瑪莎·諾曼是當(dāng)代美國(guó)戲劇界重要的劇 作家，她的《晚安，母親》（'night Mother） 一劇榮獲1983年的普利策戲劇獎(jiǎng)，后以音 樂(lè)劇《秘密花園》（The Secret Garden）獲得 了1992年的托尼獎(jiǎng)。王莉編著的《論瑪莎·諾曼戲劇 中的過(guò)去和記憶》旨在對(duì)以往諾曼 研究中忽視的一個(gè)普遍而又重要的主題 “過(guò)去和記憶”，從戲劇呈現(xiàn)的角度入 手，進(jìn)行多方位的剖析，并比較在不同作 品中的不同景象。本書既注重內(nèi)容，也對(duì) 戲劇呈現(xiàn)作了深入的挖掘，是一部富有獨(dú) 到見解的學(xué)術(shù)力作。
當(dāng)代美國(guó)劇作家瑪莎·諾曼（1947～）的戲劇富有濃厚的悲劇色彩，以對(duì)人物內(nèi)心世界的深刻剖析被學(xué)界廣泛關(guān)注。然而，她戲劇中對(duì)過(guò)去和記憶的凸顯卻未能給與充分的探討。因此，王莉編著的《論瑪莎·諾曼戲劇中的過(guò)去和記憶》分析了諾曼戲劇中的創(chuàng)傷性過(guò)去、讓人渴望的過(guò)去以及虛構(gòu)的過(guò)去等三種過(guò)去，以及對(duì)這些不同性質(zhì)的過(guò)去和記憶的戲劇呈現(xiàn)。劇中人物對(duì)不同的過(guò)去和記憶采取的態(tài)度和做出的行動(dòng)表達(dá)了諾曼對(duì)人如何生存的哲學(xué)性思考。
Introduction
Chapter One
Repression to Reconciliation： Coming to Terms with the
Traumatic Past
1. Embodying the Traumatic Memories of Victimization in
Getting Out
2. Recalling the Traumatic Memory of Maternal Loss in
Traveler in the Dark
Chapter Two
Nostalgia to Disillusionment： Mourning the Wistful Past
1. Lamenting Loss of Marriage and Friendship in
Third and Oak
2. Mourning the Western Outlaw Era in The Holdup
3. Deromanticizing the Frontier Hero in Loving Daniel
Boone
Chapter Three
Avoidance to Confrontation： Making Sense of the Fictional Past
1. Unearthing a Past with No Self-control in 'night， Mother
2. Piercing the Net of the Imaginary Past in Trudy Blue
Conclusion
Works Cited
Postscript
WithoutsayinggoodbyetoArlie/ArlenewhohadconvertedtoChristianity，thechaplaintransferredtoanotherprison.Feelingagaindeserted，Arlie/Arleneraisedhellintheprison.UsingtheforkwhichherinmateDorishadstolenfromthekitchen，Arlieperformedasacrificewhichalmostkilledher.Itisironicthatthelife-sustainingtoolistransformedintoaself-destructiveweapon.However，becauseofthechaplain'sinculcation，inArlene'smind，killingthealienobjectwhichisrepresentedbyherownbodyisanactofselfpreservation.InGretchenCline'swords，thechaplaincommits“ametaphoricalrapethatsplitherpsyche”.
Aftersymbolically“killing”herOtherArlie，Arleneledalmostananesthetizedlifethroughnumbingherselftotheenvironment“jus'donemyworkanknit...anIdon'tthinkaboutit，whathappened”(CollectedWorks55).Arlenetookupthetraditional，gender-stereotypedrolesprescribedbythepatriarchalsociety.RejectingArlie'sdestructivetendency，Arlenebecameamodelprisonerwhohasgraspedseveralskills，suchasknittingandhairdressingwhichwereconsideredasmustsfortraditionalwomen.Nevertheless，ironically，theskillscannotbeputintopracticeoutofprisonbecauseoftherestrictionsimposeduponex-convictsbythelocallegislation.
Arlene'spastasembodiedbyArlieisahistoryoffemalevictimization.Definedingenderspecifictermsandsexuallyexploited，Arliedisplayedantisocialbehaviors.However，theresistantattitudeonlymadeherlifeworse.Tosurviveinsuchasexistsocialorder，shehadtoeradicateher'evil'selfandadopttheculturallyprescribedrolesforwomen，whichrenderthempassive，voiceless，andmostimportantly，obedient.Notwithstandingthatsheintendstorepressthememoriesofthepastwhichareenactedbyherpastself，thetraumaticpastkeepscomingout，thuscausinghersplitposition.Thetensionbetweenthepastandthepresentisthetensionbetweenthesavageselfandtheconformingone.Acceptingandintegratingthepastselfintothepresentoneisofparamountimportanceforherfuturelifeoutsidetheprison.
……
書單推薦
