John Cheever约翰契弗

JohnCheeverLollyleungJohnCheever•Nationality：UnitedStates•Born：May27,1912•Died：June18,1982•Occupation：shortstorywriter&novelist（Manhattan、suburbs、villages）•TheChekhovofthesuburbs•Oneofthemostimportantshortfictionwritersofthe20thcenturyLifeExperience•ThayerAcademy(1929)→poorgrades、rebellion→ultimatum→expelled(18)→TheNewRepublic•MarriedwithMaryWinternitzin1941•Severealcoholism、deterioratedmarriage•TaughtEnglishinaprison→pessimistic、depressive→Falconer（1977）FamousWorks•TheWaySomePeopleLive(1943)•TheEnormousRadioandOtherStories(1953)•TheWaspshotChronicle(1957)•TheHousebreakerofShadyHillandOtherStories(1958)•TheWapshotScandal（1964）FamousWorks•TheBrigadierandtheGolfWidow(1964)•BulletPark(1969)•TheWorldofApples(1973)•Falconer(1977)—No.1ontheNewYorkTimesBestSellerlistfor3weeks•Oh,WhataParadiseItSeems（1982）MainThemesDualityofhumannature•Decoroussocialpersonaandinnercorruption•Conflictbetweentwocharacters(oftenbrothers)→salient（突出的）aspectsofboth→lightanddark,fleshandspiritNostalgiaforavanishingwayoflifeabiding（永久的）culturaltraditionsandaprofoundsenseofcommunity≠alienatingnomadism（流浪）ofmodernsuburbiaPrizesTheStoriesofJohnCheever（1978）TheEnormousRadioGoodbye,MyBrotherTheCountryHusbandTheFive-Forty-EightTheSwimmer……PulitzerPrizeforFiction（1979）NationalBookCriticsCircleAward（1979）NationalBookAward（1981）TheEnormousRadioandOtherStoriesSettings•JimandIreneWescottSeemtostrikethatsatisfactoryaverageofincome,endeavor,andrespectabilityParentsoftwoyoungchildren•Married9years•Theywenttothetheateronanaverageof10.3timesayearBeginning•Theirradiowasanoldinstrument,sensitive,unpredictable,andbeyondrepair.•HepromisedtobuyIreneanewradio•Herefusedtodescribeit,andsaiditwouldbeasurpriseforherwhenitcame.Enormous：庞大的；极恶的Shewasstruckatoncewiththephysicaluglinessofthelargegumwoodcabinet.Irenewasproudofherlivingroom,shehadchosenitsfurnishingsandcolorsascarefullyasshechoseherclothes,andnowitseemedtoherthathernewradiostoodamongherintimatepossessionslikeanaggressiveintruder.Development•Ireneaccidentallyfoundthatshecouldhearconversationsfromherneighborsthroughtheradio.•Addictedtoeavesdropping(theft,adulteryandabuse…）•Differencesbetweenthelivestheysawandthosethatplayedoutbehindcloseddoors.•Refusedtoseethatshewasashypocriticalasothers&hopedtoblindherownproblems.ClimaxRepair(400$)+Luxuries(useless)+Paranoid=breakdownIworryaboutmoneyagreatdeal.•Ifanythingshouldhappentome,there'stheinsurance.→financialworries•Youstoleyourmother'sjewelrybeforetheyprobatedherwill.Younevergaveyoursisterasentofthatmoneythatwasintendedforher-notevenwhensheneededit.→Irene'ssecretsinsEndingThevoiceontheradiowassuaveandnoncommital.“Anearly-morningrailroaddisasterinTokyo,”theloudspeakersaid,“killedtwenty-ninepeople.AfireinaCatholichospitalnearBuffaloforthecareofblindchildrenwasextinguishedearlythismorningbynuns.Thetemperatureisforty-seven.Thehumidityiseighty-nine.”