第二部分　文艺复兴时期

第5章　威廉•莎士比亚

5.1　复习笔记

I. Background Knowledge (背景知识)

(1) The society was in its transition from feudalism to capitalism.

(2) Absolute monarchy was formed at the beginning of the 16th century and reached its peak during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

(3) King Henry Ⅷ broke off with the Pope and proclaimed himself head of the Church of England, consolidating secular and eccelesiastical power.

(4) A new nobility, the gentry, and a new class, bourgeoisie emerged to support the monarchy.

(5) England established its dominance on the high seas and in world trade by defeating the Spanish Invincible Armada.

(6) The contradiction between the ruling classes and the common people aggravated. Many uprisings occurred but were ruthlessly suppressed.

(7) The rise of bourgeois and formation of English national state contributed to a flourishing of national culture known as the Renaissance. Humanists promoted classical learning and strived for the emancipation of human beings from medieval obscurantism.

（1）英国正处于从封建制度向资本主义制度过渡的阶段。

（2）16世纪初，君主专制政体建立，在女王伊丽莎白一世执政时达到巅峰。

（3）亨利八世与罗马教皇决裂，建立英国国教，并宣称自己是国教领袖，巩固了世俗和宗教权力。

（4）新贵族和新兴资产阶级诞生，并且支持君主专制。

（5）英国打败西班牙无敌舰队，确立了海上和国际贸易霸主地位。

（6）统治阶级与贫民的矛盾激化，发生了很多起义，但最后被无情镇压。

（7）新兴资产阶级地位上升和英国民族国家的形成促进了民族文化的繁荣，称之为文艺复兴。人文主义者推崇古典文学，为人类从中世纪宗教蒙昧中解放而奋斗。

II. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) (威廉·莎士比亚)

1．Life (生平)

Shakespeare is the most remarkable playwright and poet. He was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon. At the age of 7, Shakespeare was sent to the local grammar school where he was taught reading, writing, Latin and Greek. He was a schoolmaster in the country and became well acquainted with theatrical performances. At 18 he married a farmer’s daughter. After he moved to London, he had been associated with the best theatres of England. Then he was known as an actor, playwright and shareholder of one leading company of players. In 1612 he went back home and bought a house called New Palace. He died on April 23, the anniversary of his birth, in 1616 and was buried in Stratford Church.

莎士比亚是世界最著名的剧作家和诗人。1564年4月23日生于英格兰斯特拉福德的埃文河畔。7岁时他被送到当地的文法学校，学习阅读、写作、拉丁语和希腊语。他成了当地的教师，并且渐渐熟知戏剧表演。莎士比亚18岁就和一个农夫的女儿结婚。他搬到伦敦后，和英格兰最好的剧院打过交道，做过当时首屈一指的剧院的演员、剧作家和股东。1612年，他回到家乡，买了一幢名为新宫的房子。他逝世于1616年4月23日，即他生日的那一天，并安葬在斯特拉特福德教堂。

2．A Chronological List of Shakespeare’s Works (莎士比亚戏剧年表)

His literary works may be divided into three major periods: the first period from 1590 to 1600, the second from 1601 to 1608, and the third from 1609 to 1612.

