lecture eight偉大的蓋茨比

TheGreatGatsbyByLiuFangComments——《TheOxfordCompaniontoAmericanLiterature》hisfinestnovel,sensitiveandsymbolictreatmentofthemesofcontemporaryliferelatedwithironyandpathostothelegendryoftheAmericandream.——《牛津美國文學(xué)詞典》《了不起的蓋茨比立即搜索》是他（菲茨杰拉德）最好的小說，該書敏銳地抓住了當(dāng)代社會生活的主題，并以象征手法展現(xiàn)了“美國夢”傳奇之下的嘲諷及悲悵?！猅．S．Elliot...thefirststepthatAmericanfictionhastakensinceHenryJames,becauseFitzgeralddepictedtheextolledgrandestandmostboisterous,recklessandmerry-making(尋歡作樂)scene.

——T．S．Eliot艾略特《了不起的蓋茨比》是自亨利·詹姆斯以來美國小說邁出的第一步，因為菲茨杰拉德在其中描寫了宏大、熙攘、輕率和尋歡，凡此種種，曾風(fēng)靡一時。

村上春樹《挪威的森林》對18歲那年的我來說，最欣賞的書是阿珀達(dá)依庫的《半人馬座α星》。但在反復(fù)閱讀的時間里，它逐漸失去最初的光彩，而把至高無上的地位讓給了菲茨杰拉德的《了不起的蓋茨比》。而且《了不起的蓋茨比》對我始終是絕好的作品。興之所至，我便習(xí)慣性地從書架中抽出《了不起的蓋茨比》，信手翻開一頁，讀上一段，一次都沒讓我失望過，沒有一頁使人興味索然。何等妙不可言的杰作！我真想把其中的妙處告訴別人。但環(huán)視四周，竟無一個人讀過《了不起的蓋茨比》，甚至連想讀的人都沒有！在1968年，閱讀菲茨杰拉德的作品，雖然算不得反動之舉，也終非值得提倡的行為。IntroductionoftheAuthorFrancisScottKeyFitzgerald(September24,1896–December21,1940)wasanAmericanauthorofnovelsandshortstories,whoseworksaretheparadigmaticwritingsoftheJazzAge,atermhecoined.HeiswidelyregardedasoneofthegreatestAmericanwritersofthe20thcenturyFitzgeraldisconsideredamemberofthe"LostGeneration"ofthe1920s.Hefinishedfournovels:ThisSideofParadise,TheBeautifulandDamned,TheGreatGatsby(hismostfamous),andTenderIstheNight.Afifth,unfinishednovel,TheLoveoftheLastTycoon,waspublishedposthumously.Fitzgeraldalsowrotemanyshortstoriesthattreatthemesofyouthandpromisealongwithageanddespair.GinevraKing(1898-1980)firstmetFitzgeraldonJanuary4,1915,Theymetatasleddingpartyand,accordingtolettersanddiaryentries,theybothbecameinfatuated(熱戀的，著迷的;).Theysentlettersbackandforthformonths,andtheirpassionateromancecontinueduntilJanuary1917.InAugust1916,Fitzgeraldfirstwrotedownthewords,thoughttohavebeensaidtohimbyCharlesG.King(fatherofGinevra,successfulbusinessman),thatwouldlaterrecurinthemovieadaptionofTheGreatGatsby:"Poorboysshouldn'tthinkofmarryingrichgirls."OnJuly15,1918,KingwrotetoFitzgerald,tellingofherengagementtoWilliamMitchell,thesonofherfather'sbusinessassociate.Theymarriedlaterthatyearandhadthreechildren.Thenin1937,sheleftMitchellforbusinessmanJohnT.Pirie(oftheChicagodepartmentstoreCarsonPirieScott&Company).ThatyearshealsometFitzgeraldforthelasttimeinHollywood;whensheaskedwhichcharacterwasbasedonherinTheBeautifulandDamned,Fitzgeraldreplied,"Whichbitchdoyouthinkyouare

LoisMoran(1909-1990)ComingofageinParisinthe1920s,filmandstageactressLoisMoranwasarumoredparamour情夫，情婦ofwriterF.ScottFitzgeraldandtheinspirationforthecharacterofRosemaryinhisTenderIstheNight

