晚清小說接受「進化論」之衍繹及其運用現象

The Endorsement and Incorporation of the Theory of Evolution in Late Qing Fiction

本文考察晚清小說接受「進化論」學說精神並融入創作之現象，嘗試透過社會思潮與文學創作結合之現象縷析，深入還原小說作者群觀察與回應時代氛圍的文學意義，特別是衍繹進化論思維小說之縷析。本文奠基於已廣為周知的「小說界革命」論述之上，透過精讀闡釋晚清小說文本，析論作品受到時代風氣影響於創作中展現進化論思維之軌跡，從而具體指出晚清小說呈現「合群、競爭、新中國的想像論述」、「革命情懷的複雜論述」、「彰顯女權精神的論述」之接受進化論思維以及相互重疊融合、激盪對話的創作現象，呈現藉由接受進化論思維及表現以考察文學與社會更為緊密的脈絡，嘗試提供一些解讀晚清小說之不同研究視野。

This article investigates the phenomenon of the acceptance of the spirit of the theory of evolution and its incorporation into the creation of literary works in Late Qing fiction. Through an analysis of the phenomenon of the integration of social and ideological trends in literary creation, the article attempts to recreate how a group of fiction writers observed and responded to the zeitgeist, and to discuss its literary significance. In particular, fiction evincing evolutionary thinking will be the focal point of analysis. Building on the well-known discussions of the ''fiction revolution'' and through a close reading of Late Qing fictional texts, the article examines the trajectory of evolutionary thinking in literary works, under the influence of the atmosphere of the times. Late Qing fiction endorses evolutionary thinking in the trend of overlapping and crossbreeding of literary works pertaining to ''cooperation, competition, and imaginative discourses of new China,'' ''complex discourses of revolutionary sentiments,'' and ''discourses manifesting feminist spirit.'' The article attempts to provide new research horizons in the interpretation of Late Qing Fiction which demonstrates a strong connection between literature and society especially in their acceptance and representation of evolutionary thinking.