走向现代的焦虑——论沈从文的乡土小说

Anxiety towards Modernity——On Shen Congwen’s Local Novels

沈从文的乡土小说别具一格,游离于二三十年代乡土小说家们对故乡农村描绘的主流叙事模式,破败、萧索、愚昧、没落不再是乡村的表征,沈从文也一直以"乡下人"自居,不以现代的居高临下的眼光来审视湘西地域人情风俗、人际关系与生存状态。他用一种闲适舒缓、空灵澄澈的笔调抒写着想象中的湘西世界,可是看似人性淳朴、田园牧歌的边地生活的表面之下却隐藏着他蠢蠢欲动的焦虑与隐忧。

Shen Congwen’s local novels are unique,which are separated from the general narrative mode of the mainstream local novelists in the 1920 s and 1930 s.Dilapidation,desolation,ignorance and decline are no longer the characteristics of the countryside.He has always regarded himself as a"countryman"and did not look at the local customs,interpersonal relationships and living conditions in Xiangxi from a modern condescending perspective.Shen Congwen described the imaginary western Hunan in a leisurely,soothing and ethereal style,but his anxiety and worries were hidden under the surface of the seemingly simple human nature and pastoral life.