摘 要

文学作品和影视作品除了娱乐的功能，还承载着文化传播的功能。在国际文化交流日益密切的背景下，以英剧《唐顿庄园》为代表的一系列精品英剧为国民了解英国文化提供了更多的素材。我国四大名著之一《红楼梦》，和《唐顿庄园》一样，都是对特定时代背景下贵族生活场景的展现，两者在世界范围内传播的过程中都无形地扩大了本国文化影响力。贵族大家庭的有序运营离不开背后管家制度的支撑。对作品中管家制度进行跨文化比较研究，能够挖掘出人物形象背后不同国家和民族的特性。通过对有限文献的研究，可以发现英式管家体现出的绅士文化吸引着众多观众；而诞生在中国封建社会下的管家制度则处处彰显着封建制度的压迫人的特性。这在一定程度上打击了国民的文化自信。

鉴于此，本文以《红楼梦》和《唐顿庄园》中的管家制度为研究对象，从仆人等级、主仆关系、管家的职能和管家的形象四个方面对比分析中英管家制度，探寻制度背后中英文化特质。并最终得出结论：作者的创作意图和所处时代是分析管家制度的重要考量。在多元文化背景下，读者和观众应避免片面化视角，勇于面对自身文化缺陷并时常反思；敢于观察别国优秀文化的另一面，避免妄自菲薄，陷入资本主义文化陷阱。

关键词：多元文化；《红楼梦》；《唐顿庄园》；管家制度

Abstract

In addition to the functions of leisure and entertainment, literary works and TV series also carry the purpose of cultural communication. Under the background of increasingly close international cultural exchanges, a series of British teleplays represented by the British miniseries Downton Abbey provide more materials for Chinese to know about British culture. A Dream of Red Mansions, one of China's four great masterpieces, together with Downton Abbey, presents the noble life scenes in a specific era. Both of them have intangibly expanded their cultural influence in the process of spreading worldwide. The orderly management of the aristocratic family is inseparable from the support of the housekeeper system behind it. A cross-cultural comparative study of the housekeeper system in the works can dig out the characteristics of different countries and nations behind the characters. Through the review of limited literature, it can be found that the gentleman culture embodied by the British butlers has attracted many audiences, but the housekeeper system born under the feudal society of China shows its oppressive characteristics everywhere. To a certain extent, this has cracked down on national cultural confidence.

In view of this perspective, this paper takes the housekeeper systems in A Dream of Red Mansions and Downton Abbey as the research objects, and comparatively analyzes the Chinese and British housekeeper systems from the four aspects of servant rank, master-servant relationship, the duties of the housekeeper and the image of the housekeeper, and explores the Chinese and British characteristics behind the housekeeper systems. The results concluded that the author's creative intention and era are essential considerations in analyzing the housekeeper system. In the context of multiculturalism, readers and audiences should avoid one-sided perspectives, be brave to face our cultural defects and reflect on them from time to time; dare to observe the other side of other countries’ distinctive cultures, and avoid being arrogant and falling into the trap of capitalist culture.

Key Words: Multicultural; housekeeper system; A Dream of Red Mansions; Downton Abbey

Contents

1 Introduction 1

1.1 Research Background 1

1.2 Research Purpose 2

1.3 Research Significance 3

1.4 Structure ........................................................................................................................3

2 Description of the Works amp; Literature Review 5

2.1 Cao Xueqin and A Dream of Red Mansions 5

2.2 Julian Alexander Fellowes and Downton Abbey 5

2.3 Literature Review on A Dream of Red Mansions and Downton Abbey 6

3 Comparative Analysis of Housekeeper Systems 8

3.1 Basic Knowledge of Housekeeper System 8

3.2 Comparative Analysis of the Housekeeper Systems in These Two Masterpieces 9

3.2.1 Servant rank............................................. 9

3.2.2 Master-servant relationship ................................. 10

3.2.3 The Duties of the Housekeepers 11

3.2.4 The Images of the Housekeepers 12

4 Cultural Characteristics behind the Housekeeper Systems 14

4.1 Cultural Differences 14

4.2 Cultural Similarities 15

5 Conclusion 16

5.1 Findings 16

5.2 Limitations and Prospects 16

References 18

Acknowledgements 20

Comparative Analysis of Housekeeper System in Multicultural Perspective——A Case Study of A Dream of Red Mansions and Downton Abbey

1 Introduction

1.1 Research Background

With the increasing speed of globalization and the development of communication technology, TV dramas, as the most regular type of TV programs, have entered into people's eyes in large numbers. In addition to the functions of leisure and entertainment, films and television series also carry the purpose of spreading culture. In recent years, the introduction of film and television cultural works overseas has satisfied the people's pursuit of multiculturalism. Among them, British drama has sprung up with their excellent productions. In 2012, three well-known and popular British miniseries such as Black Mirror, Downton Abbey and Sherlock were broadcast in China, triggering a viewing frenzy and widespread discussion, marking that the British drama finally stands out from the overseas drama field and becomes independent. Among them, the classic miniseries Downton Abbey produced by the British ITV shines with its significant momentum. The rigour of the reduction and the beauty of the style make the miniseries praised as soon as it is broadcast and have set off a British retro wave at home and abroad.

As one of China's four classic novels, A Dream of Red Mansions is a novel on the theme of noble families. A Dream of Red Mansions tells the story of the four major families of Jia, Wang, Shi and Xue, gradually declining towards the end of feudal society. The novel A Dream of Red Mansions has been repeatedly converted into film and television works. Among them, the 1983 version and the 2010 version of television have a wide audience. Due to technical and financial constraints, the 1983 version does not perfectly present the story of A Dream of Red Mansions. And due to screenwriter, director, production and other issues, the 2010 version is criticized by audiences. Since the launch of Downton Abbey and the harvest of a loyal audience in China, audiences have called on the domestic excellent production team to make A Dream of Red Mansions on the screen again.

A Dream of Red Mansions and Downton Abbey, the former is an excellent China’s classical novel, the latter a classic British miniseries. There are many similarities behind the differences. They both tell the story of the aristocratic life in a particular era. The orderly management of the aristocratic family is inseparable from the support of the housekeeper system behind it. A cross-cultural comparative study of the housekeeper system in the works can dig out the characteristics of different countries and nations behind the characters (Meng Zhaoping, 2017).

It is an era of globalization, cultural integration and invasion are the problems faced by all countries during the process of cultural communication. The information network era has provided convenience for people of all nationalities to communicate, and its unique one-sidedness has inspired and enhanced people’s national consciousness and a sense of identification with national culture. In the era of multiculturalism, when people come into contact with the cultures of other peoples, they will inevitably collide and conflict with their own cultures and values. Regardless of the national culture or foreign culture, we should uphold the correct cultural concept, rather than simply brag about or depreciate. As a great cultural country, China must not only incorporate the "introduced" culture but also launch its own national culture from a global perspective.