内容简介
ENDURING LITERATURE ILLUMINATED BY PRACTICAL SCHOLARSHIP EACH ENRICHED CLASSIC EDITION INCLUDES: ? A concise introduction that gives readers important background information ? A chronology of the author's life and work ? A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context ? An outline of key themes and plot points to help readers form their own interpretations ? Detailed explanatory notes ? Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work ? Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction ? A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experience Enriched Classics offer readers affordable editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and insightful commentary. The scholarship provided in Enriched Classics enables readers to appreciate, understand, and enjoy the world's finest books to their full potential. SERIES EDITED BY CYNTHIA BRANTLEY JOHNSON Annotation An American classic of sexual expression that paved the way for the modern novel, The Awakening is both a remarkable novel in its own right and a startling reminder of how far women in this century have come. The story of a married woman who pursues love outside a stuffy, middle-class marriage, the novel portrays the mind of a woman seeking fulfillment of her essential nature.
《觉醒》以对通奸同情的笔调刻画女主人公“性意识”的觉醒,大胆表露她追求婚外情的爱情观。
作者简介
American author Kate Chopin (1850–1904) wrote two published novels and about a hundred short stories in the 1890s. Most of her fiction is set in Louisiana and most of her best-known work focuses on the lives of sensitive, intelligent women.
Her short stories were well received in her own time and were published by some of America's most prestigious magazines, including Vogue and the Atlantic Monthly. Her early novel At Fault (1890) was not much noticed by the public, but The Awakening (1899) was widely condemned. Critics called it morbid, vulgar, and disagreeable
凯特·肖邦(Kate Chopin,1851-1904),美国女作家,本名凯萨琳·欧福拉赫蒂(Katherine O'Flaherty),
自1889年至1902年间,她撰写供成人和孩童阅读的短篇小说,刊载于《大西洋月刊》、《时髦》、《世纪》和《哈伯青年手册》等杂志。主要作品为《河口人们》(1894年)和《阿卡迪亚之夜》(1897年)两部短篇小说集。重要的短篇小说包含《黛泽蕾的婴孩》,其内容为南北战争前路州境内异族通婚的故事。另有《一小时的故事》和《暴风》。 萧邦亦创作两部长篇小说:《咎》(1890年)和《觉醒》(1899年),后者舞台设于新奥尔良和大岛。她的小说中人物通常皆为路州居民,大部分作品设定和路州中北部的纳奇忒希相关。当时文学评论家认为萧邦在作品中始终处处表达她对女性的关怀。
作品大多以路易西安那州克里奥尔人为背景。现在已公认为19世纪女性主义作家的先驱。 出生于美国圣路易斯。父亲在她四岁时去世,此后她由克里奥尔(生长于西印度群岛和南美各地的欧洲人后裔)母亲的家庭抚养长大。她于1870年嫁给了奥斯卡·肖邦,一个棉花商。两人先是住在路易斯安那的新奥尔良,后又搬到一个大农场和讲法语的阿卡迪亚人住在一起。在1882她丈夫去世之后,肖邦与她的六个孩子返回圣路易斯。朋友们鼓励她写作。她在快四十岁的时候出版了第一本小说,《故障》(At Fault 1890)。她的短篇小说开始出现在世纪(Century)和哈泼杂志(Harper’s Magazine)。随后又出版了两个选集:《支流人》(Bayou Folk 1894)和《阿卡迪一夜》(A Night in Arcadie 1897)。最后的主要作品,有超短篇《一双丝袜》(A Pair of Silk Stocking) 等,其后的小说《觉醒》(The Awakening 1899),是她的杰作。但是由于小说以对通奸同情的笔调刻画女主人公“性意识”的觉醒,大胆表露她追求婚外情的爱情观,小说一出版便在美国文坛上引起了轩然大波,震惊了全美的书评人和读者。在圣路易斯,小说被从图书馆的书架上取下,并指责它是“一个性感的女人安于堕落”的故事,甚至斥它是一本“应列为毒品”的书,以至于肖邦本人也被圣路易斯文艺社取消会员资格。1899年底,她的出版商也拒绝出版她的第三本短篇小说集。肖邦感到自己在文学领域受到排斥,因此在她生命的最后岁月里,作者本人也被迫停止了写作,此后几乎再也没有动笔。
精彩书评
