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The Catcher in the Rye 麦田捕手

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

A Controversial Classic

Banned by many schools and libraries when first published in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye has been courting controversy for half a century. J.D. Salinger’s soul-searching novel of youthful alienation has long since faced down its initially hostile reception. Nowadays it is one of the most frequently taught books in high school English classes in the United States.

在1951年初付梓时遭许多学校及图书馆所禁的《麦田捕手》，半个世纪以来不断引发争议。沙林杰(J. D. Salinger)这部描绘年轻人因疏离感进而不断自省、寻求真我的小说，毅然克服了刚开始时社会对该书的敌意。如今，它已成为美国中学英文课程最常使用的教材之一。

In the deeply conservative early 1950s, many Americans were shocked by Catcher’s explicit language and open treatment of delicate issue such as psychological instability and sexuality. Most of the controversy nowadays, however, concerns how the book and its precocious hero are interpreted.

在极度保守的1950年代初期，「捕手」露骨的粗话，以及对心理不稳定状态与性欲等敏感话题的开放态度，教许多美国人心惊肉跳。然而，现今的争论则大多与该如何诠释本书及书中早熟的主人翁有关。

Holden Caulfield is the sixteen-year-old schoolboy whose first-person narrative of his mental breakdown over several days forms the basic plot. Critics generally agree that he is the only substantial character in the novel. However, opinions are divided on the outcome of Holden’s constant raging against the hypocrisy of the adult world: Some see his eventual acceptance of reality as a positive view of his maturation, while others view his capitulation as an indictment of an oppressive society.

主角荷顿(Holden Caulfield)是名16岁的男学生，其以第一人称对自身在数日间精神崩溃的叙述，架构出本书的基本情节。书评家普遍同意，荷顿是小说中唯一重要且够份量的角色。然而，针对荷顿不断愤恨成人世界伪善面目的结局，意见却呈分歧：一方以正面的观点，将他最终对现实的接纳视作成熟的积极表现；另一方则将他的屈服视为（作者）对压抑社会的一种控诉。

The author has fueled controversy himself by remaining a reclusive figure who has refused to comment on his work or publish anything further. Whatever his opinions, there is no doubting the book that made him famous presents a challenge to readers who care to contemplate the emptiness and isolation of the human condition.

这些争议因为作者始终保持隐遁之姿、拒绝对本书发表评论或进一步出版其他作品而更趋激烈。无论作者本身见解为何，对有意忖度虚无与孤离等人性弱点的读者而言，这本让沙林杰一举成名的著作无疑是一大挑战。

Vocabulary

单词发音

controversial [͵kɑntrəˋvɝʃəl] adj. 引起争论的﹐有争议的

court [kort] v. 招致；引诱

long since 早已, 很久以前

face down (威风凛凛地) 挫败，战胜 challenge

hostile [ˋhɑst!] adj. 怀敌意的；不友善的

reception [rɪˋsɛpʃən] n. 对待; 待遇

explicit [ɪkˋsplɪsɪt] adj. 直言的; 坦率的

concern [kənˋsɝn] v. 涉及

precocious [prɪˋkoʃəs] adj. 早熟的，早成的

narrative [ˋnærətɪv] n. 叙述，讲述

substantial [səbˋstænʃəl] adj. 内容充实的，有价值的，重要的

hypocrisy [hɪˋpɑkrəsɪ] n. 伪善；虚伪

capitulation [kə͵pɪtʃəˋleʃən] n. 有条件投降

indictment [ɪnˋdaɪtmənt] n.〔制度不善﹑方法错误等的〕控诉; 谴责

oppressive [əˋprɛsɪv] adj. 压迫的; 专制的

reclusive [rɪˋklusɪv] adj. 隐遁的；孤寂的

contemplate [ˋkɑntɛm͵plet] v. 思忖，思量

emptiness [ˋɛmptɪnɪs] n. 空虚；无意义

Sentence of the Day

He’s his own man.

他独立自主。

课文讲解

Innocence Lost

Holden Caulfield, the central character in The Catcher in the Rye, has been compared with Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain’s naive adolescent runaway in the novel of the same name. Both boys are trying to make sense of the world while seeking stability and independence.

《麦田捕手》的中心人物荷顿，时常被拿来与哈克(Huckleberry Finn)──马克吐温所著的同名小说（中译本名为《顽童历险记》）中那名天真无邪的脱缰小马相提并论。两个男孩都在一边试着搞懂人世，同时也在寻求心灵的安定与独立。

At the beginning of The Catcher in the Rye, Holden has just been kicked out of yet another boarding school. Having a few days to kill before returning home for the Christmas break, he spends his time wandering aimlessly from one brief encounter to another, getting progressively more disgusted with what he calls the “phoniness” of the adult world.

《麦田捕手》故事一开始，荷顿才又被一所寄宿学校踢出校门。在返家过耶诞假期前，还有几天可以消磨，他遂跳上一列开往纽约的火车。在纽约，他终日漫无目的地闲晃，经历一次又一次短暂的遭遇与邂逅，对他所谓「成人世界的虚假」愈趋反感。

Holden craves the innocence and simplicity of childhood, while at the same time doing a number of “adult” things such as trying to get a drink in a bar and meeting with a prostitute. Eventually, with the help of his younger sister, he comes to the realization that children cannot be protected forever from the imperfections of the adult world. This is not achieved, however, without Holden first driving himself to the brink of insanity.

荷顿一方面渴望孩提时代的天真与单纯，同时却做着若干「大人」做的事，譬如试图在酒吧里买酒，还与妓女相处。最后，在妹妹的帮助下，他终于了解：孩子不可能永远受到保护，成人世界的不完美终须面对。然而，若不是荷顿先把自己逼至疯狂边缘，也不可能会有这种体认。

Like Huckleberry Finn, The Catcher in the Rye is a coming-of-age novel. It is written in the language of its time, yet covers issues that are still relevant to young people today. It is likely to retain its status as a thought-provoking, if somewhat depressing, read for quite some time.

《麦田捕手》如同《顽童历险记》一般，是部成长纪事小说。尽管本书以当时的语言写成，却涵盖了与现今年轻人息息相关的议题。纵使读来可能有点沈郁，作为一部引人深思的读物，在未来一段时日，本书势将维持其一贯的地位。

－End

Vocabulary

单词发音

naive [nɑˋiv] adj. 天真的

runaway [ˋrʌnə͵we] n. 离家出走〔尤指小孩〕

kick out 撵走; 开除〔某人〕

encounter [ɪnˋkaʊntɚ] n. 相遇﹐邂逅

phoniness [ˋfonɪnɪs] n. 虚假

crave [krev] v. 渴望[（+for/after）][+to-v]

prostitute [ˋprɑstə͵tjut] n. 娼妓

realization [͵rɪələˋzeʃən] n. 领悟﹐意识

insanity [ɪnˋsænətɪ] n. 疯狂；精神错乱

coming-of-age 成长；成熟; 成年〔通常为18岁或21岁〕

thought-provoking [ˋθɔtprə͵vokɪŋ] adj. 令人深思的,发人深省的

depressing [dɪ`prɛsɪŋ] adj. 令人忧愁的﹐令人沮丧的

read [rid] n. 读物

Sentence of the Day

He’s a square peg in a round hole.

他不称职。

peg [pɛg] n. 钉；栓；桩 

The Catcher in The Rye 

Why Was Catcher in the Rye Banned?