Lesson9 The Bluest Eye课文分析培训讲学.ppt

LessonNine,“EachnightPecolaprayedforblueeyes.Inherelevenyears,noonehadevernoticedPecola.Butwithblueeyes,shethought,everythingwouldbedifferent.Shewouldbesoprettythatherparentswouldstopfighting.Herfatherwouldstopdrinking.Herbrotherwouldstoprunningaway.Ifonlyshecouldbebeautiful.Ifonlypeoplewouldlookather.”(BackCover),ToniMorrison(2008),ToniMorrison(1931-),ToniMorrisonisanAmericannovelist,editor,andprofessor.Hernovelsareknownfortheirepicthemes,vividdialogue,andrichlydetailedcharacters.AmongherbestknownnovelsareTheBluestEye,Sula,SongofSolomonandBeloved.Shealsowascommissionedtowritethelibretto(歌剧剧本)foranewopera,MargaretGarner,firstperformedin2005.,ToniMorrison,ShewontheNobelPrizein1993andin1987thePulitzerPrizeforBeloved.InApril2012itwasannouncedshewouldbeawardedthePresidentialMedalofFreedom(thehighestcivilianawardintheUnitedStates).,PresidentialMedalofFreedom,AbouttheAuthor,ToniMorrison:ToniMorrisonhasauniquestatureinAmericanliterature.SheisthewinneroftheNationalBookCriticCircleAward(1977),thePulitzerPrizeforFiction(1988)andmanyotherliteraryawards.ShewasgrantedtheNobelPrizeforLiteraturein1993,thusbecomingthefirstAfrican-Americanwritertoreceivethishonor.Shehaspublished7novels,amusical,aplay,andacollectionofcriticalessays.Herdevotedreadersarefoundallovertheworld,andtheyincludebothsexesandallcolors,agesandcreeds.AmemberofboththeNationalCouncilontheArtsandtheAmericanAcademyandInstituteofArtsandLetters,MorrisonhasactivelyusedherinfluencetoencouragethepublicationofotherAfrican-Americanwriters.ToniMorrisonwasbornChloeAnthonyWoffordinLorain,Ohioin1931.Shecamefromafamilyofsharecroppers(小佃农),whomovedfromtheSouthtoOhiotoescapeSouthernracism.Attheageof18MorrisonwenttoWashington,D.C.toattendHowardUniversity,themostdistinguishedblackcollegeinAmerica,whereshebecameinterestedinthestageandjoinedtheHowardUniversityPlayers.AftersheearnedaB.A.inEnglishfromHowardshewentCornellUniversityforgraduatestudiesinEnglishliterature.UponreceivingaM.A.fromCornell,shebeganherteachingcareer.From1955-1957shetaughtEnglishatTexasSouthernUniversity,andfrom1957-1964shetaughtatHoward.In1965,shebecameasenioreditoratRandomHouse,wheresheeditedanumberofAfrican-Americanwriters.,In1958shemarriedHaroldMorrison,aJamaican(牙买加)architectandhadtwosons.In1964theydivorcedandsheraisedthetwosonsbyherself.Shebeganwritingin1962.Herfirstworkwasashortstory,whichwouldlaterdevelopintoherfirstnovelTheBluestEye(1970)(最蓝的眼睛).IttellsastoryofalittleblackgirlnamedPecolaBreedlove,whoyearnedtohavetheblueeyesofawhitegirl,shebelievesshewillleadahappylifeifshehasbeautifulblueeyes.,In1971Morrisonresumedherteachingcareer,teachingEnglishatUniversityofNewYork,servingasavisitingprofessoratYalefrom1976to1978,attheStateUniversityofNewYorkatAlbanyfrom1984-1989.Since1989shehasbeenteachingatPrincetonUniversityasamemberoftheprograminAfrican-Americanstudiesandofthecreativewritingdepartment.Meanwhileshecontinuedherwriting.Hernextnovel,Sula(1974)(秀拉)examinesthefriendshipbetweentwoblackwomenSulaandNel,anddepictshowtheyhavegrownuptogether,buttakendifferentroadsoflifeintheirmaturity.ThenovelwontheNationalBookCriticAward.TheSongofSolomon,(所罗门之歌)publishedin1977,wasagreatersuccessthanherpreviousnovel.SetinMichiganintheearly1930s,thenovelisnarratedfromamalepointofview.Inhisefforttorecoverhisancestorsproperties,asackofgold,MilkmanDeadrediscoverieshisracialrootsandculturalidentity.ThenovelwasaBook-of-Monthclubselection,anditplacedToniMorrisoninthefirstrankofAmericannovelists.,TarBaby(柏油娃娃)cameoutin1981.Unlikeherpreviousnovels,thisbookhascharactersbothblackandwhite.Byjuxtaposing(placesidebyside)theminthecentralconflictoftheplot,theauthordramatizestheracialcomplexitiesthatcharacterizetheAmericanculturallandscape.Publishedin1987,MorrisonsnextnovelBeloved(爱娃)dealswithslaveryandinfanticide.ItwasanothertriumphandthewinnerofthePulitzerPrizeforFiction.TheprotagonistSethehasrunawayfromslaveryandisseekingrefugeinOhio.,Whentheslavemasterssearchforher,shekillsherbabygirlinordertosavehrfromslaveryshehasjustescaped.However,theghostofthebaby“Beloved”,anamewrittenonhertombstone,comesbacktohaunther.InJazz(1992)(爵士乐),Joe,theunfaithfulhusbandofViolet,killsagirlhelovessomuchinafitofpassion.Thefragmentednarrativegraduallyunfolds,showinghowandwhythistragedyhappenedinHarlem,NewYork.,Paradise(1998),love(2003)andAmercy(2008)arehermostrecentworks.Paradiseisa1997novelbyMorrisonandherfirstnovelsincewinningtheNobelPrizeinliteraturein1993.Accordingtotheauthor,itcompletesa“trilogy”thatbeginswithBelovedandincludesJazz.ItwaschosenasanOprahsBookClubselectionJanuary1998(OprahsBookClubisabookdiscussionclubsegmentoftheAmericantalkshowTheOprahWinfreyShow,highlightingbookschosenbyhost,OprahWinfrey.Winfreystartedthebookclubin1996,selectinganewnovelforviewerstoreadanddiscusseachmonth.Becauseofthebookclubswidepopularity,manyobscuretitleshavebecomeverypopularbestsellers,increasingsalesinsomecasesbyasmanyasseveralmillioncopies;thisoccurrenceiswidelyknownastheOpraheffect.)Interestingly,MorrisonwantedtocallthenovelWarbutwasoverriddenbyhereditor,ThenoveltellsthestoryofthetensionbetweenthemenofRuby,Oklahoma(anall-blacktownfoundedin1950)andagroupofwomenwholivedinaformerconvent(女修道院)seventeenmilesaway.Afteranopeningchapternamedafterthetown,theotherchaptersarenamedaftersomeofthefemalecharacters,butarenotsimplyaboutthewomen.Eachchapterincludesflashbackstocrucialeventsfromthetownshistoryinadditiontothebackstoryofthetitular(有名无实的)character.,Thefocusonthewomencharactershighlightsthewaysthenovelportraysthegenderdifferencesbetweenthepatriarchalrigidityofthetownsmenandtheclandestine(秘密的,暗中的)connectionsbetweenthetownswomenandthewomenattheConvent.Thenarrationservesasanalternativevoicetotheactionsinwhichthetownsmenprovide.LoveistheeighthnovelbyMorrison.Inhernon-linerstyle,thelivesofseveralwomenandtheirrelationshipstothelateBillCoseyunfold.,LoveisthestoryofBillCosey,acharismaticbutdeadhotelowner.Orrather,itisaboutthepeoplearoundhim,allaffectedbyhislifeevenlongafterhisdeath.ThemaincharactersareChristine,hisgranddaughterandHeed,hiswidow.ThetwoarethesameageandusedtobefriendsbutsomefortyyearsafterCoseysdeaththeyareswornenemies(不共戴天的仇敌),andyetsharehismansion.AgainMorrisonusedsplitnarrativeandjumpsbackandforththroughoutthestory,notfullyunfolding,untiltheveryend.ThecharactersinthenovelallhavesomerelationtotheinfamousBillCosey.SimilartotheconceptofcommunicationbetweenthelivingandthedeadinBeloved,MorrisonintroducedacharacternamedJunior;shewasthemediumtoconnectthedeadBillCoseytotheworldoftheliving.ThestorytellingtechniquesinLove,namelythesplitnarrative,suggestarecenttrendinMorrisonsliteraturethatdividestheplotamongdifferenttimeperiods.,AMercyisTonoMorrisons9thnovel.Itwasfirstpublishedin2008.AMercyrevealswhatliesbeneaththesurfaceofslaveryinearlyAmerica.ItisboththestoryofmothersanddaughtersandthestoryofaprimitiveAmerica.ItmadetheNewYorkTimesBookReviewlistof“10BestBooksof2008”aschosenbythepaperseditors.Florens,aslave,livesandworksonJacobVaarksruralNewYorkfarm.Lina,aNativeAmericanandfellowlaborerontheVaarkfarm,relatesinaparallelnarrativehowshe,becameoneofahandfulofsurvivorsofasmallpoxplaguethatdestroyedhertribe.VaarkswifeRebekkahdescribesleavingEnglandonashipforthenewworldtobemarriedtoamanshehasneverseen.Thedeathsoftheirsubsequentchildrenaredevastating,andVaarkacceptsayoungFlorensfromadebtorinthehopesthatthisnewadditiontothefarmwillhelpalleviate(缓解)Rebekkahsloneliness.Vaark,himselfanorphanandpoorhousesurvivor,describeshisjourneysfromNewYorktoMaryland,andVirginia,commentingontheroleofreligioninthecultureofthedifferentcolonies,alongwiththeirattitudestowardslavery.Allthesecharactersarebereft(失去)oftheirroots,strugglingtosurviveinanewandalienenvironmentfilledwithdangeranddisease.WhensmallpoxthreatensRebekkahslifein1692,Florens,nowsixteen,issenttofindablackfreedmanwhohassomeknowledgeofherbalmedicines.Herjourneyisdangerous,ultimatelyprovingtobetheturningpointinherlife.,Morrisonexaminestherootsofracismgoingbacktoslaverysearliestdays,providingglimpsesofthevariousreligiouspracticesofthetime,andshowingtherelationshipbetweenmenandwomeninearlyAmericathatoftenendedinfemalevictimization.Theyare“ofandformen,”peoplewho“nevershapetheworld,Theworldshapesus.”Asthewomenjourneytowardself-enlightenment,MorrisonoftendescribestheirprogressinBiblicalcadences(节奏,韵律),andbytheendofthisnovel,thereaderunderstandsthesignificanceofthetitle,“amercy.”,Morrisonsnovelsaremostsetinablackcommunityinthethirtiesorforties,buttheydontmerelytellstoriesaboutaparticularcommunityduringaparticularperiod.Shedoesfarmorethanjusttellgoodstories.Whentalkingaboutthenovel,shesays,“Itshouldbebeautiful,andpowerful,butitshouldalsowork.Itshouldhavesomethinginitthatenlightens;somethinginitthatopensthedoorandpointstheway,Somethinginitthatsuggestswhatconflictsare,whattheproblemsare.Butitneednotsolvethoseproblemsbecauseitisnotacasestudy,itisnotarecipeifanythingIdo,inthewayofwriting(orwhateverIwrite)isnotaboutavillageorthecommunityoraboutyou,thenitisnotaboutanything.Iamnotinterestedinindulgingmyselfinsomeprivate,closedexerciseofmyimagination,thatfulfillsonlytheobligationofmypersonaldreamswhichistosayyes,theworkmustbepoliticalitseemstomethatthebestartispoliticalandyououghttobeabletomaketheunquestionablypoliticalandirrevocably(unalterably)beautifulatthesametime”.TheNobelPrizepresentationspeechpointout,“inherdepictionoftheworldoftheblackpeople,inlifeasinlegend,ToniMorrisonhasgiventheAfro-Americanpeopletheirhistoryback,piecebypiece”.,Yet,atthesametime,herworkisalwayssymbolicofthesharedhumancondition,transcendinglinesofgender,race,andclass.Themostenduringimpressionhernovelsleaveisof“empathy(感情移入),ofcompassionwithonesfellowhumanbeings.”,ToniMorrisonsNovels,TheBluestEye(1970)Sula(1974)SongofSolomon(1977)TarBaby(1981)Beloved(1987),Jazz(1992)Paradise(1997)Love(2003)AMercy(2008)Home(2012),ThemesofTheBluestEye,WhitenessisbeautyInthisbookwhitenessstandsforbeauty.Thisisastandardthattheblackgirlscannotmeet,especiallyPecola,whohasdarkerskinthantheothers.Pecolaconnectsbeautywithbeinglovedandbelievesthatifonlyshehadblueeyes,allthebadthingsinherlifewouldbereplacedwithloveandaffection.Thishopelessdesireleadshertomadnessbytheendofthenovel.,ThemesofTheBluestEye,LoveisneveranybetterthantheloverThenovelcontainsseveralrelationships,andtherelationshipsneverendpleasantly.Morrisonseesloveasadynamicforcethatcanbeextremelydamagingdependingonwhoisdoingtheloving.ThebiggestexampleofthisistherelationshipbetweenChollyandhisdaughter,Pecola.ChollyistheonlycharacterwhocanseepastPecolassupposedlyrevoltingshellenoughtotouchher.Whilethatsoundslikeabeautifulthing,itleadstotheviolent,ThemesofTheBluestEye,rapethatservesastheclimaxofthestory.AsClaudiapointsoutinthefinalchapter,“Loveisneveranybetterthanthelover.Wickedpeoplelovewickedly,violentpeopleloveviolently,weakpeopleloveweakly,stupidpeoplelovestupidly.”WhileChollydefinitelyloves,hemanifeststhisloveinviolentways.Becausehehadextremelydamagingexperiencesasachild,hisloveisextremelytainted(玷污).,ThemesofTheBluestEye,Thereadercanlookatthisintwoways.Thepessimisticviewclaimsthattruelovecanbeachievedonlyiftheloverisagood,honestperson.However,thereadercanalsoseethisasuplifting.Eventhoughlovecanbedistorted,Morrisonmakesthepointthateveryonecaninfactlove.Evenevilpersonswholoveinanevilmannercanstilllove.,ThemesofTheBluestEye,GenderdisparityTheBluestEyeisbasedonthelivesofblackwomenasitiswrittenbyablackwoman.ToniMorrisonhasdescribedtheworldwidegenderdisparitybyhercharacterslikePecola,Frieda,PaulineandthenarratorClaudia,whooncementionsinthenovelthatthreethingshavegreatlyaffectedherlife:beingachild,beingblack,andbeingagirl.Allthewomencharactersareabusedbybothwhitewomenandmenandbyblackmen.,AbouttheNovelTheBluestEye,TheBluestEye,publishedin1970,isthefirstnovelwrittenbyToniMorrison,winnerofthe1993NobelPrizeinLiterature.ThenovelhasitssettingintheblackcommunityinLorain,Ohio,in1944,longbeforetheCivilRightsMovement.Inthosedays,blacknesswassynonymouswithugliness.Thedominantwhitecultureexerciseditshegemony(leadership统治;势力范围)anddictatedstandardsofbeauty.,Manyblackpeopleacceptedandinternalizedwhitevaluesanddevelopedself-contemptandself-hatredforthemselvesorotherblackpeople,makingsomeoftheirownpeoplevictimsandscapegoats.Tooverthrowwhiteculturalhegemonyandliberatethemselvesfromoppressionandself-oppression,theblackpeopleraisedthepoliticalsloganinthe1960s:“Blackisbeautiful.”MorrisonsnovelTheBluestEyesdepictsthepernicious(destructive,ruinous恶性的;很有害的)psychologicalimpactthat,thedominantwhiteculturalvalueshaveonblackpeople.ThestorycentersaroundthetragiclifeofalittleblackgirlnamedPecolaBreedlove.TheBreedlovesarethepoorestfamilyintown.Theylivedinastorehouseofanabandonedstore.Theplaceissouglythat“visitorswhodrivetothistinytownwonderwhyithasnotbeentorndown,whilepedestrians,whoareresidentsoftheneighborhood,simplylookawaywhentheypassit.”,Pecola,elevenyearsold,isblackandugly.Herfather,ChollyBreedlove,isdriventoalcoholismbyalifeofappallingracialoppression.Onceheburntuphishouseandturnedhisfamilyoutdoors.Hermother,Pauline,isdrivenbyherhusbandsrageandtheunbearablemiseryofherlife.Shetriestoescapefromlifeandfindpeaceonlyinworkingasaservantinawhitehome.Shegivesmorecareandattentiontohermasterschildrenthanherownlittlegirl.Thepoverty-strickenandfrustratedcoupleisconstantlyquarrelingandfighting.,TheytotallyignoretheirdaughterPecola.Atschoolotherchildrenbullyandridiculeher,callingherugly.Imprisonedbydire(dreadful)povertyandextrememisery,Pecolawishesforlighterskin,blondhairandespeciallyblueeyeslikemoviestarShirleyTempleandotherwhitegirls.Everydayshepraysforamiracletohappensothatsheisgivenapairofthebluesteyes.Shebelievesthatheruglinessisthesourceofallhermiseryandthathavingblueeyeswouldbethekeytohappiness.,Sheisconvincedthatifshehadblueeyes,shewouldbecomeprettyandhappyandthatallherproblemswouldbegone.Finally,throughmadness,shethinksthathereyeshavebecomeblue.Inherimaginationshehasbeentransformedintoaprettygirl.Assheiswaitingforloveandhappinesstocometoher,ironicallyherdrunkfathergetshome,andgives“love”tohisdaughterbyrapingher.Thelittlegirlbecomespregnant,shegivesbirthtoastillbornchild.,Shesinksdeeperintodespairandmadness.Intheendofthenovel,“Shewassosadtosee.Grownpeoplelookedaway;childrenthosewhowerenotfrightenedbyher,laughedoutright(openly)thedamagedonewastotal.Pecolasfatherdiesintheworkhouse;hermotherstilldoeshousework.Pecolaandhermothermovetoalittlehouseontheedgeontown.Theblacklittlegirlisoftenseenpickingherway“betweenthetirerimsandthesunflowers,amongallthewasteandbeautyoftheworld-whichiswhatherselfwas.”,Thenarratorplantedsomemarigoldinthespringthatyear,buttheynevercameout.Usingthedeadseedsofmarigoldsasametaphor,thenarratorobservesinconclusion,“Ieventhinknowthatthelandoftheentirecountywashostiletomarigoldsthatyear.Thissoilisbadforcertainkindsofflowers.Certainseedsitwillnotnurture,certainfruitsitwillnotbear,Andwhenthelandkillsitsownvolition(powerofwilling),weacquiesce(toagreeunwillingly默许;勉强同意)andsaythevictimhadnorighttolive.Wearewrong,ofcourse,butitdoesntmatter.Itstoolate.Atleastontheedgeofmytown,amongthegarbageandthesunflowersofmytown,itsmuch,much,muchtoolate.”Pecolaisavictimofracialoppressionandascapegoatforself-oppressionandself-hatredexistingintheblackcommunity.,TheBluestEyegivesvoicetotheexperienceofgrowingupblackinasocietydominatedbywhite,middle-classideology.Morrisononcesaid,“Beauty,loveactually,Ithink,allthetimethatIwrite,IamwritingaboutloveoritsabsenceIthoughtinTheBluestEyethatIwaswritingaboutbeauty,miracles,andself-images,aboutthewayinwhichpeoplecanhurteachotheraboutwhetherornotoneisbeautiful.”,Theauthorbeginsthenovelwithasimpleprimertext(初级读本;识字课本),oneofthefirstthingeveryAmericanchildreadswhenhe/shebeginsschool.Thiswhite,middle-classreadertextgoeslikethis:Hereisthehouse.Itisgreenandwhite.Ithasareddoor.Itisverypretty.Hereisthefamily.Mother,Father,Dick,andJaneliveinthegreen-and-whitehouse.Theyareveryhappy.SeeJane.Shehasareddress.Shewantstoplay.WhowillplaywithJane?Seethatcat.Itgoesmeow-meow.Comeandplay.,ComeandplaywithJane.Thekittenwillnotplay.SeeMother.Motherisverynice.Mother,willyouplaywithJane?Motherlaughs.Laugh,Mother,Laugh.SeeFather.Heisbigandstrong.Father,willyouplaywithJane?Fatherissmiling.Smile,Father,smile.Seethedog.Bowwowgoesthedog.DoyouwanttoplaywithJane?Seethedogrun.Run,dog,run.Look,look.Herecomesafriend.ThefriendwillplaywithJane.Theywillplayagoodgame.Play,Jane,play.,Morrisonsaidinaninterview,“inTheBluestEyeIusedtheprimerstory,withitspictureofahappyfamily,asaframeacknowledgingtheoutercivilization.Theprimerwithwhitechildrenwasthewaylifewaspresentedtotheblackpeople.”Inreality,theblacklifeisquitetheoppositeofthetypicalmiddleclasswhitedescribedintheprimer.PecolaisnotJane.Sheisacompletevictimofthecircumstances.,AbouttheNovelBeloved,Setinpost-CivilWarOhio,BelovedisthestoryofSethe,anescapedslavewhohasriskeddeathinordertowrenchherselffromalivingdeath;whohaslostahusbandandburiedachild;whohasbornetheunthinkableandnotgonemad:awomanof“ironeyesandbackbonetomatch.”Sethelivesinasmallhouseontheedgeoftownwithherdaughter,Denver;hermother-in-law,BabySuggs;andthedisturbing,mesmerizingghostofherdeadchild,Beloved.,Basedonthetruestoryofarunawayslavewho,atthepointofrecapture,killsherinfantdaughterinordertospareheralifeofslavery,Belovedspeakstotheexperienceasanentirenationwithapastofbothabominable(讨厌的;可恶的)andennobling(tomakemorehonorable使.高贵)circumstance.In1988,MorrisonwonthePulitzerPrizeforBeloved.,AbouttheNovelTheBluestEye,Genre(流派）-Coming-of-age,tragedy,elegy（悲歌,挽歌)TimeandPlaceWritten-NewYork,19621965DateofFirstPublication1970Narrator-Therearetwonarrators:ClaudiaMacTeer,whonarratesinamixtureofachildsandanadultsperspective,andanomniscientnarrator.,PointofViewClaudiasandPecolaspointsofviewaredominant,butwealsoseethingsfromChollys,Paulines,andothercharacterspointsofview.Pointofviewisdeliberatelyfragmentedtogiveasenseofthecharactersexperiencesofdislocationandtohelpussympathizewithmultiplecharacters.Tone-Lyrical,elegiac(哀歌体的),embittered(受苦难受的),matter-of-fact,colloquialTense-Past,asseenbytheadultClaudiaSetting(Time)-19401941,Setting(Place)-Lorain,Ohi