权力话语与《送冰的人来了》的阶级阶层身份叙事

Discursive Power and Class Identity Narrative in "The Iceman Cometh"

尤金.奥尼尔后期作品显示其已经超越时代权力话语所规定的阶级意义,他解构阶级而使用阶层身份叙事:阶层是话语与社会实践的构建,与先在的本质和本体无关。充当文化意义的能动者,奥尼尔具有由社会所决定的行动能力和创新能力。《送冰的人来了》(1939)描述酒吧里醉生梦死的人曾拥有不同的社会财富、享受不同的社会地位,或者说,他们属于不同的"阶级";如今,他们失去昔日的辉煌,沦落到贫困、无助、茫然的境地,共有的文化价值观——相信明天会不同——让他们持有新的主体立场,形成新"阶层"。

Eugene O'Neill's later plays indicate that he has surpassed the cultural meaning of class formulated by discursive power.He deconstructed the class by using rank:rank,as an identity narrative,is the construction of discourse and social practice which has no relationship with the previous essence and foundation.O'Neill acts as the cultural activist embodying the agency of action and creation which is decided by the society.In 'The Iceman Cometh'(1939),the characters are addicted into the pipe dream who have different social wealth,share different social status and hold different value.In other words,they originally belong to different classes.Nowadays,they lose past glory and are reduced to the situation of poverty,helplessness and despair.However,they share the same value——tomorrow will be different,which lets them hold a new position and form a new 'rank'.