莎士比亚的文学创作可分为三个主要阶段：第一阶段从1590年到1600年，第二阶段从1601年到1608年，第三阶段从1609年到1612年。

A. The First Period (第一阶段)

1590  Henry VI, Part II《亨利六世，第二部》

Henry VI, Part III《亨利六世，第三部》

1591  Henry VI, Part I《亨利六世，第一部》

1592  Richard III《理查德三世》

The Comedy of Errors《错中错》

1593  Titus Andronicus《泰特斯·安特洛尼克斯》

The Taming of the Shrew《驯悍记》

1594  The Two Gentlemen of Verona《维洛那二绅士》

Love’s Labour’s Lost《爱的徒劳》

Romeo and Juliet《罗密欧与朱丽叶》

1595  Richard II《理查德二世》

A Midsummer Night’s Dream《仲夏夜之梦》

1596  King John《约翰王》

The Merchant of Venice《威尼斯商人》

1597  Henry IV, Part I《亨利四世，第一部》

Henry IV, Part II《亨利四世，第二部》

1598  Much Ado about Nothing《无事生非》

Henry V《亨利五世》

The Merry Wives of Windsor《温莎的风流娘们》

1599  Julius Caesar《朱利尤斯·凯撒》

As You Like It《皆大欢喜》

1600  Twelfth Night《第十二夜》

B. The Second Period第二阶段

1601  Hamlet《哈姆雷特》

1602  Troilus and Cressida《特洛伊罗斯与克瑞西达》

All’s Well That Ends Well《终成眷属》

1604  Measure for Measure《一报还一报》

Othello《奥赛罗》

1605  King Lear《李尔王》

Macbeth《麦克白》

1606  Antony and Cleopatra《安东尼与克里奥佩特拉》

1607  Coriolanus《科利奥兰纳斯》

Timon of Athens《雅典的泰门》

1608  Pericles《佩力克尔斯》

C. The Third Period第三阶段

1609  Cymbeline《辛白林》

1610  The Winter’s Tale《冬天的故事》

1612  The Tempest《暴风雨》

Henry VIII《亨利八世》

Shakespeare had also written poems, Venus and Adonis (1593), The Rape of Lucrece (1954) and sonnets (1593-1598).

莎士比亚也写了诗歌，有《维纳斯与阿多尼斯》、《鲁克丽丝受辱记》和十四行诗。

3．Selected Works (选读作品)

◆Hamlet《哈姆雷特》

A. Main Plot (主要情节)

The protagonist is the prince of Denmark, and a student at the University of Wittenberg, Hamlet. At the beginning of the play, Hamlet’s father, King Hamlet, has recently died, and his mother, Queen Gertrude, has remarried the new king, Hamlet’s uncle Claudius. Hamlet is melancholy, bitter, cynical and full of hatred for his uncle and disgust at his mother for marrying him. When the ghost of Hamlet’s father appears and claims to have been murdered by Claudius, Hamlet becomes obsessed with avenging his father’s death. Mistakenly, he kills Polonius, father of Ophelia. Ophelia, lover of Hamlet, goes mad because of her father’s death and then is drowned in a stream. This leads to Ophelia’s brother--Laertes’ hatred for Hamlet. In the duel between Laertes and Hamlet, Laertes wounds Hamlet but is himself struck with the same poisoned weapon, which is made by Claudius. Before his death, Hamlet stabs Claudius while the queen has drunk a poisoned cup of wine intended for Hamlet.

该剧主人公哈姆雷特是丹麦王子，威登堡大学生。戏剧开端，哈姆雷特的父亲丹麦国王刚刚逝世，他的母亲格特鲁德皇后嫁给哈姆雷特的叔叔，新任国王克劳狄斯。哈姆雷特悲痛不已、愤世嫉俗，憎恨他的叔叔，厌恶他的母亲。当父亲的鬼魂出现，告诉他自己是被克劳狄斯害死时，哈姆雷特一直想着要为父报仇。在复仇过程中，他误杀波隆尼尔，欧菲莉亚的父亲。欧菲莉亚是哈姆雷特的情人，她因父亲的死精神失常，最后溺水身亡。这引起了欧菲莉亚的哥哥雷尔提对哈姆雷特的仇恨。在两人的对决中，雷尔提用有毒的武器刺伤哈姆雷特，雷尔提自己也被同样的武器所伤。武器上的毒是克劳狄斯作为。哈姆雷特临死之际用力刺向国王，王后也喝下了克劳狄斯准备给哈姆雷特喝的毒酒。

B. Analysis of Hamlet (哈姆雷特人物分析)

Hamlet is a man of genius, highly accomplished and educated, a man of far-reaching perception and sparkling wit.

Though a scholar, he is at the same time fearless and impetuous in action. He is a humanist, a man who is free from medieval prejudices and superstitions. He loves good and hates evil. He cares for nothing but human and shows contempt for rank and wealth. He is a close observer of men and manners. He easily sees through people.

The keynote of Hamlet’s character is melancholy. Revenge is easy, but it is not merely personal revenge that Hamlet seeks. What is more important is to expose the roots of the evil and to establish a reign of justice. His responsibility is thus enlarged into a radical transformation of society. This is the cause of Hamlet’s profound melancholy and his delay in revenge.

哈姆雷特是一个拥有智慧和教养，观察力敏锐的英杰。虽然身为学者，但他行事冲动且毫无畏惧。他是位人文主义者，从中世纪的偏见和封建束缚中解放出来。他爱憎分明，关心人本身，不论贫穷贵贱。他对人事观察仔细，能够看透人心。

他最明显的性格特征是忧郁。当决心开始复仇后，他认识到重要的不只是复仇，怎样揭露现世的丑陋并建立公正的社会才是关键。因此他的责任上升到改造社会。这是他行动迟疑，表现忧郁的主要原因。

◆The Merchant of Venice《威尼斯商人》

A. Main Plot (主要情节)

Bassanio asks his wealthy friend Antonio for some money in order to win a beautiful wealthy woman Portia so that he can pay his debts and restore his fortune. However, Antonio has no funds at hand, but has to borrow three thousand ducats from Shylock, a wealthy Jewish usurer, who hates Antonio for his offering interest-free loans. Antonio accepts the terms that if he were unable to return the loan, Shylock would be entitled to a pound of his own flesh. In Belmont, Bassanio chooses the correct lead casket and wins Portia’s love. After they hear that Antonio has to forfeit his bond to Shylock, Bassanio returns to try to save Antonio.

