“写情”偏多言外意——晚清“写情小说”《恨海》的三重主题意蕴

More Than a Love Story——On the Three Levels of Thematic Implications of the Late Qing Novel Hen Hai

从问世时的好评如潮到20世纪中叶的全盘否定,再到新时期以来的重新肯定,近百年的《恨海》接受史足证其为一部意蕴繁复的"写情小说"。借儿女之事言家国之情、弘扬传统道德、暴露旧礼教之罪恶是其蕴含的三重主题意蕴。然而它们均非现代意义上的情爱主题。这就是以《恨海》为代表的晚清社会言情小说的历史形态。

The reception of Hen Hai undergoes a drastic change from the high appraisal piled up on it at its birth some one hundred years ago to a thorough negation in the middle of the 20th century until its final affirmation in the new age. This proves its value as a love story with various implications. First of all, the novel superficially bears within it the story of love between young people, yet carries more with it concern of national affairs. Then it tries to speak highly of traditional morality. Finally it also exposes the evils of the old feudalist ethics. Yet it must be pointed out that the three thematic implications do not go with the.theme of love in the modern sense. To state national concern and social appeal in the light of love stories is the typical pattern of novel of love at the time of the Late Qing Dynasty.