“反常的小鬼”与自然法——解读埃德加·爱伦·坡的三部短篇小说

"The Imp of Perverse" and the Natural Law:An Analysis on Three Short Stories by Edgar Allan Poe

美国作家埃德加·爱伦·坡的三部短篇小说中存在一种怪异现象,即罪犯被一种神奇的力量所控制从而不由自主地泄漏罪行;通过分析,可以看出这种现象与坡所信仰的基督教文化,尤其是《圣经》中的戒律有着内在联系,而这些戒律也是自然法的一部分。上帝制定了自然法,来惩戒那些干犯天条的罪人。因宗教影响力的衰退,自然法似乎已不合乎时代潮流,但实践证明,没有自然法的制约,却常常导致犯罪的发生。爱伦.坡的小说所揭示的现象因此具有重大的社会意义。

There exists a strange phenomenon in Edgar Allan Poe’s three short stories,that controlled by a magic power criminals cannot help divulging their crimes;through analysis,it can be concluded that this phenomenon has internal connection with the Christian culture believed by Edgar Allan Poe,especially the commandments in the Bi-ble,while these commandments are also a part of natural law.God makes natural law to chasten the criminals who offend laws of heaven.Natural law seems to be unfit for the trend of nowadays because of the decline of religion’s influence,but it is proven by practice that lack of natural law’s restrict can often lead to happening of crime.The phenomenon revealed by Edgar Allan Poe’s novels therefore is of great social significance.