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Abstract: This article attempts to explore the reason why Judy can get happiness finally. And Judy’s wise philosophy of life is found as the answer. Then, Judy’s philosophy of life is studied in detail.
Key word: “Daddy-Long-Legs”, Judy, philosophy of life
“Daddy-Long-Legs”, which is the most famous work of Jean Webster, has been translated into eighteen languages. Even now, it is still very popular to readers and many films have been shot according to it. How can it keep charm to the world for such a long tome?
After reading it, I realize much of the reason: it reveals the wise philosophy of life. Although many readers immerse themselves in Judy’s romantic love, they believe that similar case is extremely rare in real life, especially in modern society. In fact, it is Judy’s wise philosophy of life that brings her happiness.
Judy always keeps an optimistic attitude towards life. When she was in the orphanage, she had shown her optimism and her gift for writing. It was these that made Jervie decide to help her receive high education. Even facing the fact that she was an orphan and lived in terrible conditions of the orphanage, she did not feel frustrated. She always imagined the world outside the orphanage and used the pen to express her aspiration. “She was by nature a sunny soul, and had always snatched the tiniest excuse to be amused.” [1] This is Judy, who is easily to be amused even in an awful situation. Finally, she got out of the orphanage. Confronted with strange college and knowledgeable students, she felt that she was stupid and ignorant. But even at this time, she still believed that she could be an excellent author. And finally, by making full use of her spare time, she caught up with other students and even did better than others in writing.
Judy is independent and persistent, even facing Jervie’s disapproval. Although she had accepted Jervie’s aid, she did not hold that she must follow Jervie’s every request. When Jervie asked Judy not to accept the scholarship, she refused him and claimed that she would return Jervie’s money to him. What a resolute girl! She will always be obliged to Jervie, but she will not owe him money. It embodies her independence both in nature and in economy.[2]Also, when both daddy-long-legs and Jervie wanted her to go to Europe, she refused both. She insisted on being a tutor, just in order to earn money by herself. Faced with the demand of both her benefactor and lover, she can still insist on her own will.
What’s more, Judy possesses a wise philosophy about life “to live in now”. That is “not to be for ever regretting the past, or anticipating the future; but to get the most that you can out of this very instant”.[3] Judy is the very person who has been aware of the contradiction in people’s life. “Most people don’t live; they just race. They are trying to reach some goal far away on the horizon, and in the heat of the going they get so breathless and panting that they lose all sight of the beautiful, tranquil country they are passing through.”[4]At present society, people are busy with pursuing wealth, fame and status. It seems that possessing these is the only way to get happiness. Ironically, they seldom feel happy in their lives, even when they have got these. Still, Judy owns gratitude to the world, even to difficulties. As Judy says, “I am perfectly sure every moment of my life that I am happy. And I’m going to keep on being, no matter what unpleasant things turn up.” [5]
With so many excellent qualities of Judy, there is no doubt that Judy can get happiness eventually. “Daddy-Long-Legs” not only tells us a romantic love story, but also teaches us the philosophy of life and the secret to happiness.
References:
[1] [3] [4] [5] Jean Webster; Daddy-Long-Legs，中国对外翻译出版社
[2] 徐淑贤，解读《长腿叔叔》的艺术魅力，时代文学（双月上半月），2009（03）
Key word: “Daddy-Long-Legs”, Judy, philosophy of life
“Daddy-Long-Legs”, which is the most famous work of Jean Webster, has been translated into eighteen languages. Even now, it is still very popular to readers and many films have been shot according to it. How can it keep charm to the world for such a long tome?
After reading it, I realize much of the reason: it reveals the wise philosophy of life. Although many readers immerse themselves in Judy’s romantic love, they believe that similar case is extremely rare in real life, especially in modern society. In fact, it is Judy’s wise philosophy of life that brings her happiness.
Judy always keeps an optimistic attitude towards life. When she was in the orphanage, she had shown her optimism and her gift for writing. It was these that made Jervie decide to help her receive high education. Even facing the fact that she was an orphan and lived in terrible conditions of the orphanage, she did not feel frustrated. She always imagined the world outside the orphanage and used the pen to express her aspiration. “She was by nature a sunny soul, and had always snatched the tiniest excuse to be amused.” [1] This is Judy, who is easily to be amused even in an awful situation. Finally, she got out of the orphanage. Confronted with strange college and knowledgeable students, she felt that she was stupid and ignorant. But even at this time, she still believed that she could be an excellent author. And finally, by making full use of her spare time, she caught up with other students and even did better than others in writing.
Judy is independent and persistent, even facing Jervie’s disapproval. Although she had accepted Jervie’s aid, she did not hold that she must follow Jervie’s every request. When Jervie asked Judy not to accept the scholarship, she refused him and claimed that she would return Jervie’s money to him. What a resolute girl! She will always be obliged to Jervie, but she will not owe him money. It embodies her independence both in nature and in economy.[2]Also, when both daddy-long-legs and Jervie wanted her to go to Europe, she refused both. She insisted on being a tutor, just in order to earn money by herself. Faced with the demand of both her benefactor and lover, she can still insist on her own will.
What’s more, Judy possesses a wise philosophy about life “to live in now”. That is “not to be for ever regretting the past, or anticipating the future; but to get the most that you can out of this very instant”.[3] Judy is the very person who has been aware of the contradiction in people’s life. “Most people don’t live; they just race. They are trying to reach some goal far away on the horizon, and in the heat of the going they get so breathless and panting that they lose all sight of the beautiful, tranquil country they are passing through.”[4]At present society, people are busy with pursuing wealth, fame and status. It seems that possessing these is the only way to get happiness. Ironically, they seldom feel happy in their lives, even when they have got these. Still, Judy owns gratitude to the world, even to difficulties. As Judy says, “I am perfectly sure every moment of my life that I am happy. And I’m going to keep on being, no matter what unpleasant things turn up.” [5]
With so many excellent qualities of Judy, there is no doubt that Judy can get happiness eventually. “Daddy-Long-Legs” not only tells us a romantic love story, but also teaches us the philosophy of life and the secret to happiness.
References:
[1] [3] [4] [5] Jean Webster; Daddy-Long-Legs，中国对外翻译出版社
[2] 徐淑贤，解读《长腿叔叔》的艺术魅力，时代文学（双月上半月），2009（03）