双子あるいは親友の絆と愛の絆 : 『間違いの喜劇』と『ヴェローナの二紳士』の結末をめぐって

概要

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In many of Shakespeare's plays there are certain characters who demonstrate an eagerness to detect their own self-image in others. They sometimes have an irresistible compulsion to regard others as a mere reflection of themselves. Most of them, however, cannot achieve such complete identification with other characters. The affinity between Antipholus of Syracuse and Ephesus in The Comedy of Errors lies only in their external appearances. In The Two Gentlemen of Verona Valentine devotedly attempts to find a reflection of himself in Proteus even after he falls in love with Silvia. At the critical moment of the play when Proteus tried to rape Silvia, Valentine puts more importance on his friendship with Proteus than on his love for Silvia. When betrayed by his trusted friend, Proteus, Valentine pardons him after only a brief apology. At the end of the play when Valentine declares that he and Proteus will share "one feast, one house, one mutual happiness" he tries to make their emotional bond still deeper, even after they married their respective lovers. Valentine is not mature enough for serious, adult-like love. He is satisfied with the mirror image of himself and feels no need to acquire his own identity. This lack of emotional maturity is closer to that of some of Shakespeare's tragic characters, such as King Lear, than to that of characters who have fallen in love in his more sophisticated comedies.
2004-03-31