Chopin's (1850-1904) The Awakening , whose heroine rejects her husband and children as she indulges in solitude and in an adulterous infatuation, was embraced by the women's movement 70 years after its publication. Although they pale in comparison to the novel, these stories, which comprise Chopin's third and last short-fiction collection, serve to flesh out the Chopin oeuvre and deserve a place on women's studies syllabi. As in The Awakening , the author's social critiques here demythologize women, marriage, religion and family. A women escapes ``the incessant chatter'' of other females at a party and retires to the male domain of the smoking room, where she puffs on hashish and dreams of a love affair torn asunder. The perverse Mrs. Mallard revels in her newfound freedom when informed that her husband is a casualty of a train accident and dies of a heart attack when he shows up alive. Her fiance is wasted by illness and reeks death, and a repulsed Dorothea bolts; elsewhere, a monk is lured by the voice of a woman, a former intimate. And in a twist on the plot of The Awakening , a husband, plagued by suspicions of his late wife's infidelity, casts himself in the river. Toth wrote the biography Kate Chopin. (Jan.)
精彩书摘
The Awakening And Selected Stories of Kate Chopin By Kate Chopin Signet Book Copyright ? 1976 Kate Chopin All right reserved. ISBN: 0451524489 Excerpt Chapter 1 A green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door, kept repeating over and over: "Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapristi! That's all right!" He could speak a little Spanish, and also a language which nobody understood, unless it was the mockingbird that hung on the other side of the door, whistling his fluty notes out upon the breeze with maddening persistence. Mr. Pontellier, unable to read his newspaper with any degree of comfort, arose with an expression and an exclamation of disgust. He walked down the gallery and across the narrow "bridges" which connected the Lebrun cottages one with the other. He had been seated before the door of the main house. The parrot and the mockingbird were the property of Madame Lebrun, and they had the right to make all the noise they wished. Mr. Pontellier had the privilege of quitting their society when they ceased to be entertaining. He stopped before the door of his own cottage, which was the fourth one from the main building and next to the last. Seating himself in a wicker rocker which was there, he once more applied himself to the task of reading the newspaper. The day was Sunday, the paper was a day old. The Sunday papers had not yet reached Grand Isle. He was already acquainted with the market reports, and he glanced restlessly over the editorials and bits of news which he had not had time to read before quitting New Orleans the day before. Mr. Pontellier wore eye-glasses. He was a man of forty, of medium height and rather slender build; he stooped a little. His hair was brown and straight, parted on one side. His beard was neatly and closely trimmed. Once in a while he withdrew his glance from the newspaper and looked about him. There was more noise than ever over at the house. The main building was called "the house," to distinguish it from the cottages. The chattering and whistling birds were still at it. Two young girls, the Farival twins, were playing a duet from "Zanipa" upon the piano. Madame Lebrun was bustling in and out, giving orders in a high key to a yard-boy whenever she got inside the house, and directions in an equally high voice to a dining-room servant whenever she got