《天才》是西奥多·德莱塞的一部自传性小说,其背景恰逢20世纪初的美国正由传统社会向现代社会过渡。在这部小说中,德莱塞深刻而真实地描绘了社会转型视野下知识分子面临的两难处境——从俗还是坚守?一方面,他向我们展示了小说主人公尤金追求世俗生活的必然性与多样性;另一方面又凸显了尤金作为一个知识分子在自我定位与坚守过程中的努力。 Genius is Theodore Dreiser’s autobiographical novel whose background coincides with the transition from traditional society to modern society in the early 20th century. In this novel, Dreiser profoundly and truly portrays the dilemma confronting intellectuals under the social transformation - from vulgarity or perseverance? On the one hand, he shows us the necessity and diversity of the hero Eugene, the pursuit of secular life On the other hand, Eugene also highlighted the efforts of Eugene as an intellectual in the process of self-orientation and perseverance.