《葬送的芙莉蓮》與教育學
「如果是勇者欣梅爾，他一定會這麼做的。」
“It’s what the hero Himmel would’ve done.”
前陣子看到英雄長髮哥（許瑞顯）在台中捷運上阻止了持刀的傷人者，並於受訪時引用了《葬送的芙莉蓮》的經典台詞。這則新聞引起我這部漫畫的注意。在撰寫博論的期間，剛好需要一些喘息的空間，於是隨手翻閱了《葬送的芙莉蓮》的漫畫。起初，我並未抱有什麼期待，畢竟當前多數的新漫畫只適合打發時間。
Awhile back, I came across a news story of a man who stopped a knife attack on Taichung’s MRT. The hero, Rui-hsian Hsu, quoted a line from Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End during an interview, and this piqued my interest in the manga. While taking a much-needed break from my dissertation, I decided to give Frieren a try. Initially, I didn’t have high hopes, as many new manga serve as little more than distractions.
乍看之下，我以為《芙莉蓮》只不過是又一部奇幻作品，特別是在充斥著異世界轉生題材的類型中，一個千歲精靈作為主角並沒有特別吸引我。但我完全錯了。隨著我深入閱讀這個故事，我發現這部作品中所呈現的人物塑造和主題是如此深刻，直擊人心。
At first glance, Frieren seemed like just another fantasy series, especially in a genre saturated with tales of reincarnation and otherworldly adventures. The idea of a 1,000-year-old elf as the protagonist didn’t particularly appeal to me. But boy, was I wrong. As I delved into the story, I discovered that this series offers some of the most well-developed characters and themes I’ve encountered, speaking directly to the heart.
故事發生在一個英雄旅程已經結束的世界中，主線圍繞著芙莉蓮，一位活過人類同伴並在他們去世後踏上理解人類短暫生命本質之旅的精靈魔法師。這部作品因其沉思的節奏、哲學深度和情感共鳴而廣受讚譽。它巧妙地探討了死亡、關係與生命意義等主題，使人感動至深。角色們尤其令人著迷——每個人都有獨特的動機和複雜的情感，展示出善良往往在最意想不到的地方綻放。
The plot unfolds in a world where the typical heroic journey has ended. It follows Frieren, an elf mage who outlives her human companions and embarks on a journey to understand the fleeting nature of human life after their deaths. The series is celebrated for its reflective pacing, philosophical depth, and emotional resonance. It beautifully explores the themes of mortality, relationships, and the meaning of life, making it a profoundly moving experience. The characters are especially captivating—each with unique motivations and complex emotions, they reveal that goodness often emerges in the most unexpected places.
讓我驚訝的是，《葬送的芙莉蓮》中的主題讓我想起了教育學課堂上學到的一個概念：關懷倫理學（The Ethics of Care）。Nel Noddings強調，關懷倫理學捕捉到人類關係的複雜性以及隨之而來的道德責任（Nel Noddings，1988）。此一觀點強調，關心他人是倫理生活的核心。聚焦於關懷與同理心（empathy），可以讓我們開展出更具同情心與回應性的道德觀（morality）。在特定情境下，關懷倫理學可以在功利主義無法提供指引時，發揮重要作用。
Surprisingly, the themes in Frieren reminded me of something I once studied in one of my edu courses: the ethics of care. Nel Noddings (1988, 1984) emphasized that the ethics of care can enable practitioners to recognizes the complexity of human relationships and the moral responsibilities they entail. This perspective highlights that caring for others is at the core of ethical life, and by focusing on care and empathy, we can cultivate a more compassionate and responsive approach to morality. In specific contexts, the ethics of care can help guide us when utilitarianism cannot.
例如，想像一位護士抽出時間傾聽一位老人講述過去的故事。儘管這種行為從純粹功利主義的角度看似微不足道或低效，但關懷倫理認識到對病人而言這具有深遠的意義。這位護士出於真誠的關懷，明白被傾聽和被重視能提升病人的尊嚴感和幸福感。這種選擇並非出於效率考量，而是對這段關係及病人獨特需求的關懷。
Consider, for example, a situation where a nurse takes the time to listen to an elderly patient who shares a story about their past. While this act might seem trivial or inefficient from a purely utilitarian standpoint, the ethics of care recognizes the profound significance it holds for the patient. The nurse, motivated by genuine care, understands that being heard and valued enhances the patient’s sense of dignity and well-being. This decision to listen is not driven by efficiency but by a commitment to the relationship and the patient’s unique needs.
在《芙莉蓮》中，這種倫理觀得到了具體呈現，當其中一位英雄投入時間幫助他遇到的每個村莊，執行看似平凡的小任務，如為老人跑腿或護送商人。這些行動表明，真正的英雄氣概不是在史詩般的戰鬥中誕生，而是在日常的善舉中體現。系列中的其他角色也體現了這一理想，展示了簡單的關懷之舉如何在數十年後仍產生深遠影響。
In Frieren, such ethics are mirrored when one of the heroes devotes time to helping every village he encounters, performing small, seemingly mundane tasks like running errands for the elderly or escorting merchants. These actions demonstrate that true heroism isn’t forged in epic battles, but in the quiet, everyday acts of kindness. Other characters in the series also embody this ideal, showing how simple gestures of care can have far-reaching impacts, even decades later.
《芙莉蓮》提醒我們應該專注於這個世界上的善良，並以關懷他人的心態迎接每一天。通過將同理心置於自我利益之上，簡單的善舉能創造出一種波及效應，照亮我們自己和周圍的生活。無論是幫助鄰居提購物袋、歸還失物，還是簡單地傾聽同事的煩惱，這些小小的善行都能帶來深遠的影響，尤其是在消極情緒經常佔據頭條的今天。
Frieren serves as a reminder to focus on the goodness in the world and to approach each day with care for others. By prioritizing empathy over self-interest, simple acts of kindness can create a ripple effect that brightens our lives and those around us. Whether it’s helping a neighbor with groceries, returning a lost wallet, or simply listening to a coworker’s concerns, these small gestures can make a profound difference, especially in a world where negativity often dominates the headlines.
這部作品生動地詮釋了我們的行為應該由關懷而非冷冰冰的功利計算所引導。它展現了即使是最微小的決策，只要根植於真誠的關懷，也能在混亂的生活中產生持久的影響。
This series beautifully illustrates the idea that our actions should be guided by care rather than by cold, utilitarian calculations. It shows how even the smallest decisions, when rooted in genuine care, can have a lasting impact on the world, even amidst the chaos of life.
關於《芙莉蓮》，還有許多值得探討的內容，但我不想破壞你親自體驗的樂趣。毫無疑問，我強烈推薦這部作品。無論你是想享受故事本身，還是練習英語，你都可以選擇閱讀英文版漫畫，或者觀看附帶字幕的動畫，甚至還有配音版本可供選擇。憑藉引人入勝的劇情、深刻的主題以及令人驚豔的音樂和畫面，《芙莉蓮》這部作品不僅會帶給你娛樂，也會讓你深思關懷與善良的力量。
There’s so much more I could say about Frieren, but I won’t spoil the experience for you. Needless to say, I highly recommend it. Whether you’re looking to enjoy the story or practice your English, you can choose the English version of the manga or watch the anime with subtitles—or even the dubbed version if you prefer. With its captivating plot, deep themes, and stunning music and artwork, Frieren is a story that will not only entertain you but also leave you reflecting on the deep impact of kindness and care.
圖片出處: mf.techbang.com
參考資料: Noddings, N. (1988). An ethic of caring and its implications for instructional arrangements. American journal of education, 96(2), 215-230.