Character Image Reconstruction From The Perspective Of Rewriting Theories-A Case Study Of Red Classics In Chinese Literature(1951-1966)

A great number of excellent Chinese literary works were published in Chinese Literature(1951-1966),among which red classics or revolutionary historical novels accounted for a large proportion.The translation activity organized by Chinese government can be seen as a way to construct self-image.By propagating revolutionary spirits of collectivism,optimism and heroism,creating heroic images of socialists and advocating traditional Chinese values to target readers,Chinese government aimed to show the image of new China to the world.By studying the translation of red classic novels,we can know how China was imagined in this period,therefore obtaining a deeper understanding about national discourse practice.However,study about the translation of red classics is rarely found.There is no quantitative analysis about red classics based on Rewriting Theory.In this dissertation,the author studies character images in red classic novels and the translation.The influences of political and historical background are also explored under the perspective of Rewriting Theory.Seven representative red classics are selected and seven protagonists' appearance description,utterance,paralanguage and body language in source texts and in English translation are extracted to build a corpus.Quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis are combined to analyze the similarities and differences between original images and reshaped figures.It is found that characters' appearance was translated literally while their language and paralanguage were rewritten to some extent.In the translation,the protagonists' utterances are politer and friendlier with vulgar language and improper speech being deleted.Besides,the paralanguage is more lucid and body language details are adapted,rendering protagonists' character more clearly to target readers.As Chinese Literature carried the special responsibility of publicity,it portrays not only literary figures but also the look of new China.Translated under the sway of ideology,poetics and patrons at that time,Chinese Literature showed the image of dauntless,kind-hearted and upright Chinese people to the world.