超现实小说 》 荒原狼 Steppenwolf 》
序-1
赫爾曼·黑塞 Hermann Hesse
荒原狼是個年近50的人,名叫哈立·哈勒。幾年前,他租下了我姑媽傢的閣樓,在這裏住了不到一年的時間。他沉默寡言,不愛交際,確實像他自稱的那樣,是一隻狼,一個陌生的、野性而又膽怯的、來自另一個世界的動物。他的臉充滿智慧,表情溫柔,但內心世界動蕩不安。他想的比別人多,智力上具有那種近乎冷靜的客觀性。這種人沒有虛榮心,他們從不希望閃光,從不固執己見。
我一開始就註意到他與衆不同,我覺得這個人有某種精神病或憂鬱癥。有一天,他在付清一切欠款後,悄無聲息地離開了我們的城市,從此以後就杳無音信了。他把他的一份手稿留給了我。通過閱讀他的手記我纔認識到,他的精神病並不是什麽個人的奇思怪想,而是這個時代的通病。下面是他的手記:
這一天又像往常那樣過去了:一種既無特殊痛苦又無特殊憂慮,既無真正苦惱也無絶望的日子。在大多數人看來,這是一件美事。遺憾的是我受不了這種平靜的生活,我總是燃起對強烈感情的渴望。夜幕降臨,我來到十分安靜的老城區,突然從一條漆黑的鬍同裏竄出一個人,扛着廣告牌,上面寫着“無政府主義的晚會!魔術劇——限製入……”。我想買票進入,但是他丟給我一本書之後,轉眼之間就不見了。
回傢後,我從大衣中掏出那本書,書名是《論荒原狼——僅供狂人閱讀》。這本小册子毫無掩飾地勾畫出我鬱鬱寡歡的人生,而且書的主人公竟然也叫哈立。
有一天我在城郊遇到一個殯葬隊,發現有個人很麵熟,好像就是那個扛廣告牌的人。他告訴我,如果需要消遣就到黑鷹酒店去。到了那兒之後,我遇到了一個很漂亮的姑娘,我們友好地談了起來。這個姑娘很瞭解我,勸我不要輕生,還教我跳舞。我們約好下次見面。
這位姑娘名叫赫爾米拉,她使我對生活産生了新的興趣。我們在一傢酒店見面,赫爾米拉給我介紹了一位叫瑪利亞的姑娘。她說要讓我學會戀愛。一種新的、可怕的、瓦解一切的東西正從四面八方涌來。幾天後,我和她們一起參加一個化裝舞會。舞會之後,有人告訴我赫爾米拉在“地獄”裏等我。我進入地下室,看到很多房間,每個房間都代表着人類靈魂各個神秘的側面。在最後一個房間內,我看到赫爾米拉和一個男人赤身裸體的躺在一起。狂怒之下,我刺死了赫爾米拉。
在一個光禿禿的院子裏,法官判我永生,還罰我被恥笑一次。因為我用鏡子裏的刀殺死了鏡子裏的姑娘,企圖把魔術劇當做自殺的工具。那個和赫爾米拉在一起的男人,把縮成一個棋子大小的赫爾米拉裝進了口袋。
我猜到了這件事的意義,我會把遊戲玩得更好。
荒原狼-欣賞導航
《荒原狼》是一部充滿了狂暴幻想、具有表現主義色彩的小說。小說先是虛擬了一個出版者對哈勒的手記的第一人稱敘述,描述了哈勒這個人物的形象和行為特徵。然後又根據哈勒留下的手記,通過另一個的第一人稱敘述展開後面的情節。黑塞在小說中大量運用了夢幻形式,把第一次世界大戰之後的一個中年歐洲知識分子的內心世界淋漓盡致地展示出來,使其成為20世紀西方小說的經典之作。
作品主人公哈勒是才智之士,有着豐富細膩的內心世界。他很孤獨,很少嚮別人敞開心扉。他好像是來自另外一個星球,對人世間的虛榮、做作、追名逐利和自私淺薄極其厭惡。但與此同時他又發現,自己的這種厭惡感更多的是指嚮自己。正因為如此,哈勒時時刻刻處於一種巨大的分裂和痛苦之中,用他的話來說,就是他身上有兩種截然相反的東西在鬥爭着:狼性和人性。人性和狼性互不協調,當人性沉睡而狼性蘇醒的時候,哈勒就走嚮墮落;當人性蘇醒而狼性沉睡的時候,哈勒就會對自己的墮落和罪惡充滿厭惡。正是人性和狼性的嚴重敵對,使哈勒産生了孤獨感和自殺傾嚮。
那麽拯救之路在哪裏?一開始,哈勒企圖用身上的人性去壓製狼性,但結果卻是不斷陷入更大的苦悶之中。然後他用狼性來取代人性,則更行不通。這其實說明,哈勒將人的本性簡單地看成狼性和人性的二元對立是錯誤的,是一種“毫無希望的兒戲”,“是對現實的強姦”。認識舞女赫爾米拉之後,哈勒逐漸認識到了這個錯誤。經赫爾米拉介紹,哈勒先後認識了舞女瑪利亞和赫爾米拉的男友、音樂師巴伯羅。在他們的熏陶之下,哈勒逐漸接受了許多自己原先根本不能接受的東西。他認識到,人的本性極其復雜,不是由兩種而是由上百種、上千種本質構成,不是在兩極之間搖擺,而是在無數對極性之間搖擺。
