英雄的使命——《荒原》拯救主题的人类学阐释

The Duty of a Hero: An Anthropological Approach into the Theme of Salvation in The Waste Land

从人类学的角度看,艾略特在《荒原》中的重点其实不是要揭示荒原状态,而是要对荒原进行拯救。诗人借用了人类学中关于荒原的象征意义,但是却在题目下隐去了所有关于荒原的文字,以此暗示诗歌的拯救主题,呼唤英雄的出现。诗人也将人类早期杀死神王的习俗同渔王的故事结合起来,传达了一种生死的悖论,表达了对拯救荒原的渴望与信心。诗人开出了两剂良方,一是音乐,二是宗教,以此实现道德秩序的重建,最终实现"现代荒原"的拯救。

Seen from the angle of anthropology, the main aim of The Waste Land is not to expose but to save ＂the waste land＂. The poet employs the symbolic meaning of the waste land in anthropology, but covers everything concerning it under the title, in order to hint the theme of salvation and the appeal to the heroes to take actions. The poet also connects the old ritual of killing the old or the ill king in the early human history with the story of Fisher King, revealing a paradox of life and death, and expressing a good wish for and a strong belief in the salvation of the waste land. The poet presents two prescriptions： music and religion, through which the poet means to reconstruct the ethical order of the world and realize the ultimate salvation of ＂the modern waste land＂.