Unit-7-The-Libido-for-the-Ugly.docx

The1.ibidofortheUglyH.1.Mencken1 OnaWinterdaysomeyearsago,comingoutofPittsburghononeoftheexpressesofthePennsylvaniaRailroad,IrolledeastwardforanhourthroughthecoalandsteeltownsofWestmorelandcounty.Itwasfamiliarground;boyandman,Ihadbeenthroughitoftenbefore.ButsomehowIhadneverquitesenseditsappallingdesolation.HerewastheveryheartofindustrialAmerica,thecenterofItsmostlucrativeandcharacteristicactivity,theboastandprideoftherichestandgrandestnationeverseenonearthandherewasascenesodreadfullyhideous,sointolerablybleakandforlornthatitreducedthewholeaspirationofmantoamacabreanddepressingjoke.Herewaswealthbeyondcomputation,almostbeyondimagination-andherewerehumanhabitationssoabominablethattheywouldhavedisgracedaraceofalleycats.2 Iamnotspeakingofmerefilth.Oneexpectssteeltownstobedirty.WhatIalludetoIstheunbrokenandagonizingugliness,thesheerrevoltingmonstrousness,ofeveryhouseinsight.FromEast1.ibertytoGreensburg,adistanceoftwenty-fivemiles,therewasnotoneinsightfromthetrainthatdidnotinsultandlaceratetheeye.Someweresobad,andtheywereamongthemostpretentious-churches,stores,warehouses,andthelike-thattheyweredown-rightstartling；oneblinkedbeforethemasoneblinksbeforeamanwithhisfaceshotaway.Afewlingerinmemory,horribleeventhere:acrazylittlechurchjustwestofJeannette,setlikeadormer-windowonthesideofabareleproushill;theheadquartersoftheVeteransofForeignWarsatanotherforlorntown,asteelstadiumlikeahugerattrapsomewherefurtherdowntheline.ButmostofallIrecallthegeneraleffect-ofhideousnesswithoutabreak.TherewasnotasingledecenthousewithineyerangefromthePittsburghtotheGreensburgyards.Therewasnotonethatwasnotmisshapen,andtherewasnotonethatwasnotshabby.3 Thecountryitselfisnotuncomely,despitethegrimeoftheendlessmills.Itis,inform,anarrowrivervalley,withdeepgulliesrunningupintothehills.Itisthicklysettled,butnot:noticeablyovercrowded.Thereisstillplentyofroomforbuilding,eveninthelargertowns,andthereareveryfewsolidblocks.Nearlyeveryhouse,bigandlittle,hasspaceonallfoursides.Obviously,iftherewerearchitectsofanyprofessionalsenseordignityintheregion,theywouldhaveperfectedachalettohugthehillsidesachaletwithahigh-pitchedroof,tothrowofftheheavyWintersnows,butstillessentiallyalowandclingingbuilding,widerthanitwastall.Butwhathavetheydone?Theyhavetakenastheirmodelabricksetonend.Thistheyhaveconvertedintoathingofdingyclapboardswithanarrow,low-pitchedroof.Andthewholetheyhavesetuponthin,preposterousbrickpiers.Bythehundredsandthousandstheseabominablehousescoverthebarehillsides,likegravestonesinsomegiganticanddecayingcemetery.Ontheirdeepsidestheyarethree,fourandevenfivestorieshigh;ontheirlowsidestheyburythemselvesswinishlyinthemud.Notafifthofthemareperpendicular.Theyleanthiswayandthat,hangingontotheirbasesprecariously.Andoneandalltheyarestreakedingrime,withdeadandeczematouspatchesofpaintpeepingthroughthestreaks.4Nowandthenthereisahouseofbrick.Butwhatbrick!Whenitisnewitisthecolorofafriedegg.Whenithastakenonthepatinaofthemillsitisthecolorofanegglongpastallhopeorcaring.WasItnecessarytoadoptthatshockingcolor?Nomorethanitwasnecessarytosetallofthehousesonend.Redbrick,eveninasteeltown,ageswithsomedignity.1.etitbecomedownrightblack,anditisstillsightly,especiallyifitstrimmingsareofwhitestone,withsootinthedepthsandthehighspotswashedbytherain.ButinWestmorelandtheypreferthaturemicyellow,andsotheyhavethemostloathsometownsandvillageseverseenbymortaleye.5Iawardthischampionshiponlyafterlaboriousresearchandincessantprayer.Ihaveseen,Ibelieve,allofthemostunlovelytownsoftheworld;theyarealltobefoundintheUnitedStates.IhaveseenthemilltownsofdecomposingNewEnglandandthedeserttownsofUtah,ArizonaandTexas.IamfamiliarwiththebackstreetsofNewark,BrooklynandChicago,andhavemadescientificexplorationstoCamden,N.J.andNewportNews,Va.SafeinaPullman,Ihavewhirledthroughthegloomy,GodforsakenvillagesofIowaandKansas,andthemalarioustidewaterhamletsofGeorgia.IhavebeentoBridgeport,Conn.,andto1.osAngeles.BUtnowhereonthisearth,athomeorabroad,haveIseenanythingtocomparetothevillagesthathuddlealohathelineofthePennsylvaniafromthePittsburghyardstoGreensburg.Theyareincomparableincolor,andtheyareincomparableindesign.ItisasIfsometitanicandaberrantgenius,uncompromisinglyinimicaltoman,haddevotedalltheingenuityofHelltothemakingofthem.Theyshowgrotesqueriesofuglinessthat,inretrospect,becomealmostdiabolical.Onecannotimaginemerehumanbeingsconcoctingsuchdreadfulthings,andonecanscarcelyimaginehumanbeingsbearinglifeinthem.6Aretheysofrightfulbecausethevalleyisfullofforeignersdull,insensatebrutes,withnoloveofbeautyinthem?ThenWhydidn'ttheseforeignerssetupsimilarabominationsInthecountriesthattheycamefrom?Youwill,Infact,findnothingofthesortinEurope-SaveperhapsinthemoreputridpartsofEngland.ThereisscarcelyanuglyvillageonthewholeContinent.Thepeasants,howeverpoor,somehowmanagetomakethemselvesgracefulandcharminghabitations,evenInSpain.ButintheAmericanvillageandsmalltownthepullisalwaystowardugliness,andinthatWestmorelandvalleyithasbeenyieldedtowithaneagernessborderinguponpassion.Itisincrediblethatmereignoranceshouldhaveachievedsuchmasterpiecesofhorror.7OncertainlevelsoftheAmericanrace,indeed,thereseemstobeapositivelibidofortheugly,asonotherandlessChristianlevelsthereisalibidoforthebeautiful.ItisimpossibletoputdownthewallpaperthatdefacestheaverageAmericanhomeofthelowermiddleclasstomereinadvertence,ortotheobscenehumorofthemanufacturers.Suchghastlydesigns,itmustbeobvious,giveagenuinedelighttoacertaintypeofmind.Theymeet,insomeunfathomableway,itsobscureandunintelligibledemands.ThetasteforthemisasenigmaticalandyetascommonasthetastefordogmatictheologyandthepoetryofEdgarAGuest.8ThusIsuspect(thoughconfessedlywithoutknowing)thatthevastmajorityofthehonestfolkofWestmorelandcounty,andespeciallythe100%Americansamongthem,actuallyadmirethehousestheylivein,andareproudofthem.Forthesamemoneytheycouldgetvastlybetterones,buttheypreferwhattheyhavegot.CertainlytherewasnopressureupontheVeteransofForeignWarstochoosethedreadfuledificethatbearstheirbanner,forthereareplentyofvacantbuildingsalongthetrackside,andsomeofthemareappreciablybetter.Theymight,in-deed,havebuiltabetteroneoftheirown.ButtheychosethatClapboardedhorrorwiththeireyesopen,andhavingchosenitztheyletitmellowintoitspresentshockingdepravity.Theylikeitasitis:besideit,theParthenonwouldnodoubtoffendthem.Inpreciselythesamewaytheauthorsoftherat-trapstadiumthatIhavementionedmadeadeliberatechoice:Afterpainfullydesigninganderectingit,theymadeitperfectIntheirownsightbyputtingacompletelyimpossiblepenthousepaintedastaringyellow,ontopofit.TheeffectisthatOfafatwomanwithablackeye.ItisthatofaPresbyteriangrinning.Buttheylikeit.9Hereissomethingthatthepsychologistshavesofarneglected:theloveofuglinessforitsownsake,thelusttomaketheworldintolerable.ItshabitatistheUnitedStates.Outofthemeltingpotemergesaracewhichhatesbeautyasithatestruth.Theetiologyofthismadnessdeservesagreatdealmorestudythanithasgot.Theremustbecausesbehindit;itarisesandflourishesinobediencetobiologicallaws,andnotasamereactofGod.Wha1.precisely,arethetermsofthoselaws?AndwhydotheyrunstrongerinAmericathanelsewhere?1.etsomehonestPrivatDozentinpathologicalsociologyapplyhimselftotheproblem.(fromReadingforRhetoricbyCarolineShrodes,CliffordA,Josephson,JamesR.Wilson)NOTES1. theVeteransofForeignWars:generallyabbreviatedtoVFW,anorganizationcreatedbythemergerin1914ofthreesocietiesOfUnitedStatesoverseasveteransthatwerefoundedaftertheSpanish-AmericanWarof1899.WithitsmembershipvastlyincreasedafterWorldWarlandWorldWarH,theorganizationbecameamajornationalveterans'society.2. Guest:EdgarAlbertGuest(18811959),English-bornnewspaperpoet,whosedailypoemintheDetroitFreePresswaswidelysyndicatedandextremelypopularwiththepeoplehecalled'folks'foritshomely,saccharinemorality3. Parthenon:abeautifuldorictemplebuiltinhonorofthevirgin(Parthenos)goddessAthenaontheAcropolisinAthensaround5thcenturyB.C.4. Presbysterian:aformOfchurchgovernmentbypresbytersdevelopedbyJohnCalvinandotherreformersduringthe16th-centuryProtestantReformationandusedwithvariationsbyReformedandPresbyterianchurchesthroughouttheworld.AccordingtoCalvin'stheoryofchurchgovernment,thechurchisacommunityorbodyinwhichChristonlyisheadandmembersareequalunderhim.Allwhoholdofficedosobyelectionofthepeoplewhoserepresentativestheyare.MenckenassumesthatPresbyteriansarepuritanical,sombrefacedpeoplewhoneversmileorlaugh.HencepeopleareshockedbytheunexpectedandincongruoussightofaPresbyteriangrinning.