英语短篇小说赏析Chapter VI

ChapterVISymbolismandAllegoryQuestionsforThinking: Whatistheuseofasymbol?Couldyouthinkofsomeexamplesofsymbolsusedinourdailylife? Whatissymbolismintheliteraryworld?3.Haveyouheardofanallegorybefore?Whatisthedifferenceofanallegoryandasymbol?Symbolism: Intheliteraryworld,symbolismistheuseofsymbolstorepresentabstractthings,ideasorconceptionsinamorevisualandconcreteway.Symbolscouldbeobjects,charactersoranymoresubstantialrepresentationtoshowtheseabstractions.Takeaclichébutclassicexample:“rose”couldbeasymbolof“love”.Symbolismmayhelpwritersexpresssomemeaningwhichishardertobeconveyedonlybyliteralconcept-representation.Hence,itisaninfluentialandimportantfactorinliterature.Allegory: Allegoryservesasanextendedmetaphor.Themainpurposeofanallegoryistotellastorythathascharacters,asetting,aswellasothertypesofsymbols,whichhavebothliteralandfigurativemeanings. Thedifferencebetweenanallegoryandasymbolisthatanallegoryisacompletestorythatconveysabstractideastogetapointacross,whileasymbolisarepresentationofanideaorconceptthatcanhaveadifferentmeaningthroughoutaliterarywork. AnnBeattie(1947-),acontemporaryAmericanwriter,wasbornin1947inWashingtonD.C.Shehaspublishedsixcollectionsofshortstories,includingParkCity(1998),WhatWasMine(1991),andTheBurningHouse(1982),andsixnovels,includingMyLife,StarringDaraFalcon(1997),AnotherYou(1995),PicturingWill(1990),andChillyScenesofWinter(1976).HerdepictionsofthegenerationoftheAmericanswhogrewupinthe60s,especiallythelivesofmiddle-andupper-middleclassmenandwomeninAmerica,havebroughtherareputationasthespokespersonofhergeneration.Also,BeattieisoftenlinkedwithotherminimalistwriterssuchasBobbieAnnMasonandRaymondCarver.Shehasreceivednumerousawardsforherworks,includinganawardforexcellencefromtheAmericanAcademyandInstituteofArtsandLetters.JanusAnnBeattie Thebowlwasperfect.Perhapsitwasnotwhatyou’dselectifyoufacedashelfofbowls,andnotthesortofthingthatwouldinevitablyattractalotofattentionatacraftsfair,yetithadrealpresence.Itwasaspredictablyadmiredasamuttwhohasnoreasontosuspecthemightbefunny.Justsuchadog,infact,wasoftenbroughtout(andin)alongwiththebowl. Andreawasarealestateagent,andwhenshethoughtthatsomeprospectivebuyersmightbedoglovers,shewoulddropoffherdogatthesametimesheplacedthebowlinthehousethatwasupforsale.Shewouldputadishofwaterinthe kitchenforMondo,takehissqueakingplasticfrogoutofherpurseanddropitonthefloor.Hewouldpouncedelightedly,justashedideverydayathome,battingaroundhisfavoritetoy.Thebowlusuallysatonacoffeetable,thoughrecentlyshehaddisplayeditontopofapineblanketchestandonalacqueredtable.ItwasonceplacedonacherrytablebeneathaBonnardstilllife,whereithelditsown. Everyonewhohadpurchaseahouseorwhohaswantedtosellahousemustbefamiliarwithsomeofthetricksusedtoconvinceabuyerthatthehouseisquitespecial:afireinthefireplaceinearlyevening;jonquilsinapitcheronthekitchencounter,wherenooneordinarilyhasspacetoput