悲惨世界:爱的恩典,新生的彼岸

2013-04-29 00:44陈文宇
新东方英语 2013年6期
关键词:赛特主教革命

陈文宇

1862年,法国大文豪维克多·雨果(Victor Hugo)写下了影响后世的巨作《悲惨世界》(Les Misérables);2010年,克劳德·勋伯格(Claude Schroenberg)让《悲惨世界》作为经典音乐剧唱响全球;2012年,曾获奥斯卡最佳导演的英国导演汤姆·霍伯(Tom Hooper)在勋伯格的《悲惨世界》25周年纪念演唱会的版本基础上,改编并完美融合了舞台音乐剧与电影艺术,将这个传世百余年的经典故事再次搬上了大银幕。影片上映后好评不断,不仅吸引了大批音乐剧粉丝,还让从未欣赏过音乐剧的观众领略了音乐剧与电影交织在一起的艺术魅力。

汤姆·霍伯要求演员在表演时要现场演唱,而非后期录音。此外,影片还大量使用特写和近景镜头锁定演员的脸部,要求演员通过面部表情的变化传达每一丝细腻的情感。这都对演员的唱功和演技提出了巨大的挑战。好莱坞女星安妮·海瑟薇(Anne Hathaway)凭借她在影片中饰演的芳汀(Fantine)一角摘得第85届奥斯卡最佳女配角奖,扮演冉·阿让(Jean Valjean)一角的“金刚狼”休·杰克曼(Hugh Jackman)因其杰出的演技获得第85届奥斯卡最佳男主角提名,影片本身也获得了第85届奥斯卡最佳影片的提名。

上帝之爱的救赎

1815年,法国大革命爆发后的第26年,法国处在复辟的波旁王朝统治之下,民不聊生,哀鸿遍野。影片的核心人物冉·阿让因给快饿死的外甥偷了一块面包,就被严苛的法律判以盗窃罪,经受了19年的牢狱之灾。19年后,他等到了被假释的那一天,但也等来了一张“黄色身份证”——假释证明书。他要终身携带这一证件,严格按照上面写着的行程去各地报备,时刻警告世人自己是个危险分子。若违反了这一假释条例,他将再次面临被捕的厄运。在看押冉·阿让的警官沙威(Javert)看来,冉·阿让不是一个有尊严、有名字的人,而只是盗窃犯24601。

Javert: Now Prisoner 24601, your time is up and your parole (假释) has begun. You know what that means?

Jean Valjean: Yes. It means Im free.

Javert: No. Follow to the letter of your itinerary (日程). This badge of shame youll show it until you die. It warns youre a dangerous man.

Jean Valjean: I stole a loaf of bread. My sisters child was close to death. We were starving.

Javert: You will starve again unless you learn the meaning of the law.

Jean Valjean: I know the meaning of those nineteen years.

Javert: A slave of the law! Five years for what you did; the rest because you tried to run. Yes, 24601!

Jean Valjean: My name is Jean Valjean!

Javert: And Im Javert! Do not forget me, 24601!

对冉·阿让来说,自由是个奢侈的字眼。世人对背负“黄色身份证”的他避之唯恐不及,没人愿意接近他,没人给他工作,他甚至找不到躲避寒冷夜晚的一隅。近乎绝望的他无比仇恨无情的法律和这个冷漠的世界。然而,冉·阿让没有想到,当他走投无路来到一家教堂时,米里哀主教(Bishop Myriel)向他伸出了援助之手。主教不问他的由来就向他提供了食物和床铺,而且待他极为和善。但冉·阿让却因一时贪念枉费了主教的善意,偷走了教堂的银器。在逃跑的路上,他被警察抓回。当警察把冉·阿让押到主教面前时,主教并未生气,而是告诉警察这些银器是他送给这个可怜人的礼物。主教的慈悲心肠和善意的劝告触动了冉·阿让充满恨意的心。面对教堂中的耶稣基督圣像,冉·阿让开始叩问自己的内心。

Jean Valjean: Why did I allow this man to touch my soul and teach me love? He treated me like any other. He gave me his trust. He called me brother. My life he claims for God above. Can such things be? For I had come to hate the world, this world that always hated me! Take an eye for an eye (以牙还牙)! Turn your heart into stone! This is all I have lived for! This is all I have known! One word from him (指米里哀主教) and Ill be back, beneath the lash, upon the rack (刑架). Instead he offers me my freedom. I feel my shame inside me like a knife. He told me that I have a soul. How does he know? What spirit comes to move my life? Is there another way to go? I am reaching, but I fall. And the night is closing in, as I stare into the void to the whirlpool of my sin. Ill escape now from that world. From the world of Jean Valjean. Jean Valjean is nothing now! Another story must begin!