在小說最後的“魔術劇”中,哈勒終於找到了真正的解救之道。正因為世界和自我都是多元的而不是二元的,所以無論是回歸人性還是回歸狼性都是枉然。“回頭根本沒有路,既回不到狼那裏,也回不到兒童時代”。面對這個世界所有的背謬和荒誕,衹有用笑和幽默來對付。小說的最後,哈勒終於將生活戲劇的所有“十萬”個棋子裝進口袋,而且决定反復去體會生存的痛苦,將遊戲玩得更好些,“總有一天會學會笑”。
序-1
本書內容是一個我們稱之為“荒原糧”的人留下的自述。他之所以有此雅號是因為他多次自稱“荒原狼”。他的文稿是否需要加序,我們可以姑且不論;不過,我覺得需要在荒原狼的自述前稍加幾筆,記下我對他的回憶。他的事兒我知道得很少;他過去的經歷和出身我一概不知。可是,他的性格給我留下了強烈的印象,不管怎麽說,我對他十分同情。
荒原狼年近五十。幾年前的一天,他來到我姑母傢,提出想租一間配有傢具的房間。當時,他租下了上面的小閣樓和閣樓旁邊的小臥室。過了幾天,他帶了兩衹箱子和一大木箱書籍來到姑母傢,在我們這裏住了十來個月。他獨來獨往,非常好靜。衹因我們兩人的臥室緊緊挨着,有時會在樓梯上和走廊裏相遇,所以纔得以相識。此人不善交際,非常不合群,我還沒有見過別的人像他這樣不合群的。正像他自己有時說的那樣,他的的確確是一隻荒原糧,一隻從另一個世界來的陌生、野蠻,卻又非常膽小的生物。由於他的秉性和命運的緣故,他的生活到底是怎樣孤獨,他又如何自覺地把這種孤獨看作他的命運,這些我當然是後來讀他留下的自傳時纔知道的。但是,以前我跟他有些小小的接觸,有過簡短的交談,對他這個人已經略知一二。我發現,我從他的自傳中得到的印象和從以前親身接觸而獲得的印象----自然是膚淺得多,不完備得多----基本上是一致的。
荒原狼第一次走進我們傢嚮我姑母租房子時,湊巧我也在場。他是中午來的,桌上吃飯的碗碟還未收拾, 離我去辦公室_L班的時間還有半小時。我一直沒有忘記第一次相遇時他給我留下的那種性格不統一的奇特印象。他拉了拉門鈴,走進玻璃門,我姑母在昏暗的過道裏問他有何貴幹。而他----荒原狼----卻擡起頭髮剪得短短的腦袋,翹起鼻子,神經質地東聞西嗅,既不說明來意,也不通報姓名,衹是說,“嗯,這裏氣味不錯。”他說着,微微一笑,我那好心的姑母也嚮他微微一笑。我卻覺得用這種話問候致意未免太滑稽了,因此有點討厭他。
“啊,對了,”他接着說,“您要出租房間,我來看看。”
我們三人一起上樓,到了閣樓上,我纔得更仔細地打量他。他個子不是很高,但他一擡手一舉足都像是個大個子。他穿着時髦舒適的鼕大衣,服飾大方,但稍欠修整,鬍子颳得光光的,頭髮剪得短短的,已經有些灰白。起初,他走路的姿勢我一點不喜歡;他步履蹣跚,舉步猶豫遲疑,和他那有棱角的臉型以及說話的聲調與氣派極不相稱。後來我纔註意到,而且也聽說了,他有病,行走很睏難。他奇怪他微笑着察看樓梯、墻壁、窗戶以及樓梯間又舊又高的櫃子。當時,看見他那樣奇怪地笑,我覺得很不舒服。看樣子,他很喜歡這一切,同時又覺得這些東西似乎都很可笑。總之,這個人給人一個印象,好像他來由另一個陌生的世界,來自某個異域之國,他覺得這裏的一切都很漂亮,同時又有點可笑。我衹能說,他很客氣,很友好。 他二話沒說,立刻同意租我們的房間,同意我們提的房租和早 餐費;可是,在他周圍,我總覺得有一種陌生的、彆扭的或者說敵視的氣氛。他租了那間小閣樓,又租了臥室,請我姑母給他講了取暖、用水、服侍諸方面的條件以及房客註意事項,他很友好地註意聽着,--一表示同意,並馬上預付了一部分房租;可是另一方面,他又像事事心不在焉,似乎覺得自己的舉動十分可笑,沒有把它當一回事兒,好像租房子、和別人說德語對他說來是一件非常希奇、非常新鮮的事兒,他內心深處似乎在想別的什麽根本與此無關的事。這些是我當時對他的印象。如果他沒有其他特性加以補充更正的話,我對他就不會有好印象。一見面,我就很喜歡他的臉;他的臉上雖然有陌生的表情,我還是很喜歡,他的臉也許有些奇特,顯得悲傷,但又顯得精神,充滿思想、活力和睿智。雖然他似乎頗費了一番努力,纔做到那樣彬彬有禮、和善左好的舉止,但是他絶對沒有傲慢的意思。恰恰相反,他的神態近乎懇求,幾乎使人感動,這一點我後來纔找到解釋,不過當時我一下子就對他産生了一些好感。
