The Creative Treason In Literary Translation

Traditionally, translation had always been regarded as a non-creative activity whose single task was to be faithful to the original. However, in the actual practice of translation, in particular literary translation, treason has become an unavoidable essential feature. This thesis is an attempt to explore the phenomenon of the translator's creative treason in literary translation. It aims to explain the concept of creative treason and explore the subjectivity of translation, which serves as the theoretical basis of the phenomenon. Based on Andre Lefevere's views on the influences of poetics, ideology and patronage on the production of translation, along with a number of examples, this thesis focuses on the discussion of how these three factors, as the main causes of the creative treason, manipulate the translation process. Finally, the thesis examines the creative treason's manifold influences on literature so as to further the research on the creative treason and its significance in literary and cultural studies.