被主教感化的冉·阿让决定放下仇恨,重新开始。他将“黄色身份证”撕碎抛向无际的天边,与过去的自己彻底决裂。

八年后,更名为马德兰(Madeleinel)的冉·阿让不仅拥有了自己的工厂,还当上了市长,成为上流社会的富人。但与其他富人不同,他把绝大多数钱都捐给了慈善机构和穷人们,尽己所能帮助他们。在市民的眼中,马德兰是上帝派来的正义使者,是仁慈的化身。

冉·阿让本可以继续做受人敬重的市长,但沙威的出现搅乱了他的生活。沙威被当局派来协助马德兰市长的工作,一次偶然的事件让他惊异地发现马德兰很像他一直在寻找的违反假释条例的逃犯24601。沙威偷偷将这一发现上报当局,却被当局告知他认错了人,因为逃犯24601已经落网。得知这一消息的沙威觉得自己错怪和冒犯了上司,于是他将整件事的始末告诉马德兰市长,毕恭毕敬地向他道歉。

面对沙威,冉·阿让表面上不露声色,内心却在经历惊涛骇浪:自己明明是当年的24601,那么那个落网的可怜人又是谁?他是任由这个无辜的人替自己承受牢狱之灾,还是抛弃现有的一切,向法庭说出实情?冉·阿让一次又一次向自己的灵魂深处追问,问自己该怎么做,问自己到底是谁。

Jean Valjean: They think that man is me, without a second glance? This man could be my chance! Why should I save his hide? Why should I right this wrong, when I have come so far and struggled for so long? If I speak I am condemned. If I stay silent I am damned! I am the master of hundreds of workers. They all look to me. Can I abandon them? How would they live if I am not free? If I speak they are condemned. If I stay silent I am damned! Who am I? Can I condemn this man to slavery? Pretend I do not feel his agony? Can I conceal myself for ever more? Pretend Im not the man I was before? Must I lie? How can I ever face my fellow man? How can I ever face myself again? My soul belongs to God, I know. I made that bargain long ago. He (指米里哀主教) gave me hope when hope was gone! He gave me strength to journey on! Who am I? Who am I? Im Jean Valjean! Who am I? 24601!

在一番痛苦的挣扎中,冉·阿让想起主教曾以上帝之名救赎了他,告诉他要做个诚实的人。他终于明白过去不可能过去,他必须接受即将到来的屈辱。他走上法庭公布了自己的真实身份。在接受法律制裁前,他还要完成一个心愿:去医院看望垂死的芳汀。

芳汀曾是他工厂里一名年轻貌美的女工。她因不堪工头的污秽言语与他发生争执,被工头扫地出门。对于她这样一个年轻的单身女人来说,没有工作,没有住处,无疑是被生活判了死刑。她为了给寄养在亲戚家的私生女珂赛特(Cosette)寄生活费,被迫沦为娼妓。饥寒交迫和备受摧残的生活让她染上了重病。其实芳汀与工头发生争执时,冉·阿让也在工厂。但他当时为了躲避前来任职的沙威,将此事交给了工头处理。当后来得知皆是因自己未及时干预而造成了芳汀的悲剧后,他懊悔不已。在芳汀临终前,他来到她的病榻前,答应替她照顾珂赛特。然而,就在他告别已安息的芳汀、准备去找珂赛特时,沙威出现了。冉·阿让苦苦哀求沙威给他三天时间拯救珂赛特,沙威却拔出利剑,以维护法律之名要将他带走。两人一番激烈的打斗后,冉·阿让跳入河中逃走。

