冰雪中重温Dr. Seuss的故事:《慷慨大方的麋鹿》

阿留 (2017-03-15 18:56:03) 评论 (2)

俺们生活的小镇,每年冬天都会在一个小池塘冻冰的时候,举行一个冰雪节。人们在冰面上烧烤,滑冰,并举行冰上化妆游行;在附近的雪地上坐马拉雪橇,在篝火边烤marshmallow,打冰滑梯,做冰雕,并有各种游戏。而每次节日,都会有一些动物题材的雪雕,深受小朋友们的欢迎。这两天大雪,让我想起了今年的雪雕和相关的故事。

今年雪雕的主角是麋鹿Thidwick,取材自美国著名儿童文学作家“苏斯博士”(Dr. Seuss)的故事《慷慨大方的麋鹿》Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose。这个故事很有意思,也非常有现实意义。

(今年本镇冰雪节上的 雪雕Thidwick, the big-hearted moose. 它的前后腿之间有冰滑梯穿过,深受小朋友欢迎)

 

故事讲述了一位慷慨大方的麋鹿“心太软”(Thidwick),从接受一只小虫子在他角上休息顺便“搭便车”,到允许喳喳鸟拔他的毛在他角上做巢、啄木鸟在角上钻洞 ,再到允许松鼠在洞里储藏食品并把全家接到鹿角上,最后甚至一只猫和一只乌龟也跑来在上面安家。“心太软”一开始热情好客,后来对这些不请自来、胡作非为的不速之客产生了厌烦。冬天到了,这帮家伙甚至阻挠他跟着鹿群去寻找麋鹿草,可是他想

“不能说”走开“,因为那样不大好”

   也不能喊“滚蛋!”因为那样不礼貌。

主人得容忍各种各样讨厌的家伙

对, 善待他们——这点最重要,

所以你得勉强装出微笑,

然后继续寻找麋鹿草。“

然而冬天是严酷的,他最终发现不能呆在那里等死了。可是正当他要到湖对岸去找草吃的时候,鹿角上的客人们发话了:“这是我们的家,你没有权利把它搬到对岸去”。小虫子提议投票决定是否搬家,结果是11:1,只有“心太软”一票要求搬走!

没搬成也就罢了,这些“客人”还请来了更多的“客人”,包括狐狸、熊和一群蜜蜂!“心太软”快要崩溃了。

这时候,来了一群猎人围捕“心太软”,因为他是离群的麋鹿。他顶着角上的“客人”,足有500磅的重量,根本跑不快。眼看要完蛋的时候,他突然想起了每年这个时候,旧的角会脱落,以便新的长出来。他对那些角上的寄生客人们喊“你们要我的角,拿去好了;我呢,要到河对岸去了!”,于是甩掉旧角,逃走了。

寄生的不速之客们,和那只旧角,都成了猎人们的标本。

这个故事发表于1948年。想知道当时《纽约时报》的评论家如何评论吗?附在下面,到现在仍然值得大家品味和深思啊!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thidwick_the_Big-Hearted_Moose  

Meaning

The story explores the limits of hospitality and sharing. Neil Reynolds had discussed it as a parable of immigration issues and the social welfare state.[1] Aeon J. Skoble discusses Thidwick at length as an exemplification of the idea of property rights, and particularly of Locke's formulation of property rights.[2] Skoble argues that Thidwick is badly mistaken in viewing the other animals as "guests", and that the story demonstrates this.[2] In a later essay in the same volume, Henry Cribbs makes a similar point, considering whether "Thidwick" is a case of squatter's rights.[3]

Shortly after the book was published, David Dempsey, writing in The New York Times, said:

"Thidwick is a masterpiece of economy, and a shrewd satire on the "easy mark" who lets the conventions of society get the better of him. The genius of the story, however, lies in its finale. A man of less consistance than Seuss would have let Thidwick be rescued by the creatures he is defending (this is the customary Disney riposte in similar situations) but Seuss' logic is rooted in principle, rather than sentiment, and the sponging animals get what they deserve. Incidentally, this is also what the child expects."[4]

http://bbs.wenxuecity.com/currentevent/1114521.html  

 

 

评论 (2)

阿留

回复 '罗洁' 的评论 :

多谢您雅临垂赏,问安!

罗洁

好文!! 太有现实意义了。