National features of the character of the English people. Order and calm

Composition

The stories of I. A. Bunin "The Brothers" and "The Gentleman from San Francisco" have an acute social orientation. But the meaning of these stories is not limited to criticism of capitalism and colonialism. The social problems of capitalist society are only a background that allows Bunin to show the aggravation of the "eternal" problems of mankind in the development of civilization. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, capitalism in Europe and America reached its highest stage of development - imperialism. Society is moving along the path of technological progress. The largest monopolies are occupying key positions in all branches of the economy of the capitalist countries.

One of the most important features imperialism is the development of the colonial system, which finally takes shape by the 20th century with the completion of the territorial division of the world between the major capitalist powers, when the countries of almost all of Africa, most of Asia and Latin America were turned into colonies. Such is the concrete historical background in the stories of I. A. Bunin.

In the 1900s, Bunin traveled around Europe and the East, observing the life and order of capitalist society in Europe and the colonial countries of Asia. Bunin is aware of all the immorality, anti-humanity of the order that reigns in imperialist society, where everything works only to enrich the monopolies. Wealthy capitalists are not ashamed of any means to increase their capital. They are not embarrassed by the fact that they receive huge profits by exploiting, ruining and impoverishing the majority of the population of their country, robbing the peoples of other countries.

In the story "The Brothers" Bunin reveals the essence of colonialism, the shameless, cruel, predatory policy of bourgeois society.

Bunin tells the story of two "earthly" brothers - a young Ceylon rickshaw and a wealthy colonizer, whom the rickshaw carries in his carriage. Europeans, greedy for money and wealth, having invaded the life of the “forest people”, turned them into slaves, gave everyone their own number. But they also invaded the privacy of the “forest people”. They deprived the young rickshaw of hope for happiness, joy, love, taking away his bride. And life has lost all meaning for the rickshaw. He sees the only liberation from the cruelty of the world in death, which he takes from the bite of a small but most poisonous snake.

In The Brothers, the Englishman realizes the immorality of his life, talking about the crimes he committed: “In Africa I killed people, in India, robbed by England, and therefore by me, I saw thousands dying of hunger, in Japan I bought girls for monthly wives ... in Java and Ceylon, he drove a rickshaw to his death rattle ... ”But the Englishman is not tormented by remorse.

Bunin is sure that such an unjust society cannot last long, that the capitalist world is gradually moving towards the abyss.

Having plundered the East, Africa, this world, torn apart by internal contradictions, will begin to self-destruct, as in the very Buddhist legend told by the Englishman.

Bunin reveals the problems of social evil in his other story - "The Gentleman from San Francisco". The Gentleman from San Francisco is built on symbols and contrasts. "Atlantis" is a model of a capitalist society. Bunin generalizes the image of the gentleman from San Francisco to such an extent that he does not even give him any specific name. The description of life on the ship is given in a contrasting image of the upper deck and hold of the ship: “The gigantic fireboxes rumbled deafly, devouring piles of red-hot coal, with a roar thrown into them by people covered in caustic, dirty sweat and waist-deep naked people, purple from the flame; and here, in the bar, they carelessly threw their legs on the handles, smoked, sipped cognac and liqueurs ... ”With this abrupt transition, Bunin emphasizes that the luxury of the upper decks, that is, the highest capitalist society, is achieved only through the exploitation, enslavement of people who are constantly working in hellish conditions in the hold of a ship.

On the example of the fate of the gentleman from San Francisco, Bunin speaks of the aimlessness, emptiness, worthlessness of the life of a typical representative of capitalist society. The closeness of this theme to the content of Tolstoy's "Death of Ivan Ilyich" is obvious. The thought of death, repentance, sins, God never came to the gentleman from San Francisco. All his life he strove to catch up with those "whom he once took as a model." By old age, there was nothing human left in him. He became like an expensive thing made of gold and ivory, one of those that always surrounded him: “his large teeth shone with gold fillings, his strong bald head was old ivory.”

Bunin refuses his hero even enlightenment before death, unlike Tolstoy. His death, as it were, portends the death of the entire unjust world of "gentlemen from San Francisco." Not without reason, on the way back of the Atlantis, the Devil sits on the rocks of Gibraltar, foreshadowing the end of the world. The ocean, the primordial element (“the bottomless depth, that unsteady abyss about which the Bible speaks so terribly”), also speaks of the imminent death of the whole world, which does not accept the gentleman from San Francisco and his spiritless world, in which they forgot about God, about nature, about the power of the elements. So, against the background of social problems, Bunin talks about the eternal problems of mankind: about the meaning of life, about the spirituality of life, about the relationship of man to God. An imperfect capitalist society for Bunin is just one of the manifestations of "universal" evil. Using the example of a gentleman from San Francisco and his unspiritual life, Bunin shows that the world of his day is depraved, that he is mired in sins. The epigraph to "The Lord from San Francisco": "Woe to you, Babylon, strong city!", Taken from the Apocalypse and taken by Bunin only in latest edition in 1951, recalls the Belshazzar feast on the eve of the death of the Chaldean kingdom. The Gentleman from San Francisco describes in detail the luxurious life on the Atlantis, the main place in which is food: “... put on pajamas, drank coffee, chocolate, cocoa; then ... did gymnastics, stimulating appetite ... made morning toilet and went to the first breakfast; up to eleven o'clock it was supposed to walk briskly on the deck ... to excite a new appetite ... "

Bunin seems to be fulfilling the plan of Tolstoy, who was about to write a book, the main meaning of which Tolstoy defined as follows: “Food. Belshazzar's feast ... People think they are busy with different things, they are only busy eating.

