This book also includes 27 other representative articles by Woolf.
Brief introduction of the author
Adeline Virginia Woolf (Virginia Woolf,1882 65438+1October 25th ~1941March 28th).
British female writer and critic, one of the representatives of stream-of-consciousness novels, is known as "the best female writer in the 20th century" and a pioneer of feminism in the 20th century. Together with James Joyce and Proust of France, she introduced the stream-of-consciousness novels to the world, which greatly influenced the traditional writing techniques all over the world.
Adeline Virginia Woolf wandered between elegance and madness all his life. Some people say: Woolf's memory has two hidden sides-one is clear and the other is dark; Cold and warm; On the one hand, creation, and on the other hand, destruction; While spreading the light of heaven, burn the fire of hell.
Her most famous works include the novels Mrs. Dalloway, To the Lighthouse, Jacob's Room, and the prose collections Ordinary Readers, Death of a Moth and Instantaneous Existence.
Wonderful trial reading
Death of moth
To be exact, moths flying during the day are not called moths; They can't arouse our pleasure in the autumn night and the blooming ivy, but the most common golden-winged moth sleeping in the window shadow can always arouse such associations. They are half-blood creatures, neither as gorgeous as butterflies nor as dull as their peers. However, in front of this moth, the narrow wings are hay-colored, and the wings are dotted with the same color as tassels, which seems to be very satisfied with life. A pleasant morning in mid-September. The weather is clear and sunny, but breathing is more urgent than in hot summer. In the field opposite the window, farmers are plowing the land with sledges, and the land is flattened and misty. This energy comes from fields and distant mountains, making it impossible for people to keep their eyes firmly fixed on the pages. White-billed crows are also celebrating the annual celebration; They kept hovering at the top of the tree, looking like a huge net, with thousands of black nodes scattered in the sky; After a while, the giant net slowly descended until all the branches were covered with black spots. Suddenly, the huge net was thrown into the sky again, this time drawing a bigger arc, accompanied by deafening noise and noise. They rushed to the sky at the highest speed for a while, and then slowly stopped at the top of the tree, as if it were an extremely exciting experience.
This energy inspires crows, farmers, horses and even barren mountains, and also encourages moths to fly back and forth between panes with their wings flapping. You can't help looking at him. I can't help feeling a little sorry. That morning, the happiness of life was so grand, broad and colorful. Therefore, it's tragic that there is only a short life like a moth, and it's a day moth. However, moths are enjoying any insignificant happiness, and this enthusiasm really makes people cry. He flew to one corner of the territory, stopped for a minute and then flew to another corner. Then, continue to fly to the third and fourth corners. What else can he do? That's all he can do. Although the mountains are majestic, the sky is vast and the smoke is far away, the steamboat on the sea occasionally makes a thought-provoking whistle. He did everything he could. Looking at him, it seems that the great energy of the whole world has turned into filaments, thin and pure, and injected into his weak and tiny body. Every time he climbs over the pane, I imagine the light of life. He is weak, even insignificant, but he is a life.
However, it is precisely because of the thinness of moths that it presents an energy in such a simple form. This kind of energy comes from the open window and collides in the complicated corridor between my brain and other people's brains, which makes him not only embarrassed but also amazing. As if someone is holding a pure pearl of life, lightly inlaid with fluff and wings, let him dance lightly and show the true meaning of life. This gesture is amazing. He bowed his back and walked forward with jade carving and jade carving. Every step is full of extreme caution and seriousness. Looking at him, you can't help but forget everything about life. You can't help but think again, what would his life be like if he was born in another form? Such an idea will make you can't help but observe his every simple action with pity.
After a while, the moth was obviously tired of dancing and stopped on the pane in the sun. I left him behind after the wonderful performance. Later, I looked up and saw him again. He tried to jump again, but his body was stiff and clumsy, and he could only flap his wings at the bottom of the pane; He tried to fly, but failed. Because I was thinking about other things, I absently watched him make futile attempts again and again, subconsciously waiting for him to fly again, as if waiting for a temporarily stopped machine to start again, without considering the reason for stopping. After about the seventh attempt, he slipped down from the pane, flapped his wings and fell on his back on the windowsill. His helplessness awakened me. I suddenly realized that he was in trouble and could never fly again; His four feet struggled in vain. But when I reached out my pencil to help him turn over, I suddenly realized that his failure and clumsiness came from the arrival of death. I put down my pencil again.
His legs are shaking again. I searched everywhere, trying to find an enemy to fight for him. I looked out the door. What happened there? Near noon, the field work has stopped. Silence and peace replaced the initial anger. Birds flew down from the branches and went to the stream to feed. The iron horse stood quietly. However, that force has always existed, condensed together, and put on a ruthless and supercilious expression. It is this power that is fighting against the little hay moth. Any effort is in vain. I can only watch his thin legs struggling with the impending death. The power of death, as long as it is willing, can capture an entire city, not only the city itself, but also thousands of lives in the city; As far as I know, nothing can compete with death. However, after a short tired rest, his four legs began to struggle again. This last struggle was heroic, crazy and fierce, and finally he turned over successfully. People's sympathy is focused on life. At the same time, it is really touching that an insignificant moth should use such great strength to desperately hold on to what others do not cherish and expect to hold on to. Somehow, the pearl of life appeared before my eyes, pure and clear. I raised my pencil again, although I knew it was all in vain. Just then, death arrived as scheduled. His body relaxed and then became stiff. The struggle is over. This insignificant moth tasted death. Looking at the dead moth, I was surprised that such a powerful force defeated a humble creature. At this moment, death is as strange to me as life a moment ago. Mother straightened up, lay there calmly and solemnly, and accepted her death without complaint. Yes, he seems to be saying that death is stronger than me.
