《等待戈多》之“不可靠的剧作者”

The “Unreliable Playwright”of Waiting for Godot

《等待戈多》（Waiting for Godot）一剧的时间记忆混乱历来是一个谜,本文借鉴叙事学中的＂不可靠的叙事者＂这一概念,论证该剧隐含了一个＂不可靠的剧作者＂,正是这个＂不可靠的剧作者＂为戏剧设置了错误的、人为的时间框架。这样的＂不可靠的剧作者＂的认定符合该剧的元戏剧身份,而就贝克特而言,创造这样一个＂不可靠的剧作者＂具有普遍的伦理、认知与美学意义,同时强化了该剧的＂局部＂旨趣：对于戏剧三一律的戏仿和对于严重依赖时间维度的大叙事,尤其是基督教救赎叙事的戏仿。

Beckett＇s Waiting for Godot has long remained confusing with its apparent contradiction concerning time. Borrowing the concept of ＂unreliable narration ＂,this paper argues for the play＇s implication of an＂unreliable playwright＂,who,with his inherent unreliability,has devised an artificial and false time frame. The identification of such an＂unreliable playwright＂fits in well with the identity of the play as a metatheatrical work,but what is more significant is that such a creation of the＂unreliable playwright＂not only has universal ethical,cognitive and aesthetic meanings,but serves the particular play＇s local targets of parodying the notorious ＂three theatrical unities＂and metanarratives,such as the Christian grand scheme of redemption,which are invariably time-bound.