People eat, drink, have fun, and behind all this they forget about God, about death, about thoughts of repentance. The passengers of the Atlantis do not even think about the terrible ocean that went behind the walls of the ship, because they blindly believe "in the power over them of the commander, a red-haired man of monstrous size and heaviness ... similar ... to a huge idol." People forget about God and worship a pagan idol, they believe that he will defeat the primordial element and save them from death; they have fun with “shamelessly sad music”, deceive themselves with false love and behind all this they do not see the true meaning of life.

The philosophy of the people of the new time, the time of progress, civilization, Bunin reveals through the mouth of an Englishman in "Brothers": "God, religion in Europe has long been gone, for all our efficiency and greed, we are like ice, cold both to life and to death: if and we are afraid of it, then by reason or only by the remnants of animal instinct. It is noteworthy that in The Brothers this is realized by the Englishman himself, a wealthy colonialist, exploiter and enslaver.

Bunin contrasts these people with the civilization of "forest people", people who grew up in the bosom of nature. Bunin believes that only they can feel being and death, only faith has been preserved in them. But in The Brothers, both the young rickshaw and the colonizer are similar in the emptiness of life.

The Europeans invaded the lives of people who lived "infantile-immediate life, with their whole being feeling both being and death, and the divine greatness of the universe", the Europeans littered their clean world, brought with them not only enslavement, but they infected the "forest people" passion for money. Overwhelmed by the passion for profit, they also begin to forget about true sense life.

In The Brothers, the motive of intoxication is especially important, both literally and in figuratively,

“The rickshaw bought cheap cigarettes ... and smoked five in a row. Sweetly intoxicated, he sat ... "," there he put twenty-five cents on the counter and for this he pulled out a whole glass of whiskey. Mixing this fire with betel, he provided himself with blissful excitement until the evening ... "," the Englishman was also drunk ... "," and went, went to wind it drunk from head to toe rickshaw, excited also with the hope of getting a whole bunch of cents "- all these are examples of drunkenness in the literal sense. But Bunin in the story also speaks of intoxication in a figurative sense: “People constantly go to feasts, to walks, to fun,” the Exalted One said ... “The sight, sounds, taste, smells intoxicate them.”

Other writings on this work

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Whether you like it or not, good command of English is not enough to communicate with native speakers; you also need to be familiar with the culture and traditions of the English-speaking people so as not to get into trouble by asking a question from.

“The British nation is unique in this respect: they are the only people who like to be told how bad things are, who like to be told the worst.”

“The British nation is unique: they are the only people who like to hear that everything is very bad, and even worse than nowhere”

~ Winston S. Churchill

The national character of the English people is felt better than in any other people. It has a sense of superiority, which can also be called "island pride". British patriotism is based on a deep sense of security. in which they, as a nation, have been for centuries.

Appearance and character of a typical Briton

The British are easily recognizable by their appearance and demeanor. And looking more closely, determine from which part of the country this person

Appearance of a typical British

An Englishman of middle age is usually tall, his face is broad, reddish (rarely tanned), with soft, pendulous cheeks, and often with blue, expressionless eyes. Women, like men, are often very tall too. Both have long necks, slightly protruding eyes, and slightly protruding front teeth.

Against the background of the English, the Scots and Irish look simpler, but more colorful.. Squat with a lively face and a firm gait, the Scots are often carriers of thick red hair. Scots usually have light eyes - gray, blue, green. It is also characteristic of the inhabitants of Scotland bright skin, which does not blush the cold northern sun.

Scotland has the highest percentage of redheads in the world, with about 13% of the population having red hair.

Many often confuse scots with irish, they say, the Irish appearance is bright red hair, freckles and Blue eyes. So, this is a stereotype. On the streets of cities, you will often meet guys with dark hair and a red beard. The performer of the role of Harry Potter is a typical representative of Irish appearance: a narrow face, often elongated, sunken cheeks that blush with spots, not “apples”.

Order and calm

The British value discipline very highly. and are considered the most well-mannered and polite in the world. Since English politeness is specific, it is often confused with coldness. Violent temperament and ardent passions rage under the guise of coldness and superiority. Principles of "gentlemanly conduct"(exemplary self-control), were elevated to a cult under Queen Victoria, but are still active today.

The British are heavy on their feet, tend to go around sharp corners, that they have an inherent desire to be out of prying eyes, which gives rise to a cult of privacy. Sometimes it is enough to watch the English crowd on national holiday or at a football match to feel how the national temperament is torn from the bridle of self-control.

For example, they politely respect and respect their and your personal space, do not stick their nose into your affairs, do not ask questions, even just to find out the name of a person without a good reason is indecent rudeness.

The English are characterized by moderation, which they do not forget both during labor and in pleasure.

There is almost nothing ostentatious about the Englishman. He lives first and foremost for himself. His nature is characterized by love for order, comfort, the desire for mental activity. He loves good transport, a fresh suit, a rich library.

Among the bustle of people, it is not difficult to recognize a real Englishman. No noise or shouting will confuse him. He won't stop for a minute. Where necessary, he will certainly step aside, turn off the sidewalk, wriggle to the side, never expressing the slightest surprise or fright on his important face.

Naturally, they want to see the same manners in others. Therefore, the best reason to start a conversation with a friend and even with an unfamiliar Briton is

British habits and lifestyle

“My house is my castle,” the British joke, preferring to spend evenings in a quiet family circle, discussing the events of the past day in front of the fireplace.

Conservative or traditional?

The British value public order very much. and never rude. Their passionate commitment to games is widely known, but despite this, the British are very serious in business matters.

Often the British are called conservatives because of their adherence to traditions, which they passionately try to preserve in their original form. But it is this commitment that is most attractive to tourists from all over the world.

