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Review: The Eye of the World: Book One of The Wheel of Time – Chapter 3: The Peddler

評論：《時光之論》系列 第一部 – 世界之眼 第3章：賣貨郎

Introduction

Chapter 3, The Peddler, marks a shift in tone as the excitement of the Bel Tine preparations is disrupted by troubling news from the outside world. Through the arrival of the peddler Padan Fain, Robert Jordan expands the scope of the story beyond the confines of Two Rivers, introducing the villagers—and the reader—to the political turmoil gripping the world beyond Emond’s Field.

This chapter serves several important functions: it highlights the villagers' isolation, showcases their reactions to war and prophecy, and continues to build tension by reinforcing the presence of unseen dangers lurking just outside their awareness. Rand al’Thor, though still just a simple farm boy, is beginning to sense that his world is changing in ways he cannot control.

引言

第三章《賣貨郎》標誌著故事基調的轉變，原本因立春節（Bel Tine）準備工作而帶來的興奮與歡樂，被來自外界的動盪消息所打破。透過賣貨郎帕登·范（Padan Fain）的到來，羅伯特·喬丹擴展了故事的視野，將伊蒙村（Emond’s Field）的村民——以及讀者——帶入了遠超兩河（Two Rivers）範圍的政治紛亂之中。

這一章發揮了幾個重要作用：它強調了村民的孤立狀態，展現了他們對戰爭與預言的反應，並透過暗示潛伏的未知危險來進一步營造緊張感。對於蘭德·亞瑟（Rand al’Thor）而言，他雖然仍只是個普通的農家少年，卻開始隱約察覺到自己的世界正在朝著他無法掌控的方向發生變化。

Summary of the Chapter

As the village of Emond’s Field eagerly prepares for Bel Tine, the arrival of Padan Fain, a traveling peddler, is met with great enthusiasm. His visits are rare and serve as one of the few ways the villagers receive news from beyond the Two Rivers. However, instead of bringing tales of exotic goods or trivial gossip, Fain shares alarming news: war has erupted in the kingdom of Ghealdan, with a man calling himself the Dragon Reborn gathering followers and causing widespread destruction.

The villagers react with a mix of curiosity, fear, and skepticism. Some, like Cenn Buie, see it as just another tale from a world too far away to concern them, while others, including Tam al’Thor, recognize the gravity of the situation. The peddler’s words spark a debate about the Aes Sedai and the Dragon Reborn, with some expressing distrust of the White Tower, while others acknowledge that such matters are beyond their understanding.

At the same time, Rand and Mat Cauthon become more unsettled. Rand is still shaken by the sight of the black-cloaked rider from the previous chapters, and the news of the Dragon Reborn only adds to his unease. The feeling that something momentous is on the horizon becomes increasingly difficult to ignore.

章節摘要

當伊蒙村（Emond’s Field）的村民熱切準備立春節（Bel Tine）時，賣貨郎帕登·范（Padan Fain）的到來引起了極大的歡迎。他的拜訪十分罕見，是村民們獲取外界消息的少數途徑之一。然而，這次他並未帶來關於奇珍異貨或瑣碎趣聞的故事，而是帶來了一則令人不安的消息：海丹（Ghealdan）王國爆發戰爭，一名自稱真龍轉生（Dragon Reborn）的男子正在聚集追隨者，並引發大範圍的破壞。

村民們對此消息反應不一，既有好奇，也有恐懼與懷疑。像森布（Cenn Buie）這樣的人認為這只是外界的故事，與他們無關；然而，也有如譚姆·亞瑟（Tam al’Thor）這樣見多識廣的人，意識到事態的嚴重性。這則消息引發了關於兩儀師（Aes Sedai）與真龍轉生（Dragon Reborn）的討論，有些人對白塔（White Tower）心存不信任，而另一些人則認為這些事情遠超過他們的理解範圍。

與此同時，蘭德·亞瑟（Rand al’Thor）與麥特·考松（Mat Cauthon）開始感到更加不安。蘭德仍然對之前見到的黑衣騎士心有餘悸，而關於真龍轉生的消息只讓他的不安感加劇。某種重大變故即將來臨的預感，變得越來越無法忽視。

The Peddler as a Catalyst

Padan Fain, despite appearing as just a simple traveling merchant, serves as a key narrative device in this chapter. His arrival:

Connects the villagers to the greater world – Until now, the events unfolding in the outside world have been of little consequence to the people of the Two Rivers. The war in Ghealdan forces them to acknowledge that change may be coming, whether they like it or not.

Introduces the concept of the Dragon Reborn – This is the first time the term is explicitly mentioned, foreshadowing its significance to the overall plot.

Sows fear and division – His dramatic storytelling style stirs both fascination and anxiety among the villagers, setting the stage for deeper conflicts to come.

Fain’s true nature remains hidden for now, but seasoned readers will recognize that his presence in Emond’s Field is far from coincidental.

