism and its embodiment in his works.The introduction part outlines the special value of Roman Rolland and his works in troubled times, as well as the prominent role that it plays in saving human spirit and reinjecting literature with loftiness.The first chapter—the giant of western humanism. It focuses systemically on a series of events in his life, which had an outstanding effect on him and helped him shape the basic humanism theory. This chapter discusses the confined living space of his childhood and his frail body that caused him to think about life and death. Besides, the author also argues that Hamlet brought him the answer. The second chapter and the third one are about forming the fundamental life philosophy under the influence of a lot of philosophers, literates and ideologists, together with the impact of his experience.Chapter 2 is biography of the heroes: invisible temple of thearchy. It centers on the biography about three apotheosis of humanism, who are Beethoven, Michelangelo and Tolstoy. The Heroic Biographies involves these giants in the art field, but Rolland chose them not because they made great achievements in art, but because they were possessed with humanistic heroic personality. This thesis analyses the civilian heroic personality stressed in the biography, thus digs out the internal spiritual characteristics of humanism.Chapter3: Rhine of the humanism—Jean Christopher. This thesis clarifies Rolland's work, based on his humanistic characteristics. Jean Christopher is the hero made by Rolland, endowed with both the experience of the artist and himself, apart from the soul of their life. This chapter, divided into 3 sections, puts emphasis on the theory mentioned in chapter one and chapter two, which has a deep effect on Rolland, as well as the reflection on Christopher. Additionally, this part describes how Christopher grew after experiencing a series of critical events, struggled hard towards"human"and finally conquered all his shortcomings to become the civilian hero.