Lois與菲茨杰拉德的首次邂逅是在她17歲那年。她是一個貌美的默片女演員，但可惜星途坎坷。在她結(jié)婚生子之后，只拍了少數(shù)幾部電影，上過幾次電視。Lois和菲茨杰拉德的情事使得Zelda（菲茨杰拉德妻子）非常惱火，她為此數(shù)年不能釋懷。有一次，一氣之下甚至將隨身帶的白金鉆石腕表（菲茨杰拉德當(dāng)年送給她的訂婚禮物，非常珍貴）扔出火車窗外。IsadoraDuncan(1878-1927)雖然菲茨杰拉德并沒有與這位知名的芭蕾舞女演員傳出過緋聞，但是1927年由她引發(fā)的一起意外事件，卻使她成為Zelda精神狀況逐漸惡化的始作俑者。當(dāng)時，菲茨杰拉德夫婦和墨菲夫婦（GeraldandSaraMurphy）在一家餐館就餐，恰好Duncan也在。當(dāng)事人GeraldMurphy就該事件的記錄如下：“Scott（菲茨杰拉德）并不認(rèn)識她，是我向他介紹的。他馬上走向她的餐桌，坐在她身旁。她伸手撫摸他的頭發(fā)，但她當(dāng)時已垂垂老矣，頭發(fā)是紅色的，并非傳說中的紫色（其實那是她裙子的顏色），并且體態(tài)臃腫?！闭鎸嵉那闆r是，Duncan當(dāng)時正著手寫她的回憶錄，她只是向菲茨杰拉德征求意見。菲茨杰拉德很感興趣，她便把她的旅館住址和房間號告訴了他。Zelda一直緊緊的盯著他們，突然間站起身，跳下近旁的樓梯。她膝蓋摔的流了血，但所幸傷得并不嚴(yán)重。她爬起來又返回座位，一語不發(fā)。。Murphy的記錄如下：“當(dāng)時我認(rèn)為她死了，我們都驚得呆坐在那里。我記不清Scott做了什么，但我可以肯定他做得并不過分，我反復(fù)對自己這樣說。這件事讓我終生難忘?！边@件事情發(fā)生三年后，Zelda便首次精神崩潰SheilahGraham(1904-1988)wasanEnglish-bornAmericannationallysyndicated(adj.成為企業(yè)組合的)gossipcolumnistduringHollywood's"GoldenAge",SheilahGraham是個報紙專欄作家，她與菲茨杰拉德的邂逅是在1930年代后期。菲茨杰拉德當(dāng)時在好萊塢當(dāng)編劇，但不久便宣告失敗。他們倆的關(guān)系持續(xù)了幾年。雖然這時Zelda已（因精神疾患）入院治療，但菲茨杰拉德和她仍然維持著夫妻關(guān)系。Sheilah是《最后的大亨》（TheLastTycoon，菲茨杰拉德未完成之作）中Kathleen的原型，一個年輕版的Zelda。Sheilah和菲茨杰拉德的關(guān)系并非順風(fēng)順?biāo)袝r甚至?xí)l(fā)展到拳腳相加的地步，酒后爭吵、相互辱罵更是不在話下。菲茨杰拉德1940年12月24日歿于Sheilah的公寓，當(dāng)時她陪在他的身邊。幾年后，Sheilah將他們的故事寫成小說《癡情恨》（BelovedInfidel），不久便改編成電影，由格里高利·派克（GregoryPeck）飾演菲茨杰拉德，黛博拉·蔻兒（DeborahKerr）飾演Sheilah。

"I'llonlyberemembered,ifI'mrememberedatall,becauseofScottFitzgerald".Theysharedahome,wereconstantcompanions,andFitzgeraldwasstillmarriedtohiswife,Zelda,whowasinstitutionalizedinanasylum.Nonetheless,Grahamprotestedherdescriptionashis"mistress"inherbook,TheRestoftheStory,onthebasisthatshewas"awomanwholovedScottFitzgeraldforbetterorworseuntilhedied".ZeldaSayreFitzgerald

