美国社会的葛朗台现象

　　Abstract
　　Grandetisthebackgroundofthisthesis。FromanalysisofthemajorroleinEugenieGrandetGrandet，thisthesisintroducesAmericans’outlookonmoney。ItpointsoutGrandetreflectsthephenomenoninAmerica。Fromhistoricandphilosophicalperspectives，theFrenchmenhelpedAmericanswintheWarofIndependent，andbuiltacloserelationshipwithAmericans。TheFrenchmenbroughttheiroutlookonmoneytoAmerica。TheFrenchimmigrantsworkedtogetherandcreatedAmericanculturewhichwasblendingofFrenchculturesundernewcircumstance。ItinfluencedtheAmerican’soutlookonmoney。GrandetreflectsphenomenoninmodernAmericansociety。InEugenieGrandet，Grandetwasamaterialistandaloverofmoney。Heconsideredmoneyashislife。Tosomeextent，moneyisevenmuchmorevaluablethanhislife。Justformoney，hesacrificeddaughter’shappiness，andsoldhissoul。Meanwhile，itisbelievedthatsomeAmericansaretheloversofmoney。InAmerican’smind，thematerialandmoneyareveryimportant。Theyareobsessivewithmoneyverymuch。However，everyoneshouldconsideronethingfromtwosides。Inthisthesis：thefirstplace，theyshouldhaveabasicrecognitionabouttheoutlookonmoney，thedefinitionofmoney，andreasonsthatinfluencedonAmericans；thenextplace，thisthesisshouldanalyzetheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofoutlookonmoney。Atlast，thisthesispointsoutthemethodstodealwiththedisadvantagesoftheoutlookonmoney。
　　KeyWords
　　EugenieGrandet；Grandet；money；Americans；outlookonmoney；America
　　摘要
　　本文以葛朗台为背景，通过对葛朗台这一角色的分析，引出当代美国人的金钱观。而葛朗台现象的确反映了美国人的金钱观。从历史和哲学的角度，笔者了解到法国人曾帮助美国人取得独立战争的胜利，并建立了亲密关系，与此同时，法国人将自己本国的金钱观带给了美国人，两国的文化交流也进一步的扩大，并对美国人的金钱观带来了巨大的影响。而小说中的葛朗台是一个典型的金钱、物质主义者。他视金钱如生命，在一定程度上说，金钱甚至高于他自己的生命，他可以为金钱牺牲女儿的一生幸福，可以为金钱出卖自己的灵魂。而就此分析当今美国社会，作为世界最发达的国家，拥有世界最多的财富，而在美国人的价值观中却有一条不可取代的物质、金钱主义。但看问题不能只看一面，应从多方面进行分析，因而本文我们应该正确对待美国人的金钱观。首先让我们对当代美国人金钱观有一个初步的认识，知道美国人的金钱观是什么，在什么样的条件下产生。进而从正负两面分析金钱观带来的利与弊，最终指出如何树立正确的金钱观。
　　关键词
　　《欧也妮。葛朗台》；葛朗台；金钱；美国人；金钱观；美国
　　Introduction
　　EugenieGrandetisafamousFrenchnovel，writtenbyBalzac，whosecharactersareGrandet，hisdaughter，andCharles。Grandetaretherepresentativesofgreedandmoney。Heisobsessivewithmoney。HerepresentssomeofthegreedyAmericans，thoughEugenieGrandetisafamousFrenchnovel。AndtheAmericanscanlearnitfromhistoricalandphilosophicalperspectives。Fromhistoryperspective，theylearnthatFrancehasacloserelationshipwithAmerica。TheFrenchimmigrantsworkedtogetherandcreatedAmericanculturewhichwasblendingofFrenchculturesundernewcircumstance。TheFrenchmen’soutlookonmoneyinfluencedAmerican’s。Andfromphilosophicalperspective，theylearnthateverythinghasaconnectionintheworld，sotheycannotseparateonethingfromanother。
　　Manypeoplesaythatmoneyistherootofevil。However，everycoinhasitstwosides；theycananalyzethefunctionofmoneyfromtwosides。It’sacommonknowledgethateveryonelikesmoneyandneedsmoney。Withoutmoney，theycannotbuyfood，clothesandotherdailynecessities。Withoutmoney，theycannotgotoschool，gotocinemaorotherplaces。Inmythesis，itanalyzesthedisadvantagesandadvantagesoftheoutlookonmoney，andgivesthemethodsfordealingwiththedisadvantagesoftheoutlookonmoneyinappropriateway。Andshowthemthatmoneyisjustforbetterlife。
