不完美英雄:格式塔理论解读人物形象的建构过程

Imperfect Hero:Construction of the Image of Tom Jones in Perspective of Gestalt Theory

E·H·冈布里奇关于艺术创作的格式塔理论解答了艺术形象再现的建构机制以及观者在此过程中担任的角色,试图通过利用该理论中提出的重要概念,即"图式与修正"和"制作与匹配",对18世纪小说《弃儿汤姆·琼斯的历史》中的主人公汤姆·琼斯的人物形象进行解读。在该小说的释读中,读者不再是被动地参与,而是经历了一个心理建构的历程:由图式阶段形成的汤姆的天真、善良、热心,逐渐通过"制作与匹配"的途径,发现了汤姆自身存在的生活不检点、道德立场不强等劣根性,与之前印象比较形成反差,逐步与作家菲尔丁的创作意图靠近,通过这样一个"修正"的过程逐渐形成了与作家意图一致的人物形象,即汤姆·琼斯呈现出一个不完美英雄的形象:一个热心、正义却也不乏各种缺点的圆形人物,进而也使该人物形象更为真实、更贴近生活、贴近读者,让读者产生一种意犹未尽之感。

E. H. Gombrich＇s gestalt theory on artistic creation explains the construction mechanism of artistic characters as w ells as the roles of observers. The author intends to employ tw o important concepts,namely schema correction and making match of the theory to interpret the image of Tom Jones,the protagonist in the 18th-century novel The History of Tom Jones： A Foundling. During the interpretation,readers are not passive participants but undergo a psychological construction process：they are first impressed by Tom ＇s innocence and w arm-heartedness created by schema. Then they are encountered w ith a loose sense of morality and profligacy in him against the previous image via the making and match stage, gradually coming near Fielding ＇s w riting intention. In the end, an imperfect image of the hero Tom Jones in line w ith Fielding ＇s w riting intention is gradually formed after the correction stage： Tom is a round character w ith a w arm and righteous heart w ith human frailties,w hich makes him real to life and close to readers,creating a far-reaching aesthetic effect upon readers.