2010/11/29 和敬塾文学セミナー：村上春樹「蜂蜜パイ」 熊倉千之
I 「蜂蜜パイ」の構造と主題： どういう形？ それはなぜ？ 一つ一つの細部とその機能を分析し、それがどう全体
と関わっているかを見て、主題を抽出してください。主題を100字程度にまとめると……
A 二部構成である意味は？ B 題名との関係は？
C Carver, Blackbird Pieとの関係ありやなしや。あるとすればどういう意味で？
II Blackbird Pieの構造と主題： 四部構成の意味と機能 A １ (和訳)［p3下段］「……具体的事実が存在する。」まで
２ 「その問題の夜には……」から
３ ［p5下段］「濃い霧が窓の外に……」から ４ ［p9下段］「妻が結婚式の花束を……」から
B 題名との関係は？ ［和訳p11］『ブラックバード・パイ』(村上解説文)参照
C 主題：［村上誤訳からは発見不能］（村上解説文［字がかすれてよく見えないp13上段］最後の行：「……残し ていく創作への静かな自嘲のように響く」云々は、それまでのCarver作品の全面的な否定。）原文では？ III 二作品の共通項と差異
A 主人公とそれぞれの変身（どこでどう変身する？）
B 村上のBlackbird Pie誤読はなぜ起こった？ 原文でイタリック体になっているところにヒントあり。 C Blackbird Pieと中島敦「山月記」あるいは漱石『門』との比較、「蜂蜜パイ」と漱石『それから』は？ D 「蜂蜜パイ」の「客観」性とBlackbird Pieの「主観」性――両言語の特質と、共にその言語の本質を離れた言
説のありようについて。特に「蜂蜜パイ」の似非客観と語りの「声」の問題。 ＊
(Internet info) Blackbirds in a Pie Nursery Rhyme History and Origins
This song was believed to parody the relationship between King Henry VIII of England and his second wife Anne Boleyn.
Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye, Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie:
In preparation for a visit by the King to the home of Anne Boleyn, Hever Castle during their courtship, 'netters' were sent out into the fields of the estate with rye in their pockets to spread around to catch a mass of blackbirds. Two dozen blackbirds, feathers still on, were baked into a massive pie that looked beautiful on the outside.
When the pie was opened the birds began to sing, Oh wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king?
But when the pie was cut open the smell was terrible '...began to sing' is a funny way of referring to this in English slang. The 'dainty dish' was highly sarcastic.
The king was in his counting house counting out his money,
This referred to the great wealth amassed by the King following the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey:
This was in reference to the Queen, living a life of luxury, while poor people suffered. Anne Boleyn was hated by the English people as she had replaced the previous popular Queen, Katherine of Aragon.
The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes:
Henry was a womaniser. Anne Boleyn had been a Maid in Waiting to Queen Katherine when he took a fancy to her. Jane Seymour became a Lady in waiting to Anne Boleyn when she became Queen. These ambitious women encouraged the King in his attentions making sure they made their charms very obvious and appealing (hanging out their clothes).
When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!
The blackbird symbolises those who are tempted by carnal pleasures. Anne Boleyn was eventually beheaded and Jane Seymour died following the birth of her son.
