Analysis Of The Flat Figure In The Western Literature

The 20th century, the time when a series of systematic narrative literary theories have been developed, is the peak of development of western narrative literary theories. It is also in this period that famous character dichotomy theory is proposed by Forster and is widely recognized by scholars. However, with the development of literary work and literary criticism, Forster's dichotomy theory is publicly criticized by numerous scholars. The major cause is that scholars think that Forster's character dichotomy cannot explain the character in modernism and the postmodernism literature. Due to the narrow understanding of flat figure, many scholars express their opposition, regarding that such division is of no aesthetic value. Nevertheless, in fact, Forster himself does not interpret the character in the narrow sense. On the contrary, such division is for the convenience of literary criticism. Actually, the views of flat tendency scholars hold result from the misunderstanding of Forster's character dichotomy. Specifically speaking, it is only these scholars who hold the views of flat tendency. Reviewing the flat figures from western literature history, it is found that they are not as bad as the critical scholars thought but have the unique cultural and aesthetic value. Therefore, based on the correct interpretation of Forster's character dichotomy, this thesis intends to make a comprehensive and dialectical analysis to the flat figures in western literature by adopting a logical and historical perspective, thus to explore the unique cultural and aesthetic values of the flat figures.