Tradition in Britain is anything that has stood the test of time.: rituals and habits, features of everyday life and behavior (for example, green hedges, bright red mailboxes, right-hand drive and left-hand traffic, double-decker red buses, judges in robes and powdered wigs of the eighteenth century, fur bear hats on the royal guards, which they do not remove even in 30-degree heat).

You can learn more about the way of life of the British in the article.

After work, the inhabitants of England like to spend time in pubs, football and various clubs (for example, fan clubs, gardeners). These places are very fond of them, because here they feel more relaxed, it is easier to make new friends, united by a common interest.

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in the discipline "Ethnology"

on the topic: "The image of the English in fiction"

Each nation has certain character traits that are made up of traditions, culture, beliefs, features of geographical and economic conditions.

So the Germans, for example, are very thrifty and punctual, the Russian people are distinguished by stamina and endurance, the southern nationalities (Spaniards, Italians, French) are hot and temperamental, and the inhabitants of the Caucasus are distinguished by their hospitality.

Most often, stereotypes about the features of the national character turn out to be less true than ideas about cultural features. Character is pure individual characteristics people, a set of individual mental properties of a person, which are formed in activity and manifested in behavior.

In my work, I want to consider the image of an Englishman on the examples of national character stereotypes described in fiction.

The English character is, on the one hand, perhaps the most controversial and paradoxical among European peoples, almost all of its features have directly opposite properties, and on the other hand, it is very integral and definite, traceable over many centuries. The prevailing stereotypes about the British are obvious and can be easily traced in fiction.

The purpose of my work is to explore the concept of an ethnic stereotype and describe some features of the use of such stereotypes of an English character on the example of images described in fiction.

The main features of the English character

The concept of "ethnic stereotype" consists of several characteristics: an ethnic stereotype exists in the minds of a large number of people, and not individual person; ethnic stereotypes can be both negative and positive; ethnic stereotypes can be directed both at representatives of this ethnic group and at representatives of other ethnic groups.

The most commonly attributed character trait of the British is their a sense of national superiority. Perhaps snobbery is an echo of imperial psychology, when England was a colonial country and owned almost a quarter of the world. Almost from birth, all Englishmen were indoctrinated with the idea that they should set an example for all mankind and demonstrate the superiority of the British system.

One Venetian traveler noted that “The English are great lovers of themselves and everything that belongs to them; they are convinced that there are no other people than themselves, and no other world than England". Our N.M. agreed with him. Karamzin, who remarked: “In general, the English people consider us foreigners to be some kind of imperfect, miserable people.”

The feeling of superiority and chosenness is fully read in John Galsworthy's The Forsyte Saga. The Forsyte family tends to think that "around them the British Empire, and beyond the end of the earth».

Also one of the key features of the English character is adherence to traditions- many call this trait conservatism. Indeed, the desire to preserve in its original form the features of life and behavior, rituals and habits, sometimes brought to the point of absurdity - from a modern and non-English point of view - distinguishes the British from most other peoples, is subjected to sharp criticism, but at the same time makes them attractive to tourists from all over the world. .

Conservatism and egocentrism, which are attributed to the British, result in the following property of the British - distrust of everything foreign. Traditional English xenophobia is much more developed among working people than among the middle classes. English workers are very hard to find mutual language with foreigners due to differences in habits, especially in food and language. English cuisine is very different from the cuisine of any other European country, and the British maintain a staunch conservatism here. As a rule, an Englishman will not touch an overseas dish, garlic and olive oil cause him disgust, and without tea with pudding and life is not in life. The peculiarities of the English language make it impossible for almost everyone who left school at fourteen to learn a foreign language in adulthood. Trips abroad, possession foreign languages, the ability to enjoy foreign cuisine is implicitly associated with nobility, manifestations of snobbery.

The dislike of everything foreign and the traditional xenophobia of the British is a stereotype that seems to be a relic of their sense of national superiority. Let's take an example from the story "The aunt and the sluggard" ("Aunt and the lazy")

“I loathe New York, Bertie. I wouldn't come near the place if I hadn't got to see editors occasionally. There "s a blight on it. It" s got moral delirium tremens. It "s the limit. The very thought of staying more than a day in it makes me sick".

“New York disgusts me, Bertie! I would never come here if I didn't have to meet with the publishers. This city is disgusting. His soul is sick with delirium tremens. The mere thought that I need to stay here for at least a day makes me sick.[Woodhouse 2006: 454].

Dislike for everything foreign and for foreigners themselves is expressed in many ways, from food to language.

There is also a very vivid stereotype that an Englishman without his own house is like a snail without a shell. The English house is a kind of pinnacle of comfort and convenience. The decor of a traditional English home includes many items, tables, ottomans, sofas and armchairs, all this in front of a fireplace in which firewood crackles, a glass of whiskey in your hands, what else is needed to meet old age! The British have a special, reverent attitude towards the house, they do not recognize apartments, preferring, albeit small, albeit in installments at interest, but their own house with a front garden.

Their houses are an integral part of English culture, they are also their "fortresses". The English house is a kind of pinnacle of comfort and convenience. Here is an example from the story “The aunt and the sluggard”:

"To have to leave my little cottage and take a stuffy, smelly, over-heated hole of an apartment in this Heaven-forsaken, festering Gehenna."

"Abandoning my little house for a stuffy, stinking hole called an apartment in this goddamn rotting Gehenna!"[Woodhouse 2006: 454].

A cozy atmosphere disposes and is supported by tea drinking.

tea drinking is another stereotype that English literature has given rise to. One gets the impression that the whole life of the British is only breaks between tea parties.

