Mark Twain’s Views of the Ethnic Groups
Abstract: Mark Twain，an outstanding American writer in 19th century, was commonly considered a great humanist. His attitude toward the Indians was impersonal and just and he expressed moral support to their unfair experiences. But, we could also see that the author would show, intentionally or unconsciously, the superiority complex of his race and his culture when he described the images of the colored people. Through a panoramic summarization and analysis of the colored ethnic group images in Mark Twain’s texts by the way of neo-historical criticism, on the one hand, we could reeva luate the historical and cultural status of Mark Twain, on the other hand, the association of the studying of Mark Twain’s texts and neo-historical criticism also makes this critical way of more extraordinary meaning.
Key Words: Mark Twain; superiority; the colored ethnic images; neo-historical criticism
马克·吐温的族群观
摘 要：马克·吐温是十九世纪美国杰出的现实主义作家，被公认为伟大的人道主义者。在很多情况下，他对有色人种所持的态度比较客观公正，对他们所受的不公正待遇予以道义上的声援。但是我们同样看到作家在描写和塑造印第安人形象时会有意或无意地流露出白人种族的优越意识和文化优越感。通过运用新历史主义批评方法对马克·吐温文本中的有色族群形象进行全景式的概览和分析，一方面我们可以对马克·吐温的历史文化地位进行重新评估和定位，另一方面，马克·吐温文本的研究与新历史主义批评的结合也使得这一批评方式更具非凡的意义。
关键词：马克·吐温; 优越感; 有色人种; 新历史主义
CONTENTS
Introduction 1
1. Background 2
1.1 A Brief Review of Studies on Mark Twain’s Two Adventures 2
1.2 The Theoretical Basis, Framework, Methods and Significance of the Thesis 4
1.2.1The Theoretical Basis 4
1.2.2 The Framework and Methods 4
1.2.3 The Significance 5
2.Neo-Historical Criticism and Mark Twain’s Texts 5
2.1 The Concept of The Neo-Historical Criticism 6
2.2 Different Histories Constructed in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 6
2.2.1 History Constructed by Readers of Mark Twain’s Times 6
2.2.2 Histories Constructed by Modern Readers 7
2.3 Different Histories Constructed in the Adventures of Tom Sawyer 8
2.3.1 History Constructed by Readers of Mark Twain’s Times 8
2.3.2 Histories Constructed by Modern Readers 8
3. The Status of the Ethnic Groups in American Society 9
3.1 The Images in Mark Twain’s Texts 9
3.1.1 The Image of Jim 9
3.1.2 The Image of Huck Finn 10
3.1.3 The Image of Tom Sawyer 11
3.2 The Slavery in Mark Twain’s Texts 12
3.3 Huck and Mark Twain's Racist Roots 13
3.4 Mark Twain’s Illogicality of His Mind 13
4. Conclusion 15
Bibliography 17