flowers;perhapstheslightaromaofspring,madebyasingledropofscentvaporizingfromalampbulb. Thewonderfulthingaboutthebowl,Andreathought,wasthatitwasbothsubtleandnoticeable—aparadoxofbowl.Itsglazewasthecolorofcreamandseemedtoglowonmatterwhatlightitwasplacedin.Therewereafewbitsofcolorinit—tinygeometricflashes—andsomeoftheseweretingedwithflecksofsilver.Theywereasmysteriousascellsseenunderamicroscope;itwasdifficultnottostudythem,becausetheyshimmered,flashingforasplitsecond,andthenresumedtheirshape.Somethingaboutthecolorsandtheirrandomplacementsuggestedmotion.Peoplewholikedcountryfurniturealwayscommentedon thebowl,butthenitturnedoutthatpeoplewhofeltcomfortablewithBiedermeierloveditjustasmuch.Butthebowlwasnotatallostentatious,orevensonoticeablethatanyonewouldsuspectthatithadbeenputinplacedeliberately.Theymightnoticetheheightoftheceilingonfirstenteringaroom,andonlywhentheireyemoveddownfromthat,orawayfromtherefractionofsunlightonapalewall,wouldtheyseethebowl.Thentheywouldgoimmediatelytoitandcomment.Yettheyalwaysfalteredwhentheytriedtosaysomething.Perhapsitwasbecausetheywereinthehouseforaseriousreason,nottonoticesomeobject. Once,Andreagotacallfromawomanwhohadnotputinanofferonahouseshehadshownher.Thatbowl,shesaid—woulditbepossibletofindoutwheretheownershadboughtthatbeautifulbowl?Andreapretendedthatshedidnotknowwhatthewomanwasreferringto.Abowl,somewhereinthehouse?Oh,onthetableunderthewindow.Yes,shewouldask,ofcourse.Sheletacoupleofdayspass,thencalledbacktosaythatthebowlhadbeenapresentandthepeopledidnotknowwhereithadbeenpurchased. Whenthebowlwasnotbeingtakenfromhousetohouse,itsatonAndrea’scoffeetableathome.Shedidn’tkeepitcarefullywrapped(althoughshetransporteditthatway,inabox);shekeptitonthetable, becauseshelikedtoseeit.Itwaslargeenoughsothatitdidn’tseemfragile,orparticularlyvulnerableifanyonesideswipedthetableorMondoblunderedintoitatplay.Shehadaskedherhusbandtopleasenotdrophishousekeyinit.Itwasmeanttobeempty. Whenherhusbandfirstnoticedthebowl,hehadpeeredintoitandsmiledbriefly.Healwaysurgedhertobuythingssheliked.Inrecentyears,bothofthemhadacquiredmanythingstomakeupforalltheleanyearswhentheyweregraduatestudents,butnowthattheyhadbeencomfortableforquiteawhile,thepleasureofnewpossessionsdwindled.Herhusbandhadpronouncedthebowl“pretty”,andhehadturnedawaywithoutpickingituptoexamineit.HehadnomoreinterestinthebowlthanshehadinhisnewLeica. Shewassurethatthebowlbroughtherluck.Bidswereoftenputinonhouseswhereshehaddisplayedthebowl.Sometimestheowners,whowerealwaysaskedtobeawayortostepoutsidewhenthehousewasbeingshown,didn’tevenknowthatthebowlhadbeenintheirhouse.Once—shecouldnotimaginehow—sheleftitbehind,andthenshewassoafraidthatsomethingmighthavehappenedtoitthatsherushedbacktothehouseandsighedwithreliefwhenthewomanowneropenedthedoor.Thebowl,Andreaexplained—shehadpurchasedabowlandsetitonthechestforsafekeepingwhileshetouredthehousewiththeprospectivebuyers,andshe…shefeltlikerushingpastthefrowningwomanandseizingherbowl.Theownersteppedaside,anditwasonlywhenAndrearantothechestthattheladyglancedatheralittlestrangely. InthefewsecondsbeforeAndreapickedupthebowl,sherealizedthattheownermusthavejustseenthatithadbeenperfectlyplaced,thatthesunlightstruckthebluerpartofit.Herpitcherhadbeenmovedtothefarsideofthechest,andthebowlpredominated.Allthewayhome,Andreawonderedhowshecouldhaveleftthebowlbehind.Itwaslikeleavingafriendatanouting—justwalkingoff.Sometimestherewerestoriesinthepaperaboutfamiliesforgettingachildsomewhereanddrivingtothenextcity.Andreahadonlygoneamiledowntheroadbeforesheremembered. Intime,shedreamedofthebowl.Twice,inawakingdream—earlyinthemorning,betweensleepandalastnapbeforerising—shehadaclearvisionofit.Itcameintosharpfocusandstartledherforamoment—thesamebowlshelookedateveryday. Shehadaveryprofitableyearsellingrealestate.Wordspread,andshehadmoreclientsthanshefeltcomfortablewith.Shehadthefoolishthoughtthatifonlythebowlwereananimateobjectshecouldthankit.Thereweretimeswhenshewantedtotalktoherhusbandaboutthebowl.Hewasastockbroker,andsometimestoldpeoplethathewasfortunatetobemarriedtoawomanwhohadsuchafineaestheticsenseandyetcouldalsofunctionintherealworld. Theywerealotalike,really—theyhadagreedonthat.Therewerebothquietpeople—reflective,slowtomakevaluejudgements,butalmostintractableoncetheyhadcometoaconclusion.Theybothlikedetails,butwhileironiesattractedher,hewasmoreimpatientanddismissivewhenmattersbecamemanysidedorunclear.Buttheybothknewthis;itwasthekindofthingtheycouldtalkaboutwhentheywerealoneinthecartogether,cominghomefromapartyorafteraweekendwithfriends.Butshenevertalkedtohimaboutthebowl.Whentheywereatdinner,exchangingtheirnewsoftheday,orwhiletheylayinbedatnightlisteningthestereoandmurmuringsleepydisconnections,shewasoftentemptedtocomerightout andsaythatshethoughtthatthebowlinthelivingroom,thecream-coloredbowl,wasresponsibleforhersuccess.Butshedidn’tsayit.Shecouldn’tbegintoexplainit.Sometimesinthemorning,shewouldlookathimandfeelguiltythatshehadsuchaconstantsecret. Coulditbethatshehadsomedeeperconnectionwiththebowl—arelationshipofsomekind?Shecorrectedherthinking:howcouldsheimaginesuchathing,whenshewasahumanbeinganditwasabowl?Itwasridiculous.Justthinkofhowpeoplelivedtogetherandlovedeachother…Butwasthatalwayssoclear,alwaysarelationship?Shewasconfusedbythesethoughts,buttheyremainedinhermind.Therewassomethingwithinhernow,somethingreal,thatshenevertalkedabout. Thebowlwasamystery,eventoher.Itwasfrustrating,becauseherinvolvementwiththebowlcontainedasteadysenseofunrequitedgoodfortune;itwouldhavebeeneasiertorespondifsomesortofdemandweremadeinreturn.Butthatonlyhappenedinfairytales.Thebowlwasjustabowl.Shedidnotbelievethatforonesecond.Whatshebelievedwasthatitwassomethingsheloved. Inthepast,shehadsometimestalkedtoherhusbandaboutanewpropertyshewasabouttobuyorsell—confidingsomecleverstrategyshehaddevisedtopersuadeownerswhoseemedreadytosell.Nowshestoppeddoingthat,forallherstrategiesinvolvedthebowl.Shebecamemoredeliberatewiththebowl,andmorepossessive. Sheputitinhousesonlywhennoonewasthere,andremoveditwhensheleftthehouse.Insteadofjustmovingapitcheroradish,shewouldremovealltheotherobjectsfromatable.Shehadtoforceherselftohandlethemcarefully,becauseshedidn’treallycareaboutthem.Shejustwantedthemoutofsight. Shewonderedhowthesituationwouldend.Aswithalover,therewasnoexactscenarioofhowmatterswouldcometoaclose.Anxietybecametheoperativeforce.Itwouldbeirrelevantiftheloverrushedintosomeoneelse’sarms,orwroteheranoteanddepartedtoanothercity.Thehorrorwasthepossibilityofthedisappearance.Thatwaswhatmattered. Shewouldgetupatnightandlookatthebowl.Itneveroccurredtoherthatshemightbreakit.Shewashedanddrieditwithoutanxiety,andshemoveditoften,fromcoffeetabletomahoganycornertableorwherever,withoutfearinganaccident.Itwasclearthatshewouldnotbetheonewhowoulddoanythingtothebowl.Thebowlwasonlyhandledbyher,setsafelyononesurfaceoranother;itwasnotverylikelythatanyonewouldbreakit.Abowlwasapoorconductorofelectricity:itwouldnotbehitbylighting.Yettheideaofdamagepersisted.Shedidnothinkbeyondthat—towhatherlifewouldbewithoutthebowl.Sheonlycontinuedtofearthatsomeaccidentwouldhappen.Whynot,inaworldwherepeoplesetplantswheredidnotbelong,sothatvisitorstouring ahousewouldbefooledintothinkingthatdarkcornergotsunlight—aworldfulloftricks? Shehadfirstseenthebowlseveralyearsearlier,atacraftsfairshehadvisitedhalfinsecret,withherlover.Hehadurgedhertobuythebowl.Shedidn’tneedanymorethings,shetoldhim.Butshehadbeendrawntothebowl,andtheyhadlingerednearit.Thenshewentontothenextbooth,andhecameupbehindher,tappingtherimagainsthershoulderassheranherfingersoverawoodcarving.“You’restillinsistingthatIbuythat?”shesaid.“No,”hesaid.“Iboughtitforyou.”Hehadboughtherotherthingsbeforethis—thingsshelikedmore,atfirst—thechild’sebony-and-turguoiseringthatfittedherlittlefinger;the woodenbox,longandthin,beautifullydovetailed,thatsheusedtoholdpaperclips;thesoftgraysweaterwithapunchpocket.Itwashisideathatwhenhecouldnotbetheretoholdherhandshecouldholdherown—claspherhandinsidethelonepocketthatstretchedacrossthefront.Butintimeshebecamemoreattachedtothebowlthantoanyofhisotherpresents.Shetriedtotalkherselfoutofit.Sheownedotherthingsthatweremorestrikingorvaluable.Itwasn’tanobjectwhosebeautyjumpedoutatyou;alotofpeoplemusthavepasseditbybeforethetwoofthemsawitthatday. Herloverhadsaidthatshewasalwaystooslowtoknowwhatshereallyloved.Whycontinuewithherlifethewayitwas?Whybetwo-faced,heaskedher.Hehadmadethefirstmovetowardher.Whenshewouldnotdecideinhisfavor, wouldnotchangeherlifeandcometohim,heaskedherwhatmadeherthinkshecouldhaveitbothways.Andthenhemadethelastmoveandleft.Itwasadecisionmeanttobreakherwill,toshatterherintransigentideasabouthonoringpreviouscommitments. Timepassed.Aloneinthelivingroomatnight,sheoftenlookedatthebowlsittingonthetable,stillandsafe,unilluminated.Initsway,itwasperfect:theworldcutinhalf,deepandsmoothlyempty.Neartherim,evenindimlight,theeyemovedtowardonesmallflashofblue,avanishingpointonthehorizon. Discussion: Whatdoesthetitle—“Janus”—trytosuggest?Thestorybeginswith“Thebowlwasperfect”.Isthisremarkgivenbythewriter,bytheclientsorbythefemaleprotagonist?Why? Thetitlesuggeststhehypocriticallifetheheroineisleadinginthestory.(Answerstothequestionscanvary.) Whatqualitiesorparticularitiesdoesthisbowlhave?Whatdoesthisbowlmeantotheprotagonist? Thebowlisaparadoxofthedelicateandthenoticeable.Theprotagonistthinksitisthesecretofhersuccessinbusiness,andalsoitisrelatedwithasecretloverinherpast.3.How’stherelationshipbetweentheprotagonistandherhusband?Whywouldn’tsheliketotalkaboutthebowlwithherhusband? Theywereoncecloseandwentthroughadifficulttimetogether,butnowtheyhavebeenindifferenttoeachotherandstopcommunicating.Herhusbanddoesnotcareaboutthebowlandshedoesn’tdaretoexposethesecrettoanyoneeither. 4.Whatdoyouthinkthisbowlstandsforinthestory? Thebowlisthesymbolofthefailureofhermarriage,butitisalsothesymbolofherchoosingtostayintheunsuccessfulmarriage.