“Then you have tea for breakfast; then you have tea at eleven o "clock in the morning; then after lunch; then you have tea for tea; then after supper; and again at eleven o" clock at night.You must not refuse any additional cups of tea."

“Tea will be served at breakfast, at 11 am, after lunch, then tea just for the sake of drinking tea, tea at dinner, and again at 11 am. And don't turn down other offers of tea." .

A general review of English fiction shows the huge role that tea drinking plays in the life of every Briton. It is difficult to find at least one English novel of the 19th century or a modern film in which the scene of tea drinking would not be present. Afternoon tea ritual afternoon tea) is vividly represented in the works of William Thackeray, Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, Bernard Shaw.

Undoubtedly, one of the most striking examples of a five-hour tea party (“ five o' clock tea”), written in a humorous manner, is an excerpt from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The writer called this scene a "crazy tea party": the Mad Hatter, the March Hare and the Dormouse mouse stopped at 5 o'clock, and now the whole trio must drink tea forever: “... Near the house, under a tree, a table was set for tea; The Hatter and the Hare were drinking tea, and between them the Garden Dormouse was placed on a chair. Alice noticed that the table was very large and full of crockery. - Would you like some cake? - kindly offered the Hare. Then Sonya started up and sang through her sleep: - Tea! .. Tea! .. Tea! .. ... And since then we have always had five hours, - said the Hatter. “We always only have time to drink tea!”

Sherlock Holmes in the works of Arthur Conan Doyle, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, created by the detective queen Agatha Christie, solve intricate problems with the help of a cup of tea. For them, the traditional English tea party is not only a ritual that does not allow retreats, but also an opportunity to gather their thoughts in order to put together all the pieces of the detective puzzle.

benevolence- another stereotype of the English people. It is not uncommon to hear that the British are extremely hospitable and friendly - and this is true. The English do not know how to hate, do not keep evil in mind. The British are extremely reserved people and often stingy with emotions. Restraint, control over one's feelings, often mistaken for simple coldness - these are the life principles of this small but very proud people. As evidence, he will give an example from the story “Jeeves takes charge”:

""Do you know that Lady Florence has broken off her engagement with me?"

- "Indeed, sir?"

Not a bit of sympathy! I might have been telling him it was a fine day.

- "You"re sacked!"

- "Very good, sir." He coughed gently.

"Get out!"

"Very good, sir."

“Do you know that Lady Florence has called off our engagement?

- How's that, sir?

And not an ounce of sympathy! I might as well have told him that the weather was fine today.

- You're fired!

- Yes, sir. He coughed delicately.

- Get out!

- Yes, sir.[Woodhouse 2006: 37].

A clear example of the fact that the British do not like to scandal and can calmly and politely respond to outright rudeness.

In those cases when representatives of other sentimental nationalities sob with tears of admiration or tenderness, the Englishman will say lovely(nice), and it will be equivalent in terms of the strength of the feelings expressed [Pavlovskaya 2003: 86]. “The English have no soul; they have the understatement instead" -At English No souls, instead of her at them restraint .

Apparently it was this quality that gave rise to a whole subculture in Britain in the form of gentlemen and dandies. The main thing in the character of a gentleman is stoicism, patience, politeness.

law-abiding- another feature without which we cannot imagine the British. Respect for the law has become such a natural component of their character and life that in many cases even the need for strict control and punishment for non-compliance with it has disappeared [Pavlovskaya 2003: 91].

In an excerpt from the story "Jeeves takes charge", the protagonist himself emphasizes this:

"The house-party I had left had consisted entirely of law-abiding birds like myself".

“When I left, the society there consisted of law-abiding citizens, such as myself”[Woodhouse 2006: 33].

To this day, the masses are more or less inclined to believe that "illegal" is a synonym for "bad." It is known that criminal law is harsh and full of absurdities, and litigation is so expensive that the rich always get the advantage over the poor in them, but there is a general opinion that the law, whatever it is, will be scrupulously observed, the judges are incorruptible and no one will be punished. otherwise than by the verdict of the court” [Orwell. English. http://orwell.ru/library/essays/].

The passion for keeping order follows the English everywhere. The strongest emotional indignation among the British causes a dismissive attitude towards the queues, which are the subject of special worship for them. They themselves, according to one apt expression, form a queue even from one person.

As D. Mikesh notes, the British stand in line almost all their lives: "At week-ends an Englishman queues up at the bus-stop, travels out to Richmond, queues up for a boat, then queues up for tea, then queues up for ice cream, then joins a few more odd queues just for the sake of of the fun of it, then queues up at the bus-stop and has the time of his life ”(On weekends, an Englishman queues at the bus stop, having arrived in Richmond, he queues for a boat, then waits in line for tea, for ice cream , then joins a few more lines just for fun, again waiting in line at the bus stop and so on all his life) .

It seems that all these endless queues - another reason for the British to talk about the weather again. All the jokes and ridicule they are subjected to for this are completely justified. Any English conversation really revolves around this topic, even semi-official letters from organizations contain references to good or bad weather [Pavlovskaya 2003: 92]. D. Mikes, as a person who has lived in England most of his life, knows how to laugh at himself: “This is the most important topic in the land.Do not be misled by memories of your youth when, on the Continent, wanting to describe someone as exceptionally dull, you remarked: “He is the type who would discuss the weather with you.” In England this is an ever-interesting, even thrilling topic, and you must be good at discussing the weather" (Weather really is an for them theme first importance. Don't be misled by the memories of your youth, when on the Continent, trying to describe the most boring person, you remarked: "He is one of those who will discuss the weather with you." In England, this is always a topical and burning topic of conversation, and you have to be good at discussing it) .

