A Comparative Study Of Two Chinese Versions Of The Gadfly

The Gadfly, written by Ellian Lilian Voynich in 1895, is a novel mainly about Italian independence revolution by vividly depicting life experience of the protagonist Arthur. The Gadfly chronicles the events of Arthur's life as he moves from being a theological student with Padre Montanelli to a satirist, a revolutionist, and a great enemy of the church. It was published firstly in 1897. After its first publication in London it received little attention in Britain.However, when it was translated in Chinese in 1953, it was welcomed by almost all the youth at that time and it was rapidly worshiped as a classic revolutionary novel. It can not be neglected that due to special social background this translation version has been rewritten under the manipulation of ideology, poetics and patronage at that time. It was because of the rewriting of the original work that the version adapted itself to the circumstances of China at that time. The very reason why the version was welcomed so warm-heartedly was partly its patriotic theme of the original work, but more importantly its ideological and poetological rewriting. Fifty years passed The Gadfly was retranslated in 2005 by Qing Xuexian. Qing's version presented readers with a different Gadfly, a totally fresh appearance. Its original status as a classic revolutionary novel was no longer the focus of readers. Instead, the Gadfly's steady pursuit, his endless hatred and his moving love for Gemma attracted readers mostly. Then why were the two versions so different in the same country? The thesis will discuss the questions on the basis of Lefevere's theory.By analyzing translation in connection with ideology, economy and culture, Lefevere investigates the factors that influence translation from various levels. He points out that literary system has got two manipulation mechanisms. One is an outer mechanism, which links literature with outer environment, and in which patronage and ideology play important roles; the other is inner mechanism, which includes poetics and implicit terms, such as "expert" and "professionals". Translation can not transfer the original work totally faithfully. It must be influenced by some factors. Ideology and poetics are the two major factors that constrain the production and the reception of rewriting. Lefevere argues that whether they produce translations, literary histories or their more compact spin-offs, reference works, anthologies, criticism, or editions, rewriters adapt and manipulate the originals which they deal with to some extent in order to make them be in accordance with the dominant ideological and poetological currents of their time.In order to illustrate the influence and manipulation of ideology, poetics and patronage upon translation more explicitly, the thesis will carry out a comparative study of two Chinese versions of The Gadfly from the levels of language, style, the translation choice, the translation of the theme of original work and the translation of some cultural elements. In Li Liangmin's version, there exist a lot of deletions and rewritings, some of which are because of translator's ideology, some because of poetics and some because of patronage. On the other hand, Qing Xuexian's version is comparatively faithful under the new requirements of ideology, poetics and patronage. Through the comparative study, the thesis embodies how ideology manipulates the translator via patronage and then it can manipulate translated texts and the publication of the novel. The study of ideological and poetological manipulation of translation is of great theoretical and practical significance. It will deepen the understanding of translation activity and expand spaces for future translation studies.