　　。TheIntroductionoftheMajorRolesinEugenieGrandet
　　ManypeopleconsiderBalzactobethegreatestofallnovelists。EugenieGrandet，hisspare，classicalstoryofagirlwhoselifeisblightedbyherfather’shystericalgreed，goesalongwaytojustifyingthatopinion。
　　Forbetterunderstandingofthenovel，therearethreepeopletheyneeddeepanalyses。TheyareGrandet，hisdaughterEugenieandCharles。
　　Firstly，thisthesisputstheiremphasisonGrandet。
　　Grandetwasoneofthecentralrolesinthenovel。Hewasterriblygreedy。Hewastherepresentativeofgreedandmoney。Inhismind，moneywaseverything，andhecouldnotliveintheworldwithoutmoney。Hehadastrongdesiretopossessmoney，thoughhehadanabundantofmoney。Healwayslefthimselfinabackroom，andappreciatedmoneyforalongtime。Whenhewasdying，heaskedhisdaughtertoputmoneyonthetable，andmoneycouldmakehimfeelwarm。
　　Inordertocollectmoney，helosthumannature。Heconsiderednolovewasintheworld，andmoneyisevenmuchmorevaluablethanhislife。Forexample，Grandethadaservant，whohadworkedfor30years。ButheneverreceivedanygiftfromGrandet，exceptoneoldwatch。
　　ThoughGrandetwasaChristian，butactuallyhewasnotarealone。Inhisopinion，theexistenceofGodwasforhisneed。Forhim，moneywasrealGodandallthehope。
　　ComparedwithGrandet，hisdaughterwasverykindandhumane。Sheconsideredmoneyasamethodforhelpingothers。Shedevotedherwholelifetoservingthepeople。Andshehaddonealotofpublicworks。Forexample，shehadbuiltonerestroom，eightprimaryschoolsandonelibrary；sheusedmoneytohelpthosewhoneedit。
　　Lastly，theyshouldputtheirattentiononCharles。Hewasborninarichfamilyandspoiled。Theturningpointinhislifewastodobusinessabroad。Thechangeoflifeconditionmadehismoralstandardandvalueconceptchange。Hebecameaveryselffishman。Hewantedtobecomerich。Inordertopossessmoney，hegaveuphistruelove，andpursuedanobleman’sdaughter。Tosomeextent，hisoutlookonmoneywassimilartoGrandet’s。Bothofthemwerematerialistsandtheloversofmoney。
　　IIGrandetPhenomenoninAmerica
　　EugenieGrandetisthenovelofFrance。Andmanypeopleconsiderthatthereisabigdistancebetweentheircultures：theFrenchcultureandtheAmericanculture，sothemajorroleinEugenieGrandetGrandetcannotreflecttheAmericansociety。However，thisthesisconsidersthetwocountries’peoplehavegreatculturalcommunication。Anditanalyzestheculturalcommunicationfromtwosides：thehistoryandthephilosophy。
　　Fromthehistoricalperspective，theylearnthattheFrenchmenandtheAmericanshadculturalcommunicationlongago。Forexample，theWarofIndependentintheU。S，withoutthehelpofFrance，however，theAmericanswouldnothavewontheday。ThehopeofsuchaidwasoneimportantreasonwhyCongressadoptedtheDeclarationofIndependencein1776，forEuropeanstateswouldnotinterferesolongasthecoloniesstillrecognizedtheEnglishkings。AgentssentsecretlytoFrancewereabletoprocureclothingandmuskets。InpidualFrenchmen，servedasvolunteersintheAmericanarmy。ThegreatvictoryofSaratogain1777，madepossiblebygunpowderreceivedfromFrance，seemedtoassurethefinaltriumphoftheAmericancause。