历史忧思与启蒙的冒险

Historical Reflections and the Adventure of Enlightenment

二战后的日本虽然走上民主主义道路,但由于种种原因却又保留了"象征天皇制",其伦理道德规范仍然羁縻着许多日本人的灵魂。大江健三郎为此而忧虑,深感民主主义的使命任重而道远。他的小说的基本主题之一便是对"天皇制"的批判。写于1960年代的《十七岁》和《政治少年之死》一针见血地指出了阴魂不散的"天皇崇拜"对青年人影响的危险所在。在历史反思方面,德国作家君特.格拉斯与大江健三郎有异曲同工之妙,他的小说《猫与鼠》深刻揭露了法西斯意识形态和荒谬的英雄崇拜对青少年的毒害。作为当今最重要的作家和公共知识分子,大江和格拉斯共同强调了文学的责任,即在对过去历史的反思中,通过启蒙教育消除蒙昧和偏见,引导青年走向美好的未来。

Although Japan turned to democracy after World War II,yet 'the Mikado System','the Emperor System',was preserved for various reasons and its ethical and moral values solidly bridled the souls of the Japanese people.Kenzaburō e was greatly concerned about this phenomenon,and deeply felt the tough mission of democratism.One of the basic themes of his novels was to criticize 'the Mikado System'.Seventeen and A Death of Political Boy,written in the 1960s,portrayed the dangerous impact of 'Mikado Cult' on Japanese Youth.In terms of the historical reflections,German writer Gunter Glass shared some similarities with Kenzaburō e,and his novel Cat and Mouse sharply disclosed and criticized the poisonous effect of the fascist ideology on young people and the absurdity of the hero worship.Being the most important contemporary writer and public intellectual,both Kenzaburō e and Glass emphasized the responsibility of literature,namely,literature should be responsible for eliminating ignorance and prejudice,and enlightening and guiding youth to the bright future by historical reflections.