還沒有把兩間房子看完,其他方面的交涉也尚未結束,我的午休時間就完了,我該去上班了。我嚮他告辭,讓姑母繼續接待他。晚上我下班回傢,姑母告訴我,陌生人租了房間,這兩天就搬進來,他衹請求我們不要到局去申報戶口,他說,他是個有病的人,在局填寫各種表格,站着等候以及諸如此類的事受不了。現在我還記得很清楚,當時,他這要求使我吃了一驚,找警告姑母不要答應這個條件。在我看來, 他怕這一點同他身L那種神秘的、陌生的東西正相吻合,他不想引起別人的懷疑。我勸姑母,無論如何不要答應素不相識的人這種奇怪的要求,滿足了這種要求,有時會帶來麻煩。時是說到這裏我纔知道,姑母已經答應滿足他的願望,而且.完全被陌生人迷住了,她對房客從來都是以禮相待,非常親切友好,總是像大娘那樣,甚至像慈母那樣對待他們。以前,這一點也曾經被某些房客利用過。頭幾個星期,我們對新房客的態度依然很不相同:我挑了他一些毛病,姑母卻每次都熱心地護着他。
不申報戶口這件事我總覺得不對頭,我想至少要瞭解一下姑母對這位陌生人的情況,對他的身世和來意知道些什麽。果然,她已經知道了一些情況,而那天中午我走後,他並沒有呆多長時間。他告訴她,他打算在我們城裏住幾個月,跑跑這裏的圖書館,參觀一下這裏的古跡。他衹租這麽短短幾個月,這原本不合我姑母的意;不過,他那些特別的舉止,倒贏得了我姑母的心。總之,房子已經租出去了,我的反對成了馬後炮。
我問姑母:“為什麽他要說,這裏味道不錯廣
我的姑母有時頗能猜測別人的心思。她回答說:“這一點我很清楚。我們這裏整齊幹淨,生活和善規矩,他很喜歡這種味道。你看他那神氣,好像他許久以來已經不習慣於這種生活,而同時又需要這種生活。”
我心裏想,那好吧,隨他的便吧。“可是,”我對姑母說,“如果他已不習慣這種整齊規矩的生活,那該怎麽辦呢?要是他邋裏邋蹋,把什麽都弄髒,晚上喝得醉醺醺的回傢,你怎麽辦?”
她哈哈笑了一聲,說:“看看再說吧。”於是我也就沒再說什 麽。
事實上, 我的擔心完全沒有什麽道理。這位房客雖然很任 性,生活又沒有規律, 但是他並不令人討厭,也不礙我們的事 兒,到今天我們還牽記着他。不過在心靈, 他卻常常使我們兩 人----姑母和我----不得安寧,坦率地說,直到現在,我一想起 他心裏還總是無法平靜。 我有時候晚L睡覺時會夢見他;他在 我的心裏變得可愛起來,儘管如此,但衹要想起他,想起有過&這樣一個人,我就感到不安。
陌生人名叫哈裏·哈勒爾。兩天以後,一個車夫送來了他為東西。其中有一隻皮箱很漂亮,給我的印象頗深;還有一隻大箱子,分成好多格兒,看來,這衹箱子已經遊遍五大洲,因為箱子上貼滿了許多國傢、包括遠隔重洋的許多國傢的不同旅館和運輸公司的標簽,標簽已經退色發黃。
接着他自己也來了, 我逐漸和這位奇人熟悉起來。開始,我x沒有主動去接近他。一見面我就對哈勒爾很感興趣,但在最初幾個星期,我沒有采取任何步驟主動與他接觸,和他談話。不大,我得承認,從一開始我就註意看他,有時趁他不在還進了他的房間,我完全出於好奇搞了一些間諜活動。
關於荒原糧的外表,我已經作過一些描寫。第一眼他就給人一個這樣的印象:仿佛他是一個舉足輕重、不同尋常、才華非凡構人物,他眉宇之間閃耀着智慧的光芒,他那異常柔順感人的神色反映了他內心生活非常有趣、極為動人,反映了他生性柔弱,多愁善感。每當人們和他談話,他談的事情超出常規俗套時,他便恢復他那奇異陌生的本性,自然而然地說起古怪的話來,我們這些人這時衹好甘拜下風。他比其他人想得都多,談起精神思想方面的事情時,非常冷靜明達,顯出一副深思熟慮、無所不曉的樣子。說真的,衹有那些真正才智出衆而又不愛虛榮、不圖鋒芒畢露或者說不願教訓別人、不願嚮以為是的人才有這種氣質。
我還清楚地記得,他在我們這裏最後一段時間的一句格合,這句格言不是用嘴說的,而是從眼神中流露出來的。當時,一比全歐有名的歷史哲學家、文化批評傢到禮堂作報告,荒原狼本來無意去聽,我好不容易把他說動,一起去聽了這個報告。我們並排坐在禮堂裏。報告人登上講臺,開始演講此人頗有賣弄風雅、裝腔作勢的風度,這使那些以為他是某種預言傢的聽衆人失所望。他先說了幾句討好聽衆的話,對這麽多人出席聽講表示感謝。這時,荒原狼嚮我看了一眼,這短短的一瞥是對那些奉承話的批評,是對報告人人格的批評,呵,這是不能忘卻、非常可怕的一瞥,關於這一瞥的意義簡直可以寫一本書!這一瞥不光是批評了報告人,而且還以它那雖然溫和然而卻帶有緻命的諷刺色彩置這位名人於死地。