《遗产》中犹太身份回归的文化解读

Return of Jewish Identity in Patrimony

随着美国犹太移民文化的发展,美国犹太移民身份演变遵从的"固守—背弃"的文化模式有了新发展;"第三代利益原则"的代言人马库斯·L·汉森提出了第三代回归模式理论,指出第三代犹太作家呈现出重又回归民族身份及文化传统的趋向①。而事实上,许多第三代犹太作家的确开始高度关注其犹太身份。菲利普.罗斯虽是第二代犹太作家,但是其创作紧跟时代变化,其晚期创作的主题十分契合汉森的回归理论,呈现出对民族身份和文化传统的回归趋向。《遗产》②作为其晚期作品之一,通过比较主人公罗斯对一系列象征物的态度变化,揭示了他从物质到精神逐渐深入地回归犹太身份的过程。

With the development of Jewish culture in America, the mode of guard-abandon takes on a new tendency. Accordingly Marcus Lee Hansen, as representative of the third generation＇s interest, proposes the returning theory of the third generation, and points out that the Jewish writers of the third generation tend to embrace their national identity and culture again. Though Philip Roth belongs to the second generation, since he can always keep pace with the times, his later creations still answer for the returning theory. Patrimony is one of those having analyzed gradual returning process from material level to spiritual level by contrasting his attitude with a series of symbolic articles and activities.