outside. She was a fresh, pretty woman, clad always in white with elbow sleeves. Her starched skirts crinkled as she came and went. Farther down, before one of the cottages, a lady in black was walking demurely up and down, telling her beads. A good many persons of the pension had gone over to the Chênière Caminada in Beaudelet's lugger to hear mass. Some young people were out under the water-oaks playing croquet. Mr. Pontellier's two children were there - sturdy little fellows of four and five. A quadroon nurse followed them about with a faraway, meditative air. Mr. Pontellier finally fit a cigar and began to smoke, letting the paper drag idly from his hand. He fixed his gaze upon a white sunshade that was advancing at snail's pace from the beach. He could see it plainly between the gaunt trunks of the water-oaks and across the stretch of yellow camomile. The gulf looked far away, melting hazily into the blue of the horizon. The sunshade continued to approach slowly. Beneath its pink-lined shelter were his wife, Mrs. Pontellier, and young Robert Lebrun. When they reached the cottage, the two seated themselves with some appearance of fatigue upon the upper step of the porch, facing each other, each leaning against a supporting post. "What folly! to bathe at such an hour in such heat!" exclaimed Mr. Pontellier. He himself had taken a plunge at daylight. That was why the morning seemed long to him. "You are burnt beyond recognition," he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage. She held up her hands, strong, shapely hands, and surveyed them critically, drawing up her lawn' sleeves above the wrists. Looking at them reminded her of her rings, which she had given to her husband before leaving for the beach. She silently reached out to him, and he, understanding, took the rings from his vest pocket and dropped them into her open palm. She slipped them upon her fingers; then clasping her knees, she looked across at Robert and began to laugh. The rings sparkled upon her fingers. He sent back an answering smile. "What is it?" asked Pontellier, looking lazily and amused from one to the other. It was some utter nonsense; some adventure out there in the water, and they both tried to relate it at once. It did not seem half so amusing when told. They realized this, and so did Mr. Pontellier. He yawned and stretched himself. Then he got up, saying he had half a mind to go over to Klein's hotel and play a game of billiards. "Come go along, Lebrun," he proposed to Robert. But Robert admitted quite frankly that he preferred to stay where he was and talk to Mrs. Pontellier. "Well, send him about his business when he bores you, Edna," instructed her husband as he prepared to leave. "Here, take the umbrella," she exclaimed, holding it out to him. He accepted the sunshade, and lifting it over his head descended the steps and walked away. "Coming back to dinner?" his wife called after him. He halted a moment and shrugged his shoulders. He felt in his vest pocket; there was a ten-dollar bill there. He did not know; perhaps he would return for the early dinner and perhaps he would not. It all depended upon the company which he found over at Klein's and the size of "the game." He did not say this, but she understood it, and laughed, nodding good-by to him. Both children wanted to follow their father when they saw him starting out. He kissed them and promised to bring them back bonbons and peanuts. Copyright ? 