However, along with such highly moral foundations, there is such a feature of the English character as hypocrisy. It has entered into the English character so widely that a visiting observer will be ready to encounter it at every step, but will find especially expressive examples in the laws concerning gambling, drunkenness, prostitution and foul language [Orwell. English. http://orwell.ru/library/essays/]. This trend can be explained by the desire of the British to always keep up appearances. Much of what they do is evidence of their insincerity, is hypocritical, since the British tend to adhere to certain norms of behavior.

Hypocrisy- a stereotype that characterizes English society. It is so firmly ingrained in the English character that the common lie is sometimes presented as a form of politeness.

Here is one example from the story “Jeeves and unbidden guest”: (“Jeeves and the unbidden guest”)

"Awfully glad to see you," I forced myself to say it. "So you"ve popped over, eh? Making a long stay in america?"».

"Nice to meet you," I said, even though it wasn't true. I had a premonition that big troubles lay ahead of me. “So you swam across the ocean?” How long to America?[Woodhouse 2006: 206].

The English like to put themselves in a good light, by hook or by crook. Here is another example of hypocritical behavior from the same story:

"Absolutely! We were always together. Saw all the sights, don "t you know. We" d take in the Museum of Art in the morning, and have a bit of lunch at some good vegetarian place, and then toddle along to a sacred concert in the afternoon, and home to an early dinner. We usually played dominoes after dinner. And then the early bed and the refreshing sleep. We had a great time. I was awfully sorry when he went away to Boston.”

“We didn’t part for a minute. Always been together, you know. In the mornings they ran around museums, then, so to speak, had breakfast in a vegetarian canteen, and during the day, like him, they attended sacred music concerts. They dined only at home, then, whatever it was, they played dominoes and went to bed early. In general, they had fun with might and main. I was wildly upset when he left for Boston."[Woodhouse 2006: 213].

In fact, Moti got drunk every day, danced on a table in a pub, brought drunken friends home to Worcester, and ended up in jail for beating a constable.

Sports obsession- a stereotype often attributed to the inhabitants of England. They have authored some of the most popular games in the world, spread far more widely than any other product of their culture. The English themselves are not particularly skilled in games, but they love to participate in them and with enthusiasm, in the eyes of foreigners just childish, they love to read about them and make bets. Nothing brightened up the life of the unemployed between the world wars like football sweepstakes. Professional football players, boxers, jockeys, even cricketers enjoy a popularity unthinkable for a scientist or an artist [Orwell. English.].

Chris Cleve's book Gold tells the story of two friends and rivals, high-class athletes Kate and Zoe. They are not only fighting for the championship on the cycle track, but both are in love with Jack, their teammate. Pets of the same coach, they are all preparing for the most important start of their careers. Exhausting workouts, a cruel regimen, a strict diet - they make these sacrifices without hesitation. But things are much more important on the scales - friendship and love, loyalty and betrayal, envy and self-sacrifice... The heroes of the book have to make a difficult choice and look for an answer to a difficult question: what is the true price of gold?

Humor- this is perhaps the most distinctive feature of the British. English humor is very peculiar, no one can understand it. The refined irony of Bernard Shaw or Oscar Wilde is understandable to everyone, but falling trousers, toilet witticisms, indispensable allusions to all sorts of greasy and indecency of Mr. Bean or Benny Hill cause undisguised bewilderment among other peoples. To laugh at oneself and at others is quite natural for an Englishman. Allegory, play on words, paradoxical statements, sharp jokes - all this is the glory of the English people and language [Pavlovskaya 2003: 89].

-I would also like to draw, - said Alice, at last. - At the well.

-Draw and prick? - asked the Hare.[Lewis Carroll"Alice in Wonderland"].

English humor is not the one that causes loud laughter, but the humor is hidden, often elusive, it gives a special charm to English literary works, especially when reading them in the original language.

Through the lips of his hero Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle wittily speaks of the impossibility of obtaining all knowledge, comparing the head with an attic in which you cannot put everything, since “its walls are not elastic”

Sherlock Holmes is never rude or haughty, although he admitted that "he is the only one in the world". He only laughs at Lestrade, but he does it tactfully, saying to Watson: “When I think that Lestrade is now looking for a false trail, I laugh so much” or: “When Gregson, Lestrade or Ettelney Johnson are at dead end 147, which is their normal state, they immediately call me". In the same novel, Holmes speaks of Johnson's "indomitable energy" who arrested not only Tadeusz Szolto, but also the housekeeper, doorkeeper, and Hindu servant. In the story "The Empty House" Sherlock Holmes only allows himself to remark to Lestrade that "three unsolved murders in a year is a lot."

Examples of English humor in the works of Shakespeare:

- Something is rotten in the state of Denmark (act IV, scene VII)

- There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dream of in your philosophy“There are many things in the world, friend Horatio, that our wise men never dreamed of.”

- Thought this be madness, yet there is a method in it. -If this madness, then in German eat system

- If you treat everyone according to their deserts, who will leave without a flogging?

The English have a special knack for saying funny things with deadpan seriousness. This feature of the national gift is evidenced by the works of many classics of English fiction: Shakespeare, Byron, Thackeray, Oscar Wilde, Jerome K. Jerome, Aldous Huxley, as well as foreign authors.

Based on the study, it can be concluded that English fiction creates a holistic image of a "typical Englishman", in which certain qualities can be distinguished.

Summarizing the features of the English character described by the authors, one can see that the most common ethnic stereotypes of this culture are: a sense of national superiority; conservatism and adherence to tradition; good manners, courtesy and decency; restraint in emotions; hypocrisy; law abidance and compliance with the rules; snobbery, humor, English tea-drinking and sports obsession.