(Answerscanvary.)DavidHerbertLawrence(1885–1930)isanimportantandcontroversialEnglishwriterofthe20thcentury,whoseoutputspansnovels,shortstories,poems,plays,essays,travelbooks,paintings,translations,literarycriticismandpersonalletters.Theseworksrepresentanextendedreflectionuponthedehumanizingeffectsofmodernityandindustrialization.RealismisthemainfeatureofLawrence'swritingsandhisdepictionsofthegrittystrugglesofeverydaylifegivemanyofhisnovelsamelancholytone. Amonghismanyworks,mostfamousonesincludeSonsandLovers(1913),TheRainbow(1915),WomeninLove(1920),andLadyChatterley'sLover(1928).Inthem,Lawrenceconfrontsissuesrelatingtoemotionalhealthandvitality,spontaneity,sexuality,andinstinctivebehavior.Hisopinionsonthoseissuesincurrednumerousandmaliciousdenouncementinhislifetime,buthistalentsfinallywonhimahighposthumousreputationintheliteratureworld.TheRocking-HorseWinnerD.H.Lawrence Therewasawomanwhowasbeautiful,whostartedwithalltheadvantages,yetshehadnoluck.Shemarriedforlove,andtheloveturnedtodust.Shehadbonnychildren,yetshefelttheyhadbeenthrustuponher,andshecouldnotlovethem.Theylookedathercoldly,asiftheywerefindingfaultwithher.Andhurriedlyshefeltshemustcoverupsomefaultinherself.Yetwhatitwasthatshemustcoverupsheneverknew.Nevertheless,whenherchildrenwerepresent,shealwaysfeltthecentreofherheartgohard.Thistroubledher,andinhermannershewasallthemoregentleandanxiousforherchildren,asifshelovedthemverymuch.Onlysheherselfknewthatatthecentreofherheartwasahardlittleplacethatcouldnotfeellove,no,notforanybody.Everybodyelsesaidofher:“Sheissuchagoodmother.Sheadoresherchildren.”Onlysheherself,andherchildrenthemselves,knewitwasnotso.Theyreaditineachother’seyes. Therewereaboyandtwolittlegirls.Theylivedinapleasanthouse,withagarden,andtheyhaddiscreetservants,andfeltthemselvessuperiortoanyoneintheneighbourhood. Althoughtheylivedinstyle,theyfeltalwaysananxietyinthehouse.Therewasneverenoughmoney.Themotherhadasmallincome,andthefatherhadasmallincome,butnotnearlyenoughforthesocialpositionwhichtheyhadtokeepup.Thefatherwentintotowntosomeoffice.Butthoughhehadgoodprospects,theseprospectsnevermaterialized.Therewasalwaysthegrindingsenseoftheshortageofmoney,thoughthestylewasalwayskeptup. Atlastthemothersaid:“IwillseeifIcan’tmakesomething.”Butshedidnotknowwheretobegin.Sherackedherbrains,andtriedthisthingandtheother,butcouldnotfindanythingsuccessful.Thefailuremadedeeplinescomeintoherface.Herchildrenweregrowingup,theywouldhavetogotoschool.Theremustbemoremoney,theremustbemoremoney. Thefather,whowasalwaysveryhandsomeandexpensiveinhistastes,seemedasifheneverwouldbeabletodoanythingworthdoing.Andthemother,whohadagreatbeliefinherself,didnotsucceedanybetter,andhertasteswerejustasexpensive. Andsothehousecametobehauntedbytheunspokenphrase:Theremustbemoremoney!Theremustbemoremoney!Thechildrencouldhearitallthetime,thoughnobodysaiditaloud.TheyhearditatChristmas,whentheexpensiveandsplendidtoysfilledthenursery.Behindtheshiningmodernrocking-horse,behindthesmartdoll’shouse,avoicewouldstartwhispering:“Theremustbemoremoney!Theremustbemoremoney!”Andthechildren wouldstopplaying,tolistenforamoment.Theywouldlookintoeachother’seyes,toseeiftheyhadallheard.Andeachonesawintheeyesoftheothertwothattheytoohadheard.