恩格斯“倾向文学”批判的“青年德意志”渊源

The“Young Germany”Origins of Engels'Critique of“Tendentious Literature”

恩格斯晚年对“倾向文学”的批判产生了深远影响。就其对文艺的政治倾向与文艺真实的关系的思考,尤其是对文艺特殊性的强调而言,可以追溯到他“青年德意志”时期的文学实践,其中尤为关键者是他深入探讨的“现代风格”观念。在批评活动中,青年恩格斯实则将“现代风格”作为“理想风格”,并据之审视和批评当时的文艺创作。此观念在恩格斯后续的批评实践中转变为在文艺风格上推崇“莎士比亚化”、批判“席勒式”。总体而言,“现代风格”不仅是恩格斯批判各式“倾向文学”的美学参照,也是他构建美学与历史相统一的马克思主义文艺批评观的思想缘起。

Engels'critique of“tendentious literature”in his late years had a profound impact.His thinking on the relationship between the political tendencies and truth of iterature and art,and especially his emphasis on literary specificity,can be traced back to his literary practice during his“Young Germany”period,in particular to his indepth discussion of the concept of“modern style.”In his critical activity,the young Engels in fact used the“modern style”as an“ideal style”to examine and criticize the literary and art production of his time.This idea was transformed in Engels'subsequent critical practice into a push for“Shakespeareanisation”and a critique of the“Schillerian”in literary style.