词汇(VOCabUlary):psychicenergygenerally：specifically,abasicformofpsychicenergy.comprisingthepositive,lovinginstinctsmanifestedvariouslyatdifferentstagesofpersonalitydevelopment欲型UeratiVe(adj.):producingwealthorprofit：profitable：remunerative有利可图的:赚钱的IideOUS(adj.):horribletosee,hear,etc.;veryuglyorrevolting;dreadful骇人听闻的;特别H丽的;可怕的FOrlOrn(adj.):inpitifulcondition：wretched：miserable可怜的:次惨的：不幸的IaCabre(adj.:gruesome：grimandhorrible：ghastly可怕的：令人毛竹悚然的：恐怖的QmPUtation(n.):theactofcomputing：calculation计算bominabe(adj.:nastyanddisgusting；vile；IOathSOme求烦的，可悲的Iley(n.):anarrowstreetorwalk：specifically,alanebehindarowofbuildingsorbetweentworowsofbuildingsthatfaceonadjacentstreetsA>JI"J:小卷：小街ilth:成:disgustinglyoffensivedirt,garbage,etc.污秽，污物：垃圾Ilude(v.):referinacasualorindirectway(随意或间接)提到.涉及：咯指Onstrousness(n.:strangeShaPe奇形怪状IaCerate(v.):tearjaggedly：mangle(Somethingsoft,asflesh)；woundorhurt(one,sfeelings,etc.）deeply：distress撕裂：割碎（肉等软组织）：投咨（总情等）：使维过pretentious(adj.):makingclaims,explicitorImplicit,tosomedistinction.importance,dignity,orexcellenceQftfi:自命不凡的:自大的InffCTMI:continuetostay.esp.throughreluctancetoIeaVei2用(尤指不愿离开)JoWnrlght(adv.):thoroughly：utterly：really彻底地,完全地;真正地Eran：awindowsetuprightinaslopingroof屋顶憎IePrOUS(ad:oforlikeleprosy；havingleprosy麻风的；似麻风的：出麻风病的rattra:atrapforcatchingrats捕取夹(子)isshapen(ad).):badlyshaped：deformed奇形怪状的：畸形的ncomely(ad:havingunpleasantappearance不美观的.不好看的rime(n.):dirt.esp.sootydirt,rubbedintoorcoveringasurface,asoftheskin(X指经朕擦而深化或1瓶皮肤等表面的）枳垢：污传ffll1.fflll:achannelorhollowwornbyrunningwater;small.narrowravine沟型.狭沟,冲沟atypeofSwisshouse,builtofwoodwithbalconiesandoverhangingeaves(瑞士的木造)农舍,山上小舍itched(adj:steepinslopesaidofroofs)(屋顶)坡度陡的ingy(adj.):dirty-colored：notbrightorclean：grimy不干净的:不光明的：弄脏的jl:athin,narrowboardwithoneedgethickerthantheother,usedasSiding护墙板,琳板rep。SteroUS(adj.):socontrarytonature,reason,orcommonsenseastobelaughable：absurd：ridiculous反常的;乖戾的;特别荒海的；透盘的SBnJ11:aheavycolumn,usuallysquare,usedtosupportweight,asattheendofanarch角柱：支柱zemete:aplacefortheburialofthedead：graveyard公我，墓地：坟场,winish(adj.:oforlikeaswine：beastly：piggish：coarse,etc.猪(似)的：翊贱的:粗俗的IPUrPCndiCUlar(adj.:exactlyupright：vertical,straightupordown垂食的：蹩立的precarious(adjJ:uncertain：insecure：risky不稚定的：担心全的;危急的eczematous(adj.):ofitchingskindisease湿疹的制;iTTfll:afinecrustorfilmonbronzeorcopper,usuallygreenorgreenishblue,formedbynaturaloxidationandoftenvaluedasbeingOmamental(针铜器匕的)绿锈11311J311311:atoxicconditioncausedbythepresenceinthebloodofwasteprodutsnormallyeliminatedintheurineandresultingfromafailureofthekidneystosecreteUrine尿毒疫Ioathsome(adBl；causingloathing：disgusting：abhorrent：detestable厌烦的：厌怒的I令人作呕的aborious(adj.):involvingmuchhardwork：difficult.Industrious：hard-working费劲的：困堆的：勤劳的：辛苦的incessant(adj.):neverceasing：continuingorbeingrepeatedwithoutstoppingorinawaythatseemsendless：constant不停的.连续的：不间断的N：breakuporseparateintobasiccomponentsorparts：rot分解：(ft)腐烂,(使)腐败ecompose(v.面直giveup；renounce(ahabit.idea.etc.)：leave：abandonf.放弃(思想、习惯等)：遗弃：背弃Tialarious(adj.):offeverconveyedbymosquitoesM换的：,空气污浊的hamlet(n.):averysmallVilIage小村庄incomparable(adj.):nobeyondcomparison：unequalled：matchless无“伦比的.