试论20世纪末俄罗斯启示录文学

A Review of Russian Apocalyptic Literature at the End of the 20th Century

20世纪末,俄罗斯国家和民族的危机唤醒人民的末日意识,文坛上涌现出一批反映末日意识的文学作品,它们与《圣经.启示录》具有极强的相似性:末世论是作品的精神宗旨,象征是作品的主要手法,幻想性是作品的突出特点。因此,我们可以视这些作品的原型为《圣经.启示录》,把这些作品称为"启示录文学"。启示录文学继承了《启示录》的末世论传统,同时又表现出作家对人类命运的独特理解,其中不乏一些与基督教正统神学背道而驰的思想。应该说,启示录文学在思想、审美、伦理、实践等方面都具有非常重要的意义。孕育启示录文学的沃壤是20世纪末的俄罗斯现实:社会弥漫悲观氛围,宗教凸显末日意识,文学充溢绝望情绪。更为深层的原因则是俄罗斯民族的基督教文化传统。但启示录情结并非基督教文化传统在世纪末的简单复归,它是全球一体化时代背景下的一种必然现象。

At the end of the 20th century,a crisis of nationhood engendered a sense of doom among Russian people that was reflected in the literary works of the time.These works about the end of the world have much in common with the The Book of Revelation in the Bible: the theme of eschatology,the use of symbolism,and the prominence of fantasy.In this light,we may take Revelation as the prototype of these literary works and lump them together as Apocalyptic literature.In general,Apocalyptic literature continues the eschatological theme of Revelation,and at the same time articulates the writer's unique viewpoints towards the fate of human beings which sometimes run counter to traditional Christian doctrines.Rooted in the cruel reality of contemporary Russian life,it addresses the religious doomsday prophecy and reflects the pessimism that permeates the society.However,the apocalyptical complex should not be just regarded as a simple revival of the Christian eschatology at the end of the 20th century.Rather,it is an inevitable result of globalization.Loaded with depression and desperation,Apocalyptic literature is of aesthetic appeal and ethical significance.