Thomas Carlyle,Yen Fuh And The French Revolution

Through the French Revolution: A History annotated by Yen Fuh(1854-1921)during the year of 1903-1904 and related historical materials,this study examines and analyzes the similarities and differences of the views on history and revolution of Thomas Carlyle(1795-1881)and Yen Fuh.Based on a close reading of the text of The French Revolution and the annotation by Yen Fuh,this thesis discloses the connections between the minds of Yen Fuh and Thomas Carlyle.This study finds that Carlyle and Yen Fuh have different views on the French Revolution,but they are also similar in their attitudes towards radicalism.Carlyle’s romantic view of history is both radical and conservative at the same time.He believes that history is the embodiment of“Divine Providence”and the “Past Prophecies”.Revolutionary events can stimulate social progress,making it a better world;but to Carlyle,radical movements could be dreadful and destructive to British society.By making predictions when rewriting history,Carlyle warns the English people in 1830s that they should obey the divine verdicts and avoid any violent revolutions.Carlyle holds a relatively self-contradictory view of history in his exhibition of romantic pictures of the French Revolution.As far as the French revolution is concerned,Yen Fuh has a comparatively more cautious view,and his view of history is incremental,partially due to the influence of Carlyle’s conservative thoughts.Yen Fuh starts from the theory of incrementalism,and by examining and reflecting on the French Revolution,he becomes even more convinced that the progressive change is better than the reckless revolution for the drastic social change.He is more vigilant about the spread of the extremism and radical thoughts of freedom and civil rights in China.Meanwhile,he shows anxiety for the radicalism in modern China and opposes radical revolution,which he thinks will bring chaos to the society.This is where we find the great influence of Thomas Carlyle by Yen’s reading and annotation of The French Revolution.