绝无仅有的：无敌的，无比的HtaniC(adj.):ofgreatsize,strength.OrPOWer巨大的：力大无比的：有极大权力的berrant(adj.:turningawayfromwhatisright,true.etc.：deviatingfromwhatisnormalortypical。正确或真实状况相背的：偏肉常规的：反常的ncompromisin，7ffi1:notcompromisingoryielding：firm：inflexiable：determined不妥协的:坚决的;不让步的：酹决的nimical(ad.):likeanenemy：hostile：unfriendly：adverse：unfavorable敌人似的：敌对的；不友好的；相反的：不利的enui我面：cleverness.originality,skill,etc.机灵创建力,独创性：斓熟otesquery(n.):thequalityorstateofbeinggrotesque奇形怪状：怪诞(q"1.*<11ll:alookingbackonOrthinkingaboutthingspasticontemplationorsurveyofthepast回顾,回想:追溯iabolical(adj.:ofthedevilordevils；fiendish恶魔的;戌忍的，凶坡的匚OnCoCt(v.):devise.invent,orplan支配,策划：虚构.循造nsensate(ad,:notfeeling,ornotcapableoffeeling,sensation无感觉的.无知觉IrUte(n.):ananimal：apersonwhoisbrutalorverystupid.gross,sensual,etc.格生；笨斑，粗野的人bomination(adj.):greathatred,anddisgust：anythinghatefulanddisgusting憎恨,厌恶：令人厌烦的东西Iputrid(adj.:decomposing：rottenandfoul-smelling吐烂的.腐败的:spoiltheappearanceof：disfigure：mar损坏的外衣:丑化IinadVertenCe(n.:thequalityofbeinginadvertentoversight；mistake婢以M心,马虎大意:疏漏:错误bscene(adj.:offensivetoone,sfeelings,ortoprevailingnotions,ofmodestyofdecency：lewd：disgusting海洋的：可憎的Zathomable(adj.:whichcannotbeunderstood：whichcannotbereached不行理解的：深不行测的nigmatcal(adj.):oforlikeanenigma：perplexing：baffling诙依的.巡似的：不行思议的,费解的atic圆质oforlikedogma：doctrinal软条（主义）的:教义的dfice(n.):abuilding,esp.alarge,imposingone建筑物：尤指大型建优物,大度JESUBl：adepravedconditionscorruption：WiCkedneSS即落，腐化.W,penthouse(n.):asmallstructure,esp.onewithaslopingroof,attachedtoalargerbuilding小棚屋，(尤指常在大楼边上搭的)披屋lust(n.):adesiretogratifythesenses：bodilyappetite欲里：贪欲SJE用IGBJ:theassignmentofacause,orthecauseassignment本源，修由(的说明)athological(adj.):ofpathology：oforconcernedwithdiseases病理学的：病理上的短语(Expressions)OrderUPOn:tobelike；almostbe相近，类似(¾例：Hlsemotionisborderinguponhysteria.他的心情接近用斯底里.putdowntotbeattributeto归因于¾W:IputJane'smoodinessdowntothestressshewasunder.我认为简由于所承受的压力而闷以不乐.爱丑之欲H1.门肯几年前的一个冬日.我乘生宾夕法尼q.铁路公司的一班快年符开匹豉跑,向东行驶一小时.穿越威斯特摩兰县的煤城和钢都.这是我熟识的地方,无论是童年时期还是成年时期,我"汇经过这带，但以前我从来没有醪到这他方荒芜得这么可怕，这儿正是工业化美国的心胶，是K取嫌伐、呆典型活动的中心，世界上此富有，城宏大的国家的娇傲和他慢一一然而这儿的荒配却又Hlyi徉这样可怕,淡冰凄惨褥这么令人无法忍受，以致人的理想和壮志在这儿成r令人毛什悚然的、令人懊丧的笑料.这儿的财宝多得无法计算.筒蜕都无法想软一一也是在这儿，人们的居住条件乂足如比之搐，连出此流浪街头的野猫也为之篇淀，我说的不仪仪是脏-纲铁城M的脏足人们曲科之中的贝.我指的是所看到的房子没什一幅不是Mfifi得令人用过,畤形怪界御让人作呕的.从东自由俄到格林斯堡.在这宅K25英里的路上.从火车上看去，没有何房子不让人看/总到眼晒不舒适和挑过。存的房子棺得吓人，而这些房子竟还是些被重要的建岗一一教堂，Inj店，仓库等等，人的惊愕地百莉这些房子.就像是望见一个脸给子弹期掉的人一样。行的留在记忆里，甚至回忆起来也是可怕的t珍尼特西面的一所样/稀奇怪片的小教堂，就愫侬老虎必贴在面光秃秃的、似仃麻风放鳍的山坡上：参叮过国外斗争的退伍军人总都，设在珍尼特过去不远的另一个洸凉的小位上.沿揉路途向东不远处的一座铜架，像一个巨大的捕鼠器.但我向忆里出现的三要还是一个总的卬源一一连绵起伏的HM,从匹找堡到格林斯堡火车调车场.放眼里去.没有幢像样的房子.没有一镒不是歪歪扭扭的.没行麻不是技破烂烂的.尽笆到处是林立的工厂，通地充涌看烟:，这地区的自然而仟并不差.就地形而论,这儿是条狭常的河谷，其中流淌花一道道发源自山间的深祺。这儿的人口虽然秘密,但并无过分拥挤的迹象,即使在一些较大的城的中,建筑方面也还大行发檄的余地.这儿很少见到忏高常嚏怦列的建筑楼界,几乎每幢房屋，无论大小.其四周都还仃勒余的土地.明显.假如这地区行几个稻仃职业面任感或荣誉退的建筑师的话,他们府会紧依山坡建立些美观雅致的以士式山地小木屋一一一种行芥便冬季解除枳雪的盘坡屋顶，宽度大高%依山而建的低矮的小木屋.可是.他的本实上是怎么做的呢?他IrI把区立的破块作为选房的帙式.造出了冲刖肮脏的妒墙板阚成的暮炉非马的房屋.屋顶又窄又平.而且整个地安放在-当单薄的'奇形怪状的转，朵上.这种Il的不堪的病屋成百上1地遍布F个个光秃