“Theremustbemoremoney!Theremustbemoremoney!” Itcamewhisperingfromthespringsofthestill-swayingrocking-horse,andeventhehorse,bendinghiswooden,champinghead,heardit.Thebigdoll,sittingsopinkandsmirkinginhernewpram,couldhearitquiteplainly,andseemedtobesmirkingallthemoreself-consciouslybecauseofit.Thefoolishpuppy,too,thattooktheplaceoftheteddy-bear,hewaslookingsoextraordinarilyfoolishfornootherreasonbutthatheheardthesecretwhisperalloverthehouse:“Theremustbemoremoney!” Yetnobodyeversaiditaloud.Thewhisperwaseverywhere,andthereforenoonespokeit.Justasnooneeversays:“Wearebreathing!”inspiteofthefactthatbreathiscomingandgoingallthetime. “Mother,”saidtheboyPauloneday,“whydon’twekeepacarofourown?Whydowealwaysuseuncle’s,orelseataxi?” “Becausewe’rethepoormembersofthefamily,”saidthemother. “Butwhyarewe,mother?” “Well-Isuppose,”shesaidslowlyandbitterly,“it’sbecauseyourfatherhasnoluck.” Theboywassilentforsometime. “Isluckmoney,mother?”heaskedrathertimidly. “No,Paul.Notquite.It’swhatcausesyoutohavemoney.” “Oh!”saidPaulvaguely.“IthoughtwhenUncleOscarsaidfilthylucker,itmeantmoney.” “Filthylucredoesmeanmoney,”saidthemother. “Butit’slucre,notluck.” “Oh!”saidtheboy.“Thenwhatisluck,mother?” “It’swhatcausesyoutohavemoney.Ifyou’reluckyyouhavemoney.That’swhyit’sbettertobebornluckythanrich.Ifyou’rerich,youmayloseyourmoney.Butifyou’relucky,youwillalwaysgetmoremoney.” “Oh!Willyou?Andisfathernotlucky?” “Veryunlucky,Ishouldsay,”shesaidbitterly. Theboywatchedherwithunsureeyes. “Why?”heasked. “Idon’tknow.Nobodyeverknowswhyonepersonisluckyandanotherunlucky.” “Don’tthey?Nobodyatall?Doesnobodyknow?” “PerhapsGod.ButHenevertells.” “Heoughtto,then.Andaren’tyouluckyeither,mother?” “Ican’tbe,ifImarriedanunluckyhusband.” “Butbyyourself,aren’tyou?” “IusedtothinkIwas,beforeImarried.NowIthinkIamveryunluckyindeed.” “Why?” “Well—nevermind!PerhapsI’mnotreally,”shesaid. Thechildlookedather,toseeifshemeantit.Buthesaw,bythelinesofhermouth,thatshewasonlytryingtohidesomethingfromhim. “Well,anyhow,”hesaidstoutly,“I’maluckyperson.” “Why?”saidhismother,withasuddenlaugh. Hestaredather.Hedidn’tevenknowwhyhehadsaidit. “Godtoldme,”heasserted,brazeningitout. “IhopeHedid,dear!”shesaid,againwithalaugh,butratherbitter. “Hedid,mother!” “Excellent!”saidthemother,usingoneofherhusband’sexclamations. Theboysawshedidnotbelievehim;or,rather,thatshepaidnoattentiontohisassertion.Thisangeredhimsomewhat,andmadehimwanttocompelherattention. Hewentoffbyhimself,vaguely,inachildishway,seekingfortheclueto“luck.”Absorbed,takingnoheedofotherpeople,hewentaboutwithasortofstealth,seekinginwardlyforluck.Hewantedluck,hewantedit,hewanted   it.Whenthetwogirlswereplayingdollsinthenursery,hewouldsitonhisbigrocking-horse,chargingmadlyintospace,withafrenzythatmadethelittlegirlspeerathimuneasily.Wildlythehorsecareered,thewavingdarkhairoftheboytossed,hiseyeshadastrangeglareinthem.Thelittlegirlsdarednotspeaktohim. Whenhehadriddentotheendofhismadlittlejourney,heclimbeddownandstoodinfrontofhisrocking-horse,staringfixedlyintoitsloweredface.Itsredmouthwasslightlyopen,itsbigeyewaswideandglassy-bright. “Now!”hewouldsilentlycommandthesnortin