冉·阿让最终找到了珂赛特,那个像芳汀一样美丽柔弱的小女孩。他亲眼看到珂赛特被寄养家庭当作苦工役使,过着被嘲讽和冷落的生活。他坚守对芳汀的承诺,将珂赛特带走,还答应珂赛特会做她的父亲,照顾她一辈子。在夜行的马车中,在倚靠在身边的珂赛特那稚嫩而充满信赖的眼神中,冉·阿让第一次感受到强烈的爱与责任感。

Jean Valjean: Suddenly youre here. Suddenly it starts. Can two anxious hearts beat as one? Yesterday I was alone. Today you walk beside me. Suddenly the world seems a different place, somehow full of grace, full of light. How was I to know that so much hope was held inside me? What is past is gone. Now we journey on through the night. How was I to know at last that happiness can come so fast? Trusting me the way you do. Im so afraid of failing you, just a child who cannot know that danger follows where I go. There are shadows everywhere and memories I cannot share. Nevermore alone.

为了即将到来的新生活,冉·阿让明白自己不可能再回到暗无天日的监狱。他隐姓埋名,小心翼翼地躲避着沙威的追捕,带着珂赛特过起了近乎隐居的生活。九年的时间里,他们父女二人一直相依为命。直到珂赛特遇到真爱马吕斯(Marius),冉·阿让才忍痛将珂赛特交付给另一个男人。马吕斯请冉·阿让与他们一起生活,但冉·阿让却拒绝了。他不得不对马吕斯说出那段屈辱的过去,再次叩问“我是谁”这个纠缠了他一生的问题。

Jean Valjean: There lived a man whose name was Jean Valjean. He stole some bread to save his sisters son. For 19 winters served his time. Years ago, he broke parole and lived a life apart. How could he tell Cosette and break her heart? Marius, its for Cosette, and this must be faced. If he is caught, she is disgraced. The time has come to journey on, and from this day he must be gone! Who am I? Who am I?

冉·阿让祈求马吕斯替他保守这个秘密。为了不伤害珂赛特,冉·阿让决定不辞而别。他的使命已经结束,是时候回到曾救赎他灵魂的地方,回到上帝的身边了。当珂赛特与马吕斯婚礼的钟声敲响,垂垂老矣的冉·阿让孤独一人在修道院等待着天堂之门打开。这个曾受惠于上帝救赎的囚犯,这个用无私大爱温暖和照亮悲惨世界的好人,已准备好奔赴另一个彼岸。

法律枷锁下的奴隶

沙威被认为是《悲惨世界》中最可悲的人。如果说冉·阿让穷其一生才找到了“我是谁”的答案,那么沙威直到死都不知道自己是谁。沙威在监狱里出生,在贫民窟长大,同样经历了贫民的苦难和政府的暴政,他也因此痛恨底层的生活。在那样的年代,只有手握权力的人才能在残忍的环境中活下来,于是他选择了依附国家强大的权力机关。他不是一个纯粹的恶人,他追捕假释逃跑的罪犯只是在履行职责,然而他却从未想过自己的职责是否代表正义。他的心中只有对逃犯的冷漠无情和对国家法律的无条件臣服。

从冉·阿让撕掉假释证明书那天起,沙威追捕了冉·阿让整整17年,但一直未能将他抓捕归案。1832年,以马吕斯为代表的支持共和制的青年学生发动起义,旨在建立法兰西共和国。沙威被政府派作密探混入起义的学生中间,但最终被学生识破。学生将沙威交由冉·阿让处置。这一次,命运出现了逆转,冉·阿让手握生死大权,沙威却成了被捆绑的囚徒。冉·阿让可以轻易了结沙威的生命,但他却放走了沙威。

学生起义在政府军的镇压下惨遭失败,无数年轻的生命陨落。当沙威走上那被血浸染的街道,看到门廊里那些年轻人的尸体,他的内心受到极大的冲击,对国家和法律至高无上的信仰开始坍塌。也正是在这时,沙威最后一次遇见冉·阿让。冉·阿让正背着生命垂危的马吕斯从下水道逃亡。他恳求沙威让他把马吕斯送到安全的地方,之后他会让沙威戴上手铐。然而,这一次,沙威开始审视这个曾救过自己的罪犯,也对自己曾恪守的职责产生了怀疑。

