莎士比亚《约翰王》的非正统性——基于“多面人物”菲利普的研究

Analysis of the Unorthodox Characteristics of Shakespeare’s King John——Based on the Study of “the Multifaceted Character” Philip

1595—1596年期间,莎士比亚在创作上下历史四联剧的间隙创作了《约翰王》。此剧因涉及英国中世纪的历史资料而与两部四联剧在内容与情节上相脱离,导致其处于历史剧研究的边缘领域。但实际上,《约翰王》在过渡阶段所呈现的非正统性特征及其隐含的激进倾向,代表着莎士比亚历史剧中的特殊类型。剧中的"多面人物"菲利普是此剧非正统性的关键载体,此人物是莎士比亚借鉴前人剧本所作,但他将这个次要角色提升为全剧的中心人物。菲利普一方面以边缘身份替代了国王的中心位置,另一方面则从丑角的闹剧行为演变成王者的英雄行动。他性格多元裂变,承担多重功用。对于多面人物菲利普的研究,可以深入探析莎士比亚创作系列历史剧的整体演进路径,并能充分理解历史剧在伊丽莎白民间剧场上演过程中所生发出的非正统性特征。

Around 1595-1596, Shakespeare wrote King John during the interval between the first and the second historical tetralogies. The British history of the Middle Ages described in this play is not relevant to the two historical tetralogies in content and plot, leading to its being in the marginal field of historical play research. In fact, The unorthodox features and radical tendency implied in King John represent the special type of Shakespeare’s historical plays in transitional period.Philip, "the multifaceted character", is the key carrier of the unorthodox characteristics in King John. This character was based on previous scripts, but Shakespeare adapted this minor character to the central character in King John. On the one hand, Philip replaced the central role that was supposed to belong to the King John with a marginal social identity. On the other hand, he evolved from the antics of a harlequin into the heroic action of the king. Philip has no consistency in his character and bears multiple functions in this play. Based on the research of the multifaceted character Philip, we can analyze the development pattern of Shakespeare’s historical plays deeply, and we can also fully understand the unorthodox characteristics of historical dramas in the Elizabethan folk theater.