不過,這還是這一瞥中最最微不足道的一點。他的眼光與其說是嘲諷的,毋寧說是悲傷的,而且可說是悲傷之極了;這一瞥露出了他不可言狀的失望心情。在某種程度上,他堅信這種失望完全有理,失望成了他的習慣,他的內心世界的表現形式。這一瞥中包含的失望的光亮不僅把愛好虛榮的報告人的人格照得清清楚楚,而且還諷刺了此時此刻的情景,嘲弄了觀衆,使他們失望掃興,嘲弄了演講的頗為傲慢的題目;不,遠遠不止這些,荒原狼的這一瞥看穿了我們的整個時代,看穿了整個忙忙碌碌的生活,看透了那些逐鹿鑽營,虛榮無知,自尊自負而又膚淺輕浮的人的精神世界的表面活動----啊,可惜還遠遠不止這些,這眼光還要深遠得多,它不僅指出了我們的時代、思想與文化都是不完美的,毫無希望的,而且還擊中了全部人性的要害,這一瞥在短暫的一秒鐘內雄辯地說出了一位思想傢,也許是一位先知先覺者對尊嚴,對人類生活的意義的懷疑。這眼光似乎在說:“看,我們就是這樣的傻瓜!看,人就是這個樣子介頃刻之間,什麽名譽聲望、聰明才智、精神成果,什麽追求尊嚴、人性的偉大與永恆等等,等等,統統都崩潰倒塌,變成了一場把戲!
寫到這裏,我已經提前敘述了後面的事,而且違背了我原先的計劃與意圖,大體L已經把哈勒爾這個人的特點告訴了讀者; 原先我打算慢慢地敘述我們結識的過程,從而把他的全貌展示在讀者面前。
我既然已經敘述了他本質的特點,那麽現在繼續講述哈勒爾那神秘莫測的“異常性格”,詳細報告我如何感覺並認識這種異常性格和這種無限而可怕的孤獨的原因及意義,就純屬多餘的了。在報道時,我自己盡量退居幕後。我不想闡發我的信仰,也不想講故事或進行心理分析,衹是想告訴大傢我親眼目睹的事,為大傢認識這位給我們留下荒原狼文稿的古怪人的面目貢獻一份力量。
當初他一進我姑母傢的玻璃門,像鳥兒那樣伸出腦袋,稱贊房子裏的氣味很好時,我就註意到他身上有什麽特別的東西,我本能的反應是厭惡。我感覺到(我姑母雖然與我不同,不是一個知識分子,但也與我有同感)這個人有病,覺得他患有某種精神病,是思想或性格方面的毛病,我是個健康的人,本能地要防範抵禦。隨着時間的推移,我對他的防範抵禦逐漸被同情所取代,看到這位時時感到痛楚的人處於無限的孤獨立中, 他的心靈正在走嚮死L,我便對他産生一種深切的同情。在這段時間裏,我越來越意識到,這位受苦者的病根並不在於他的天性有什麽缺陷,恰恰相反,他的病根是在於他巨大的才能與力量達不到和諧的平衡。我認識到,哈勒爾是一位受苦的天才,按尼采的某些說法,他磨練造就了受苦的天才能力,能夠沒完沒了地忍受可怕的痛苦。我也認識到,他悲觀的基礎不是卑視世界,而是表現自己,因為在他無情鞭撻,尖銳批評各種機構、各式人物時,從不把自己排除在外,他的箭頭總是首先對準自己,他憎恨和否定的第一個人就是自己……
寫到這裏,我要從心理學的角度補充說明幾句。我對荒原狼的經歷所知不多,但我有充分的理由推測,他曾受過慈愛而嚴格虔誠的父母和老師的教育,他們認為教育的基礎就是“摧毀學生的意志”。但是,這位學生堅韌倔強,驕傲而有才氣,他們沒有能夠摧毀他的個性和意志。這種教育衹教會他一件事:憎恨自己。整整一生,他都把全部想象的天才、全部思維能力用來反對自己,反對這個無辜而高尚的對象。不管怎樣,他把辛辣的諷刺、尖刻的批評、一切仇恨與惡意首先嚮自己發泄;在這一點上,他完完全全是個徒,完完全全是個殉道者。對周圍的人,他總是勇敢嚴肅地想辦法去愛他們, 公正地對待他們, 不去傷害他們,因為對他說來,“愛人”與恨己都已同樣深深地紮根於他的心中。他的一生告訴我們,不能自愛就不能愛人,憎恨自己也必憎恨他人,最後也會像可惡的自私一樣,使人變得極度孤獨和悲觀絶望。
