《文苑外史》中"列车"的含义

Implications of the"Train"in New Grub Street

《文苑外史》中三次出现的列车构成了小说的"节奏"。它不仅含义丰富,而且画龙点睛般地烘托出了小说结构的两根基本线条:利欲熏心且才疏学浅的贾斯珀等人搭上了时代快车,而心地善良且满腹珠玑的雷尔登等人却遭到了时代的抛弃。这两条主线在形式上平行发展,造成了一种对称的艺术美,而在内容色调上却形成了强烈的反差,使人更深切地感受到了那个社会的不公和价值观的混乱。

The train that occurs three times in New Grub Street constitutes its'rhythm'. It not only has profound implications, but also adds the finishing touch to the two structural lines of the novel: Jasper and his like, mean and shallowminded, run wild on'the express of the times',whereas kind and erudite people like Reardon become passé. Running parallel to each other, these two fundamental lines give rise to a symmetrical beauty, while shedding light on the thematic contrast and focusing the readers attention on the social injustice and chaotic values.