中西复仇剧叙事及其伦理阐释

Narratives and Ethical Interpretations of Chinese and Western Revenge Dramas

复仇故事是中西戏剧共同青睐的题材。但是,由于根植于不同的历史文化土壤,中西戏剧复仇叙事及其反映的伦理道德观念存在较为明显的差异。以血亲复仇、弃妇复仇、英雄复仇三类复仇剧为例,中国复仇剧大抵叙事清晰,惯常叙述人物的苦难,突显是非分明、忠奸对立的人物关系,以此揭示出复仇的必然性与正义性,诠释了儒家伦理道德观念。西方复仇剧叙事则以个体的“人”为核心,常采用情节延宕的手法,聚焦于人物深陷道德困境时的心理,展现出人物之间复杂的伦理关系,拷问复仇在伦理道德的层面上的合理性,从而多方面地探索人性的复杂形态。

Revenge is a shared and favored theme in both Chinese and Western dramas.However,due to their roots in different historical and cultural contexts,the revenge narratives in Chinese and Western drama,as well as the ethical and moral concepts they reflect,exhibit noticeable differences.Taking three types of revenge dramas,blood relatives’revenge,abandoned wives’revenge,and heroes’revenge,as examples,Chinese revenge dramas typically feature clear narratives,frequently portraying the suffering of characters and highlighting the stark contrast between good and evil,loyalty and betrayal.These narratives underscore the inevitability and justice of revenge,embodying Confucian ethical and moral principles.In contrast,the narratives of Western revenge dramas center on the individual,often deploying plot delays to focus on the psychological turmoil of characters when trapped in moral dilemmas.These narratives show the complex ethical relationships between characters,interrogating the moral and ethical legitimacy of revenge,thereby exploring the multifaced human nature in many aspects.