善恶果报观在《儒林外史》中的“冷静”体现

受善恶果报观影响,我国古代小说多有劝善惩恶的教化功能,尤其在明清小说中更是如此。大多明清小说比较直露地宣扬善恶果报观,而《儒林外史》却表现得相对"冷静",甚至还有嘲讽的文笔。这反映了吴敬梓较为复杂的创作心理:一方面受当时社会盛行的民俗文化影响,不自觉地在文中体现着劝善惩恶的立场;另一方面又对当时的社会文化持批判态度,对善恶果报观也进行着一定程度的怀疑与嘲讽。

Views of Karma "Calmly" Embodied in the Scholars

Influenced by views of Karma, most of the ancient novels and short stories, especially those in Ming and Qing Dynasty, have the moral education function of persuading people to be good rather than evil. Most novels and short stories reveal Karma quite directly while the Scholars reveals Karma in a more natural and even ironic way which mirrors the intricate writing psychology of Wu Jingzi. With the influence of the prevailing folk culture, Wu Jingzi spontaneously expressed his views of encouraging the good and punishing the evil. In the meanwhile, he criticized the social culture, doubted and taunted Karma to a certain degree.