Abstract: Daddy-Long-Legs is one of American woman writer Jean Webster's best-known works. The heroine’s image of perseverance, pursue of freedom and independence, and maintenance of female authority has invariably been explored. However, the unique technique of characterization of multiple contradictory distinctly existed in Judy’s character is the fascination that makes the work popular and enduring. The work deeply embodies the aesthetic qualities consisting in contradictions.

The thesis includes five chapters. The first chapter is an overview of the writer and the main content of the novel. Chapter two presents literature review and thesis statements. Chapter three delves into four contradictory phenomena existed in personal character. Chapter four explores reasons why this kind of multiple contradictory forms in Judy and get the conclusion that this complicated character is believable and coherent in the last chapter. The article aims to reassert Judy’s artistic feature of binary opposition as a keynote in characterization, which not only facilitates better understanding of Jean Webster’s literary techniques but also embodies the aesthetic qualities consisting in contradictions and provides useful references for appreciating the aesthetics of contradictions.

Key words: contradictory, characterization, beauty of contradiction, believability

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction1

2. Literature Review on Daddy-Long-Legs...2

3. The analysis of Judy’s contradictory characters.3

3.1 Optimistic and pessimistic

3.2 Confident and self-abased

3.3 Grateful and ungrateful

3.4 Frank and unfrank

4. Reasons why the contradictory character is coherent....7

5. Conclusion. 8

Bibliography...9

Acknowledgements10