1998 by Simon & Schuster Continues... Excerpted from The Awakening by Kate Chopin Copyright ? 1976 by Kate Chopin. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site. Chapter 1A green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door, kept repeating over and over:"Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapristi! That's all right!"He could speak a little Spanish, and also a language which nobody understood, unless it was the mockingbird that hung on the other side of the door, whistling his fluty notes out upon the breeze with maddening persistence.Mr. Pontellier, unable to read his newspaper with any degree of comfort, arose with an expression and an exclamation of disgust. He walked down the gallery and across the narrow "bridges" which connected the Lebrun cottages one with the other. He had been seated before the door of the main house. The parrot and the mockingbird were the property of Madame Lebrun, and they had the right to make all the noise they wished. Mr. Pontellier had the privilege of quitting their society when they ceased to be entertaining.He stopped before the door of his own cottage, which was the fourth one from the main building and next to the last. Seating himself in a wicker rocker which was there, he once more applied himself to the task of reading the newspaper. The day was Sunday, the paper was a day old. The Sunday papers had not yet reached Grand Isle. He was already acquainted with the market reports, and he glanced restlessly over the editorials and bits of news which he had not had time to read before quitting New Orleans the day before.Mr. Pontellier wore eye-glasses. He was a man of forty, of medium height and rather slender build; he stooped a little. His hair was brown and straight, parted on one side. His beard was neatly and closely trimmed.Once in a while he withdrew his gorch, facing each other, each leaning against a supporting post."What folly! to bathe at such an hour in such heat!" exclaimed Mr. Pontellier. He himself had taken a plunge at daylight. That was why the morning seemed long to him."You are burnt beyond recognition," he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage. She held up her hands, strong, shapely hands, and surveyed them critically, drawing up her lawn' sleeves above the wrists. Looking at them reminded her of her rings, which she had given to her husband before leaving for the beach. She silently reached out to him, and he, understanding, took the rings from his vest pocket and dropped them into her open palm. She slipped them upon her fingers; then clasping her knees, she looked across at Robert and began to laugh. The rings sparkled upon her fingers. He sent back an answering smile."What is it?" asked Pontellier, looking lazily and amused from one to the other. It was some utter nonsense; some adventure out there in the water, and they both tried to relate it at once. It did not seem half so amusing when told. They realized this, and so did Mr. Pontellier. He yawned and stretched himself. Then he got up, saying he had half a mind to go over to