Javert: Who is this man? What sort of devil is he? To have me caught in a trap, and choose to let me go free. It was his hour at last to put a seal on my fate! Wipe out the past and wash me clean off the slate! All it would take was a flick of his knife! Vengeance (复仇) was his and he gave me back my life! Damned if I live in the debt of a thief! Damned if I yield at the end of the chase! I am the law, and the law is not mocked! Ill spit his pity right back in his face! There is nothing on earth that we share! It is either Valjean or Javert! And my thoughts fly apart. Can this man be believed? Shall his sins be forgiven? Shall his crimes be reprieved? And must I now begin to doubt who never doubted all these years? My heart is stone and still it trembles. The world I have known is lost in shadow. Is he from heaven or from hell? And does he know that granting me my life today this man has killed me even so? I am reaching, but I fall. And the stars are black and cold as I stare into the void of a world that cannot hold. Ill escape now from that world, from the world of Jean Valjean. There is nowhere I can turn. There is no way to go on!

湍急的河流奔涌着把这个城市最肮脏的罪恶卷入深不见底的黑洞。沙威恪守了一辈子的人生信条已被摧毁,他成了一个迷失在法律与道德边界的人。沙威最终放走了冉·阿让,他不想再抓罪犯,也不想再去捍卫所谓的法律。新时代即将到来,国家的暴政终将会被推翻,沙威无家可归也无情可念,只有跳入湍急的河流中,与这个国家的肮脏一起被河水吞没。

当革命遭遇爱情

1832年,法国处于七月王朝的统治之下,皇室贵族们骄奢淫逸,人民却饱受饥寒交迫之苦。市政厅门外,支持共和制的青年学生激愤地喊着口号,散发着革命传单,革命的热浪席卷大街小巷。出身贵族的青年学生马吕斯也是革命队伍中的一员。他虽然家境殷实,衣食无忧,但依然痛恨政府的统治,与那些和他同龄的来自各个阶级的兄弟们一起谋划革命。

1832年6月,共和党人的重要领袖拉马克将军(General Lamarque)因感染霍乱不治身亡,这个不幸的消息最终吹响了革命的号角。在圣德尼街革命总部的小酒馆里,革命组织的领袖安灼拉(Enjolras)与兄弟们一起举杯鼓舞士气。

Enjolras: Lamarque, his death is the hour of fate, the peoples man. His death is the sign we await! On his funeral day they will honor his name with the light of rebellion ablaze in their eyes. From their candles of grief we will kindle our flame! On the tomb of Lamarque shall our barricades rise! The time is here! Let us welcome it gladly with courage and cheer! Let us take to the street with no doubt in our hearts but a jubilant shout! They will come one and all! They will come when we call!

就在这群热血青年为即将到来的革命慷慨高歌时,马吕斯邂逅了他一生的挚爱珂赛特。仅仅是人群中匆匆的一瞥,热烈的爱情便有如革命的火种一般播种在两个人的心中。马吕斯对朋友们倾诉他对珂赛特的一见钟情。

Marius: Had you seen her today, you might know how it feels. To be struck to the bone, in a moment of breathless delight! Had you been there today you might also have known how the world may be changed in just one burst of light and what was right seems wrong and what was wrong seems right!

而珂赛特也在自己的栖身之所,对着空荡荡的房间倾诉爱的衷肠。

Cosette: How strange this feeling that my lifes begun at last! This change … can people really fall in love so fast? Whats the matter with you, Cosette? Have you been too much on your own? In my life, there are so many questions and answers that somehow seem wrong. In my life there are times when I catch in the silence the sigh of a faraway song. And it sings of a world that I long to see, out of reach just a whisper away, waiting for me! Does he know Im alive? Do I know if hes real? Does he see what I see? Does he feel what I feel? In my life Im no longer alone. Now the love in my life is so near. Find me now. Find me here.