不過,現在不是敘述我的想法的時候,我該講講實際情況了。我通過“間諜活動”以及姑母的介紹,知道了哈勒爾的一些初步情況,這些情況都與他的生活方式有關。很快就看出來,他愛思考,愛讀書,沒有什麽切切實實的工作。早上他在床上遲遲不起,常常要到中午纔起床,之後便穿着睡衣從臥室走到客廳裏。客廳很大,很舒適,有兩扇窗戶;他搬進來沒有幾天,客廳就變了樣子,和其他房客住的時候完全不同了。房子裏的東西滿滿的,而且越來越多。墻的四周挂着許多圖片,貼着許多素描;有的是從雜志上剪下來的,它們常常被更換。客廳裏還挂着幾張德國某小城的照片,頗有南方情調,這顯然是哈勒爾的家乡;照片之間挂着一些水彩畫,後來我們纔聽說,這些畫都是他自己畫的。另外還有一張一位漂亮的年輕婦女或年輕姑娘的照片。有一段時間,墻上還挂過一張泰國菩薩像,後來為一張米開朗基羅的《夜》的復製品所取代,再後來又換成一張聖雄甘地的像。房間裏到處是書籍,不僅大書櫥裝得滿滿的,而且桌子上,很精巧的舊式書桌上,長沙發上,椅子上以及地板上也全是書,許多書夾着書簽,書簽常常更換。書籍不斷增多,因為他不僅從圖書館帶回整包整包的書,還常常從郵局收到寄來的書。住在這種屋子裏的人衹能是個學者了。他煙抽得很厲害,這也符合學者的特點,房間裏總是煙霧繚繞的,到處是煙頭和煙灰碟。不過很大一部分書不是學術著作,而是各個時代各個國傢的文學作品。有一段時間,在他常常整天整天躺着休息的長沙發上放着一套十八世紀末的作品,書名叫《索菲氏海默爾----薩剋森遊記》,厚厚六大本。《歌德全集》和《讓·保羅O全集》 看來他是經常閱讀的;還有諾瓦利斯、萊辛、雅各比和利希膛貝格的作品,他也是經常讀的。在幾本陀思妥耶夫斯基作品裏夾滿寫着字的卡片。在那張大一些的桌子L, 凌亂地放着許多書籍和小册子,中間還時常有一束花,旁邊擺着布滿灰塵的畫筆、顔料盒、煙灰碟,當然還有各種各樣裝着飲料的瓶子。有一隻瓶子外面套着草編的外殼,他常常用這衹瓶子到附近一傢小店打意大利紅葡萄酒。有時也能看見屋裏有勃夏第酒、瑪拉加酒,還有一個大腹瓶,裝着櫻桃酒,沒有幾天工夫,我看見這瓶酒就差不多喝完了,剩下一點,他就把酒瓶放到角落裏,再也沒有喝,酒瓶上蒙着一層厚厚的灰塵。我不想為我的間諜行為辯護,而且也公開承認,在最初階段,這位喜歡讀書思考,又浪蕩不羈的人的這種種跡象引起我的厭惡與懷疑。我不僅是個中産階層的人,而且還是個規規矩矩、生活很有規律的人,習慣於日常具體事務,喜歡把時間安排得妥妥帖帖。我不喝酒,也不抽煙,因此哈勒爾屋裏的那些酒瓶比那些凌亂的圖畫更使我討厭。
這位陌生人不僅睡覺和工作毫無規律,就連吃飯喝酒也是隨心所欲,很不正常。有時,他會幾天足不出戶,除了早_L喝點咖啡外什麽也不吃Z我姑母發現,他偶然吃根香蕉就算一頓飯了。可是過了幾天,他又到高級飯館或郊區小酒館大吃大喝。他的健康狀況看來不佳,除了腿腳不便,L下樓梯十分吃力外,好像還有別的病狀,有一次他順便提到,多年來他吃不好睡不好。我想這主要是酗酒引起的。後來,我有時陪他去飯館,親眼看見他毫無節制地咕咚咕咚往肚子裏灌酒。但是,不管是我還是別人,都沒有看見他真正醉過。
我永遠忘不了第一次和他接觸的情況。原先我們的關係像公寓裏相鄰而居的房客那樣很淡漠。一天晚上,我從店裏回傢,看見哈勒爾先生坐在二樓通三樓的樓梯轉彎處, 覺得很驚訝。他坐在最上一級梯階_L,見我上樓,往旁邊挪了挪身子,好讓我過去。我問他是否不舒服,並且願意陪他上去。
哈勒爾看着我,我發現,我把他從某種夢幻中喚醒了。他慢慢地微笑起來,他那漂亮而又凄苦的微笑常常使我心裏非常難受;接着他請我在他身旁坐下。我道了謝,並對他說,我沒有坐在人傢房門前樓梯上的習慣。
他笑得更厲害了,說:“啊,對,對,您說得對。不過請您等一會兒,我要讓您看看我為什麽在這裏稍事停留。”
他指了指二樓某寡婦住房前的過道。樓梯、窗戶和玻璃門之間的空間鑲着木頭地板,靠墻放着一個高高的紅木櫃子,上面鍍着錫,櫃子前兩衹矮小的座兒*放着兩個大花盆,一盆種着杜鵑,一盆種着南洋杉。兩盆盆景非常漂亮,總是弄得幹幹淨淨、無可指摘的,這一點我以前就高興地註意到了。
“您看,”哈勒爾接着說,“這小小的空間擺着南洋杉,清香撲鼻,走到這裏,我常常得停一會兒捨不得離開。您姑母傢裏也有一種香味,也非常幹淨整齊,可還是比不這裏,這裏是那樣的一塵不染,擦洗得那麽幹淨,看去好像在閃閃發光,使人捨不得用手去摸一下。我總要情不自禁地深深吸上一口這裏的香味。您也聞了嗎?地板峪的香味,鬆節油的餘味,紅木的香味和衝洗過的樹葉味混雜在一起,散發出一種香味,這香味就是小康人傢的幹淨、周到、精確、小事上的責任感和忠誠。我不知道那裏住的是誰,但在那玻璃門後面肯定是一個小康人傢的天堂,幹淨清潔,井井有條,謹小慎微,熱心於習以為常的事情和應盡的義務。”