The goal I set was achieved by studying the material on this issue and on the basis of this material, the role of reflecting ethnic stereotypes in a literary text was revealed using the example of English culture.

In conclusion of the work done, I would like to say that in some cases ethnic stereotypes can become a serious obstacle to intercultural contacts.

ethnic stereotype English literature

Literature

1. Pavlovskaya A.V. Ethnic stereotypes in the light of intercultural communication. Moscow: Education, 1998.

2. Pavlovskaya A. V. England and the British. GEO #4, 2003.

3. Stefanenko T.G. Ethnopsychology. Workshop. M.: Nauka, 2006.

4. Stefanenko T.G. Socio-psychological aspects of the study of ethnic identity. Moscow: Nauka, 1999.

5. Mikes G. How to be an Alien. Penguin Books Ltd, 1973.

6. Orwell J. The English.

7. Woodhouse P.G. Shall we call Jeeves? M.: Harvest, 2006.

8. Woodhouse P.G. Storybook

9. Carroll L. Alice in Wonderland. Perm book 1992.

10. Conan Doyle.A. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

11. Shakespeare W. Hamlet

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There is an old joke. Paradise is when you live in an English house with a Russian wife on an American salary, and a Chinese cook cooks. Hell is when you live in a Chinese house with an American wife on a Russian salary, and an English chef cooks. Why does the whole world laugh at English food, does not understand and admire English politeness?

Who are the English?

Queen, weather, tea, football - what the world knows about the English. And the inhabitants of the island state themselves admit that these values ​​really play an important role in their lives. But adherence to traditions is far from all that makes up the national character and mentality of the British. The nation itself is a product of the fusion of many tribes that once lived on the territory of the island, and the peoples who captured it. So, the ancestors of the British, the Saxons, gave their descendants practicality, efficiency and a craving for simplicity. From the Celts they inherited a belief in the supernatural, a penchant for mysticism and an attachment to the past. The Britons endowed their descendants with a passion for hearth. Angles - pride and vanity. From the Scandinavian Vikings came a craving for travel and curiosity. And the last to invade Britain, the Normans, left behind a love of money and discipline. Today, thanks to the Internet, the British are no longer cut off from the whole world, but they have managed to preserve truly English national traits that are still recognizable, even if you have never met an Englishman.

Stability and attachment to the past

Briefly, the national character of the English can be described by the word "tradition". They are extremely attached to the past and do not hide it. They find it difficult to adapt to new fashion trends, and if such changes occur, they affect only certain people, not affecting the nation as a whole. Traditional tea parties, football fanaticism and pride in their queen - this is what unites all the British, and this has not changed for years or decades. From the English adherence to traditions grow the roots of all English character traits. Their automatic politeness is a tribute to traditional upbringing. Moderation and practicality are the gift of distant ancestors. Even their humor is also a child of the habit of laughing at themselves. The British have a strong family background. And although not all of them are lords, most can remember their great-great-grandfathers and even show their photographs. Keeping children's dresses, old school notebooks and diaries is quite in the spirit of the British. They like to get together every Sunday for a family dinner, wear the same sweaters and go to the pub in the evenings. And even what the whole world laughs at - eternal talk about the weather - is also a tradition that the British have cherished for centuries.

Moderation

Moderation in everything, bordering on stinginess, is often noticed by foreigners in close contact with the British. The character of the Englishman was formed under the influence of many events that took place on the island. And the habit of saving, saving and living without frills appeared a very long time ago. Surprisingly, it is a fact: having a friendly and hospitable character, the British will never set the table in excess, as is customary in Russia, for example. So, having invited three people to tea, it is quite natural for an Englishwoman to put on the table a saucer with four cakes and a teapot filled with exactly four cups. And this will not seem to her manifestations of stinginess or disrespect. On the contrary, such a manifestation of moderation, characteristic of all the British, just reflects the true essence, without a mask and pretense.

Practicality

About practicality as a feature of the national character of the British, perhaps only the deaf have not heard. The British know how to perfectly allocate time and resources. From childhood, they are taught to moderation and stamina - to endure cold and rain, withstand punishment and a very moderate dinner. Therefore, every English child learns very quickly how to use their skills and knowledge to achieve what they want and "survive" in a traditional English house with separate taps and carefully controlled heating. Thanks to their practicality, the British are excellent entrepreneurs. It is known that it was the British who stood at the origins of the large-scale production of French wines. The inhabitants of the island liked the noble varieties so much that they built the first large wineries from the French, their eternal competitors, and earned a lot of money from this. Even before Christmas, when business life freezes in almost all of Europe, the British continue to make deals and trade in shops.

Politeness

They say they apologize automatically. Even the British themselves often laugh at their eternal politeness, but are in no hurry to get rid of it. Politeness and tact - these are the character traits of the British, who have won hearts all over the world. It is believed that there is no better personal assistant than an Englishman who will know exactly what the boss needs, but at the same time pretend that he did not notice anything unusual. Politeness towards others is manifested not only in the use of certain words and attempts to hold the door, but also in behavior. The Englishman does not allow himself gossip (traditional clubs do not count, because what is said in the club remains in the club), rude statements, loud disputes and quarrels. The French once had a joke that an English wife is good because she is like good furniture - you can’t hear her. The character of English men also did not allow them to arrange family scandals. It is not surprising that this early age children are also trained. Being polite, keeping a face and knowing exactly what time it is are the virtues that students of English schools have.