一边是即将打响的革命,一边是踪迹难觅的佳人,马吕斯在为革命奔忙的同时并没有放弃寻找珂赛特。只不过,在这场美好爱情的后面还藏着另一个女人——爱潘尼(?ponine)。无巧不成书,爱潘尼正是珂赛特幼年时所寄养家庭夫妇的女儿。爱潘尼一直深爱着马吕斯,但她的爱却从未得到回应。她看着马吕斯爱上别的女人,而这个女人正是曾被自己父母冷落的小女孩珂赛特。命运是多么会嘲弄人啊,如今珂赛特长成了端庄的淑女,而自己却是贫民窟里最平凡的女孩。为了吸引马吕斯的注意,爱潘尼答应替马吕斯寻找珂赛特。巴黎的雨夜冰冻寒冷,爱潘尼走在通往珂赛特住处的街巷,虽然承受着心爱的人爱上别人的痛苦,但她依然帮助马吕斯找到了他的真爱。

革命者们在圣德尼街垒砌起防御的堡垒,开始与法国政府军队正面对峙,革命的火焰已经熊熊燃烧。年轻的勇士们没有充足的弹药和战斗经验,他们不顾生死冲向政府军,枪林弹雨之下,无数年轻的生命倒下,其中包括安灼拉和年仅12岁的小男孩伽弗洛什(Gavroche)。当革命军向住在附近的百姓求援时,百姓们却因害怕将他们挡在门外,任这些年轻人被枪活活打死。

最终,革命在惨烈的腥风血雨中结束,爱潘尼最终死在为马吕斯挡的那一枪下,她用生命换取了马吕斯的幸福,促成了马吕斯和珂赛特的相恋。可以说,在《悲惨世界》的爱情故事里,爱潘尼的爱情最让人难忘和心痛。她与失败的革命、血染的圣德尼街和巴黎无尽的夜雨一样,成为这个故事中最悲伤的咏叹调。

被冉·阿让搭救而侥幸活下来的马吕斯成为革命队伍里唯一的幸存者,圣德尼街的这一仗让他失去了昔日并肩作战的挚友和一个深爱自己的女人。当马吕斯再次回到曾与朋友一起畅饮高歌的那家小酒馆时,往日的种种浮现在眼前。他难忍心中的悲戚,不禁泪如泉涌。

Marius: Theres a grief that cant be spoken. Theres a pain goes on and on. Empty chairs at empty tables. Now my friends are dead and gone. Here they talked of revolution. Here it was they lit the flame. Here they sang about tomorrow, and tomorrow never came. From the table in the corner, they could see a world reborn, and they rose with voices ringing, and I can hear them now! The very words that they had sung became their last communion on this lonely barricade at dawn. Oh, my friends, my friends, forgive me that I live and you are gone…. Oh, my friends, my friends, dont ask me what your sacrifice was for? Empty chairs at empty tables, where my friends will sing no more.

希望在彼岸涅 槃槃

《悲惨世界》是一个有着极强宗教意味的故事。教堂的主教以上帝之名救赎了冉·阿让,冉·阿让又以上帝之名拯救了珂赛特、马吕斯和无数饱受苦难的人。我们可以把故事中的“上帝”引申为生命的真谛,那就是爱:一个人无论身处怎样的黑暗和困顿中,只要心中有爱,希望之火就不会熄灭。因此,《悲惨世界》中所有的死亡都不是结束,而是通往新生的另一个开始。在此岸的马吕斯和珂赛特代表着追求平等和共和的新一代的法国人,他们将过上平等自由的生活;在彼岸的冉·阿让、芳汀、爱潘尼和无数为革命牺牲的人,则在另一个世界同样拥抱了他们的新时代。

所以,不必因为黑暗和死亡而绝望,也无需畏惧等待新世界到来的漫长时光。只要有希望,只要肯为之努力,那么即使在最深的绝望中,你也一定会遇到爱和惊喜。听,革命胜利的歌声在彼岸响起了,冉·阿让、芳汀、爱潘尼和千万善良的人们在天堂继续幸福地生活着,放下所有的恨、所有的怨,心中只留下爱。

Jean Valjean and other persons: Do you hear the people sing lost in the valley of the night? It is the music of people who are climbing to the light. For the wretched of the earth, there is a flame that never dies. Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. We will live again in freedom in the garden of the Lord. We will walk behind the ploughshare. We will put away the sword. The chain will be broken and all men will have their reward. Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me? It is the future that we bring when tomorrow comes. Tomorrow comes!

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