不久前,友人告訴我他正在“研究”“幽默”。我微笑地祝福他。但是今天,因為在閱讀一些文章後,我也開始覺得有需要去想一想在我們這一代所漸漸失去的文學敘述形式 - 諷刺 Satire。其實這也是屬於我們人類文明的一部分。
寫到這裡,讓我想到強納森‧斯威夫特(Jonathan Swift)的諷刺小說《格列佛遊記》(Gulliver's Travels)。
“Many children unconsciously made early contact with philosophical and political ideas when reading with gusto two books, Through the Looking-Glass and Gulliver's, Travels. Swift combined such imaginative power with sheer intellectual force that the Travels can be enjoyed as an entertaining, picturesque narrative, as well as a political satire and a commentary on human nature in politics. In his lucid, compact study Mr. Lock skilfully demonstrates how Swift's principles, understanding of history and interest in the springs of human activity are all reflected in the Travels.” - B.B. McDowell, "The Politics of Gulliver's Travels"
http://www.historytoday.com/rb-mcdowell/politics-gullivers-travels
從以上簡短的描述,就可以看出強納森‧斯威夫特本身在哲學、政治、歷史與文學美學上都是一等大師。人的想像力是無限的,但是缺乏人文的熏陶,至終凸顯的是一幅狗咬狗的狼藉。拆毀容易,建設難。
明白自己抗衡的是那一種文化,就需要更加努力、身體力行地以言說、書寫、創作等方式以及活動的參與去表達自己的信念。Faith is meant to be lived.
寫到這裡,讓我想到強納森‧斯威夫特(Jonathan Swift)的諷刺小說《格列佛遊記》(Gulliver's Travels)。
“Many children unconsciously made early contact with philosophical and political ideas when reading with gusto two books, Through the Looking-Glass and Gulliver's, Travels. Swift combined such imaginative power with sheer intellectual force that the Travels can be enjoyed as an entertaining, picturesque narrative, as well as a political satire and a commentary on human nature in politics. In his lucid, compact study Mr. Lock skilfully demonstrates how Swift's principles, understanding of history and interest in the springs of human activity are all reflected in the Travels.” - B.B. McDowell, "The Politics of Gulliver's Travels"
http://www.historytoday.com/rb-mcdowell/politics-gullivers-travels
從以上簡短的描述,就可以看出強納森‧斯威夫特本身在哲學、政治、歷史與文學美學上都是一等大師。人的想像力是無限的,但是缺乏人文的熏陶,至終凸顯的是一幅狗咬狗的狼藉。拆毀容易,建設難。
明白自己抗衡的是那一種文化,就需要更加努力、身體力行地以言說、書寫、創作等方式以及活動的參與去表達自己的信念。Faith is meant to be lived.