Frontiers of Discourse Studies
FDS, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2026, pp. 159-168.
Print ISSN: 3106-809X; Online ISSN: 3106-8103
Journal homepage: https://www.fdsjournal.com
DOI：Https://doi.org/10.64058/fds260115msaap
邹艳秋 (Zou Yanqiu), 王 娜 (Wang Na)
摘要：当代英国著名剧作家彼得·谢弗的剧作《上帝的宠儿》围绕着宫廷乐师萨列瑞与音乐天才莫扎特的对立冲突展开，以“萨列瑞毒杀莫扎特”的历史传闻为原型，展现了谢弗对现代社会中人们所面临的精神困境的深入思考。本文以话语分析为切入点，从萨列瑞独白中精神契约的建立到崩塌，三重话语机制的运作与萨列瑞的命运悲剧和绝望的终结与自我的救赎三个方面，分析了现代化进程中人类精神逐步异化的表现、原因与结果。以萨列瑞对世界所有“庸才”的赦免结尾，谢弗展示了一则现代寓言，同时也给予反思：在面对生命意义的缺失时，人们不应该陷入虚无主义的对抗，而是需要专注于自我构建，重构对世界正确的认识。
关键词：彼得·谢弗；《上帝的宠儿》；话语分析；精神困境；现代社会
作者简介：邹艳秋，硕士研究生，中南财经政法大学外国语学院，研究方向：英语语言文学。电邮：1399611735@qq.com。王娜，讲师，中南财经政法大学外国语学院，研究方向：英美文学。电邮：nana0989@163.com。
Title: The Modern Spiritual Anguish in Amadeus from the Perspective of Discourse Analysis
Abstract: The Tony Award-winning drama Amadeus, authored by the contemporary British renowned playwright Peter Shaffer, centers on the conflict between the court musician Salieri and the musical genius Mozart. Based on the historical rumor of “Salieri poisoning Mozart”, it presents Shaffer’s in-depth reflection on the spiritual predicaments faced by people in modern society. From the perspective of discourse analysis, this paper analyzes the manifestations, causes and results of human spirit’s gradual alienation from three aspects: the condition of spiritual contract from establishment to devastation reflected in Salieri’s monologue, the operation of three discourse mechanisms and Salieri’s tragic fate, the end of life in despair and the way to self-redemption. By ending with Salieri’s absolving all “mediocrities”, Shaffer shows a modern fable and also offers a reflection: when facing the absence of meaning of life, people should not fall into the confrontation of nihilism, but need to focus on self-construction and reconstruct a correct understanding of the world.
Keywords: Peter Shaffer; Amadeus; Discourse analysis; Spiritual anguish; Modern society
Author Biography: Zou Yanqiu, Master’s candidate, School of Foreign Studies, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. Research interests include English language and literature. E-mail: 1399611735@qq.com. Wang Na (Corresponding author), Lecturer, School of Foreign Studies, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. Research interests include British and American Literature. E-mail: nana0989@163.com.
