好人难寻-读后感-英文版

ViolenceandRedemptioninAGoodManIsHardtoFindInthenovelAGoodManIsHardtoFind,theauthordoesnotusetheanfractuousplotsandbrighthues,butjustdescribesthecharacterswhoareabnormal,pathological,vulgaranddespicableinthepuretoneofblackandwhite,andrepresentstheviolenceandsalvationofthem.O'Connorchoosescharacterswhoareabnormalasprotagonistswithintent,bepassionatefordealingwiththecharacters’endinginawayofviolentdeath,isactuallywantstowashawaytheirsinthroughtheroadofreligioussalvation,inordertoachievethetranscendenceonspirituallevel.Characterscreatedbyherareeagertobeintimateandfriendly,sincereandharmonious,buttheyarefetteredbythesinofselfish,treacherousandcunningwhichmakesthemcanonlywanderandstrugglingattheedgeofthefaith.Themomentofdeathgivesthemthepossibilityofsuddenenlightenmentintheirminds.ViolenceoftheSouthInO'Connor'snovels,violenceisgivenwithmoremeaning,itisnotjustanexternalform,akindofsalvationorgraceoftheGod,butalsoacomplexinnerconflictofsouthernersintheextremebackgroundwhichisabsurdandunreasonableduringthetransitionofsociety,itisalsothehopeofO'Connoronthepeopleintherealworldtoopenthevalveofgraceintheirhearts.MurderbyTheMisfitTheMisfitisatypical"abnormalman"createdbyO'ConnorwhoisafreakofmodernAmerican.Heisanihilist,apsychopath,amanwhohasacrisisoffaith,andamurderer.Heisnotakillerinborn,hejustlosthimselfandcarriedtoextremesduringthepathofpursuingtheGodinthiscommunitywhichisanomicandlackoffaith.Inhiscommunicationwiththegrandma,mostwordsareseemstobehissoliloquy.Hesaysthathehasforgotalotofthings,thepolicesaidhekilledhisfatherandtookhimintoprison,butheseemstobesurethathisfatherdiedoftheflu,butnotkilledbyhim.Thepoliceclaimedthattheyhaveanofficialdocument,buthehadneverseenit.Theprisonwithfencecompellingburiedhislife.Hesayshisparentsarethebestpersonsintheworld,hismotheristhebestwomancreatedbyGod,andhisfatherhasaheartofgold.Buthisfathersaidhewas"differentbreedofdog"andsaidhewas"goingtobeintoeverything".Itseemsthatthefatherdoesnotlikehim.Hecannotgetlovefromhisfather.Hewastreatedlikeaheterogeneousandwasexcludedfromthenormallifeoffamilyfromhischildhood.TheevilofTheMisfitnowisrelatedtohisunfortunateexperienceandhisfamilybackground,hisparentsabandonedhimfirst.HedoesnotbelieveinGod.Whenhewaseagertogetloveduringhischildhood,hemusthavebeenprayedpiously.Whenhewaswrongedandgotintoprison,hemusthavebeendonethisaswell.Butintherealworldwheretheblackandwhitecanbereversed,noonecansavehim,hissensitiveinnerandremnantdignityaretrampledruthlessly,hewasabandonedbyGod.Hisheartbecamesinking,indifferent,anddespairinggradually.Whenhetellsabouthisparentsandpreviousexperience,hisvoiceisgentleanddreamlike.Perhapsitisduetoage,hecannotfeelthepainofhiswoundinheart.Itseemsthatthosethingsheistellingarejustadream,andthoseprevious,dreamlikememoriesarejustaproofofhimasanormalpeople.AndwhenitcomestoGod,hishatebeginstobreakout,hesays：“Hethrowneverythingoffbalance.IfHedidwhatHesaid,thenit’snothingforyoutodobutthrowawayeverythingandfollowHim,andifHedidn’t,thenit’snothingforyoutodobutenjoythefewminutesyougotleftthebestwayyoucan---bykillingsomebodyorburningdownhishouseordoingsomeothermeannesstohim.Nopleasurebutmeanness”.WhenTheMisfitisangry,theoldgrandmawantstosavehimwithgreatlove.Shemurmurs:"Whyyou'reoneofmybabies.You'reoneofmyownchildren!",thenshereachesoutherandtoucheshisshoulders.JustthistouchmakesTheMisfitfeelsosurprised,herapidsback,feelinglikebittenbyasnakebitten,andshootsontheoldlady’schestwiththreeshots.TheMisfithasnoname,buthecanbeanyonewithanyname.Thiskindofpeoplewitnessandexperiencetoomuchevil,buttheycannotfindthewayofsalvationandtheexportoftheirinnerhearts.Theycanbearthefamilies’indifferenceandthesocietywithindifferenceandinjustice,butwhentheirfaith,whichistheinnerpillarofspiritintheirheartscollapses,theycannotbearanylonger.Faithisthelaststrawtocrushthecamel.Theyfeeldesperateforsocietyandhumanbeings,Theyclosethedoorofheartandrefusetocontactwithothers.Physicalcontact,whichsymbolizesintimacyintheeyesofnormalpeople,becomingapoisonwhichisnodifferencebetweenthesnake's.TheirheartsarefullofresentmentwhichisespeciallyforGod.BecauseGoddidnotsavethemwhentheyaresufferandletthebadguysatlarge.Theycannotventtheiranger,onlycangetakindofpleasurewhentheydestroythesocietyandruinothers.Nomatterhowguiltyapersonis,hewillnotbepunishedifthereisnohell,andtherewillbenoredemptionforgoodguysnomatterhowkindheisifthereisnoheaven.WhatkindofblowisitforthosewhoputallthehopesonGod.ThedeathofSpiritofismoreterriblethanthedeathofbody.Itismoreunbearable.SocialillsInthesouthernsocietycreatedbyO'Connor,thewayofpeople'slifehaschangedalot.Ontheonehand,people'sreligiouscustomsandideasarestilldeep-rooted,butontheotherhand,becauseoftheimpactofmoneyworship,people'sfaithhaschanged,therelationshipbetweenpeoplebecomesindifferentandutilitarian,andatthesametime,thesoulisalsofilledwiththenegativeemotionslikelonely,confusion,lost,dissatisfaction,avarietyofsocialproblemshaveemerged.InthenovelAGoodmanishardtofind,thecontemporarysouthernadultslivelikeawalkingdeadwithdepression,indifferenceandvapidity,theylivewithabodyshellwithoutspirit,suchasMr&Mrs.Bailey.Theyaretheoneswhoneedsalvation,buttheydonnotgetitandfinallydied.Theirlifeismorelikeasleepwalkingforwhichitdoesnotmattertoliveordie.Thosechildrenwithpurityandinnocenceareheiranddisseminatorofthecivilizationandalloutstandingachievementsofhumanbeings.Butbirthingandgrowingupunderthischaoticbackground,theyareinfluencedbythealienatedideologiesinthisdeformedworldfromtheirchildhood,people'sthoughtsandactionsarealldominatedbytheinterestsandmoney,thegrandsonandgranddaughteroftheoldladyhavenoinnocenceatall,theytalkwithadultsunscrupulous,withoutconcerns.Theyhavenoupbringing,theirspeechcannotwithoutmoneyandadventure.TheoldgrandmaclaimsthatsheisbelieveinChrist,itseemskindandfullofloveonthesurface,butactually,sheisselfish,hypocritical,cold,vulgar,empty,self-centeredandindifferentwithreligiousconsciousness.Shealwayswantstopretendherselfasanelegant,educatedcivilizedpeoplewhilesheisrevelinginthesuperiorityofclassandraceallthetime,discriminatingagainstblacks,usingthewordsofracialdiscriminationlikepickaninnyandnigger.Shedoesnotreallycareaboutothers,andsheneverreallylovesherfamilies.soherfamiliesdonotrespecthereither.Sheignoresthelifeanddeathofherfamilies,butonlycaresaboutherpersonalsafety,andeventhevoiceofshootingcomesfromthejunglecannotmakeherfluctuated.SheisthedefenderoftheoldsystemoftheSouth,theembodimentoftheegocentrismoftheWesternculture,themetaphorandsymboloforderandreasoninWestern,andthetypicalrepresentativeofthemiddleclassofwhite.Andallthatsherepresentswilldisappearwithherdeath,itneedstoacceptthebaptismandsalvationofthesoul.O'Connorbelievesthatthe"virtue"of“agoodman”whichcontainspride,self-righteousness,hypocrisy,conceitinsecularsense,isthegreatestsin,andisastumblingblocktosalvation.Assoonasamancanrealizethesinsandwanttomakeaconfession,therecanbeanopportunitytogetredemption.Therefore,thebestwaytomakesinnersawakeistobreaktheirinherentideasandpushthemtotheedgeofhelplesswithviolence,itcanleadthemtorealizethehumanweaknesscanbringagreatharmandthustorepentthemselves,gettheblessingofGod,andtheirsoulwillbesaved.RedemptionofthegrandmaInAGoodmanishardtofind,themisfortuneexperiencedbytheoldgrandmawhenshetravelsoutsidewithherfamiliesshowspeoplearoadofsoulsalvation.Thistripisafamilytriponsurface,butinessence,isatripofsoulsalvation.Theoldgrandma’spersuasiontoothersisalsoapersuasiontoherself,itmakesherembarkontheroadofsalvation,eveniftheendingisdeath.PersuasionTheoldgrandma’spersuasionisanimportantlinewhichthroughoutthetext.Atthebeginningofthisstory,shepersuadeshersonnottotakeaholidaytoFloridainSouth,buttoTennesseeinNorthinsteadwiththereasonofthenewsreportedonnewspaper,“HerethisfellowthatcallshimselfTheMisfitisaloosefromtheFederalPenandheadedtowardFlorida...”Thispersuasionisisforthesafetyofherfamilyonthesurface,butinfact,shejustwantstovisitherrelativesinTennessee.Thispersuasionvividlyreflectsherselfishside.Andwhentheyareinthecar,inordertoachieveherownpurposeofvisitingherhometown,shevividlydepictsthehouseinhermemoryandthetreasurewhichisnotexist,andatthesametime,sheinstigateshertwoyoungignorantgrandchildren,thatmakes“Thechildrenbegantoyellandscreamthattheywantedtoseethehousewiththesecretpanel.”andfinallyleadsthemtothedeathroad.Thispersuasionfullyreflectsthatsheisadespoticandself-centeredwoman.TheclimaxofthislineisthedialoguebetweentheoldgrandmaandTheMisfitaftertheirencountering.Whenshefacesthethreatoffugitive,sheblindlytoutsandflattershim,shesaysTheMisfitisa“goodman”againandagain,andsaystohim，”Youwouldn’tshootalady.”HerblandishmenttoTheMisfitshowsthatsheisaselfishandhypocrisywoman,butnota“goodman”whichisflauntedbyherself.ShewatcheshersonandhergrandchildrenkilledbyTheMisfit,shepersuadeshimtopraytogettheforgivenessfromGod.Whensheisthesurvivalafterherfamiliesarekilled,shestillhastheflukemind.Shestruggles,“Jesus!”criedher，“You’vegotgoodblood!Iknowyouwouldn’tshootalady!Iknowyoucomefromnicepeople!Pray!Jesus,yououghtnottoshootalady.I’llgiveyouallthemoneyI’vegot!”O'ConnorusesthepersuasionoftheoldgrandmatoTheMisfittoexposethattheoldgrandmaisjustareputedCatholic,infact,sheisaselfish,hypocriticalandgreedypeopleafraidofdeath.Asthedescriptionofthisnovel,“...thegrandma'sheadclearedforaninstant...shemurmured,'Whyyou'reoneofmybabies.You'reoneofmyownchildren!”,thepersuasionoftheoldgrandmatoTheMisfitbeforeherdeathisnolongerforsurvival,butforsalvation,thekindnessofGodisgiventoTheMisfitequally.Thismarksthespiritoftheoldgrandmahasaqualitativechange.ThatisthemomentofgettingthegracefromGod.DeathGrandma'sdeathinAgoodmanishardtofindissocruelthatpeoplecannottoleratethefactatfirst.Althoughshe'salwayssuperficial,selfishandhypocritical,shestillisapuregrandma.FlanneryO'Connorgivesherfateofdeathwithasimpleandsheerreason–thedeathforgrandmaisherrebirthaswell.Itcanbeseenastopurchaseoftheresurrection,forthemomentwhengrandmapassesaway,itmeansshestefootonthereservationroadwherecanshowthevalueofherlife;itmeansherworthrepresentationasarealperson,nomatterhowthatmomentshort.Therefore,grandmacangoawaypeacefullywiththatmuchthough-provoking,becausesheissoafraidofdeath.Withfairytale,gentleandhappysmileonherwholeface,shejustlooksupatthevaultofheaven.GrandmaregardsTheMisfitasherownchild,anditisthefirsttimeforhertodosomegoodthingsoutoflove.Thegloriousmomentinherlifefromtheviewofgrandmaherselfaswellasothersisthemomentofgod'sgrace.ForCatholicism,deathmeanstheendofmundanelifefromoneaspect-thebodyofpeopleisactually"dust",anditshouldbeitfinally.Fromtheotheraspect,deathmeanstheimmortalsoulcanfinallygetthechancetoentertheeternalkingdomofheaven,andthedeathisalsoasymbolofasublimelife.Whentheoldgrandmadies,“thegrandmawhohalfsatandhalflayinapuddleofbloodwithherlegscrossedunderherlikeachild'sandherfacesmilingupatthecloudlesssky.”Thisimagerevealsthereligiousimplicationofthenoveltothereaders,thelastdeathoftheoldgrandmacanbeseenassheisnotonaroadofnoreturn,butthatshehasacceptedthegraceofGod,andindicatesakindofsoulsalvation,itisawaytoregainthenewlife.Butherfamiliescannotrealizetheguiltyoftheirownuntiltheyaredying,soeventhoughtheyalsoendwithdeath,theirdeathismeaninglessandthesoulwasnotredeemed.Inthispart,theanabiosisofhumannatureandreligiousbeliefsareattheexpenseofviolenceanddeath.Atthelastmomentoflife,theoldgrandmaexperiencesarealfission,thatis,shetakesherselfasasoulasothersandgetsridoftheideologyofmaterialpursuit.Inthisway,shecompletelywonthesalvationofJesus,andwiththejoyandhappinessofthesoulsalvation.Atthismoment,itindicatesthattheoldgrandma’shumannaturetoberestored,andfinallygetstherelieffromdeath,andgetsthe“newlife“awardedbyGod.O'Connoroncesaid“IwasborntobeaCatholic,anddeathhasalwaysbeenmyimaginarybrother.Itdoesnotmakeanysensetomeifastorydoesnotendindeathoritsomen.”Herviewpointthatdeathisinevitableinhumanexistencehasdirectlyaffectedhernovelcreation,teemingherworkswithstressingatmosphere，whichisshockingandappalling.Fromtheperspectiveofartisticeffects,thetragiceffectdisplayedinherworksdoesmakeahit.O'Connoristhereforecalled“oneofthegreatesttragicwriterswhoinsistthatdeathbethemainfeatureofhumanexperience.”Consequently,somesayherviewoflifeanddeathiscloselyrelatedtoreligiousbelief.Deathisthedestinationofeverything.Deathiseternity.Deathisatonement.AccordingtoBible,manisborntobeguiltyeversinceAdamandEva,ouroriginalancestors,wentdown.Weliveinaworldfullofmaliceandweareunabletodogood.Menwilldogoodthingsonlyaftertheydowrong.MenwillbeawareoftheirownsinsoncetheybreakGod’sdisciplinesandrules.Thatiswhyhumanbeingsaredoomedtofall,andgotothephysicalandspiritualdestruction. Doomsdaytrialshallonedaycomebecausehumanhastosufferbeforetheycanbesalvaged.Whenwearetorturedintheworld,theonlythingwecandoistoprayforGod’smercyandpitytorescueusfromhardshipsfortheonlythingthatcancompletetheredemptionisHislove.WehavenomeaningofexistencewithoutHisfavor,andthereforeallattemptstoshakeoffHisblessingsareinvain.InO’connor’scomposition,shedexterouslychoosesthemosttypicalfiguresfromAmericanSouthernlife，andputstheseimagesintheparticularreligiousfieldtodescribethesoulsoftheseallegedpiousbelieversandpresenttheirabundantinneractivityindeepestheart.Asacalmandsubjectivepasser-by，shedesperatelyexaggeratestheirthoughtsandbehaviorsandultimatelymakestheseso-calledpiousfollowersdeformedandcontortedintherealitysurroundedbyviolence，death，threatandprofit，soastouncoverthedeeperevilanddarkofdissemblershiddenunderthesurfaceofgoodnessandmorality.But，inthemomentthattheirlivesend，theysuddenlyrealizethattheendlessdesireandgreedy，theuncontrolledevilintheirhearts.Hence，underthevarious，boldandbloodyviewsofshowingdeathandviolence，theymakeanewandtrueunderstandingofthemselvesandfaith.O’connorexplainsthat“Theonlywayforpeoplewantareliefisviolence，foritisviolencethatdragspeoplebacktorealityandmakesprovisionforfavor”，what'smore，shethinksthesepeoplearetoostubborn，nothingexceptviolencecanfreshthem.InO’connor'snovels，violenceisthemostcommonandtypicalmethodforhertodescribetheself-realizationofthebadpeople.Thereisadeepconnectionbetweenherpersistentfeelingtowardsdeathandherfaith，“IamaninbornCatholicanddeathismyimaginativebrother，Icannotunderstandthatastorydoesnotendupindeathorforebodingdeath”.Deathisalsoequippedwithspecialconnotation，itnevermeanstheendoflifebutthesoleinspirationonspirit.AsfarasO’connorconcerned，violenceanddeathcantransformpeoplefromdirectsensetodivinetranscendent，andunderstandtherealinspirationofCatholic，thatiscalledtranscendent—undertheviolencetoprospecttheexistenceofgodandeverlastingvalue，whichhighlightsthathumanityoverpassescommoncustomsandelevatestodivinitylevelsoastofinishspiritualsalvationundergod'senlightenmentoffaith.