 威廉·莎士比亞的戲劇作品中，涉及到的植物很多。這些植物不僅恰如其分地烘托出當(dāng)時(shí)的環(huán)境，而且豐富的植物文化內(nèi)涵和特殊的植物象征意義更耐人尋味。本期將展示莎士比亞作品中常見的植物及植物文化內(nèi)涵。莎士比亞作品中植物的象征手法揭示了過去幾個(gè)世紀(jì)人們與植物關(guān)系的變遷。透過這些植物文化，體會(huì)人們的生活經(jīng)歷與植物生命周期如何完美地關(guān)聯(lián)在一起。
16世紀(jì)的英國(guó)，櫻桃樹已普遍種植，因花美，果甜而著稱。
Helena: So we grew together, Like to a double Cherry, seeming parted, But yet a union in partition; Two lovely berries moulded on one stem. Midsummer Night's Dream, act iii, sc. 2 (208). 引文節(jié)選自莎士比亞作品：《仲夏夜之夢(mèng)》
樹葉在微風(fēng)中顫抖，山楊樹是情緒波動(dòng)和決心動(dòng)搖的象征。
Mistress Quickly: Feel, masters, how I shake Yea, in very truth do I an 'twere an Aspen leaf. 2nd Henry IV, act ii, sc. 4 (114). 引文節(jié)選自莎士比亞作品：《亨利二世》
枝葉常綠和芳香氣味的迷迭香是神圣回憶和永久友誼的象征。
Ophelia: There's Rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember. Hamlet, act iv, sc. 5 (175). 引文節(jié)選自莎士比亞作品：《哈姆雷特》
在莎士比亞時(shí)代，人們相信植物也常具備周圍相鄰植物的特性。例如，芬芳甜香的花可使周圍果樹的香味更加濃郁。但草莓被視為例外。它那可人的，雅致的早夏成熟的果實(shí)可使旁邊令人討厭的植物（例大蕁麻）長(zhǎng)得更健壯。
Bishop of Ely: The Strawberry grows underneath the Nettle, And wholesome berries thrive and ripen best Neighbour'd by fruit of baser quality; And so the prince obscured his contemplation Under the veil of wildness. Henry V, act i, sc. 1 (60). 引文節(jié)選自莎士比亞作品：《亨利五世》
牛蒡(Arctium lappa)，喜歡緊附在過路者身上。被賦予了堅(jiān)忍不拔和愛的象征。
Lucio: Nay, friar, I am a kind of Bur; Measure for Measure, act iv, sc. 3 (149). Celia. They are but Burs, cousin, thrown upon thee in holiday foolery; if we walk not in the trodden paths our very petticoats will catch them. Rosalind. I could shake them off my coat; these Burs are in my heart. As You Like It, act i, sc. 3 (13).
浪漫幽雅的柳樹，16世紀(jì)曾是極度悲痛，遭受懲罰的象征。葉子編織成罪惡情人的花環(huán)，常被種植在墓地。奧佩羅淹死在一棵柳樹下。
Queen: There is a Willow grows aslant a brook, That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream. There on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke. Hamlet, act iv, sc. 7 (167). Desdemona (singing): The poor soul sat sighing by a Sycamore tree. Sing all a green Willow; ?Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee, Sing Willow, Willow, Willow. ?The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd her moans; Sing Willow, Willow, Willow. ?Her salt tears fell from her and soften'd the stones, Sing Willow, Willow, Willow. ?Sing all a green Willow must be my garland. Othello, act iv, sc. 3 (41). 引文節(jié)選自莎士比亞作品：《哈姆雷特》、《奧塞羅》
莎士比亞常用玫瑰象征不可超越的年輕和美麗——他們的強(qiáng)烈對(duì)比。象征玫瑰比喻美麗是短暫的，而且有刺不可輕易得到。
Juliet: What's in a name? That which we call a Rose By any other name would smell as sweet. Romeo and Juliet, act ii, sc. 2 (43). Othello: When I have pluck'd the Rose, I cannot give it vital growth again, It needs must wither. I'll smell it on the tree. Othello, act v, sc. 2 (13). Diana: When you have our Roses, You barely leave us thorns to prick ourselves ?And mock us with our bareness. All's Well that Ends Well, act iv, sc. 2 (18). 引文節(jié)選自莎士比亞作品：《羅密歐與朱麗葉》，《奧塞羅》，《結(jié)果好一切都好》
杏樹被看作是早熟豐產(chǎn)樹，可生出滿樹繁花和累累果實(shí)。杏樹被看作是重負(fù)，慷慨和子孫的象征。
Gardener: Go, bind thou up yon dangling Apricocks, Which, like unruly children, make their sire Stoop with oppression of their prodigal weight. Richard II, act iii, sc. 4 (29). 引文節(jié)選自莎士比亞作品：《理查二世》
百合花是和圣女瑪麗亞相關(guān)的花，在天使傳報(bào)油畫中常有所表現(xiàn)。百合花象征著完美無暇和純潔。
Salisbury: To gild refined gold, to paint the Lily, To throw a perfume on the Violet, Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. King John, act iv, sc. 2 (11). Princess. Now by my maiden honour, yet as pure As the unsullied Lily. Love's Labour's Lost, act v, sc. 2 (351). 引文節(jié)選自莎士比亞作品：《約翰王》、《愛的徒勞》
盡管蕨類植物后來在英國(guó)流行起來，但在莎士比亞時(shí)代卻被看作是不尋常的奇特事物。蕨類植物不象開花植物那樣依靠種子繁殖，而是依靠孢子繁殖。蕨類植物的生命周期是奇異隱秘的。
Gadshill: We have the receipt of Fern-seed—we walk invisible. Henry IV, act ii, sc. I (95). 引文節(jié)選自莎士比亞作品：《亨利五世》 |
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