闪光的球体:《沉没之鱼》主题的多重性

A Sparkling Multidimensional Sphere:On the Multiple Themes of Saving Fish from Drowning

在谭恩美的最新长篇小说《沉没之鱼》中,诸多的象征意象表达出丰富的伦理内涵,存在着深刻凝重的多重主题。本文试图从其中存在的诸多意象的象征内涵切入,进一步深入地讨论其中蕴含的多重主题。小说通过"鱼"、"发卡"、"蛇菰"、"水牛"等意象,精到地表达了相关的多重主题。"鱼"意象隐喻了当代人面对他人苦难的态度,"发卡"意象表达母爱的缺失以及对母爱的寻找,"蛇菰"意象暗示了当代美国社会普遍存在的性爱问题,"水牛"意象则揭示了在东西方文化之间存在的差异。作家通过四种主要意象的呈现,表达了人类和动物之间、国家和国家之间、母亲与子女之间、夫妻之间以及陌生人与陌生人之间,尊重和关爱是不能缺失的。《沉没之鱼》的多重主题,表达了作者对当今世界在人们的社会生活中道德、理想和原则等问题的深刻伦理思考。

In Amy Tan＇ s latest novel Saving Fish from Drowning, rich ethical connotations are conveyed through the employment of abundant symbolic images which further imply profound and significant multiple themes. This article begins with the symbolic connotations of the symbolic images, then explores the multiple themes suggested by them in depth. By the symbolic images of ＂fish＂, ＂haircomb＂, ＂Balanophora＂, ＂buffalo＂, etc. , Tan gives expression to relevant multiple themes accurately and originally. The image of ＂fish＂ indicates the attitude of contemporary people towards others＇ tribulation; the image of ＂haircomb＂ suggests the loss and the pursuit of maternal love; the image of ＂Balanophora＂ hints at the sex problems widely existing in the current American society; the image of ＂buffalo＂ discloses the cultural differences between the East and the West. Through the presentation of these four primary symbolic images, Tan expresses her idea that respect and care are indispensable in the relationships between humankind and animal, one country and the other, mother and child, husband and wife, and between strangers as well. The multiple themes in the novel reflect the author＇s profound ethical thoughts about the morality, ideals and principles of people＇s life today.