想象的共同体:《印度之行》中的共同体形塑

Imagined Community——Community Building in A Passage to India

小说《印度之行》是福斯特最负盛名的一部作品。学术界在解读这部作品时,大多从政治、殖民主义、种族文化差异等角度进行分析,但是隐匿于小说中的共同体主题鲜有学者论述。通过对文本的细读,可以发现面对当时印度分崩离析的格局以及英、印两个民族之间深刻的种族隔阂,福斯特对共同体文化的思考。在这部小说中,福斯特的共同体意识主要体现在,建立一个基于兄弟之爱之上"人类大同"的想象共同体以及充满"同胞之爱"的印度民族共同体;同时福斯特在小说中凸显出教育在建构共同体文化方面的重要作用。

A Passage to India is E.M.Forster＇s most successful novel.There is a tendency in the academic world to approach A Passage to India from the perspectice of politics,colonism,racial and curtural differences,whereas its community theme is by and large neglected.Under the historical background of an disintegrated India and the deep racial barrier of England and Indian country,Forster displays his deep concern about community culture.In this novel,Forster＇s view of community finds expression in the building of an ideal community upon universal brotherhood as well as the reconstructing of an India national community,furthermore,Forster expounds the significant role of education to community construction.