《儒林外史》所涉王冕本事考论

A textual research on Wang Mian’s experiences narrated in The Scholars

《儒林外史》为塑造理想名士代表,对王冕形象进行美化、雅化处理,广泛影响后人的真实王冕认知。事实上,小说所叙王冕故事多与历史原型不符,尤其表现在“未仕明军”“奇言怪行”“擅画荷花”“拒交危素”等情节上,虚构成分较多。吴敬梓对小说所涉王冕本事应有充分了解,但为服务创作意图需要和彰显自身性情喜好,还是蹈袭传闻或信手改编。小说对王冕所涉本事的艺术处理,充分彰显全书以文运事的叙事艺术,体现作者匠心独运之处。

To shape the ideal representative of celebrities,The Scholars beautifies Wang Mian,which widely affects later generations’perception of him.In fact,most of the stories of Wang Mian in the novel are inconsistent with the historical prototype,especially in the plots like“not serving the Ming Army”,“eccentric diction and odd deeds”,“being good at painting lotus flowers”,and“refusing to associate with Wei Su”,which are mostly fictional.Wu Jingzi should know the experiences of Wang Mian as a historical figure,but to serve his creative intentions and show his preferences,he followed anecdotal stories and adapted them accordingly.The novel’s artistic handling of Wang Mian’s experiences in the novel,in which the author applied the narrative skill of basing his writing on real experiences while in the meantime,adapting them creatively when it is necessary,fully demonstrates the author’s artistic achievements.