拟态、演化与叙事:纳博科夫《天赋》对进化论的文化反思

Imitation,Evolution and Narrative:Cultural Reflection on Evolution in Nabokov's The Gift

纳博科夫将文学批评有机地融入到《天赋》的叙述与情节之中,在文本中用戏仿、拼贴、暗指、变位词、意象、人物对话、作者闯入等方式对达尔文进化论进行批评,演绎出其独特的拟态观与进化观。小说中所指涉的生物学家和文学人物众多,因此被认为是纳博科夫对进化论历史的戏仿,一幅文学批评的全景画。探究纳博科夫在小说中对达尔文进化论的批评是研究其创作思想与叙述艺术的不可或缺的步骤。论文从戏仿、拼贴、暗指、变位词、意象、人物对话、作者闯入等方面来探讨纳博科夫怎样将文本作为文学批评,怎样将科学构想融入诗性语言,对达尔文进化论进行兼具科学思辨性与艺术审美性的文化反思。

Nabokov incorporates,naturally and organically,literary criticism into the narrative and plot of The Gift,critiquing Darwin’s theory of evolution through parodies,pastiches,allusions,anagrams,symbols,dialogues and authorial intrusions,and expounding his unique views on imitation and evolution.Given its extensive coverage of numerous biologists and literary figures,The Gift has been regarded as a parody of the evolution history and a panorama of Nabokov’s literary criticism.A look into Nabokov’s critique of Darwin’s theory of evolution is an inevitable step in the study of his literary views and narrative art.By analyzing his use of various rhetorical devices,narrative voice,and authorial direct comment,this article attempts to explore how Nabokov converted the text of The Gift into a literary critique and integrated scientific ideas with poetic language all for the purpose of delivering a cultural reflection on Darwin’s theory of evolution reinforced by scientific inquiries and aesthetic deliberations.