love-is-a-fallacy-人物性格分析

CharacterAnalysisofProtagonistin“LoveIsaFallacy”MaxShulman(1919-1988)•HebeganwritingDobieGillisstoriesin1945forvarioushumormagazines.•In1951,thesewerecollectedandpublishedasabookentitledTheManyLovesofDobieGillis”,fromwhichourtextistaken.•Thistextisapieceofnarrativewriting,astory,alightandhumoroussatire.Thenarratorofthestory,DobieGillis,afreshmaninalawschool,istheheroorprotagonist.Hestrugglesagainsttwoantagonists:PeteyBurch,hisroommatewhosegirlfriendheplanstoget,andPollyEspy,thegirlheintendstomarryaftersuitablere-education.•InthisstorytheauthorcreatedasuccessfulcharacterDobieGillis,whichmakeshimadistinguishedwriterofshortstories.Asthenarratorofthestory,Dobiefirstlydescribeshimselfasanintelligentandlogicalperson.However,theanalysisofthewholestorydemonstrateshisimagemoreclearlyandobjectively.emotionalpersonDobieGillisintelligentself-conceitedlogicalpersonridiculousandself-contradictive•Intelligent:“Mybrainisaspowerfulasadynamo（发电机）,preciseasachemist‘sscales（天平）,aspenetratingasascalpel（解剖刀）.And-thinkofit!-Iamonlyeighteen”.(p.1)•logicalperson:Atthebeginningofthestory,Dobiefirstlydescribeshimself.“CoolwasIandlogical.Keen,calculating,perspicacious,acute---Iamallofthese”.(p.1)•self-conceited：Dobieusesmanywordstopraisehimselfasanintelligentandsmartperson.However,theimagesoftheothertwocharactersaredescribedinatotallydifferentdirection.Dobiedoesn’tusecommentarywordsonhisroommatePeteyBurchandPollyEspywhomhelikes.HedescribesPeteyBurchasa“faddistandnothingupstairs”anddescribedPollyEspyas“beautifulbutnotsmartenenough”whoneedsDobie’sguidance.(p.2)•ridiculousandself-contradictive:Loveisthemostdivineandbeautifulaffectiononearth.However,Dobietakesitasaqualificationforbeingalawyerinthefuture.“ThesuccessfullawyersIhaveobservedare,almostwithoutexception,marrytobeautiful,gracious,intelligentwomen.Withoneomission,Pollyfitsthesespecificationsperfectly.”(p.21).HeemphasizesmanytimesthathisdesireforPollyisnotemotionalinthenature.ButafterteachingfallaciestoPolly,hefallsinlovewiththisgirlanddeterminestotellher.“ItmustbethoughtthatIamwithoutlovewiththisgirl.Quietthecontrary”(p.122).Dobiehasaridiculousviewofloveanddenieshisowndescriptionofhimself,whichmakeshimaself-contradictiveperson.•emotionalperson:AfterspendingonenightteachingPollyfallacy,hewantstodiscardtheintentiontoenlightenthatstupidgirl.Thoughheabandonsthatideaafterreconsideration,herevealshisdisgustedemotionsintheconversationswithPolly.Originally,Dobie“hideshisexasperation”(p.74)butgraduallyhelosescontrolonhisemotions.First,hefeelsdesperate,andthenhissayssharplyandsighsdeeply.Atlastheisfrownedbytheteachingprocess.ActuallythePolly’sprogressesontheFallaciesprovethatsheisanintelligentgirl.Therefore,itcanbeconcludedfromthisprocessthatDobieisanemotionalpersonandnotthatreasonableashethinks.