黯淡的岁月 美丽的梦想——评艾伦·西利托的短篇小说《渔舟图》

Beautiful Dreams in Bleak Times——An Analysis of Sillitoe's Short Story The Fishing-Boat Picture

《渔舟图》是英国作家艾伦·西利托的一个短篇小说,发表于1959年。小说以诺丁汉郡为背景,以现实主义手法描述了二战期间英国工人阶级的生存状况。主人公哈利是一个邮递员,他生活麻木,对婚姻玩世不恭,对妻子情感漠然,哈利以此方式来表达他对现实的不满和对战争的厌恶。小说具有很强的社会批判意识。值得称道的是,在小说的结尾,妻子凯西的惨死让哈利从颓废迷茫中猛醒,他重新认识到了生存的意义和自我价值。"渔舟图"这一意象贯穿于小说中,作者以此表达了对和平宁静的生活和美好婚姻的向往。

The Fishing-Boat Picture,published in 1959,is one of Alan Sillitoe's short stories.With Nottingham as the background,the story gives a realistic description of the workers' living conditions during WWⅡ.The Protagonist,Harry,is a postman.He holds a pessimistic attitude towards life,indifferent to work and marriage.In this way,Harry shows his resentment to the war and society.So criticism is a major characteristic of the story.But it is worth mentioning at the end of the story that Kathy forces her husband into shocking reality at the expense of her own life,thus making Harry find himself.The Fishing-Boat Picture is a symbolic image,which symbolizes a hope for a peaceful life and a happy marriage.