《弗洛斯河上的磨坊》文化研究成果

George Eliot，an English novelist，who had the original name M ary Ann Evans，was born in Warwickshire，in 1819.　In 1841 Mary Ann and her father moved to Coventry where she got acquainted with a distinguished freethinker Charles Bray，who introduced her to many new religion and political ideas.It was under his influence that she abandoned her narrow religious views.

乔治·艾略特，英国小说家，原名玛丽·安·伊万斯，1819年出生于华威郡。1841年，她随父迁居考文垂，在那儿结识了著名的自由思想家查尔斯·布雷。他给乔治·艾略特介绍了许多宗教和哲学思想。也正是在他的影响下，乔治·艾略特抛弃了自己狭隘的宗教观念。

In 1849 she settled in London and took up work as subeditor of Westminster Review.During this period，she met George Henry Lewes who became her whole life lover.Eliot then went to Germany with Lewes.

1849年，她定居伦敦，担任《西敏寺评论》杂志的副主编。在此期间，经由介绍，她认识了一生的挚爱乔治·亨利·路易斯，两人随后迁居德国。

George Eliot began to w rite novels when she was 40 years old.Her first novel，Adam Bede，the book was published in 1859.Her other major works include The Mill on the Floss

（1860），Silas Marner（1861），and Middlemarch（1871-1872）.

艾略特40岁时才开始写作，1859年才真正出版她的第一部长篇小说《亚当·比德》。她的其他主要作品包括《福洛斯河上的磨坊》（1860）、《织工马南传》（1861）和《米德玛奇》（1871—1872）。

Plot：The Mill on the Floss（1860） centres on Tom and Maggie，both children of Mr.Tulliver，who is the miller on the Floss.Tomis an aggressive and unimaginative and narrow-minded boy，while Maggie is a very beautiful，intelligent girl，a creature full of passion and dreams，thirsty for all knowledge.She loves Tom very dearly，but this sisterly affection draws no response.She finds that her neighbor Wakem's son，Philip，a deformed boy has temperament akin to her own.Therefore they become close friends.

故事梗概：《弗洛斯河上的磨坊》（1860）是围绕弗洛斯河岸边的磨房主塔里维的两个孩子汤姆和玛吉讲述的故事。汤姆生性好强，但古板且心胸狭窄。女儿玛吉聪明美丽，富有激情与梦想，求知欲强。她深爱自己的哥哥，却得不到回应。她发现自己和邻居威克姆的残疾儿子菲利普性情倒是很相似，因此两人成为了要好的朋友。

Unfortunately，Philip's father is the sworn enemy of Mr.Tulliver who fails in a lawsuit and is made bankrupt on that account.Mr.Wakem acts as the lawyer for the other side and later purchases the property Mr.Tulliver sells，including the Mill，the land，and everything else he owns.Consequently，the two families become enemies.Mr.Tulliver is compelled to serve under Wakem so that his family can stay in the old place.His son and daughter are forced to drop out of school.The Tullivers live a poor and humiliated life.(https://www.xing528.com)

不幸的是，菲利普的父亲与塔里维先生是不共戴天的仇人。在一场官司中，塔里维因败诉破产。威克姆是对方的律师，后来又买下了塔里维拍卖的产业，其中包括磨坊、土地以及他所拥有的一切。因此两家结下冤仇。为了让家人留在原住地，塔里维被迫受雇于威克姆。其子女也迫不得已辍学，一家人过着忍辱受穷的日子。

When Tom discovers the secret affection between Maggie and Philip，he tries to make his sister promise never to see him again，alluding at the same time to Philip's deformity，which offends her deeply.Mr.Tulliver soon dies after a scene of violence with Wakem.Maggie then leaves the Mill to work in school.

汤姆发现了玛吉和菲利普之间的爱慕之情，他试图让妹妹答应自己不再与菲利普见面，而且拿菲利普的身体缺陷说事，这深深地伤到了玛吉。父亲塔里维与威克姆发生了一次冲突后，不久便去世了。玛吉伤心地离开了磨坊，去一所学校工作。

Afterwards she pays a visit to her cousin Lucy.Lucy is now courted by Stephen，a rich handsome young man who happens to be struck by Maggie's beauty.One day while boating on the river they are carried away by the tide and spend a night together outside.Stephen offers to marry her but she turns him down.

之后她去拜访表妹露西。露西的未婚夫斯蒂芬年轻英俊且富有。斯蒂芬第一次见玛吉，便被她的美貌深深吸引。一天他们独自划船外出，却被潮水带走，不得不在外漂流过夜。斯蒂芬向玛吉求婚，但是玛吉拒绝了他。

Then comes a great flood which engulfs the town.It is Maggie who drives a boat to rescue Tom from the Mill.When Tom sees death approaching，he clasps Maggie in his arms.The brother and sister reconcile at last go down in an embrace never to be parted.

后来一场大洪水淹没了整座小城。玛吉独自驾船去营救汤姆。当死神一步步来临的时候，汤姆紧紧地拥住玛吉。哥哥和妹妹最后终于和解，相拥在一起，沉到水底永不分离。

Comment：George Eliot's searching exploration of Maggie's inner complex dilemma has made this one of the most enduringly popular of her works.

评论：乔治·艾略特对女主人公玛吉进退为难的心理的探究，使这部小说成为了她最脍炙人口、经久不衰的作品之一。