Shylock insists to claim his right and a trial is called. Disguised as a law clerk, Portia checks Shylock by reminding him that he must do so without causing Antonio to bleed. Then Portia claims that he is guilty of conspiring against the life of a Venetian citizen. Finally the duke spares Shylock’s life and take a fine instead of Shylock’s property. Antonio also forgoes his half of Shylock’s wealth on two conditions: first, Shylock must convert to Christianity, and second, he must will the entirety of his estate to Lorenzo and Jessica upon his death. Shylock agrees and takes his leave. Then Portia and Nerissa reconcile with their husbands, and Antonio’s ships come back safely.

巴萨尼奥向他的好友安东尼奥借钱，去追求一个美丽富有的小姐鲍西亚，从而还清自己的债务，获得财富。可是安东尼奥没有闲钱在手，他只好向一个犹太人夏洛克接3000达克特高利贷。夏洛克十分痛恨安东尼奥，因为他借给别人钱不收利息。安东尼奥答应了夏洛克的条件，如果他期满时无法还清贷款，夏洛克就可以割去他身上一磅肉。在贝尔蒙特，巴萨尼奥选对了铅匣子，赢得了鲍西亚的爱。当他们听说安东尼奥无法偿还贷款时，巴萨尼奥赶回来试图解救安东尼奥。

夏洛克执意要割肉，因此一场审判来临。鲍西亚此时伪装成一个律师伙计，在法庭上狡辩说夏洛克割肉时不得使安东尼奥流一滴血。她又声称夏洛克因企图谋害一个威尼斯公民的生命而有罪。最终公爵赦免了夏洛克，并处罚金，而非没收财产。安东尼奥也愿放弃夏洛克的一半财产，只要他转信基督教，并在死后将全部财产给洛伦佐和杰西卡。夏洛克同意并离开了。之后鲍西亚和娜丽莎跟各自的丈夫和解，安东尼奥的船也平安返回。

B. Character Analysis (人物分析)

Portia is one of Shakespeare’s ideal women--beautiful, cultured, courteous and capable of rising to an emergency. The image of Shylock is also very powerful. Besides being an avaricious money-lender, he is a Jew of pride and deep religious instincts. He has suffered much in the hands of the Christians. His revolting bond is counterbalanced by Antonio’s arrogant treatment of him. So his loud protest against racial discrimination cannot be altogether ignored by the audience.

鲍西亚是莎士比亚剧中理想女性之一，她美丽，有修养，礼貌谦恭，并且在危急时刻能沉着应对。夏洛克的人物形象也很丰满。夏洛克除了是一个贪婪的借贷者外，他还是一个有自尊和深厚宗教本能的犹太人。他令人嗤鼻的合同是对安东尼奥傲慢无礼的反抗。所以他对种族歧视的高声抗议是不容忽视的。

◆Shakespeare’s Sonnets 莎士比亚《十四行诗集》

The collection contains 154 sonnets, commonly thought to be written between 1593 and 1599.

They may be roughly divided into three groups: number 1-17 are variations on one theme. A handsome young man is being persuaded to marry and beget offspring who will preserve his beauty in a new generation, though he himself will lose it as he grows old; number 18-126 are on a variety of themes associated with a handsome young man (who is presumably the youth of number 1-17). The poet enjoys his friendship and is full of admiration, promising to bestow immortality on the young man by the poems he writes in his honor. The rest are about a married woman with dark hair and complexion, by whom the poet is attracted, though well aware of her faults.

诗集包括154首十四行诗，多被认为写于1593-1599年间。

这些诗按主题可分为三类：前17首是规劝一位美少年尽早结婚产生后代，来延续他的美丽，因为随着年龄增长，他的美丽会日渐消退。第18-126首的写作对象很可能与前17首相同。诗人非常珍视两人之间的友情，并且承诺要用自己的诗歌来赋予少年永生。其余诗歌描写一位黑头发黑皮肤的已婚妇女，尽管了解她的不足，诗人还是被她吸引。