重读《金银岛》:反“东方主义”的成长

Rereading "Treasure Island": the Growing Anti-Orientalism

《金银岛》植入了鲜活的历史时间,隐藏着一个将历史与成长关联起来的重大主题,是一部名副其实的"成长小说"。《金银岛》可以被视作是反"东方主义"思维的文本。主人公正是处在这样的反对殖民侵略、重归资本主义理性的历史交叉点上,经过了重重考验而最终成长起来。在主人公的身上体现出一种精明、进取、理性的精神。这不仅是他自我成长的结果,也体现了作者斯蒂文森对于重返资本主义正统精神的渴望,这种渴望和18世纪在欧洲兴起的理性主义一脉相承。

＂Treasure Island＂ is a typical initiation story in which the concept of historical time is planted and a serious theme concerning the association between history and growth is implied. It can be regarded as an anti-Orientalism text. Living in the historical crossing of anti-colonization and returning to capitalism rationality, Jim, the hero in the adventure finally matures after coming through a series of tests. The shrewd, aggressive and rational teenager represents not only his own growth, but also the novelist＇s burning desire to return to orthodox spirit of capitalism, which is in accord with rationalism commencing in Europe in 18th century.