从读者反应角度重读田纳西·威廉斯的《欲望号街车》

An Analysis of A Streetcar Named Desire From the Perspective of Reader's Response

传统批评家们大都把《欲望号街车》看作女主人公布兰奇的命运悲剧。然而,从读者反应角度解读田纳西.威廉斯的《欲望号街车》,不但剧本主角变成男主人公斯坦利,而且整个剧本还呈现出全新的诠释意义,主题从布兰奇的命运悲剧转变成斯坦利的家庭喜剧。读者/观众的阅读空白为新意义的产生提供可能,读者/观众通过情感体验的手段判断自己的道德立场,并最终在感受否定阶段裁决自己的道德倾向。同时,读者反应角度还能映射出田纳西潜意识里对父权制社会的敬畏和对男性主导地位的认同。

Traditionally,A Streetcar Named Desire has been considered a tragedy of Blanche.However,from the perspective of reader's response,the protagonist in the play shifts from Blanch to Stanley,and what is more,its theme transfers from Blanche's fate tragedy to Stanley's family comedy.According to the theoretical analysis from reader's response,the readers/audiences usually have a vacant comprehensive space at the beginning of the play which leaves it possible to create their own understanding of the work.They judge their own moral status by the virtue of their passionate experience during the play,and settle their moral judgment and standing point at the end.Meanwhile,audience's reaction to the play reflects both Tennessee's unconscious salutation to the patriarchal society and his undeniable recognition of men's authoritative power in that society.