FrancenowrecognizedtheindependenceoftheUnitedStatesandformedanopenalliancewithCongressinJanuary1778。ThenewallianceenabledCongresstoborrowanimmensesumofmoneyfromFrance。FrenchtroopsweresenttotakepartinthewarandtheyfoughttotheendatYorktown。FrancealsoinducedSpaintomakewaronEnglandin1779。AftertheAmericanswonthewar，theFrenchmenpresentedtheStatueofLibertytoAmericans。TheFrenchmenbuiltcloserelationshipwithAmericans。AndmanyFrenchmenimmigratedintoAmericaforpursuingmoney，business，andhappiness。Tosomeextent，theFrenchoutlookonmoneyinfluencedtheAmerican’s。
　　Fromthephilosophicalperspective，theylearnthateverythinghasaconnectionintheworld，sotheycannotseparateonethingfromanother。FromEugenieGrandet，theyknowthatGrandetistherepresentativeofmoney。However，whentheymentionAmericans，themajorityofpeopleconsiderAmericansasmaterialistsandtheloversofmoney。PursuingmoneyhasreallybecomeakeypartintheAmericanlifeandinaveryimportantposition。InonesurveyinAmerica，thereare89percentagreedthattheirsocietyismuchtoomonetary，74percentsaidloveofmoneyisaserioussocialproblem。Intheirlife，theybelievemoneyisboundtocometrue，andmoneyiseverything。
　　However，intheUnitesstates，therearestillalotofpeoplewhoarekindandwarmhearted。Theygivetheirmoneytohelpothers。TheyaretheGod’spresents。Justforprivatedonation，itisnotjusttherichesthatdonateinAmericansociety。Infact，amajorityoftheUSA’spopulationcontributestocharitablecauses，evenfromthemiddleclassandtheworkingclasses。Inthispoint，theyaredifferentfromGrandet。Theyarenottherichmen，buttheyarewarmhearted。WhattheyhavedoneisthesameasGrandet’sdaughterdid。
　　SothisthesisshouldhavedeepanalysesofGrandetphenomenoninAmerica，whichhelpusunderstandtheAmericans’outlookonmoney。
　　IIITheAmericans’OutlookonMoney
　　A。RelevantInformation
　　B。TheReasonsfortheAmericans’OutlookonMoney
　　WhydoAmericansemphasizetheimportantofmoney？Theyshouldconsiderthequestionfromfoursides：
　　Firstly，thematerialismisoneofreasonsfortheoutlookonmoney。Americaisasocietyinwhichworkersmustbuyandselltolive。Everypartoflifebecomesacommodity，somethingtobeboughtandsold，whetheritisacomputer，thelatestautomobile，technologicalskills，orourabilitytowork。Themediabombardpeoplewithadvertisement。CommercialsinterruptTVandradioprogramswithcatchyappealtotheAmericanstogooutandbuy。Shoppinghasalmostreplacedbaseballasthenationalpastime。TheAmericanswereinducedbythosefactors。Andthemainwaytoachievethemismoney。Forexample，MargaratAnderson，anaccountantwhoworksinalargefirmonthewestcoast，expresseditwellwhenshesay：weoveremphasizeonmaterialgoodsverymuch，likecomputers。Wealwayshavetoaddthingstoourlives。WebuythingsjustbecauseofhowbeautifulandusefulwhenweseeitfromTV，advertisement。It’seasytoallowmoneytocorruptus。However，thoseadvertisementsnotonlyhaveinfluenceontheadults，butalsohaveagreatimpartontheyoungpeople。Theyoungpeoplehavebecomemorematerial，andobsessiveofmoney。InonesurveyontheInternet，90percentofparentsagreedthatchildrentodaywantedtoomanymaterialthings。And75percentagreedthatadvertisementwascorruptingourbasicoutlookonmoney。Forexample，Terisilver，acollegestudentwhostudiesattheNewYork，saidshewassilencedbythegreedshesawthebeautifulclothesfromTV’sadvertisement。Forbuyingbeautifulclothes，shehasadeepestloveofmoney。Shethinksmoneyistheonlyaccesstohelpherowntheseclothes。