賣貨郎作為催化劑

帕登·范（Padan Fain），雖然表面上看來只是個普通的旅行商人，但在本章中，他實際上擔任了一個關鍵的敘事推動角色。他的到來：

讓村民與更廣闊的世界產生聯繫 —— 在此之前，外界發生的事情對兩河（Two Rivers）的居民而言無關緊要。然而，海丹（Ghealdan）爆發的戰爭迫使村民們意識到，變化可能正在逼近，不論他們是否願意接受。

引入「真龍轉生（Dragon Reborn）」的概念 —— 這是故事中首次明確提及這一稱號，預示著它在整體劇情中的重要性。

播下恐懼與分裂的種子 —— 帕登·范戲劇化的敘事風格既引起村民的好奇，也帶來焦慮，為後續更深層次的衝突埋下伏筆。

帕登·范的真實身份目前仍然隱藏，但熟悉故事的讀者會察覺到，他出現在伊蒙村（Emond’s Field）絕非巧合。

Themes and Symbolism

The Isolation of Two Rivers

This chapter reinforces how detached the Two Rivers is from the rest of the world. The villagers have lived in relative peace for generations, so war, prophecy, and Aes Sedai affairs seem almost mythical to them. However, the fact that news has reached even their remote village is a warning that their isolation may soon come to an end.

The Power of Information (and Misinformation)

Padan Fain’s storytelling demonstrates how information can shape perception. His account of the events in Ghealdan is exaggerated for dramatic effect, and his biased comments about the Aes Sedai reveal how easily rumors can influence public opinion. This foreshadows future conflicts in the series, where perception often matters as much as reality.

The Uncertainty of Destiny

Rand’s growing unease is central to this chapter. He does not yet know his true role in the world, but the mention of the Dragon Reborn sets off a subconscious reaction within him. This moment subtly marks the beginning of his journey from an ordinary villager to someone whose fate is intertwined with the grand forces of the world.

主題與象徵

兩河的孤立

本章進一步強調了兩河（Two Rivers）與外界的隔絕。村民們世代生活在相對和平的環境中，因此，戰爭、預言和兩儀師（Aes Sedai）的事務對他們來說幾乎如同神話。然而，這些消息如今傳到了他們這座偏遠的村莊，這無疑是一個警訊——他們長久以來的孤立狀態即將結束。

資訊（與錯誤資訊）的力量

帕登·范（Padan Fain）的說故事技巧展示了資訊如何塑造人們的認知。他對海丹（Ghealdan）事件的描述帶有誇張的戲劇效果，而他對兩儀師的偏見性言論則揭示了謠言如何輕易地影響公眾意見。這為系列後續的衝突埋下伏筆，因為在這個世界中，人們的認知往往與現實一樣重要，甚至更具影響力。

命運的不確定性

蘭德·亞瑟（Rand al’Thor）內心逐漸升起的不安是本章的重要核心。他仍未察覺自己在世界中的真正角色，但「真龍轉生（Dragon Reborn）」的提及卻在他心中激起了潛意識的反應。這一刻微妙地標誌著他旅程的開始——從一個普通的村民，逐步走向與世界偉大力量糾纏的命運之路。

Character Development

Rand al’Thor

Rand continues to be the reader’s lens into the world. His initial excitement at seeing the peddler quickly turns to unease as he senses that change is coming. Though he does not fully understand why, his instincts tell him that Fain’s news is important.

Tam al’Thor

Tam remains a voice of wisdom and calm. He does not react with fear or superstition like some of the other villagers, but he also does not dismiss the news outright. His balanced approach hints at his experience with the outside world, reinforcing that he is more than just a simple farmer.

Mat Cauthon

Mat’s mischievous nature is still evident, but this chapter shows a more serious side of him. He, like Rand, is drawn to Fain’s news and senses that something significant is happening. His curiosity and tendency to take risks will later play a major role in his character arc.

Padan Fain

Fain is introduced as nothing more than a flamboyant peddler, but his eagerness to spread alarming news and his dramatic storytelling hint at a more sinister nature. His presence feels almost too convenient, and this is an early clue that his role in the story is more than it appears.

角色發展

蘭德·亞瑟（Rand al’Thor）

蘭德仍然是讀者了解這個世界的主要視角。他最初對帕登·范（Padan Fain）的到來感到興奮，但隨後便感到一絲不安，因為他隱約察覺到變化即將發生。雖然他還無法完全理解原因，但他的直覺告訴他，范帶來的消息十分重要。

譚姆·亞瑟（Tam al’Thor）

譚姆依然是智慧與冷靜的代表。他不像某些村民那樣以恐懼或迷信來應對新聞，但也沒有全然忽視事態的發展。他這種冷靜而理性的態度，暗示了他過去曾與外界有過接觸，進一步強調了他並非只是個簡單的農夫。

麥特·考松（Mat Cauthon）

麥特頑皮調皮的個性依舊明顯，但本章也展現了他較為嚴肅的一面。他與蘭德一樣被范帶來的新聞所吸引，並感受到有什麼重大事件即將發生。他的好奇心與喜歡冒險的本性，在後續的故事中將對他的角色發展起到關鍵作用。

帕登·范（Padan Fain）

范最初被介紹為一名誇張浮誇的賣貨郎，但他過於熱衷於散布令人不安的消息，以及他戲劇化的講述方式，暗示了他更為隱晦的本性。他的出現似乎過於巧合，而這正是他在故事中不僅僅只是普通賣貨郎的早期線索。

Foreshadowing

Jordan masterfully lays the groundwork for future developments:

The War in Ghealdan → Though it seems distant now, the events surrounding the false Dragon Reborn will have a direct impact on Rand and his companions.

