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Review: The Eye of the World: Book One of The Wheel of Time – Chapter 4: The Gleeman

評論：《時光之論》系列 第一部 – 世界之眼 第4章：走唱人

Introduction

Chapter 4, The Gleeman, continues to build the atmosphere of anticipation and subtle unease that Robert Jordan has carefully constructed in the early chapters of The Eye of the World. The arrival of Thom Merrilin, the titular gleeman, is a much-needed distraction for the villagers of Emond’s Field, particularly for Rand al’Thor, who is still troubled by the strange black rider. While the tone of this chapter is lighter and filled with the promise of festival entertainment, Jordan uses Thom’s introduction to deepen the world-building, reveal more about the villagers, and further develop the looming sense that change is on the horizon.

引言

第四章〈走唱人〉延續了羅伯特·喬登在《世界之眼》早期章節中細緻構築的期待氣氛與隱隱不安。走唱人湯姆·摩利林的到來，為伊蒙村的村民們帶來一絲急需的分心，尤其是蘭德·亞瑟——他仍為那位神秘的黑衣騎士所困擾。雖然本章的基調較為輕鬆，充滿了節慶娛樂的期待，但喬登透過湯姆的登場，不僅深化了世界觀的描繪，也讓讀者更了解村民們，同時進一步鋪陳那逐漸逼近的改變氛圍。

Summary of the Chapter

As preparations for Bel Tine continue, the arrival of the gleeman Thom Merrilin causes a stir in Emond’s Field. His colorful cloak and booming voice immediately draw attention, especially from the younger villagers who have only heard of such entertainers in stories. Thom announces that he has come to perform at the festival and regales the villagers with tales of great cities and faraway lands.

Thom’s presence is both exciting and comforting—a touch of the larger world that still feels safe and friendly. However, there is a certain gravity to him, a sharpness in his demeanor, that suggests he is more than he appears. Rand, Mat, and Perrin are fascinated by Thom, and for a brief moment, they are able to set aside the fears and uncertainties sparked by the recent news of war and the eerie black rider.

章節概要

隨著立春節的準備持續進行，走唱人湯姆·摩利林的到來在伊蒙村引起一陣騷動。他那色彩繽紛的斗篷與宏亮的嗓音立刻吸引了眾人注意，尤其是那些從未親眼見過這類藝人的年輕村民們。湯姆宣布自己是為了參加節慶表演而來，並向村民講述關於遙遠城市與異國世界的精彩故事。

湯姆的出現既令人興奮也帶來一種慰藉——那是來自外面世界的一絲氣息，但依舊顯得親切且安全。然而，他的舉止中也隱約帶著一種莊重與銳利，暗示著他遠非表面看起來那麼簡單。蘭德·亞瑟、麥特·考松與佩林·艾巴亞都被湯姆深深吸引，而他們也因此暫時忘卻了近日有關戰爭與詭異黑衣騎士所帶來的恐懼與不安。

Character Introductions and Development

Thom Merrilin

Thom is introduced as a classic gleeman: flamboyant, boastful, and full of stories. But beneath the surface, there are clear signs of complexity. His disdain for being called a "mere" gleeman and his subtle corrections when people misunderstand him hint at a man of deeper experience and possibly noble—or at least mysterious—background. Thom’s entrance is theatrical, but Jordan uses that theater to conceal depth and foreshadow his importance to the plot.

He immediately earns the respect of the villagers, and readers get a glimpse of his skill in managing crowds and conversations. Thom is no fool—he gauges people quickly and knows how to present himself in ways that gain trust while maintaining an air of mystery.

Rand al’Thor

Rand remains the emotional center of the story. His reactions to Thom are filled with wonder and curiosity, emphasizing his youthful innocence and longing for something beyond his farming life. His interest in Thom’s stories—particularly those that involve Aes Sedai and legends—suggests an unconscious pull toward the greater world, even as he tries to cling to the familiar.

角色介紹與發展

走唱人湯姆·摩利林

湯姆首次登場時，展現出典型走唱人的形象：誇張浮華、自信滿滿，滿口奇聞軼事。但在這樣的表象之下，卻可看出他擁有更為深沉的面貌。他對於被稱為「只是個走唱人」的輕蔑態度，以及當人們誤解他時所做出的微妙更正，暗示著他是一位經歷豐富、甚至可能有貴族血統——或至少來歷神秘——的人物。湯姆的登場戲劇性十足，而羅伯特·喬登正是藉由這份戲劇性來掩蓋其角色的深度，並預示他在主線劇情中的重要性。

他迅速贏得了村民們的尊重，而讀者也得以一窺他操控人群與談話的手腕。湯姆絕非愚人——他能迅速洞察人性，並懂得如何以獲得信任的方式來展現自己，同時維持一層神秘的面紗。

蘭德·亞瑟

蘭德依舊是故事的情感核心。他對湯姆的反應充滿了驚奇與好奇，展現出他的年輕天真，以及對農村生活之外世界的渴望。他對湯姆講述的故事——尤其是關於兩儀師與傳說——特別感興趣，這也暗示了他潛意識中正被更廣大的世界吸引，即便他仍努力緊抓熟悉的生活不放。

Themes and Symbolism

The Allure of Storytelling

Thom represents the power of storytelling—how tales can entertain, educate, and influence. In a village as isolated as Emond’s Field, a gleeman is more than just a performer; he is a window into the past and the wider world. Thom’s arrival is a reminder that the villagers are part of a much bigger history and a much larger world, even if they prefer to forget it.

