《雨王亨德森》与贝娄的共同体思想

The Communal Ethics in Saul Bellow’s Henderson the Rain King

索尔·贝娄的第五部小说《雨王亨德森》因其主题的不确定性以及涉及场景的不熟悉性被认为是最令人费解的一部小说,同时这也让诸多评论家和小说家望而却步。贝娄将对非洲的文学想象与传统的犹太伦理思想完美地结合在主人公亨德森的非洲之行中。该小说不仅栩栩如生地展示出区别于诸多贝娄小说的非洲部落场景,同时还在生存与死亡、文明与落后、动物与人类的并置中体现出贝娄的人道主义关怀。小说别具一格的"百兽图"画卷更以隐喻的方式体现出作者物种平等的主张,并希望建立起跨越文化边界、种族边界以及物种边界以期达到万物和平共居共同体的理念。

Due to its uncertainty in subject matter and unfamiliarity in setting,Saul Bellow＇s fifth novel Henderson the Rain King is regarded as most confusing and least discussed one.As remarked by Irving Howe as a writer who ＂draws upon the richest Jewish culture＂,Bellow makes a good combination of the Jewish ethical tradition with his literary imagination of Africa which may find sources in his anthropological education background.The vivid African tribal setting differs so much from those settings revealed in his other novels.In the juxtaposition of a variety of themes： life and death,civilization and backwardness,human beings and animals,Bellow＇s humanistic view is highlighted.The panorama of animals metaphorically embodies Bellow＇s concerns over species equality and his hope of setting up a new community with all creatures living in peace,which transcends cultural,racial and species boundary.