　　Secondly，thecompetitionmakestheAmericanshaveadeepobsessionofmoney。Thislandofplentyhaslongenjoyedabundantmaterialandhumanresources。Ithastheworld’slargest，richest，andmostproductiveeconomy。Andpeoplehavegottenwelltomaterialwealth。Besidesthat，Americansbelievethateveryonehasanequalopportunitytosuccess。Peoplearen’tabandonedbysocialclass。Theycanworkhardlytoimprovetheirstatus。Manyimmigrantsreachthislandofopportunityjustforseekingabetterfuture。Thisbeliefinequalopportunityhasproducedaspiritofcompetition。Itlikesaracetothetopofthesuccessladder。However，ifyouwanttobeonthetopofthesuccessladderintheUnitedStates，thefirstthingyouhavetodoiscollectingmoney。Especiallyfornowadays’Americansituation，theUnitedStatesstandsastheworld’smostprominentpower，theAmericansarelivinginacountryboththemilitaryinvestmentandtheforeignpolicyachievement。However，nowAmericaisfacingaseriesofchallengesintheworldeconomy。Itwasoncethedominantexportingnation，butitscompetitivesuperioritywaslostgraduallyinthe1970sand1980s。America‘sbiggestchallengeiscomingfromthePacificrimcountries，suchasJapan，SouthKorea，andSingapore。Americanleadershipandresearchintechnologyanditsvastagriculturalindustryarebeingthreatenedbyothernations。AndtherelativeimportanceofAmericaneconomyintheworldhasdeclined。ThesituationoftheAmericaneconomytellsAmericansthattheymusthaveenoughmoney，onlyinthiswaycantheysucceed，andtheycanstillkeeptheleadershipoftheworld。
　　Fourthly，thereligiousfaithhasgreatimpactontheoutlookonmoney。ReligionisaveryimportantpartoflifeinAmerica，justassomewesternerscommentthatreligionshapesthewesterncharacterandculture。InAmerica，theconstitutionmaywellestablishaseparationbetweenchurchandstate，butrareisthecitizenwhowalksintoavotingboothwithoutaparticularsetofreligiousormoraloutlooks，outlooksthatoftenaffectmeoutcomeofapoliticalrace。Onthewhole，wecannotdenytheinfluenceofreligiononAmericanlife。Meanwhile，religionisnational。Over90percentofAmericanssaythattheybelieveinGod。Forexample，theSouthernBaptistChurchhassixteenmillionmembers，thelargestProtestantgroupintheU。S。Over40percentgotothechurchorsynagogueatleastonceaweek。HalfoftheAmericanProtestantsareactivechurchmembers。EvenAmericanmoneyremindsthemofreligion。ThewordsInGodWeTrustarestampedonthecoins。ThechurchencouragesAmericanstobelessmaterialisticandmonetary。Whenjournalistswriteofgreed，71percentagreethatbeinggreedyisasinagainstGod。ReligiousfaithprovidedearliergenerationsofAmericanswithamorallanguagethathelpcurbthepursuitofmoney。Weshouldagreethatreligiousfaithisasourceofwisdomandguidanceinsomedegree。Justforthereligiousfaith，ithelpsAmericansbelievethatmoneyisnoteverything。Thatmeansmoneyisnotall。
