🤔當你在觀賞改編自小說的歐美電影時，你會偏好劇情與結局忠於原著？還是更喜歡為了票房與話題性而改編成大眾喜愛的風格？
🧐從小到大，我所接觸的好萊塢電影版本的 Frankenstein《科學怪人》，大多將那個由死屍拼湊而成的怪物描繪成冷血無情的殺人魔。這樣的刻板印象深植我心，直到我親自閱讀 Mary Shelley 的原著，才真正理解這個「科學怪物」內心的糾結與痛苦。
✅原文摘錄與中譯解析（一）：孤獨與嫉妒的自我投射
英文原文：
“But Paradise Lost excited different and far deeper emotions. I read it, as I had read the other volumes which had fallen into my hands, as a true history. It moved every feeling of wonder and awe that the picture of an omnipotent God warring with his creatures was capable of exiting. I often referred the several situations, as their similarity struck me, to my own. Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different from mine in every other respect. He had come forth from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy and prosperous, guarded by the special care of his Creator; he was allowed to converse with and acquire knowledge from beings of a superior nature, but I was wretched, helpless, and alone. Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition, for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me.”
中譯：
當我閱讀《失樂園》時，所激起的情感截然不同，且深沉得多。我像讀其他偶然得手的書籍一樣，把它當作真實的歷史來讀。書中描繪全能的上帝與其造物爭戰的場景，激發了我所有對奇蹟與敬畏的感受。我常常將其中的情境與我自身的處境相比，因為其中的相似之處深深打動了我。我如同亞當，表面上與世上任何存在都無牽連；但在其他方面，他的境況與我截然不同。他是從上帝之手誕生的完美造物，幸福而順遂，受到造物主特別的眷顧；他被允許與高等存在交談，並從中獲得知識。而我卻悲慘、無助、孤獨。許多次，我認為撒旦更能象徵我的處境，因為我常常像他一樣，當我目睹庇護者的幸福時，心中便湧起苦澀的嫉妒之情。
🤔這段文字讓我深刻體會到：即使是被視為「怪物」的存在，也有著人類般的情感與思考。他（或它）不只是被創造出來，更是被遺棄、被否定的存在。既然創作者對這個由死屍拼湊出的生命充滿厭惡，那又為何要如此詳細地記錄製造過程？
✅原文摘錄與中譯解析（二）：創造者的厭惡與怪物的自我厭棄
英文原文：
“Another circumstance strengthened and confirmed these feelings. Soon after my arrival in the hovel I discovered some papers in the pocket of the dress which I had taken from your laboratory. At first, I had neglected them, but now that I was able to decipher the characters in which they were written, I began to study them with diligence. It was your journal of the four months that preceded my creation. You minutely described in these papers every step you took in the progress of your work; this history was mingled with accounts of domestic occurrences. You doubtless recollect these papers. Here they are. Everything is related in them which bears reference to my accursed origin; the whole detail of that series of disgusting circumstances which produced it is set in view; the minutest description of my odious and loathsome person is given, in language which painted your own horrors and rendered mine indelible. I sickened as I read. ‘Hateful day when I received life!’ I exclaimed in agony. ‘Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust. God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow devils, to admire, and encourage him, but I am solitary and abhorred.”
中譯：
另一件事更加強化並確認了我內心的感受。抵達那間茅屋不久後，我在那件從你實驗室取來的衣服口袋中發現了一些文件。起初我並未在意，但當我能夠辨識其中的文字後，便開始勤奮地研讀。那是你在我誕生前四個月所寫的日誌。你在這些文件中詳細記錄了你工作進展的每一個步驟；這段歷史也夾雜著一些家庭瑣事的記述。你無疑記得這些文件。它們就在這裡。凡與我那可憎的起源有關的事，都在其中有所記載；那一連串令人作嘔的過程全都呈現在眼前；對我那令人厭惡、令人憎恨的身形也有最細緻的描寫，用的語言不僅描繪了你的恐懼，也使我的痛苦永難磨滅。我一邊閱讀，一邊感到噁心。「可恨的日子，我竟在那天獲得生命！」我痛苦地喊道。「可咒的創造者！你為何要造出如此醜陋的怪物，甚至連你自己都因厭惡而棄我而去？上帝憐憫人類，依照自己的形象創造了美麗而迷人的人；但我的形體卻是你骯髒形象的變種，因為相似而更加可怖。撒旦尚有同伴——其他魔鬼——欣賞他、鼓勵他；而我卻孤獨一人，為世人所厭棄。」
🤔這段自述揭示了科學怪人對自身存在的痛苦與憤怒，也反映出創造者的冷漠與逃避。影視作品若僅以驚悚視覺呈現這段歷程，便無法傳達原著中對人性與倫理的深刻探問。
原文摘錄與中譯解析（三）：他人的幸福與自我疏離
英文原文：
“Several changes, in the meantime, took place in the cottage. The presence of Safie diffused happiness among its inhabitants, and I also found that a greater degree of plenty reigned there. Felix and Agatha spent more time in amusement and conversation, and were assisted in their labours by servants. They did not appear rich, but they were contented and happy; their feelings were serene and peaceful, while mine became every day more tumultuous. Increase of knowledge only discovered to me more clearly what a wretched outcast I was. I cherished hope, it is true, but it vanished when I beheld my person reflected in water or my shadow in the moonshine, even as that frail image and that inconstant shade.”
中譯：
在此期間，茅屋中發生了幾項變化。莎菲的到來為屋內居民帶來了幸福的氣氛，我也察覺到他們的生活變得更加富足。費利克斯與阿嘉莎花更多時間在娛樂與交談上，並有僕人協助他們的勞作。他們看起來並不富有，卻滿足而快樂；他們的情感平靜安詳，而我的內心卻日益動盪不安。知識的增長只讓我更加清楚地意識到自己是多麼悲慘的棄兒。我的確曾懷抱希望，但每當我在水中看到自己的倒影，或在月光下瞥見自己的身影，那希望便如同那脆弱的影像與變幻不定的光影一般，瞬間消逝。
🤔這段描寫讓我反思：知識與感知的提升，並不總是帶來幸福。對科學怪人而言，理解世界的同時，也更清楚地意識到自己被排斥的事實。
🛑結語：你偏好忠於原著，還是改編創新？
每當我觀賞改編自經典文學的影視作品，總會思考：導演是否能忠實呈現原著的精神？還是選擇改編成更符合市場口味的版本？就像人生未必總是快樂結局，我更偏好那些能夠呈現原著深層意境的作品——不只是娛樂，更是對人性、創造與孤獨的深刻探索。
圖片出處：Shelley, Mary. （1983）Frankenstein. New York: Signet Classic, published by the Penguin Group.