看我沒有插話,他又接着說:“您別以為我在諷刺人!親愛的先生,我壓根兒不想嘲笑小康人傢規規矩矩、井井有條的習慣。誠然,我生活在另一個世界,在這種擺着南洋杉的住宅裏我也許一天也受不了。我雖然是個有些粗魯的荒原老狼,但我終究也有母親,我的母親也是個普通婦女,她也種花掃地,盡力把房間、樓梯、傢具、窗簾搞得幹淨整齊,把我們的傢,把我們的生活安排得有條不紊。這鬆節油的氣味和南洋杉使我想起我的母親,我這裏那裏的坐一會兒,看着這安靜、整齊的小花園,看到至今還有這類東西,心裏感到很快活。”
他想站起來,但是顯得非常吃力,我去攙扶他,他沒有拒絶。我仍然沒有說話,但是像以前姑母經歷過的那樣,我不能抵禦這位奇特的人有時具有的某種魔力。我們慢慢地並排走上樓梯,到了他的房門前。他拿出鑰匙,很友好地看了我一眼,說道:“您從店裏回來?是啊,做生意的事我一竅不通,您知道,我這個人不通世事,與世人沒有多少往來。但我相信,您也喜歡讀書什麽的,您姑母曾對我說,您是高中畢業生,希臘文很好。今天早上我讀到諾瓦利斯的一句話,我給您看看好嗎?這一定會使您高興的。”
他把我拉進他的房間,裏面有一股嗆人的煙草味。他從一堆書裏抽出一本,翻找着。
他找到了一句,對我說:“好,這句也很好,您聽聽:‘人們應該為痛苦感到驕傲----任何痛苦都是我們達官貴人的回憶。’說得多妙!比尼采早八十年!但是這句話還不是我要說的那句格言,您等一會兒,一在這裏,您聽着:十部分人在學會遊泳之前都不想遊泳。’這話聽起來是否有點滑稽?當然他們不想遊泳。他們是在陸地生活,不是水生動物。他們當然也不願思考,.上帝造人是叫他生活,不是叫他思考!因為,誰思考,誰把思考當作首要的大事,他固然能在思考方面有所建樹,然而他卻顛倒了陸地與水域的關係,所以他總有一天會被淹死。”
他的話把我吸引住了,使我很感興趣,我在他那裏呆了一會兒。從此,我們在樓梯或街上相遇時,也常常攀談幾句。起初,我總像那次在南洋杉前那樣,有點覺得他在諷刺我。其實不然。他像尊重那棵南洋杉樣地尊重我,他意識到自己非常孤獨,深信自己是在水中遊泳掙紮,深信自己是無本之木、無源之水,因此,有時看見世人的某個很平常的行為,比如我總是準時去辦公室,或者僕人、電車司機說了一句什麽話,他都會真的興奮一陣,絲毫不帶一點嘲弄人的意思。起先我覺得這種君子加浪子的情調,這種玩世不恭的性情未免太可笑太過分了。但後來,我越來越清楚地看到,他從他那真空的空間,從他那荒原狼似的離群索居的角度出發確實贊賞並熱愛我們這個小市民世界,他把這個世人的小天地看作某種穩定的生活,看作是他無法達到的理想,看作故鄉與和平,凡此種種,對他說來都是可望而不可及的。我們的女僕是一個誠實的婦女,他每次見到她總是真誠地脫帽致敬;每當我姑母和他稍許談幾句話,或者告訴他衣服該補了,大衣扣子掉了時,他都異常認真地傾聽着,似乎在作巨大而無望的努力,想通過一條縫隙鑽入一個小小的和平世界,在那裏定居下來,哪怕衹住一個小時也行。
Steppenwolf (orig. German Der Steppenwolf) is the tenth novel by German-Swiss author Hermann Hesse. Originally published in Germany in 1927, it was first translated into English in 1929. Combining autobiographical and fantastic elements, the novel was named after the lonesome wolf of the steppes. The story in large part reflects a profound crisis in Hesse's spiritual world in the 1920s while memorably portraying the protagonist's split between his humanity, and his wolf-like aggression and homelessness. The novel became an international success, although Hesse would later claim that the book was largely misunderstood.
