威尼斯在莎剧中的政治地理学意义——以《威尼斯商人》与《奥瑟罗》为中心

The Significance of Venice in Shakespeare's plays from Political Geography Perspective:Centered on The Merchant of Venice and Othello

莎士比亚将《威尼斯商人》和《奥瑟罗》这两部戏剧的故事发生地设置在威尼斯,寄寓了深刻的政治地理学意义:作品通过对威尼斯人利用海洋环境勇敢开拓海洋经济的赞颂,美化了伊丽莎白一世时期的海外殖民探险和海盗活动,从而具有鼓励英国国民积极投身海洋经济的政治效果;从城市空间的视角呈现了威尼斯的外族移民与改宗问题,体现了本国民族与外来民族融合的必要性,并站在发展海上商业帝国的高度,强调了犹太移民带来的资本优势;威尼斯参与的具有宗教背景的战争及其军事战略布局,暗示了英国在与欧洲大陆之间的战争失利后转向海洋扩张的军事意义。两部莎剧从以上三个方面揭示了17世纪英国转向海洋发展战略的政治意义。

Shakespeare sets Venice as the place site of the Merchant of Venice and Othello,which imbeds profound significance of political geography.The plays glorify Elizabethan colonial exploration and piracy by praising the Venetians' brave exploitation of their maritime environment to encourage British citizens to take an active part in the maritime economy from the political effects.From the perspective of urban space,it presents the problems of immigration and proselytism in Venice,which reflects the necessity of the integration of native and foreign nationalities.And,standing on the height of developing a maritime business empire,it emphasizes the capital advantage brought by Jewish immigration.Venice's participation in the war with a religious background and its military strategic planning implies the military significance of Britain's turn to sea expansion after losing the war with continental Europe.From three aspects above,the plays reveal the political significance of Britain's turning to the sea in the 17th century.