(July24,1900–March10,1948),wasanAmericannovelistandthewifeofwriter

F.ScottFitzgerald.TheirlivesareaclassicstudyoftheAmericanDreaminallitshighs,lows,excesses,andjoys.Highlylaudedasawriter,FitzgeraldwasoftenmiredindebtbecauseofhisandZelda'slavishlifestyle,livingbeyondtheirmeans.theirmarriagewasatangleofjealousy,resentmentandacrimony.TheGreatGatsbyandFitzgerald'scharactersDaisyandTomBuchanan,Myrtle,JayGatsby,andNickCarrawayepitomizedtheJazzAge.butithasalsoremainedtimelessinitsexaminationofman'sobsessionswithandneedformoney,power,knowledge,andhope.thearchetypeofmanyheroinesinFitzgerald‘snovelssuchasRosharoninThisSideofParadise,NickleinTenderistheNightandHeleninBabylonRevisited.Thesefemaleimagesrepresenttheideologyandbehavioroftheflappers(輕佻女子)

inthe1920softheU.S.A.Theyarebeautiful,fashionableandopen-mindedandtrytopursuematerialcomforts,butatlasttheylosethemselvesintheroaring"JazzAge"andruintheirloveaswell.Therefore,thesenseofdisillusionmentandgloomisusuallyhiddeninthedescriptionofthesceneryofcheerandlaughinFitzgerald'snovels.BriefIntroductionafullsummaryofthestoryCharactersthemesTheGreatGatsby,publishedin1925,iswidelyconsideredtobeF.ScottFitzergerald'sgreatestnovel.ItisalsoconsideredaseminalworkonthefallibilityoftheAmericandream.

Itfocusesonayoungman,JayGatsby,who,afterfallinginlovewithawomanfromthesocialelite,makesalotofmoneyinanefforttowinherlove.

ShemarriesamanfromherownsocialstrataandGatsbydiesdisillusionedwiththeconceptofaself-mademan.FitzgeraldseemstoarguethatthepossibilityofsocialmobilityinAmericaisanillusion,andthatthesocialhierarchiesofthe"NewWorld"arejustasrigidasthoseofEurope.Thenovelisalsofamousasadescriptionofthe"JazzAge,"aphrasewhichFitzgeraldhimselfcoined.AftertheshockofmovingfromapolicyofisolationismtoinvolvementinWorldWarI,Americaprosperedinwhataretermedthe"RoaringTwenties."Fitzgerald'sTheGreatGatsbywasnotagreatsuccessduringhislifetime,butbecameasmashhitafterhisdeath,especiallyafterWorldWarII.Untilnow,sixfilms,anopera,andaplayhavebeenmadefromthetext.IthassincebecomeastapleofthecanonofAmericanliterature,andistaughtatmanyhighschoolsanduniversitiesacrossthecountryandtheworld.CharacterList

JayGatsby(JamesGatz)Gatsbyis,ofcourse,boththenovel'stitlecharacteranditsprotagonist.Gatsbyisamysterious,fantasticallywealthyyoungman.Heworkedbrieflyforamillionaire,andbecameacquaintedwiththepeopleandcustomsofhighsociety.This,coupledwithhisloveofDaisy,inspiredGatsbytodevotehislifetotheacquisitionofwealth.NickCarrawayThenovel'snarrator,NickCarrawaycomesfromawell-to-doMinnesotafamily.HetravelstoNewYorktolearnthebondbusiness;there,hebecomesinvolvedwithbothGatsbyandDaisyheishonest,responsible,andfair-minded,ofallthenovel'scharacters,heistheonlyonetorecognizeGatsby's"greatness,"-revealinghimselfasayoungmanofunusualsensitivity.DaisyBuchananDaisyisNick'scousin,Tom'swife,andthewomanthatGatsbyloves.ShehadpromisedtowaitforJayGatsbyuntiltheendofthewar,butaftermeetingTomBuchananandcomparinghisextremewealthtoGatsby'spoverty,shebrokeherpromise.TomBuchananAbrutal,hulkingman,TomBuchananisaformerYalefootballplayerwho,likeDaisy,comesfromanimmenselywealthyMidwesternfamily.Hisracismandsexismaresymptomaticofhisdeepinsecurityabouthiselevatedsocialposition.

Tomisaviciousbully,physicallymenacing(威脅;恐嚇;)bothhiswifeandhismistress.

Heisathoroughgoinghypocrite([?h?p??kr?t])偽君子aswell:thoughhecondemnshiswifeforherinfidelity,

Hehasnoqualms(不安，疑懼；)aboutcarryingonanaffairhimself.JordanBakerDaisy'slongtimefriend,JordanBakerisaprofessionalgolferwhocheatedinordertowinherfirsttournament.Jordanisextremelycynical,withamasculine,icydemeanor(n.

