适度的情感即是美德——从“中道”观看莎士比亚对里昂提斯的性格设计

Virtue Consists in Moderate Emotions:Analysis of the Character of Leontes from the Perspective of the Mean

里昂提斯是莎士比亚传奇剧《冬天的故事》中的主角,全剧围绕其性格的变化而展开,充满了《李尔王》式的宫廷阴谋和《奥瑟罗》式的情爱嫉妒,情节悲苦离奇,但以浪漫传奇剧终,既兼有悲喜剧特征与田园风格,又颇具王室特色。剧中,里昂提斯的性格经历了一些变化发展,既有冷漠、粗暴、独断、无情、嫉妒和猜疑等一面,亦有细腻、温柔、真诚一面,形成巨大张力,形象丰满。因此,本文将借助"中道"原则,展现莎士比亚为里昂提斯设计的性格发展轨迹。

Leontes is a successful round character in The Winter’s Tale,which unfolds itself around the changes of the character of Leontes.In order to present Leontes fully,Shakespeare deploys court intrigues in the manner of King Lear and sexual jealousy reminiscent of Othello.After a series of changes,from being friendly,to suspicious,jealous,to tyrannical,to reflective,at last to remorseful and redemptive,the character of Leontes gives way to the harmonies of nature.Such a device employed by Shakespeare accords with the doctrine of the Mean.