净化与摧毁——试析《人性的污秽》

The Human Stain: Purification and Destruction

菲利普·罗斯在《人性的污秽》中讲述了有浅褐色皮肤的黑人科尔曼.西尓克为了实现其对命运的把握和人生的自由,尽其一生都在经历着净化仪式,到最后终于在虚伪道德的审判下走到生命的尽头而达到了真正的净化。通过对主人公戏剧性命运的展现,罗斯激发读者对于人性和生存的深度思考。污秽是人类生存的本真状态,彻底的净化将会对个体、国家体制和人类社会产生毁灭性打击。

In The fair complexion, Human Stain, Philip Roth tells how Coleman Silk, an African-American strives for the control over his own destiny and freedom in his life. He goes through a variety of purification ceremonies-self-imposed exile to purify his black origin, being banished as the victim of ＂political correctness＂ and coming to the end of his life in the hypocritical moral trial, and then real purification has come true. Through depiction of the protagonist＇s dramatic life, Roth tries to stimulate readers to reflect on human nature and existence. Stain is the one with which human existence goes hand in hand, and thorough purification will invite the destruction of individuals, state system and even the whole human society.