《日诞之地》中的印第安文化解读

Interpretation of the Indian Cultures in House Made of Dawn

小说《日诞之地》是美国印第安作家莫马迪的代表作,蕴含着深厚的印第安文化。莫马迪在小说中生动描述了印第安狩猎、农耕文化,玉米舞、太阳舞、颂歌、奔跑仪式以及"神圣环形",这些传统文化表达了印第安人对自然万物的敬畏及对和谐的诉求;莫马迪将印第安民族宝贵的精神财富与主人公阿韦尔的成长经历结合起来,指出切断了与部落土地和文化的关联所致的疏离感是导致当代印第安人精神困惑的根源,只有回归土地、遵循部落传统,印第安人才能消除无根状态,重构身份和自我;小说所揭示的印第安文化对于面临生态困境和精神危机的当代人具有警醒和借鉴的作用。

House Made of Dawn is the masterpiece of American Indian writer,N. Scott Momaday. The novel contains profound Indian cultures. In the novel, Momaday vividly describes traditional Indian cultures such as hunting, farming, corn dance,sun dance,carol,running ceremony,＂holy ring＂ and so on, which express the Indian＇s awe for everything in the universe and their appeal for harmony. Also, Momaday relates the traditional cultures to the growing-up of the protagonist Abel and reveals that the reason for contemporary Indian＇s predicament lies in the sense of alienation caused by cutting off the tribal land and culture. Momaday concludes that Indian people should adhere to their own traditional cultures;otherwise, they will lose their self-identity. Their traditional cultures can play a warning role for modern people who are faced with ecological and spiritual crisis.