earticle

영어

This paper examines the hero of The
American Newman’s development of consciousness. In the beginning Newman appears to be
very naive and egoistic. That’s because he gained economic power as a merchant. He thinks
that he can buy everything and money gives happiness to him because owning material goods
is a better life. James is criticized because he generally takes sides with the Americans in
describing their struggle with Europeans. It is worth examining Newman’s defects which are
factual obstacles to attain a better life. As we see in this work his attitude toward human
experience is affirmative. He regards tragic experiences or sufferings as necessary steps for a
man to attain spiritual maturity. And the spirit of renunciation found at the end of The
American can be said to be the manifestation of James’s moral idealism. (Jeonju University)