《卡瓦利与克雷的神奇冒险》中的魔像与犹太文化认同建构

Golem and the Construction of Jewish Cultural Identity in The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier&Clay

在当代美国社会,魔像的概念早已超脱了其原初的含义,彰显了当代美国犹太作家对犹太文化认同建构问题的思考。在《卡瓦利与克雷的神奇冒险》中,作家迈克尔·夏邦通过魔像的三种形态表达了对犹太文化认同的理解。他以布拉格泥人指涉犹太文化的主体性,表现当代美国犹太作家的文化自觉与自信,建立犹太文化认同的基础;以美国逃脱侠喻意犹太文化的现代化进程,指代犹太文化的发展与进步,构成犹太文化认同的策略与路径;以魔像乔瑟夫象征犹太化的美国文化,代表犹太文化对美国文化格局的改变,形成犹太文化认同的目标指向。夏邦通过探讨犹太文化在美国社会环境中的意义,为当代美国犹太人的身份建构和犹太性塑造提供了参考,表达了作者对当代美国社会中犹太人生存现状的关注与思考。

In contemporary American society, the concept of golem has long been beyond its original meaning, which highlights contemporary Jewish American writers’ reflection on the issue concerning the construction of Jewish cultural identity. In The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Michael Chabon represents his interpretation regarding the construction of Jewish cultural identity by exploring three different dimensions of golem: 1) using the Golem of Prague to embody the subjectivity of Jewish culture and Jewish American writers’ cultural awareness and confidence, so as to build the foundation of Jewish cultural identity;2) using American Escaper as a symbol of the modernization of Jewish culture, not only facilitating its development and progress, but also figuring out the proper strategy for and route to Jewish cultural identity;3) using Golem Joseph as a symbol of Judaized American culture, indicating the shift in the pattern of American culture effected by Jewish culture and setting up the goal of accomplishing Jewish cultural identity. By exploring the significance of Jewish culture in American society, Chabon shows his concern with Jews’ life in American society and offers his input for constructing contemporary Jewish American identity and defining the concept of Jewishness.