论恩格斯对自然主义的否定之因

Engels' Negative Evaluation on Naturalism

恩格斯认为巴尔扎克是比过去、现在和未来的一切左拉都要伟大得多的现实主义大师。这一判断在高度赞扬巴尔扎克的同时,也对以左拉为代表的自然主义文学进行了贬低,亦即是对自然主义的否定评价。究其原因,在于恩格斯的评价标准与左拉创作特点的冲突。自然主义文学的形成是欧洲科学精神向文学领域的渗透,左拉的小说追求真实,以科学精神为思想主导,注重考察人物的生理遗传属性和所处的外部环境。恩格斯评价文学作品的最高标准为现实,追求真实是内涵之一,但更注重历史展开过程中表现为必然性的东西;他评价文学作品的隐性标准为政治倾向,更注重人的社会属性。

Engels believed that Balzac is a far greater master of realism than all the Zola's past,present and future.Engels highly praised Balzac while demeaning Zola and naturalist literature,which is a negative evaluation of Zola.The reason lies in the conflict between Engels's evaluation criteria and Zola's writing characteristics.The formation of naturalist literature is the infiltration of the European scientific spirit into the literary field.Zola's novels pursue truth,are guided by scientific spirit,and pay attention to examining the characters'genetic heritage and the external environment.The highest standard of Engels'evaluation on literary works is“reality”,the pursuit of truth is one of the connotations,but he pays more attention to the things that appear to be inevitable in the process of historical development.The“hidden”standard of Engels'evaluation on literary works is“political tendency”,and he emphasizes more on social attributes of people.