《金苹果》的主导性男性气质策略

Strategies for Hegemonic Masculinity in The Golden Apples

尤多拉·韦尔蒂的代表作《金苹果》中的金·麦克莱恩是一位真人隐身、传说流布的背景人物,如何评判这个人物数十年来一直是学界悬疑公案。本文借助R.W.康奈尔的主导性男性气质理论,指出麦克莱恩是摩根纳镇主导性男性气质载体人物,其诸多匪夷所思、异于常理的行为正是其攀升主导性的有效策略:金借助异地婚姻成为公众焦点、借助取悦女性传播美誉、借助漫游成为不朽传奇。传奇幻灭的一刻暴露了主导性的欺骗性。

King MacLain is a legendary background character in Eudora Welty's masterpiece,The Golden Apples.How to understand the character has been a debating issue for decades with various controversial interpretations proposed by critics.Based on R.W.Connell's theory of hegemonic masculinity,this paper argues that King's unusual behaviors,which have enchanted his community and puzzled the critics,are his well-calculated strategies for hegemonic masculinity.King makes full use of certain strategies,such as unmatched marriage,courtesy to women,and constant wandering to establish himself as a legendary figure,namely the bearer of hegemonic masculinity in Morgana.The moment the legend collapses,the deceptive nature of hegemonic masculinity is immediately fully exposed.