Abstract

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Title:: A Comparison of the Reception Ethics Between Chinese and Western Novels

Keywords:: reception ethics; ethical interpretation; classical novels; Western novels

Abstract:: The comparison of reception ethics between Chinese and Western novels is evident in the analysis of ethical interpretations, encompassing both interpretive forms and objects. In terms of interpretive forms, Chinese classical novels predominantly incorporate commentary seamlessly into the narrative, while Western novels undergo interpretive reception in the form of independent monographs, book reviews, and correspondence. The scope of interpretation includes both the content and form of the novel. In Chinese classical novels, the emphasis on interpreting content exceeds that of form, while the interpretive reception of Western novels considers both aspects. Regarding content interpretation, Chinese classical novels are believed to uphold the moralization objective, whereas the interpretive reception of Western novels seeks to analyze the ethical implications of characters and plots within the content. This contrast is particularly evident in the comprehension of love stories. The interpretation of Chinese classical novels reflects ethical attitudes in three aspects: structure, grammar, and rhetoric, whereas that of Western novels highlights the relationship between language and ethics, as well as the interplay of skill and ethics. This distinction is exemplified by variations in the understanding of the karma model.