对君主问题的再思考——《李尔王》的马基雅维利式解读

莎士比亚在《李尔王》中刻画了父女和君臣的双重博弈。政治哲学的解读可看出李尔的悲剧源于割裂了作为国王与父亲的身份有机体,两女儿也正是凭借马基雅维利式的手段实现了对父权和王权的双重反叛。由此,莎士比亚创造性地以"女性新君主"的形象呼应并深化了马基雅维利的"新君主"。莎剧中对君主问题的关注经历了从教权—王权矛盾到王权—父权—女权复杂关系的转变和深入,而这一变化必须从文艺复兴时期的社会体制和政治思潮变动的背景才得以理解。作为政治文本的《李尔王》置身于基督君主与"新君主"的交锋之中,不仅暗含莎士比亚对伊丽莎白女王和詹姆士一世统治之术的态度,更显示出莎士比亚对"君主之鉴"文学传统的继承。

Shakespeare in King Lear depicts the dual conflicts of father-daughter and monarch-subject. An interpretation from political philosophy helps reveal that Lear’s tragedy derives from the separation of his united identity as father-king and that his elder daughters’ revolt is through a Machiavellian way. Shakespeare thus creatively echoes and deepens Machiavelli’s "New Prince" with his contribution of "New Princess". As Shakespeare’s reflection on kingship deepens from the throne-alter relationship to the interaction of kingship-patriarchy-women’s rights, such change could not be understood unless we view it in the context of social system and political thoughts of Renaissance. In the conflict between the Christian prince and the new prince, King Lear as a political text not only discloses Shakespeare’s attitudes toward the ruling philosophy of Elizabeth I and King James I, but also continues the literary tradition of "specula principum".