Comparative Study Of Relations Between Zhou Zuoren And Greek Literature,Culture

Zhou Zuoren has showed his tremendous enthusiasm to Greek literature﹑Greek culture. As for Greek literature, he thinks the most interesting works, are some subsidiary ones, like Greek myth, Lukianos'Collection of Dialogue, and Greek mime. This choose, shows Zhou's special taste of literature. By reading Greek myth, he experiences art interest strongly, and from the " beautification" of Greek myth, he finds the humanism of ancient Greece, by which he hopes to renew Chinese people's character. In Lukianos'Collection of Dialogue, Lukianos' spirit to offend Authority and expose false things, accords with Zhou Zuoren's demand to criticize Chinese society and culture. At the same time, the portray of human nature, and the interesting Irony of Collection of Dialogue, attract him strongly too. As for Greek mime, its small length, depict of human nature, and " ocean dispassion" in its art, to some degree, enable Zhou Zuoren experience the aesthetic interest of essays. To translate these above-mentioned Greek works, Zhou Zuoren's aim is not literary, but also cultural; not for personal interest, but also for society needs. By comprising with Chinese culture, Zhou Zuoren begins to comprehend Greek culture. The secularism, the spirit of the love of beauty, and the virtue of sophrosyne, and humanism, of Greek culture, attract Zhou Zuoren, and have influence on his social ideal, his pursues of life, and his literary claim. Zhou Zuoren try to make use of Greek culture to make up some imperfection of Chinese culture, so as to renew Chinese society and culture. Simultaneously, according to his own cultural background, Zhou Zuoren tried to comprehend Greek culture, and has found some identical factors between this two kinds of culture. Undoubtedly, to some degree, by mis-reading Greek culture, he draws this conclusion. Like to Greek literature, Zhou Zuoren's acceptance to Greek culture, is also beginning from two levels, namely, personal interest and society demands. Between them, there are accordance, harmony, but also opposites and conflicts.