The Calm Before the Storm

There’s a deceptive warmth to this chapter. The arrival of the gleeman seems to lift the villagers’ spirits, but Jordan uses that warmth to contrast the darkness to come. The joy and anticipation surrounding Thom’s performance are like the final moments of peace before the storm breaks.

Hiding in Plain Sight

Thom himself is a symbol of how people can wear masks—he hides a serious and possibly dangerous past behind his performer’s persona. This idea of dual identities will recur throughout the series, particularly with Rand and his eventual transformation.

主題與象徵

故事講述的魅力

湯姆代表了故事講述的力量——故事如何娛樂、教育並影響他人。在像伊蒙村這樣偏遠的村莊中，一個走唱人不僅是表演者；他是通往過去與更大世界的窗戶。湯姆的到來提醒著村民們，即使他們更願意遺忘，他們仍然是更大歷史和更廣闊世界的一部分。

風暴前的寧靜

這一章有著一種具有欺騙性的溫暖感。走唱人的到來似乎提振了村民們的精神，但喬丹利用這份溫暖來對比即將來臨的黑暗。圍繞湯姆表演的快樂與期待，就像是暴風雨來臨前最後的和平時光。

隱藏於眼前

湯姆本身象徵著人們如何戴上面具——他將一個嚴肅且可能危險的過去隱藏在他的表演者身份背後。這種雙重身份的概念會在整個系列中反覆出現，尤其是在蘭德及其最終變化的過程中。

Narrative Style and Atmosphere

Jordan continues to excel in creating a vivid, immersive setting. The excitement of the villagers is palpable, and the dialogue is natural and full of character. Thom’s entrance is described with flourish, mirroring the larger-than-life personality he presents. At the same time, Jordan plants subtle clues in the narrative—through looks, tone, and word choice—that Thom is not simply what he seems.

The overall mood of this chapter is lighter than the ones before it, which helps balance the pacing and gives readers a moment of levity. Still, the underlying tension remains, particularly in Rand’s continued concern over the rider and the strange feelings he can’t quite explain.

敘事風格與氛圍

羅伯特·喬丹繼續在創建生動且具沉浸感的場景上表現出色。村民們的興奮感幾乎是觸手可及的，對話自然且充滿個性。湯姆的登場被描述得華麗且富有戲劇性，反映了他所呈現出來的超凡脫俗的個性。與此同時，喬丹在敘事中埋下了微妙的線索——透過眼神、語氣和措辭——暗示湯姆並非他所顯現的那樣簡單。

這一章的整體氛圍比之前幾章更為輕鬆，這有助於平衡故事的節奏，並為讀者提供了一個輕鬆的片刻。然而，潛在的緊張感依然存在，特別是在蘭德對騎士的持續擔憂以及他無法解釋的奇異感受上。

Foreshadowing

Thom’s Importance → While he introduces himself as merely a gleeman, his knowledge of history, politics, and the world suggests a more significant role ahead.

Legends and Aes Sedai → Thom’s stories reference legends and magic, setting the stage for the characters’ own legendary journeys.

Rand’s Curiosity → His attraction to tales of the outside world and Aes Sedai hints at his future entanglement in events far beyond the Two Rivers.

前導與伏筆

湯姆的重要性 → 雖然他自我介紹為單純的走唱人，但他對歷史、政治和世界的了解暗示著他在故事中將扮演更重要的角色。

傳說與兩儀師 → 湯姆的故事提到了傳說與魔法，為角色們自身的傳奇之旅鋪墊了舞台。

蘭德的好奇心 → 他對外界世界和兩儀師的故事感到吸引，暗示他將來會捲入超越兩河的重大事件。

Conclusion

Chapter 4, The Gleeman, may appear to be a simple character introduction, but it’s far more than that. Thom Merrilin is a pivotal figure, and his first appearance adds depth, charm, and a layer of intrigue to the story. Jordan uses this chapter to remind readers that stories have power—and that not all tales are just for entertainment.

For Rand al’Thor, this chapter represents another small step away from the innocence of his rural life. He is beginning to see that the world is larger and more complicated than he ever imagined. And for readers, Thom’s arrival is a sign that while danger may be looming, there will also be wit, wisdom, and wonder along the way.

結論

第四章，《走唱人》，看似只是一次簡單的人物介紹，但實際上遠不止如此。湯姆·摩利林是故事中的關鍵人物，他的首次登場為故事增添了深度、魅力和一層謎團。羅伯特·喬丹在這一章中提醒讀者，故事擁有力量——而且並非所有的故事僅僅是為了娛樂。

對蘭德·亞瑟來說，這一章代表著他逐漸遠離鄉村生活的純真。他開始意識到，這個世界比他曾經想像的更加廣闊和複雜。對於讀者來說，湯姆的到來是個徵兆，雖然危險可能在逼近，但沿途也會充滿智慧、機智和奇蹟。