Research On The Evolution Of The Literary Image Of Julien Sorel In China

Since the major novel of Stendhal The Red and the Black has been translated in China in 1920s, Chinese people are strongly interested in this work, and especially in the literary image of the hero Julien Sorel. We have a large number of comments and criticisms about the theme since then.Today the study of literary image of Julien is limited in independent analysis at certain times of the past. There is a lack of a full search where we could associate all comments through the centuries. In fact in Chinese contemporaty history, the literary criticisms concerning the image of Julien are numerous enough to form a complex evolution, which are characterized by a complicated continual change, and they have been affected either by differences of personal taste, traditional value, or by policy of government.The sources of the thesis are different Chinese versions of The Red and the Black, Chinese works and translation of French works on French literature, a great number of influential critical articles published in important magazines from 1920s to present.Chinese people are strongly interested in The Red and the Black this work, especially in the literary image of Julien Sorel. Julien Sorel should be considered one of the most critical characters in foreign novels in Chinese literature history. Through the study of his literary image, we try to discover the characteristics and rules of this specific progression. Through the study, we can better understand not only the contemporary history of China, the influence of politics on Chinese literature, but also the process of acceptance of foreign culture in China. The complex evolution of receipt for the hero of The Red and the Black also proves that this novel is rich in moral and aesthetic value.