约翰·福尔斯《魔法师》中的物与人

Things and Characters in John Fowles’ The Magus

约翰·福尔斯的《魔法师》在文学史上的经典地位已获得承认。以物写人、以物见人的人物身份构建方式是作品成功的重要因素之一。福尔斯以文本中隐匿在背景中的物件来映射人,在不可靠叙事框架内实现了可靠的人物身份建构:小说中的物品不仅反映人物生活环境,折射人物心理,并能操纵人物思想、左右人物的选择,人与物共谋,服务小说双重追寻的主题。因此,从“物”重读《魔法师》可以提供新的角度,发现福尔斯通过艺术虚构来理解现实的创作意图,让读者看清作品虚构性的同时,又在阅读过程中参与小说意义的建构。

John Fowles' The Magus has been recognized for its classic status in literary history.This article argues that the use of things to construct character identities through the depiction of people and their relationships with things is one of the important factors contributing to its success.Fowles depicts the characters through the things hidden in the background of the text,and through the unreliable narrative framework,he achieves a reliable construction of character identity.The things in the novel not only reflect the characters' living environment and psychological state,but also manipulate their thoughts,influence their choices,and collaborate with the characters to serve the novel's theme of dual pursuit.Re-reading The Magus from the perspective of “things” can provide a new angle for appreciating Fowles' creative intention of using artistic fiction to understand reality,allowing readers to see the fictitious nature of the work while participating in the construction of its meaning.