追寻“自我”:《倾城之恋》细读及重释(上)

Pursuing the True “Self”: A Close Reading and Re-interpretation of Love in a Fallen City(Part One)

《倾城之恋》中白流苏、范柳原之间的爱情算计、情感博弈,可能只是较为表层的内涵,更深层的主旨是二者在那个新旧中西交错的"夹缝"时代对"自我"的追寻。他们在追寻中相遇、相恋,又在相恋中互相隔膜、自造"围城",精心地计算得失,谨慎地斟酌进退。虽然互有好感、心生爱慕,但白流苏由于经济的重压,范柳原出于精神需求的苛刻,都吝啬地固守着自己。艰难的心灵碰撞、别扭的同居生活,开始让双方的立场产生松动。最终,随着"倾城"的战火,以及"自我"的释放与突围,他们各自在对方身上确证了自己。

The complicated love story between Bai Liusu and Fan Liuyuan may only be the surface connotation of the novel Love in a Fallen City . The deeper theme of this novella is the pursuit of their true "self" during the transforming era of the old and new under wartime background. In the process of pursuing their own true "self", they met and fell in love with each other. However, there were estrangements and conflicts in their relationship and their own "besieged city" was built. They calculated their gains and losses very precisely and considered every step they make carefully.Despite their mutual love for each other, both of them have their own concerns. Bai Liusu suffered from the heavy economic pressure while Fan Liuyuan kept a strict spiritual requirement for himself. Both of them doubted the other s true commitment and love for each other with the hard mental collisions and the awkward situations of non-marital cohabitation. Eventually, with the war in the "Fallen city" and the release and breakthrough of their true "self", both of themrealized that their love for each other is far more enduring and valuable.