历史的隐喻——论石黑一雄《被掩埋的巨人》

History as Metaphor—A Thematic Study of Kazuo Ishiguro's The Buried Giant

《被掩埋的巨人》延续了石黑一雄在其作品中反复探讨的一些主题,如记忆的不确定性、对历史的反思以及人的情感需求,再现了5、6世纪时撒克逊人入侵英国后与不列颠人的冲突与融合。小说虽然穿插了一些奇幻文学的元素,但整体上语言质朴、平淡、内敛,通过历史的隐喻告诫人们,正确看待历史记忆,切勿盲目服从权威,坚信心中的道德法则,学会珍惜和宽容。小说深深植根于西方文明沃土之中,通过与西方人文经典的深层对话,提醒读者超越狭隘的自我意识和族裔认同,构建和谐的家庭关系和民族关系,警惕民族仇恨和复仇意志再次导致人类互相残杀,体现出作者对人类共同体命运的担忧及对和平的呼唤。

In The Buried Giant,Kazuo Ishiguro revisits some of his favorite topics,such as the uncertainty of memory,the reflection on history,and the emotional needs of human beings. The novel is a portrayal of the conflict and integration between Britons and Saxons following the latter' s invasion in the 5 thand 6 thcentury. Despite elements of fantasy,the language as a whole is plain,unadorned,and restrained. Using history as metaphor,the novel urges people to view the memory of history through proper lenses,to follow the moral law within oneself instead of following any authority blindly. The implied message is that people should learn to cherish and tolerate. Deeply rooted in the tradition of western civilization,and through interaction with the western canon,the novel suggests that readers should rise above egoism and ethnic identity,build harmonious family and ethnic relations,and guard against killings caused by hatred and revenge between ethnic groups. It is a manifestation of the author' s concern for the fate of human beings as a community of shared future and a call for peace.