麥可‧翁達傑《身著獅皮》中的創傷與皮膚

Abstract

在麥可‧翁達傑《身著獅皮》的小說研究中，較少學者關注其中個人創傷的議題。本論文認為小說中主角的創傷必須被看見，並且主張，借助皮膚的概念，小說呈現了主角的創傷及其可能的復原。本論文受到安祖（Didier Anzieu）的皮膚自我（The Skin-ego）理論的啟發，並分成身體、精神及敘事三個面向來討論主角的創傷。小說展現出主角身體皮膚的創傷、精神皮膚的破裂，以及皮膚自我中的洞，這些創傷的展現可與安祖提出的痛苦的包覆（wrapping of suffering）、夢的影片（film of dreams）、詞語之皮（skin of words）相連結。在安祖的理論中，這三個概念都具有修復的力量。 在身體面向，主角藉由自我傷害表達出心理創傷，並將自己包覆於痛苦之中。經由感受痛苦以及肢體碰觸，他確認了自己的身體感覺並重新感到活著。在精神面向，主角的精神皮膚因創傷而破裂，夢相繼產生。小說中充滿了夢與影像，構成了一部夢的影片，藉此可修復他破裂的精神皮膚。在敘事面向，主角的童年創傷造成其皮膚自我中的洞，以及其沉默疏離的習性。然而，他逐漸發展出表達自我的能力，經由訴說其創傷經歷，主角製作出詞語之皮並覆蓋了創傷之洞。透過討論創傷的不同面向以及皮膚自我的理論，本論文認為《身著獅皮》展現了主角的創傷以及其可能的復原。

In the studies of Michael Ondaatje’s In the Skin of a Lion, few critics have addressed the issue of personal trauma. The thesis suggests that the protagonist’s trauma must be seen, and proposes that with the help of the concept of skin, the novel presents the protagonist’s trauma and his possible recovery. I take Didier Anzieu’s theory of the Skin-ego as a point of departure to discuss the protagonist’s trauma, which can be divided into three dimensions of the body, the psyche, and the narrative. The novel shows traumatization of the skin, breach of the psychical skin, and holes in the Skin-ego, and these traumatic representations can be discussed correspondingly with Anzieu’s concepts of wrapping of suffering, film of dreams, and skin of words. In Anzieu’s theory, the three concepts all have therapeutic potential. On the bodily dimension, the protagonist demonstrates his trauma through self-inflicted wounds and wraps himself in suffering. Through feeling the suffering and being touched, he can affirm his bodily feelings and feel alive. On the psychical dimension, trauma causes the breach of the protagonist’s psychical skin and his post-traumatic dreams. The novel is full of dreams and images, which constitute a film of dreams that helps to repair his breached psychical skin. On the narrative dimension, the protagonist’s traumatic childhood creates the holes in his Skin-ego and his habit of keeping silent. However, he gradually develops the ability to articulate himself. By telling his traumatic experience, the protagonist creates a skin of words and repairs the traumatic hole. By discussing different dimensions of trauma and the Skin-ego theory, this thesis argues that In the Skin of a Lion demonstrates the protagonist’s trauma and his possible recovery.