《最後14堂星期二的課》之生命敘事的倫理與困境

Abstract

摘要 本篇論文旨在探討米奇．艾爾邦 (Mitch Albom) 的回憶錄《最後14堂星期二的課》（Tuesdays with Morrie 1997）如何闡述出人們面對死亡的態度。筆者主張該回憶錄通過將對死亡的恐懼重新定義為無條件的愛，從而對死亡主題進行創新性的解讀與詮釋，使故事中的主角和垂死的角色得以擺脫對死亡的恐懼。值得關注的是，垂死的角色被診斷出患有致命性的疾病，且其疾病正帶著他走向死亡；另一方面主角雖然身體狀況良好，但也正面臨著同樣的困境–無可避免的死亡。此外，本作品運用簡單的文字和象徵手法，揭示並反思角色的道德觀及其面對死亡和失去的脆弱性，來對角色的死亡做出不同的詮釋。 本論文之文本分析，主要探討回憶錄當中關於面對死亡的三個議題：首先是故事中關於疾病痛苦的文字描述；其次是臨終者面對死亡及生命的信念及價值觀；最後，臨終者在回憶錄中呈現的形象，如何反映當代社會對於死亡的恐懼。綜而觀之，《最後14堂星期二的課》是一本深具意義的回憶錄，看似討論死亡，實則故事中的生命回顧、人生信念和價值觀的質疑，處處都在藉生與死告訴大家：只有學會死亡，才更懂得活著，鼓勵每個人勇於面對死亡，從而牢牢把握自己的生活，並創造屬於自己的生命故事。

Abstract This thesis aims to explore the significance of facing death in Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie (1997). The researcher argues that the memoir creates an innovative interpretation of the theme of death by redefining the fear of death as a portrayal of unconditional love. The language of Tuesdays with Morrie allows the protagonist and the dying character to be free from their instinctual fear of death that seeks to control the situations they encounter. Notably, the dying character is diagnosed with a deadly disease that is leading him to his demise, whereas the protagonist, though in a healthy condition, is also facing his inevitable death. The memoir also employs the use of simple language and symbolism to present different interpretations of the characters’ death by revealing the process of contemplating their morality and their vulnerability to death and loss. This thesis’ textual analysis of the memoir focuses on three aspects: first, the descriptions used to express the suffering of disease; second, the dying character’s encounters with death and the notion of life; and third, the resonance with the fear of passing time and the future in the contemporary society. The thesis concludes that Tuesdays with Morrie encourages its readers to face death, to live their own life and to create their own story. Thus, the genre of memoir serves as a new way for the general public to deal with the subject of facing death.