Sussex at night: the reflection on the car
The night is tolerant of Sussex, because Sussex is no longer young. She is grateful for the veil of the night, just like an elderly woman. When the light is covered and only the silhouette of her face is left, she will be very happy. Sussex's lines are still beautiful The cliff stands proudly on the sea and stretches continuously. The whole of Eastburn, Baker Hill and St Leonard, as well as their parades, apartments, jewelry stores and candy stores, notices, disabled soldiers and tourist buses, disappeared, leaving only a line of cliffs, where William stood when he first came here from France ten centuries ago, extending to the seaside. Large areas of land have been cultivated. Red villas are scattered on the coastline like freckles, washed by a lake of thin and clear brown air, and all the villas and their red colors are submerged. It's still early, the street lights are not on, and the stars haven't appeared yet.
But I think that every beautiful moment like this will always accumulate something that can stimulate people's mood. Psychologists will certainly explain; People looked around and were shocked by the unexpected extreme beauty-at this time, colorful clouds floated over Bater; Pieces of fields are colorful and multi-toned-people's feelings begin to expand rapidly, just like inflated balloons. Then, just when this kind of beauty, beauty and beauty unfolded everything to the fullest and most tense, a needle fell and it collapsed. But what is this needle? As far as I know, this needle is related to people's own sense of powerlessness. I can't control it-I can't express it-I have been conquered by it-I have been controlled by it. People's dissatisfaction lies somewhere, which is closely related to the idea that human nature requires controlling everything they accept; Here, control means the ability to express what you saw in Sussex in order to share it with others. Furthermore, there is another kind of needle: people are wasting opportunities; Because beauty is always escaping, it jumps to people's right hand, stops at people's left hand and spreads on people's back. For rapids that can fill bathtubs and lakes, people can only provide one thimble.
Let go, I said (as we all know, how the ego splits under such circumstances. One can't wait, can't complain; A firm, calm), give up these impossible wishes; Peace of mind in front of the scenery; Believe me, when I tell you it's best to sit down, immerse yourself in it, be detached from the world and accept it safely; Don't worry, because nature gave you six knives to cut open the whale's body.
When two people were discussing what wise attitude they should take in front of beautiful women, I (when a third party announced their existence) said to myself, how happy they are to enjoy such a simple pastime! The car flew by, and they sat there watching everything: a pile of hay, a rusty red roof, a pond, an old man walking home with a sack on his back; They sat there, mixing colors for the sky and the earth with their own paint boxes, and building models of barns and farmhouses in Sussex with red light and shadow to match the darkness of next year 1 month. I, on the other hand, am a little different, so I can only sit at a distance and feel depressed. When they were so busy, I said to myself: go, go, it's over, it's over; Everything is gone, everything is gone. I feel that life has been left behind, just like the road is drifting away. We have gone through this journey and have been forgotten. In an instant, the window was illuminated by our lights; Now the lights are out. The others follow us.
Suddenly, the fourth self (a self that hides and often jumps out unexpectedly). Its words often have nothing to do with what is happening in front of us, but because it is always unexpected, we must pay more attention to it. It was a bright, strange and puzzling light. At that time, I couldn't name it. "stars"; Just then, it accidentally flashed a strange light; It dances and glows. "I see what you mean." I said. "You this rain or shine, capricious self, thought that light hangs over the future of this mountain. Let's try to understand. Let's explain why. Suddenly I feel that I don't belong to the past, but I am attached to the future. I thought of Sussex in 500 years. I think Sussex's rudeness will disappear then. Everything will be burned. The magic door will appear. The cold air from the electric fan will purify the room. Strong and lasting light will sweep the whole earth, replacing this starlight. Look at the light wandering on the mountain! That's the headlights of the car. Whether it is day or night, Sussex will be full of fascinating ideas and fast and effective light in the next five centuries. "
Now, the sun has sunk below the horizon. The night spread rapidly. Our headlights are getting thinner and thinner on the hedge. Besides, my ego can't see anything. I called them together. "Now," I said, "it's time to settle accounts after the fall. We must get together and become a self. Nothing can be seen except the wedge-shaped roads and banks that are constantly illuminated by our headlights. We ate well and were wrapped in blankets to keep us from the wind and rain. We are alone. It's time for reckoning. As your leader, I will arrange our rewards one by one. Let me have a look. We have gained many beautiful experiences today: farmhouses, cliffs stretching out to the sea, colorful fields, colorful fields, the sky with red wings, and everything. And the disappearance and death of individuals. The road that disappears behind you, and the window that lights up for a moment and then goes out. At the same time, a light suddenly flashes and hangs in the future. What we create today, "I said," mainly includes beauty, individual death and the future. You see, in order to satisfy you, I created a small image; Here he comes. When the room is blown clean by a gust of wind, can this little man who is moving from beauty and death to a frugal, powerful and effective future satisfy you? Look at him, he is sitting on my knee. " We sat there and looked at the images created that day. Huge and steep stone slabs and clusters of trees surrounded him. For a moment, he looked very serious. Indeed, it seems that all the truth is displayed on the blanket. We trembled violently, as if an electric current were injected into our bodies. We all shouted "yes, yes", as if we had found something and confirmed it.
Then, the silent body began to sing. At first, the sound was almost as low as the rotation of the wheel: "eggs and bacon;" Bread and tea; Brazier and toilet; Brazier and toilet; "Stewed rabbit meat," it continued to sing, "red gooseberry jelly; A glass of wine followed by a cup of coffee, followed by a cup of coffee-then sleep, then sleep. "
"Fuck off," I shouted to the assembled ego. "Your task is completed. I want to fire you. Good night. "