Vanity

Nor is there a nation more conceited than the British. Living on a small island, the British are nevertheless sure that their country is the best in the world. They have the best political system, the strongest economy and the most valiant police. Together with adherence to tradition, such national vanity and unwillingness to accept other people's opinions make the character of the Englishman unpleasant for a foreigner. The main pride of the British to this day remains English language, which has long become global. Historians believe that national vanity is due to the geographical position of the country as well. Having no other peoples and nations on the island, the British accepted themselves as a standard, and carried this love for themselves and for everything English through the centuries. Back in the fifteenth century it was said about the English that they do not see other peoples than their own. But this vanity, together with the love of travel passed down by the Vikings, helped Britain reign on the seas for years to come.

Individualism

Describing the national character of the English, many authors note extreme individualism. Each Englishman has clear personal boundaries and is not inclined to violate strangers. Here, on the island, everyone knows the laws that protect personal honor and dignity and private property. Greeting or communicating with an unfamiliar person, the Englishman will always leave a sufficient distance so that "odors do not fly". But the point here is not in disgust, but in the boundaries that the Englishman knows how to respect and requires the same respect from others. Even children in school are not inclined to help the underachievers unless directed to do so by the teacher. And it is by no means surprising that in English university dormitories there are much more individual rooms than common ones.

self-control

main feature the national character of the British, about which they themselves speak - the ability to keep a face. Self-control, as well as many other character traits, is brought up in the British from childhood, since their temperament - the result of the merger of many bloodlines - does not at all correspond to "decent". Gentlemanly behavior, even in the lower strata of the population, was elevated to a cult in the time of Queen Victoria. And since then, self-control has been one of the main virtues of the British, regardless of gender and age. The character of an Englishman - restrained, even cool - is the result of work on himself, and not a natural quality. Not to give vent to feelings, to be able to accept any situation and get out of it with dignity have created a certain reputation for the inhabitants of Foggy Albion, which they are proud of. Even nature works for it. Since childhood, young gentlemen and ladies have been accustomed to sudden changes in the weather, cold and the ability to endure all these hardships have tempered their character.

Paradox

The description and features of their behavior would be incomplete without mentioning the other side of the coin. How can self-control, built into an unspoken law, and madness in the football stands coexist? Or national courtesy with punk culture, which has become hugely popular in England? The paradox and inconsistency of the English character was noted by many historians and sociologists. England, materialistic, practical, gave birth to world famous mystics, poets and philosophers. In a respectable and loving homeliness of England, the most famous travelers and explorers were born. The character of the Englishman, generally restrained and understandable, can be unpredictable and violent in certain circumstances. It was the most law-abiding nation that gave the world the best detective writers. The nation, where a woman traditionally more than in other countries, was the keeper of the hearth, enriched world literature precisely female names. And the paradoxical nature of English humor is legendary. Not always funny, but always on the verge of a foul, he is heavily criticized and at the same time has fans around the world.

Curiosity and thirst for knowledge

Lewis Carroll believed that the British are an extremely curious nation. This is probably why the heroines of his books often got into trouble because of this. interesting stories. In describing the character of the English, this trait is rarely mentioned, but without curiosity, there would not have been that craving for knowledge that forced the construction of the first university back in the 12th century. It is generally accepted that English education is of the highest quality. Such a reputation is well deserved, as the UK education system skillfully combines traditions and new trends, which is also possible only thanks to national curiosity. And if earlier it was believed that the only deity of the British is money, which they love and know how to make, now it is knowledge and aspirations for discoveries.

The family for an Englishman is his fortress, stronghold and place of peace of mind. They build their houses based on a large family. It is not customary for the English to shout about it, but they adore children. And even the severity of education is explained solely by concern for the future of the generation. At the same time, in England it is not considered shameful to live with parents even after their own family has appeared. AND English mother-grandmother will not reproach the daughter-in-law for the fact that her children destroy the whole house. She will just silently put things in order and will do it every time until the children get used to this way of life and begin to do it on their own. From the outside, it often seems that the British are restrained in showing feelings even within the family, but the fact that they always know exactly what happened to their most distant relatives, what shade of socks the grandfather prefers, and what kind of hydrangeas the great aunt wants to plant, only emphasizes how For the British, nepotism is important. Therefore, it is not at all surprising to see the walls, hung with photos of long-dead relatives, in an average English house. The British know how to be proud of their family. And even the most eccentric antics of "their own" cause good-natured smiles.

Hospitality and friendliness

For all their isolation, individualism and national pride, the British are a very friendly and hospitable people. These features of the character of the English are most often manifested in their territory. More than once, tourists noted that, having lost their way, they quickly found help in the person of local residents or the police. For a true Brit, it goes without saying that you will stay for dinner if you show up at his house in the evening. English housewives always have a "place for a guest" in their house. Well, hospitality is most clearly manifested in English pubs, where it is customary to pay in a circle for all those present.

And finally

The British themselves say that all their actions are driven by love. The love of gardening has turned the country into a beautiful flower garden. Love for dogs has allowed to breed a lot of decorative breeds. The love of travel once turned the country from an island nation into an empire with numerous colonies. The love of art has given rise to many masterpieces in the fields of literature, music and theatre. And until now, tourists go to England to see with their own eyes how harmoniously traditions are intertwined with the new time.

Each nation has its own special character traits. This is especially true for the British. Every Englishman, wherever he lives at the moment, has a set of qualities that will not allow him to be confused with a representative of another nationality.

We can say that the features of the British are the result of the historical development of the country, a reflection of its traditions and customs, as well as a consequence of the island position of England.

Many authors tried to describe from the side of a typical Englishman, his character, habits, interests. But do not forget that each person is unique, so it is important not to simplify or exaggerate information about the life of an entire nation.