<正>行為，舉止，態(tài)度)thatNickinitiallyfindscompelling.Thetwobecomebrieflyinvolved,butJordanrejectshimonthegroundsthatheisascorruptanddecadentassheis.MyrtleWilsonAnearthy,vital,andvoluptuous(adj.性感的；體態(tài)豐滿的)woman,Myrtleisdesperatetoimproveherlife.ShesharesalovelessmarriagewithGeorgeWilson,amanwhorunsashabbygarage.Shehasbeenhavingalong-termaffairwithTomBuchanan,andisveryjealousofhiswife,Daisy.Afterafightwithherhusband,sherunsoutintothestreetandishitandkilledbyGatsby'scar.Othercharacters:GeorgeB.WilsonHenryGatzMeyerWolfsheimDanCodyMichaelisCatherineTheMcKeesEwingKlipspringerOwlEyesMajorThemesHonestyHonestydoesnotseemtodeterminewhichcharactersaresympatheticandwhicharenotinthisnovelinquitethesamewaythatitdoesinothers.NickisabletoadmireGatsbydespitehisknowledgeoftheman'sillegaldealingsandbootlegging(走私漏稅).Ironically,itisthecorruptDaisywhotakespauseatGatsby’ssordid（

adj.骯臟的；污穢的；卑鄙的；邋遢的）past.Herindignation(n.

憤怒，憤慨)athis"dishonesty,"however,islessmoralthanclass-based.HersenseofwhyGatsbyshouldnotbehaveinanimmoralmannerisbasedonwhatsheexpectsfrommembersofhermilieu([mi:'lj?:]

n.

周圍；環(huán)境),ratherthanwhatshebelievestobeintrinsicallyright.Thestandardsforhonestyandmoralityseemtobedependentonclassandgenderinthisnovel.Tomfindshiswife'sinfidelityintolerable,however,hedoesnothesitatetolietoherabouthisownaffair.DecayDecayisawordthatconstantlycomesupinTheGreatGatsby,whichisappropriateinanovelwhichcentersaroundthedeathoftheAmericanDream.Decayismostevidentintheso-called"valleyofashes."Fitzgerald'simplicationseemstobethatsocietyhasalreadydecayedenoughandrequiresnonewtwist.GenderRolesInhisnovel,menworktoearnmoneyforthemaintenanceofthewomen.Menaredominantoverwomen,especiallyinthecaseofTom,whoassertshisphysicalstrengthtosubdue（

vt.

征服；）them.TheonlyhintofarolereversalisinthepairofNickandJordan.Thewomeninthenovelareaninterestinggroup,becausetheydonotdivideintothetraditionalgroupsinstead,noneofthemarepure.Myrtleisthemostobviouslysensual,butthefactthatJordanandDaisywearwhitedressesonlyhighlightstheircorruption.ViolenceViolenceisakeythemeinTheGreatGatsby,andismostembodiedbythecharacterofTom.Anex-footballplayer,heuseshisimmensephysicalstrengthtointimidatethosearoundhim.WhenMyrtletauntshimwithhiswife'sname,hestrikesheracrosstheface.TheothersourceofviolenceinthenovelbesidesTomarecars.AnewcommodityatthetimethatTheGreatGatsbywaspublished,Fitzgeraldusescarstosymbolizethedangersofmodernityandthedangersofwealth.Theclimaxofthenovel,theaccidentthatkillsMyrtle,isforeshadowedbytheconversationbetweenNickandJordanabouthowbaddrivingcancauseexplosiveviolence.Theendofthenovel,ofcourse,consistsofviolenceagainstGatsby.ThechoiceofhandgunasaweaponsuggestsGatsby'sshadypast,butitissymbolicthatitishisloveaffair,nothisbusinesslife,thatkillsGatsbyintheend.ClassClassisanunusualthemeforanAmericannovel.ItismorecommontofindreferencestoitinEuropean,especiallyBritishnovels.GatsbyisawareoftheexistenceofaclassstructureinAmerica,becauseatruemeritocracy（

n.

知識界精華）wouldputhimintouchwithsomeofthefinestpeople,but,asthingsstand,heisheldatarm'slength.Gatsbytriesdesperatelytofakestatus,evenbuyingBritishshirtsandclaimingtohaveattendedOxfordinanattempttojustifyhispositioninsociety.Ultimately,however,itisaclassgulfthatseperatesGatsbyandDaisy,andcements（vt.粘牢；鞏固；）thelatterinherrelationshiptoherhusbad,whoisfromthesameclassassheis.ReligionItisinterestingthatFitzgeraldchoosestousesomereligioustropes（n.

修辭，比喻）inanovelthatf