“当疯子引领盲人”(4.1.49)——《李尔王》中埃德加的疯狂

“When Madmen Lead the Blind”(4.1.49):The Madness of Edgar in King Lear

莎士比亚的戏剧中,最为切题地关注到政治教育的当属《李尔王》,而《李尔王》中最重要的教育,并非李尔王自我的哲学教育,而是自我放逐的埃德加的教育。埃德加在混乱的政治秩序中,以佯装的疯狂保全自己,引导或抚慰混乱秩序中备受摧残的父亲和李尔王。这是一场深刻的自我放逐与自我教育,埃德加在此过程中认识自我、认识世界,成为引领人们走出困境的新一代引路者,一个根植于自然正义的政治人。

In Shakespeare’s plays,the most pertinent attention to political education is King Lear,and the most important education in King Lear is not the philosophical education of King Lear himself,but the education of the self-banished Edgar.Edgar who in a chaotic political order,preserves himself and guides or soothes the devastated father and King Lear in the chaotic order by pretending to be crazy.This is a profound self-banishment and self-education,in this process,Edgar knows himself,knows the world,and thus becomes a new generation of leaders who lead people out of trouble,a political person rooted in natural justice.