Constancy of character

Among the national characteristics of the character of the British, one of the main ones is singled out - their constancy and adherence to various rituals and traditions. Some traditions are turned into performances, such as the Key Ceremony at the Tower or the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.

Some traditions are deeply embedded in the life of the British and are not even considered attempts to change something. An Englishman's own vision of the world cannot change under the influence of external factors, as his habit of five-hour tea drinking is not able to change.

It is believed that the inhabitants of England are imperturbable in any situation. Their equanimity and self-control is determined by the fact that from childhood they are taught to react in a certain way to life situations, not to show true feelings, to overcome hardships and hardships. It is rare to see an expression of emotion on the faces of the English, whether it be surprise or anger.

Paradox and eccentricity

Despite constancy and restraint, among the character traits of the British, their eccentricity is not the last, which provokes some paradoxical behavior. The display of emotions during football matches does not correspond to the typical Englishman.

Also, the British rarely hold back their emotions when faced with criticism or ridicule of their traditions or way of life. This is a fairly patriotic nation, ready to pay taxes for the maintenance of the royal family, which may be dissatisfied with some rules until they are introduced into law.

The paradoxical character of the English is determined by some inconsistency in their behavior. They do not like heat, but they love fireplaces, they have no idea about the affairs of their neighbors, but they know everything about the life of the royal family, they can dress casually at home, but even at a cattle show they will put on a hat and put a flower in the buttonhole of their jacket.

These features of the national character of the English are inexplicable, but they are always proud of them.

The eccentricity of behavior lies in the life of the British without regard to others. They do not care about the opinions of others, although they will politely listen to it. The British can collect strange things, walk with a folded umbrella in the rain, dress extravagantly.

This tendency to stand out, to become different from everyone, probably arose precisely because of the historically established strict norms of behavior, prescriptions and rules that do not allow one to be very different from others.

Ritual behavior

No matter how eccentric and original the inhabitants of England are, for the most part their behavior is ritualistic.

The English observe certain rituals when communicating: even with strangers, they will carry on a conversation about the weather, gardening or minor news, because that's the way it is. It is not even the topic of the conversation that is important, but the process itself.

There are certain rituals in organizing entertainment, meals, choosing clothes, organizing leisure activities on weekends, communicating with different categories of people. During the day, an Englishman can perform some actions, not because he wants to, but because it is prescribed by rituals.

English snobbery

One of the negative features of the British is their snobbery. Often this quality is explained as a consequence of the imperial psychology that came from the time when England subjugated almost half of the world. The English feel superior to other peoples, and this superiority does not consist in having no one above them, but in having someone below them.

Previously, from childhood, a stereotype was introduced into their minds that they needed to show the greatness of the British nation, to be an example to the whole world. And even when the empire fell, this idea did not just leave the subconscious of people.

Also, often the British simply do not delve into the life and characteristics of other peoples, selfishly giving preference to their own internal problems. The island position of England determined the special hostile attitude of the British towards other peoples. What is happening on the mainland is in many ways perceived by the inhabitants of England as something different from their life as a civilization from the barbarians.

Tolerance of the nation

But we must pay tribute to the British, they will never show their hostility in person, for which they are often considered two-faced. This is determined by their politeness - they will never aloud express dissatisfaction or disagreement with someone else's opinion, uttering one of the complacent phrases: “This is very interesting idea or “Quite an interesting discussion.” In fact, this will mean disagreement.

In general, they rarely utter categorical phrases. Even when answering the question "What time is it?" from an Englishman you can hear "I think it's six o'clock" or "I think it's six o'clock". Those who often communicate with representatives of the British people consider it impolite - such a polite treatment for show hides their indifference, indifference and suspicion.

The natives of England do not care how a person dresses, how he speaks, how he behaves. The eccentricity of others is not condemned and as if not noticed. This principle of their life can be expressed by the words “Live yourself and let others live.”

English tolerance extends to the attitude towards nature. England is considered a green country with a unique nature. It is not uncommon for Britain to have a lone house among the trees that shows the presence of a person even in remote parts of the country, or parks and gardens in large cities that look more like wild nature.

The isolation of the British

The isolation of the nation is explained by the geographical position of the country. Island psychology separates not only England from the mainland countries, but also every person from each other. This nation is very fond of solitude. The British are very difficult to converge with other people, but keep in touch with the acquired friends for many years.

When meeting with acquaintances, men do not demonstrate joy, do not exchange smiles on duty, do not hug, but limit themselves to a classic handshake. Women don't trade real kisses at a meeting, but only imitate sounds and gestures somewhere in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe ear of a friend.

Physical contact when communicating with friends is considered indecent and unnatural.

In this regard, the British live by the principle of "do not touch me." Any person tends to avoid contact with strangers. When such contacts cannot be avoided, for example, in public transport, they do not look into each other's eyes, they try to avoid eye contact.

English humor

All foreigners think that great feeling English humor is just a myth. Their jokes seem flat, ridiculous, uninteresting and stupid. The British themselves are proud of their sense of humor and react painfully to such an assessment from others.

Accusing them of not being able to joke infringes on their pride more than condemning other qualities of character. Perhaps the lack of a sense of humor is attributed to the British because of their inability to laugh at themselves, their traditions and interests.

English humor has more to do with the word than with sitcom or disguise. Therefore, it traditionally manifests itself in literature - in the comic characters of W. Shakespeare, C. Dickens, D. Austin, L. Carol and other authors. English humor can also appear without words: Charlie Chaplin's short comedies still cause laughter all over the world.

All these qualities define an original, unique and somewhat paradoxical world - a typical English character. It is simply impossible to confuse a representative of this country with someone else.