艾丽丝·默多克小说《钟》的神秘现实主义

Mystical Realism in Iris Murdoch's The Bell

一直以来,艾丽丝·默多克对传统现实主义小说的推崇和发扬备受学界关注。在小说《钟》中默多克刻画了以20世纪上半叶分产主义共同体为原型的茵波庄园,以此来折射战后英国面临的道德和文化挑战。默多克塑造了朵拉和迈克尔这两位神秘主义主人公,借二人的困境和转变以及茵波庄园的兴衰来凸显艺术、现实和想象力的重要性。对社会现实的关注和对道德心理的探索共同构成了《钟》的神秘现实主义,不仅丰富了现实和现实主义的含义,也蕴含了默多克对于美善生活和理想社会的思考。

Much critical attention has been paid to Iris Murdoch's high respect for and development of traditional realistic fiction.Her portrayal of Imber Abbey in The Bell is inspired by Distributist communities founded in the first half of the twentieth century and reflects upon the moral and cultural challenges faced by postwar Britain.The predicament and transformation of Dora and Michael,the existential heroine and hero of the novel,as well as the rise and fall of the Imber community,testify to the importance of art,reality and imagination.Combining concern for social reality and exploration of moral psychology,The Bell is a fine example of Murdoch's distinct moral realism.The blending of traditional realism and Murdochian mysticism enriches the meanings of reality and realism and is associated with Murdoch's understanding of good life and good society.