存在的探寻：英培安与卡夫卡的⽐较研究 = In search of existence: a comparative analysis of Yeng Pway Ngon and Franz Kafka

• Main Author: 谢慧平 Chia, Diana Hui Ping
• Other Authors: Zhang Songjian
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: Chinese
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Humanities::Language::Chinese
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/165057
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

本文借比较文学之影响研究为框架，研究奥地利德语作家弗朗茨·卡夫卡对新加坡华文作家英培安在存在主义文学上的影响。存在主义文学是现代主义文学的一个分支，而它所涉及的是对人的存在的探索以及人类生存命定性的阐释。现代主义作家借文学为媒介，通过安排某种象征性的故事场景、寓言形式的情节等让小说主角置身其中进行人生选择，从而揭示存在的虚无和荒谬性特征。在这一题材上，英培安深受卡夫卡的影响。19世纪60年代左右，卡夫卡与其作品随着现代主义文学引进到新加坡，第一次进入本地华文读者的眼帘。英培安于当时曾积极参与文化沙龙，并通过文艺刊物中翻译的西方现代主义文学作品认识卡夫卡等大家。随后，他便在自己的作品中实践了现代主义文学以及存在主义文学，而其中亦透露卡夫卡式的思考以及对其作品的致敬痕迹。由此，本文将借存在主义中“存在即荒谬”以及“自我与他者”的概念对卡夫卡与英培安的作品进行比较研究，解读当中作者们对存在的思考，同时探究英培安对卡夫卡的跨国影响的接受。 This essay takes Influence Studies of Comparative Literature as a framework to investigate the influence of Austrian German writer Franz Kafka towards Singapore Chinese writer Yeng Pway Ngon on Existential Literature. Existential Literature is a branch of Modern Literature. It involves looking into the meaning of existence and the predestined nature of human existence. Modern writers use literature as a medium to bring to light the nihility and absurd features of existence. This is done through the mindful set up of symbolic scenes, allegorical story plots and alike, as writers get the characters involved in the scenarios to make life choices. Yeng was, in fact, greatly influenced by Kafka in this subject matter. Around the 1860s, Kafka and his works were first introduced to local Chinese readers when they circulated to Singapore alongside Western Modernism. At that time, Yeng was an active member of the cultural salon, and through reading translated texts of Western Modern Literature, he became familiar with masters like Kafka. Subsequently, Yeng put into practice Modern writings and Existential Literature. Many of his works revealed Kafkaesque thought and showed traces of him paying tribute to Kafka. Hence, this essay will utilize the concepts in Existentialism, namely "Living the Absurd" and "Self and the Other", to conduct a comparative analysis between Kafka and Yeng. Through this, it aims to interpret their understanding of existence while investigating the acceptance of the cross-nation influence of Kafka observed in Yeng.