Background and publication history
In 1924 Hermann Hesse remarried wedding singer Ruth Wenger. After several weeks however, he left Basel, only returning near the end of the year. Upon his return he rented a separate apartment, adding to his isolation. After a short trip to Germany with Wenger, Hesse stopped seeing her almost completely. The resulting feeling of isolation and inability to make lasting contact with the outside world, led to increasing despair and thoughts of suicide.
Hesse began writing Steppenwolf in Basel, and finished it in Zürich. In 1926, a precursor to the book, a collection of poems titled The Crisis. From Hermann Hesse's Diary was published. The novel was later released in 1927. The first English edition was published in 1929 by Martin Secker in the United Kingdom and by Henry Holt and Company in the United States. This version was translated by Basil Creighton.
Plot summary
The book is presented as a manuscript by its protagonist, a middle-aged man named Harry Haller, who leaves it to a chance acquaintance, the nephew of his landlady. The acquaintance adds a short preface of his own and then has the manuscript published. The title of this "real" book-in-the-book is Harry Haller's Records (For Madmen Only).
As it begins, the hero is beset by reflections on his being ill-suited for the world of everyday regular people, specifically for frivolous bourgeois society. In his aimless wanderings about the city he encounters a person carrying an advertisement for a magic theatre who gives him a small book, Treatise on the Steppenwolf. This treatise, cited in full in the novel's text as Harry reads it, addresses Harry by name and strikes him as describing himself uncannily. It is a discourse of a man who believes himself to be of two natures: one high, the spiritual nature of man; while the other is low, animalistic; a "wolf of the steppes". This man is entangled in an irresolvable struggle, never content with either nature because he cannot see beyond this self-made concept. The pamphlet gives an explanation of the multifaceted and indefinable nature of every man's soul, which Harry is either unable or unwilling to recognize. It also discusses his suicidal intentions, describing him as one of the "suicides"; people who, deep down, knew they would take their own life one day. But to counter this it hails his potential to be great, to be one of the "Immortals".
The next day Harry meets a former academic friend with whom he had often discussed Indian mythology, and who invites Harry to his home. While there, Harry is disgusted by the nationalistic mentality of his friend, who inadvertently criticizes a column written by Harry, and offends the man and his wife by criticizing his wife's picture of Goethe, which Harry feels is too thickly sentimental and insulting to Goethe's true brilliance, reassuring the proposition that Harry is, and will always be a stranger to his society.
Trying to postpone returning home (to where he has planned suicide), Harry walks aimlessly around the town for most of the night, finally stopping to rest at a dance hall where he happens on a young woman, Hermine, who quickly recognizes his desperation. They talk at length; Hermine alternately mocks Harry's self-pity and indulges him in his explanations regarding his view of life, to his astonished relief. Hermine promises a second meeting, and provides Harry with a reason to live (or at least a substantial excuse that justifies his decision to continue living) that he eagerly embraces.
During the next few weeks, Hermine introduces Harry to the indulgences of what he calls the "bourgeois". She teaches Harry to dance, introduces him to the casual use of drugs, finds him a lover (Maria), and more importantly, forces him to accept these as legitimate and worthy aspects of a full life.
The Magic Theatre
Hermine also introduces Harry to a mysterious saxophonist named Pablo, who appears to be the very opposite of what Harry considers a serious, thoughtful man. After attending a lavish masquerade ball, Pablo brings Harry to his metaphorical "magic theatre", where concerns and notions that plagued his soul disintegrate while he participates with the ethereal and phantasmal. The Magic Theatre is a place where he experiences the fantasies that exist in his mind. They are described as a long horseshoe-shaped corridor that is a mirror on one side and a great many doors on the other. Then, Harry enters five of these labeled doors, each of which symbolizes a fraction of his life.
Major characters
* Harry Haller – the protagonist, a middle-aged man
* Pablo – a saxophonist
* Hermine – a young woman Haller meets at a dance
* Maria – Hermine's friend
Character relationship diagram
Critical analysis
In the preface to the novel's 1960 edition, Hesse wrote that Steppenwolf was "more often and more violently misunderstood" than any of his other books. Hesse felt that his readers focused only on the suffering and despair that are depicted in Harry Haller's life, thereby missing the possibility of transcendence and healing. This could be due to the fact that at that time Western readers were not familiar with Buddhist philosophy, and therefore missed the point when reading it, because the notion of a human being consisting of a myriad of fragments of different souls is in complete contradiction of Judeo-Christian theologies. Also in the novel, Pablo instructs Harry Haller to relinquish his personality at one point, or at least for the duration of his journey through the corridors of the Magic Theater. In order to do so Harry must learn to use laughter to overcome the tight grip of his personality, to literally laugh at his personality until it shatters into so many small pieces. This concept also ran counter to the egocentric Western culture.
