《亨利四世》与“国王的两个身体”

“King’s Two Bodies”in Shakespeare’s Henry IV

都铎时期法学家建构的“国王的两个身体”理论,深刻渗透到莎士比亚的历史剧《亨利四世》之中。莎士比亚的诗学构想不仅关注“国王的两个身体”理论与王权合法性的关系,更着力展现国王的自然之体与政治之体之间的冲突与张力。这种张力打破了国王二体之间的平衡,促成国王自我意识的觉醒,更促进了国王自然之体与政治之体的世俗化。这一世俗化转换摧毁了神圣王权的建构,暗合了早期近代政治思想史从神圣王权到现实政治的转换。

The theory of“king’s two bodies”constructed by Tudor jurists is deeply immersed in Shakespeare’s historical play Henry IV.Shakespeare’s poetic construction not only focuses on the relationship between the theory of“king’s two bodies”and the legitimacy of kingship,but also focuses on showing the conflict and tension between the Body natural and the Body politic of the king.The conflict and tension breaks the balance between king’s two bodies,promotes the awakening of the king’s self-consciousness and the secularization of the kingship.This secular transformation destroys the authority of divine kingship,implicitly coincides with the transformation of early modern political thought from divine kingship to realpolitik.