Klein's hotel and play a game of billiards."Come go along, Lebrun," he proposed to Robert. But Robert admitted quite frankly that he preferred to stay where he was and talk to Mrs. Pontellier."Well, send him about his business when he bores you, Edna," instructed her husband as he prepared to leave."Here, take the umbrella," she exclaimed, holding it out to him. He accepted the sunshade, and lifting it over his head de scended the steps and walked away."Coming back to dinner?" his wife called after him. He halted a moment and shrugged his shoulders. He felt in his vest pocket; there was a ten-dollar bill there. He did not know; perhaps he would return for the early dinner and perhaps he would not. It all depended upon the company which he found over at Klein's and the size of "the game." He did not say this, but she understood it, and laughed, nodding good-by to him.Both children wanted to follow their father when they saw him starting out. He kissed them and promised to bring them back bonbons and peanuts.Copyright ? 1998 by Simon & Schuster
前言/序言
璀璨的星辰与未曾言说的回响:欧美文学经典选读 一窥十九世纪末至二十世纪初的时代侧影,探寻个体精神在社会结构中的挣扎与觉醒。 本精选集汇集了多位欧美文学巨匠的标志性作品,这些作品超越了单纯的叙事,深入挖掘了人性的幽微、社会观念的桎梏,以及个体对自由与自我实现的执着追求。它们不仅是文学史上的里程碑,更是理解特定历史时期社会思潮与文化变迁的绝佳窗口。 本书收录的作品跨越了现实主义、自然主义乃至早期现代主义的边缘,风格各异,却共同指向了一个核心母题:在既定秩序下,个体生命如何寻求真实的存在感与意义。 --- 第一部分:现实主义的细腻刻画与社会批判的锋芒 本部分聚焦于那些以精湛的笔触描绘日常生活的作家,他们敏锐地捕捉到社会阶层、财富分配以及性别角色对个体命运的潜移默化影响。 1. 亨利·詹姆斯:《一位女士的肖像》(The Portrait of a Lady)节选或相关短篇 詹姆斯以其标志性的“视点小说”技巧,构建了一个关于文化冲突与道德选择的复杂迷宫。我们精选了他对新旧世界碰撞中美国式天真如何被欧洲的世故所侵蚀的深刻洞察。故事主角往往陷于一种微妙的、几乎是心理层面的困境,他们的选择并非基于戏剧性的事件,而是源于内心对自由与责任之间界限的不断试探。 关注点: 詹姆斯对“欧洲化”与“美国精神”的对比分析,对角色内心活动的详尽剖析,以及如何通过对话和环境暗示来揭示人物的真实意图,而非直白叙述。精选的片段将着重展现那种介于“应该做”与“想要做”之间的永恒张力。 2. 伊迪丝·华顿:《纯真年代》(The Age of Innocence)片段赏析 华顿的作品,如同她描绘的纽约上流社会,外表光鲜亮丽,内里却遵循着一套严苛、无形的道德律令。本选段将聚焦于那个特定阶层中,情感的表达如何被礼仪和传统所层层包装。作品中充斥着“不得已而为之”的悲剧性——人物深知何为幸福,却受制于家族荣誉和公开形象的枷锁。 主题侧重: 华顿对“社会化石”的描绘。如何通过精致的宴会场景、衣着细节乃至餐桌礼仪,来映射出社会对个人激情的无形绞杀。我们选择那些展现“沉默的抗议”和“被牺牲的激情”的场景,以体会那种克制之下的巨大能量。 --- 第二部分:自然主义的冷峻审视与命运的不可抗力 本部分的作品,深受十九世纪科学思潮的影响,倾向于将人物置于遗传、环境和偶然事件的巨大力量之下,展现命运的不可预测性和残酷性。 3. 斯蒂芬·克兰:《麦琪:一个街头女郎的故事》(Maggie: A Girl of the Streets)节选 克兰是美国自然主义的先驱之一。本选段将以一种近乎冷酷的、不带评判的视角,描绘底层生活如何一步步将一个单纯的女孩推向绝境。这里的“环境”不再是背景,而是吞噬个体意志的强大实体。故事中的人物似乎没有真正意义上的自由意志,他们的行动是环境和生理需求的必然结果。 分析维度: 关注语言风格的转变——从对人物行为的客观记录,到环境描写中蕴含的压抑感。探讨克兰如何拒绝传统道德说教,转而展示社会机制的“去人性化”作用。 4. 弗兰克·诺里斯:《麦克提格》(McTeague)或相关早期小说片段 诺里斯的作品常常具有史诗般的重量感,探讨贪婪、欲望与地域扩张(如美国西进运动背景下)对人性的腐蚀。选取的片段将展示人物被单一、原始的欲望(如对金钱或蛮力的迷恋)所主宰的过程。 核心探讨: 自然主义文学中,“兽性”与“文明”的对立。主人公的堕落不是道德瑕疵,而是某种原始冲动在特定社会背景下的必然爆发。文本将揭示,当社会规范松动时,隐藏在人性深处的驱动力如何占据主导地位。 --- 第三部分:现代主义的先声与内在世界的探索 在二十世纪交接之际,文学的焦点开始从外部环境转向角色的内心活动。本部分精选的作品开始模糊现实与梦境的界限,探索意识流的初步形态。 5. 欧内斯特·海明威:《在我们的时代》(In Our Time)选篇(早期短篇) 海明威的简洁、节制和“冰山理论”在此得到集中体现。选出的短篇将聚焦于“迷惘的一代”所特有的疏离感、创伤以及对宏大叙事的怀疑。人物的对话往往是“言之未尽”的艺术,真正的意义深藏于沉默和未被提及的经历之下。 解读方向: 分析海明威如何通过精确的动作描写和简短的对话,构建出一种“表层平静,内里汹涌”的张力。探讨在经历战争或情感巨变后,人物如何用一种近乎仪式化的行为(如饮酒、钓鱼)来对抗虚无感。 6. 威尔·卡瑟:《我的安东尼亚》(My Ántonia)的某些侧重于土地与记忆的篇章 卡瑟的作品是美国文学中对“大平原”精神的伟大颂歌,但其颂扬并非没有代价。选篇将侧重于她如何处理移民的艰辛、土地的辽阔对个体精神的塑造,以及记忆如何在时间流逝中被美化或异化。 关注点: 卡瑟对“坚韧的女性形象”(通常是移民背景的女性)的描绘,她们如何以近乎神性的力量在荒凉中扎根。同时,探讨记忆作为一种叙事工具,如何既是慰藉,也是一种自我构建的幻象。 --- 结语:永恒的文学价值 本选集旨在提供一个多维度的阅读体验,让读者得以跨越时空,与十九世纪末至二十世纪初欧美文学中最具穿透力的思想和艺术形式进行对话。这些作品共同构成了一幅复杂的人类精神图谱:在变革的时代洪流中,无论是面对社会的严格束缚,还是内心的无名冲动,个体的声音,即使微弱,也从未停止寻找其最真挚的表达方式。 它们是理解西方现代性焦虑与自我发现历程不可或缺的文本。