　　C。AdvantagesoftheAmericans’OutlookonMoney
　　ThoughtheAmericans’outlookonmoneyemphasizeonmoneyverymuch，itisbeneficialtothemodernAmericans。OnceanEnglishwritersaid：lackofmoneyisthesourceoftheevil。Thoughmoneycannotbringhappiness，nomoneywillproducegreaterpain，andthehappinesscannotexist。Thatistosaymoneymayberegardedasameansforattainingotherthings，ratherthanasanendinitself。MostofAmericansdrawatightconnectionbetweenmoneyandotherthings。TheoutlookonmoneycanhelpAmericanachievealotofthings。Freedom，forinstance，isoneofourdeepestvalues，andinonesurvey，71percentagreedthathavingmoremoneymeanshavingmorefreedom。Or76percentagreedthathavingmoneygivesmeagoodfeelingaboutmyself。Thesurveyalsoshowedthatworryingaboutnothavingenoughmoneyissignificantlyrelatingwithnotfeelinggoodaboutoneself。
　　Meanwhile，iftheycanconsidermoneyasameanforhelpingothers，itcanalsohelpAmericanstohaveasuccessfullife。AndtheoutlookonmoneymakesAmericansdomanycharitabledonations。WenoticethatgoodworksandorganizedcharitywereanintegralpartoftheAmerican’scharacters。TheAmericansareobsessivewithselfimprovementandearnmoneyhavebeenaccompaniedbyanurgetoimprovetheirlife。Forexample，thepresidentofAmway，DougDeVoswhousemoneyinproperposition，andspendshismoneyonhelpingothers。Hedoesalotofcharities，whichcanhelptheircompanyhaveagoodreputation。Andinhisfamilies，theybelievewhenpeoplehaveredundantmoney，theyshouldspendtheirmoneyonappropriateposition，suchascharity，whichcanhelptheircompanyhaveabettercondition。IntheUnitedStates，about90percentofpeopleareconfidentintheproductsofAmway。Meanwhile，theoutlookonmoneymakessomepeopleworkhardly。Theybelievethatmoneyisoneaccesstosuccess。Inthewaytopursuemoney，theyattainmorethanmoney。Theylearnwideknowledge，thewaytotreatothersandsoon。Moneymakesthemownabetterlife。
　　D。DisadvantagesoftheAmericans’OutlookonMoney
　　Wecanhardlyconnectmoneywithelection。However，theviewofmoneycandestroyademocraticelectionintheUnitedStates。Election，especiallyfortheelectionofpresidentisveryimportantinacountry。Iftheelectionisn’tjustice，thepeoplewouldsufferthepainunderthetyranny。ItisbelievedthatAmericaisademocracycountryandtheprocessofelectionisjustice。However，wearewrong；therearestillsomepeopleusemoneytobuypoliticrightandmoney。Moneybecometheevil，moneydestroyedtheAmerican’sdemocracy。Thefederalandstategovernmentshavebeentakenoverbythosewhoareabletoprovidemultimilliondollarelectioncampaignfunds。Wealthypersonrunforofficeortheybuytheirowncandidates，thentheseelectedofficialscarryouttheprogramsofthosewhoputthemintopower。ThemostvisibleexampleisEnron’schairman，Keylay，giving2billiondollarstotheBushcampaignandthenallowbytheBushadministrationtomanipulatetheenergymarketstomakebillions。
　　III。SolutionstotheproblemsoftheAmericans’OutlookonMoney
