利沃尼亚狼人：以“老蒂斯”案考察其历史意义

摘要

本文旨在考察近代早期（约1500—1700年）利沃尼亚地区的狼人现象。相较于同一时期其他地域所记载的狼人，利沃尼亚狼人具有鲜明的独特性。本文认为，利沃尼亚狼人是当时利沃尼亚社会的一种隐喻，而该社会的基本特征正是社会动荡与森严的等级秩序。不同阶层都借用这一隐喻来确立自身在社会中的利益诉求，因此本文得出结论：狼人是一种可塑的文化产物，其意涵取决于所处的社会语境。本文以“老蒂斯”一案为具体例证——他是一位贫穷的利沃尼亚老年农民，在被指控为狼人时给出了一份非正统且反常的证词。从其庭审陈述可以看出，蒂斯实际上是在借抨击富有的德意志上层、申明其所属农民阶层的正当性，来影射当时的社会紧张关系。本文对赫尔曼·冯·布鲁宁克《利沃兰的狼人》所译录的庭审记录采用细读法，并结合利沃尼亚社会氛围的语境化解读，将庭审内容与当时更广泛的社会动荡联系起来加以阐释。

Abstract

This paper seeks to investigate the phenomenon of Livonian werewolves from the early modern era (1500-1700s). Noting their uniqueness in comparison to contemporaneous werewolves hailing from other geographic areas, the paper suggests that the Livonian werewolf is a metaphor for Livonian society at that time, one which was characterized by social turmoil and strict class hierarchy. This metaphor was utilized by different classes to establish their own interests in society, and thus the paper concludes that the werewolf is a mutable artifact whose value is contingent on its social context. This is demonstrated with the particular case of Old Thiess—a poor, elderly Livonian peasant who gave an unorthodox and anomalous testimony when accused of being a werewolf. In his court statement, it is shown how Thiess was in fact alluding to social tensions by lambasting the rich German elite and establishing the righteousness of the peasantry, of which he was a member of. A close reading method was utilized on the trial transcript of Old Thiess, translated from Hermann von Bruningk's Der Werwolf in Livland. Through a contextual reading of Livonia's social atmosphere, the paper draws connections between the content of the trial to wider societal disturbances happening at the time.