Hermann Hesse in 1926
Hesse is a master at blurring the distinction between reality and fantasy. In the moment of climax, it's debatable whether Haller actually kills Hermine or whether the "murder" is just another hallucination in the Magic Theater. It is argued that Hesse does not define reality based on what occurs in physical time and space; rather, reality is merely a function of metaphysical cause and effect. What matters is not whether the murder actually occurred, but rather that at that moment it was Haller's intention to kill Hermine. In that sense, Haller's various states of mind are of more significance than his actions.
It is also notable that the very existence of Hermine in the novel is never confirmed; the manuscript left in Harry Haller's room reflects a story that completely revolves around his personal experiences. In fact when Harry asks Hermine what her name is, she turns the question around. When he is challenged to guess her name, he tells her that she reminds him of a childhood friend named Hermann, and therefore he concludes, her name must be Hermine. Metaphorically, Harry creates Hermine as if a fragment of his own soul has broken off to form a female counterpart.
The underlying theme of transcendence is shown within group interaction and dynamics. Throughout the novel Harry concerns himself with being different, with separating himself from those he is around. Harry believes that he is better than his surroundings and fails to understand why he cannot be recognized as such, which raises the idea that in order to rise above a group one must first become one with a part of it.
The multilayered soul of human nature is the major theme in the novel and its two main characters, Harry Haller and Hermine, illustrate this. Harry illustrates through an inner conflict and an outer conflict. Inwardly, he believes two opposing natures battle over possession of him, a man and a wolf, high and low, spirit and animal. While he actually longs to live as a wolf free of social convention, he lives as a bourgeois bachelor, but his opposing wolfish nature isolates him from others until he meets Hermine.
Hermine represents the duality of human nature through an outer conflict. Hermine is a socialite, a foil to the isolated bachelor, and she coerces Harry to agree to subject himself to society, learning from her, in exchange for her murder. As Harry struggles through social interaction his isolation diminishes and he and Hermine grow closer to one another as the moment of her death approaches. The climax of the dualistic struggle culminates in the Magic Theater where Harry, seeing himself as a wolf, murders Hermine the socialite.
Critical reception
Later German Edition
From the very beginning, reception was harsh. American novelist Jack Kerouac dismissed it in Big Sur (1962) and it has had a long history of mixed critical reception and opinion at large. Already upset with Hesse's novel Siddhartha, political activists and patriots railed against him, and against the book, seeing an opportunity to discredit Hesse. Even close friends and longtime readers criticized the novel for its perceived lack of morality in its open depiction of sex and drug use, a criticism that indeed remained the primary rebuff of the novel for many years. However as society changed and formerly taboo topics such as sex and drugs became more openly discussed, critics came to attack the book for other reasons; mainly that it was too pessimistic, and that it was a journey in the footsteps of a psychotic and showed humanity through his warped and unstable viewpoint, a fact that Hesse did not dispute, although he did respond to critics by noting the novel ends on a theme of new hope.
Popular interest in the novel was renewed in the 1960s, primarily because it was seen as a counterculture book and because of its depiction of free love and frank drug usage. It was also introduced in many new colleges for study and interest in the book and in Hermann Hesse was feted in America for more than a decade afterwards.
"Treatise on the Steppenwolf"
The "Treatise on the Steppenwolf" is a booklet given to Harry Haller which describes himself. It is a literary mirror and, from the outset, describes what Harry had not learned, namely "to find contentment in himself and his own life." The cause of his discontent was the perceived dualistic nature of a human and a wolf within Harry. The treatise describes, as earmarks of his life, a threefold manifestation of his discontent: one, isolation from others, two, suicidal tendencies, and three, relation to the bourgeois. Harry isolates himself from others socially and professionally, frequently resists the temptation to take his life, and experiences feelings of benevolence and malevolence for bourgeois notions. The booklet predicts Harry may come to terms with his state in the dawning light of humor.
References in popular culture
Hesse's 1928 short story "Harry, the Steppenwolf" forms a companion piece to the novel. It is about a wolf named Harry who is kept in a zoo, and who entertains crowds by destroying images of German cultural icons like Goethe and Mozart.
The name Steppenwolf has become notable in popular culture for various organizations and establishments. In 1967, the band Steppenwolf, headed by German-born singer John Kay, took their name from the novel. The Belgian band DAAU (die Anarchistische Abendunterhaltung) is named after one of the advertising slogans of the novel's magical theatre. The Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, which was founded in 1974 by actor Gary Sinise, also took its name from the novel. The 'lengthy track "Steppenwolf" appears on English rock band Hawkwind's album Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music and is directly inspired by the novel, including references to the magic theatre and the dual nature of the wolfman-manwolf (lutocost). Robert Calvert had initially written and performed the lyrics on 'Distances Between Us' by Adrian Wagner in 1974. The song also appears on later, live Hawkwind CD's and DVDs.
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Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
The novel was adapted into a film of the same name in 1974. Starring Max Von Sydow and Dominique Sanda, it was directed by Fred Haines.
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