抵制表征——《午夜的孩子》中的历史想象

Resisting Representation Historical Imagination in Midnight's Children

后殖民主义表征理论聚焦文学文本与权力话语的相互关联,认为身份的表征与建构主要受权力话语支配。在《午夜的孩子》这部小说中,印度历史的神话循环解构了官方叙事的直线性,个体化叙事对官方叙事的渗透质疑了官方历史书写的真实性和权威性,庶民意识对历史叙事的参与填补了民族主义者的精英主义历史叙事的空白。小说中所建构的替代性历史与主流话语现存表征系统所形成的磋商、纠正和对抗,促进了印度民族身份的主体性建构。

Representation theory in post-colonialism focuses on the co-relationship between literary text and power discourse,arguing that the representation and construction of identity is overwhelmingly predominated by power discourse. In Midnight＇s Children,the mythical cycle of Indian history deconstructs the linear narrative of Indian official historiography; the permeation of personal discourse through the official historical narrative challenges the authenticity and the authority of official historical writing; the participation of subaltern consciousness fills the gap left by the nationalist elite historiography. The alternative history envisaged by Rushdie which can be regarded as the negotiation,correction and opposition of the mainstream representation system helps to construct the subjectivity of Indian nation.