　　Infact，moneyisaworldlanguage。WhetherChineseorAmerican，moneyisjustmoney。Themoney’svalueisdecidedbyhuman，sohowtodealwithmoneyandtheoutlookonmoneyareveryimportant。WhatdoestheaverageAmericafamilydowithmoneyatpresent？Formostoffamilies，thefirstthingtheyhavetodoistomanageit。Familiesoftenkeepcarefulfinancialrecords。Manyofthemspendtheirincomeinaplannedway。Theyoftenplanforbasicexpenseslikehousing，food，clothes，andmedicalbills。Onaverage，Americanssavearound5percentoftheirincome。Alloftheseconductsareappropriate。However，theyneedtofindbettermethodsfordealingwiththedisadvantagesoftheoutlookonmoney。
　　Firstly，theAmericansshouldrememberGodintheirhearts。TheybelieveGod。AndtheBibleteachesthemthatenjoytheirlife。Sotheyshouldrememberthatearningmoneyisjustforahappylife。Onceuponatime，ablacksingersaid：thoughIsingthefolksongsinthestreetandonlycanearnlittlemoney，theymakemefeelhappy。IdothethingIreallylike。
　　Secondly，theAmericansshouldearnmoneythroughtheproperway。SomeTVprogramdoesinvestigationsaboutthemethodsforearningmoneyamongmillionaires。Thefollowingarethecrucialfactorsinthesuccess。
　　1。Honesty。Theymustbehonesttoeveryone；onlyinthiswaycantheygainother’strusts。
　　2。Abilityofselfrestraint。Weneedcontrolourselvesfeelingsandconducts。Don’tbreakthelaw。
　　3。Hardwork。Weneedworkhardly，andlearnwideknowledge。
　　Inconclusion，theAmericansshouldrememberthatearningmoneyisjustforhappylife。Theyshouldn’tconsidermoneyaseverything。Onlyinthiswaycantheybetherealrichmen。
　　Conclusion
　　EugenieGrandet，Balzac’sspare，classicalstoryofagirlwhoselifeisblightedbyherfather’shystericalgreed，goesalongwaytojustifythatopinion。InEugenieGrandet，Grandetistherepresentativeofgreedandmoney。
　　ThemajorroleinEugenieGrandetGrandetreflectsphenomenoninmodernAmericansociety。Fromagreatamountofinformation，IknowthatsomeAmericansareobsessivewithmoneyverymuch，andtheyaretheloversofmoney。Forearningmoney，theybreakthelaw。However，meantime，therearestillalotofpeopledoingcharitieswithmoney。Theyconsidermoneyasameansforhelpingothers。Asalargersense，whattheyhavedoneisthesameasGrandet’sdaughterdid。SotheyshouldhaveadeepanalysisoftheGrandetphenomenoninAmerica。
　　However，whydoAmericansemphasizetheimportanceofmoney？Weshouldconsiderthequestionfromfoursides：materialism，competition，immigrants，religion。Allthefactorsinfluencedtheoutlookonmoney。Forexample，justforthereligiousfaith，ithelpsAmericansbelievethatmoneyisnoteverything。Thatmeansmoneyisnotall。IthelpsusunderstandtheAmericans’outlookonmoney。
　　Finally，undertheanalysisoftheAmericans’outlookonmoney，thisthesispointsoutthemethodstodealwiththedisadvantagesoftheoutlookonmoney。TheAmericansshouldregardearningmoneyasamethodforperfectlife。Moneyisnotthefinalobjectiveintheirlife。Therearestillsomanyvaluablethingsthatneedthemtoaccomplish。
　　Bibliography
　　〔2〕BoBing。BoBingGrammar〔M〕。Beijing：KaiMingPress，1998。
　　〔3〕LiLongguo。TheInfluenceofNarrativeonthestudiesofhistory〔J〕。外国文学，2007，（4）。
　　〔4〕MiguelAngelSicilia。QualityinMetadata〔J〕。OnlineInformationReview，2006，vol。32。
　　〔5〕Newlyn，WalterTessi。TheoryofMoney〔M〕。ClarondonPress，1978。
　　〔6〕杜齐才。价值与价值观念〔M〕。广东：广东人民出版社，1987。
　　〔7〕胡良贵。马克思主义哲学原理〔M〕。四川：四川民族出版社，2003。
　　〔8〕凯斯勒。RunningMoney〔M〕。上海人民出版社，2006。
　　〔9〕摩根森。福布斯商业五巨子〔M〕。海南：海南出版社，1999。