The Dragon Reborn Prophecy → The villagers see this as just another troubling tale from beyond their borders, but it will soon become central to Rand’s life.

Padan Fain’s True Role → His connection to larger forces is hinted at subtly, though it will take time for the full extent of his influence to be revealed.

伏筆與鋪陳

喬丹（Jordan） 巧妙地為未來的劇情發展埋下伏筆：

海丹的戰爭（The War in Ghealdan） → 雖然目前看來與兩河（Two Rivers）無關，但圍繞假真龍轉生（false Dragon Reborn）的事件最終將對蘭德·亞瑟（Rand al’Thor）及其同伴產生直接影響。

真龍轉生的預言（The Dragon Reborn Prophecy） → 伊蒙村（Emond’s Field）的村民僅將此視為外界傳來的又一則令人不安的故事，然而不久後，這個預言將成為蘭德·亞瑟生命的核心。

帕登·范的真正角色（Padan Fain’s True Role） → 他與更大勢力的聯繫在本章中被微妙地暗示，儘管要到後續的故事發展，才能真正揭示他影響力的全貌。

Narrative Style and Atmosphere

Jordan’s writing in The Peddler blends rich descriptions with a growing sense of unease. The contrast between the villagers’ initial excitement and the tension that follows Fain’s news mirrors the broader theme of Two Rivers being on the brink of change. Jordan also excels in crafting natural dialogue, making the villagers' reactions feel authentic and immersive.

The atmosphere shifts from warm and lively to uncertain and tense, mirroring the journey the main characters are about to embark on. This chapter, though seemingly simple, plays a critical role in transitioning the story from small-town life to the grand conflict that lies ahead.

敘事風格與氛圍

喬丹（Jordan） 在《賣貨郎（The Peddler）》一章中，將細膩的描寫與日益增長的不安感相結合。村民們最初的興奮與帕登·范（Padan Fain）帶來的消息所引發的緊張形成鮮明對比，這種對比也呼應了整體故事主題——兩河（Two Rivers）正處於變革的邊緣。

此外，喬丹擅長塑造自然的對話，使村民們的反應顯得真實且具有沉浸感，讓讀者能夠切身體會這場變故帶來的衝擊。

本章的氛圍從最初的溫暖與熱鬧逐漸轉變為不確定與緊張，這種轉變預示著主要角色即將踏上的旅程。儘管這章表面上看似平凡，實則在敘事上發揮了至關重要的作用，為故事從寧靜的鄉村生活邁向即將來臨的史詩衝突奠定了基礎。

Conclusion

Chapter 3, The Peddler, is deceptively important. What begins as a routine event—Padan Fain’s arrival—quickly turns into a moment of revelation and foreshadowing. The news of war, the Dragon Reborn, and the tensions surrounding the Aes Sedai plant seeds of doubt and curiosity in both the characters and the reader.

For Rand al’Thor, this marks the first real sign that his peaceful life in the Two Rivers is coming to an end. For returning readers, the chapter is filled with subtle hints that take on greater meaning upon re-reading.

As the story continues, the sense of unease introduced here will only grow stronger, leading Rand, Mat, and Perrin Aybara toward a destiny far greater than they could have imagined. The Peddler is the spark that sets everything in motion, proving that even in the most isolated places, the ripples of fate can never be avoided.

結論

第三章《賣貨郎》 其實比表面看來更加重要。起初，它只是個平凡的事件——帕登·范（Padan Fain）的到來，但很快地，這場例行的訪問變成了一場啟示與伏筆的交錯時刻。戰爭的消息、真龍轉生（Dragon Reborn）、以及圍繞兩儀師（Aes Sedai）之間的矛盾，在角色與讀者心中埋下了懷疑與好奇的種子。

對蘭德·亞瑟（Rand al’Thor）而言，這是他平靜的兩河（Two Rivers）生活即將終結的第一個明確徵兆。對於重讀本書的讀者來說，這一章中藏有許多微妙的暗示，在重新閱讀時會顯得意義非凡。

隨著故事的推進，這種不安的氛圍將不斷加劇，最終引領蘭德、麥特·考松（Mat Cauthon）與佩林·艾巴亞（Perrin Aybara）踏上一條超乎他們想像的宿命之路。《賣貨郎》便是點燃一切的火花，證明即便在最偏遠的角落，命運的漣漪仍無法被躲避。