世界小说“倚数”编撰的杰作--米兰·昆德拉《不能承受的生命之轻》数理批评

A Masterpiece of Novel Writing Infused with Mathematical Beauty--The Mathematical Criticism of Milan Kundera’s The Unbearable Lightness of Life

拙说“数理批评”是自中国古代文学研究提出以渐次应用于古今中外文学批评的一种理论。以此理论观照米兰·昆德拉《不能承受的生命之轻》,则见其有突出的“倚数”编撰特点。主要体现于篇章结构上的“七章”模式并融入音乐因素,人物配置上的“七子”模式,叙述描写上“坚持‘三’的原则”和多用“七/星期”以及“六”“九”等“三”的倍数。同时于语辞、情节、细节与物象等大量运用“重复”,使全书成一种其所自称的“几何结构”“建筑图”或“数学秩序”“数学结构”。其“七章”模式或得自《追忆似水年华》的启发,“七子”模式则是受了《安娜·卡列尼娜》的影响,其“坚持‘三’的原则”“重复”以及融入贝多芬的最后一部四重奏因素等,虽得自学养,但也应该是受到了《追忆似水年华》的影响。《不能承受的生命之轻》的“倚数”编撰是人类尤其是欧美“数理”哲学和文学“倚数”编撰的杰作,而马克思说“一门科学只有当它达到了能够运用数学时,才算真正发展了”的论断,则为拙说“数理批评”之前驱与引领,因此,有理由期待“数理批评”将在世界文学中发现更多如《生命之轻》“倚数”编撰的杰作,并在批评的实践中使理论自身不断得到完善与提高。

“Literary mathematical criticism”,a concept or theory coined by the present author in the study of ancient Chinese literature,has gradually been applied to the field of literary criticism both at home and abroad.Based on such a theory,it is found that Milan Kundera’s novel The Unbearable Lightness of Life is endowed with prominent features of“infusing novel writing with mathematical beauty”.In terms of organization,the novel adopts the“seven-chapter”narrative mode while incorporating certain musical elements.In terms of character arrangement,the novel uses the“seven-person”mode.In terms of narration and description,the novel adheres to“the principle of the number three”,while tending to use“seven/week”and multiples of the number“three”like“six”and“nine”.At the same time,a large number of“repetitions”are used in diction,plot arrangement,characterization of details and objects,et cetera,making the whole book a“geometric structure”or“architectural drawing”or a“mathematical order”or“mathematical structure”.Its“seven-chapter”narrative mode might have arguably been inspired by In Search of Lost Time;its“seven-character”arrangement might have been influenced by Anna Karenina;and its adherence to“the principle of the number three”,tendency for using“repetitions”,and reference to Beethoven’s The String Quartet in F Major,Op.135 might have also been influenced by In Search of Lost Time.In general,The Unbearable Lightness of Life can be said to be a world-class masterpiece of novel writing infused with mathematical beauty.Karl Marx once said,“Only when science succeeds in using mathematics can it be truly perfected.”This serves as the foundation and guidance of the theory of“literary mathematical criticism”that the present author developed.It is thereby hoped that this theory will show vigor and vitality in world literature research far and wide.