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世界经典文学精选. 63
作者：Kate Chopin 凯特·肖邦
选自凯特·肖邦《The Story of an Hour》《一小时的故事》
英文原作，1894年12月6日发表。
英文原文
Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble,
great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible
the news of her husband’s death.
It was her sister Josephine
who told her, in broken sentences,
veiled hints that revealed in half concealing.
Her husband’s friend Richards was there, too,
near her.
It was he who had been in the newspaper office
when intelligence of the railroad disaster was received,
with Brently Mallard’s name leading the list of “killed.”
He had only taken the time
to assure himself of its truth by a second telegram,
and had hastened to forestall
any less careful, less tender friend
in bearing the sad message.
She did not hear the story
as many women have heard the same,
with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance.
She wept at once,
with sudden, wild abandonment,
in her sister’s arms.
When the storm of grief had spent itself
she went away to her room alone.
She would have no one follow her.
There stood,
facing the open window,
a comfortable, roomy armchair.
Into this she sank,
pressed down by a physical exhaustion
that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul.
She could see in the open square before her house
the tops of trees that were all aquiver
with the new spring life.
The delicious breath of rain
was in the air.
In the street below
a peddler was crying his wares.
The notes of a distant song
which some one was singing
reached her faintly,
and countless sparrows
were twittering in the eaves.
There were patches of blue sky
showing here and there
through the clouds
that had met and piled one above the other
in the west facing her window.
She sat with her head thrown back
upon the cushion of the chair,
quite motionless,
except when a sob came up into her throat
and shook her,
as a child who has cried itself to sleep
continues to sob in its dreams.
She was young,
with a fair, calm face,
whose lines bespoke repression
and even a certain strength.
But now there was a dull stare in her eyes,
whose gaze was fixed away off yonder
on one of those patches of blue sky.
It was not a glance of reflection,
but rather indicated
a suspension of intelligent thought.
There was something coming to her
and she was waiting for it,
fearfully.
What was it?
She did not know;
it was too subtle and elusive to name.
But she felt it,
creeping out of the sky,
reaching toward her
through the sounds,
the scents,
the color that filled the air.
Now her bosom rose and fell tumultuously.
She was beginning to recognize this thing
that was approaching to possess her,
and she was striving to beat it back
with her will—as powerless
as her two white slender hands would have been.
When she abandoned herself
a little whispered word
escaped her slightly parted lips.
She said it over and over under her breath:
“free, free, free!”
The vacant stare and the look of terror
that had followed it
went from her eyes.
They stayed keen and bright.
Her pulses beat fast,
and the coursing blood
warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.
She did not stop to ask
if it were not monstrous joy
that held her.
A clear and exalted perception
enabled her to dismiss the suggestion
as trivial.
She knew that she would weep again
when she saw the tender,
kind hands folded in death;
the face that had never looked save with love
upon her,
fixed and gray and dead.
But she saw beyond that bitter moment
a long procession of years to come
that would belong to her absolutely.
And she opened and spread her arms out
to welcome them.
There would be no one to live for
during those coming years;
she would live for herself.
There would be no powerful will
bending hers
in that blind persistence
with which men and women
believe they have a right to impose
a private will upon a fellow‑creature.
A kind intention
or a cruel intention
made the act no less a crime.
She loved him—sometimes.
Often she had not.
What did it matter!
What could love,
the unsolved mystery,
count for in face of this possession
of self‑assertion
which she suddenly recognized
as the strongest impulse of her being!
“Free!
Body and soul free!”
she kept whispering.
Josephine was kneeling before the closed door
with her lips to the keyhole,
imploring for admission.
“Louise, open the door!
I beg;
open the door—you will make yourself ill.
What are you doing, Louise?
For heaven’s sake open the door.”
“Go away.
I am not making myself ill.”
No;
she was drinking in a very elixir of life
through that open window.
Her fancy was running riot
along those days ahead of her.
Spring days,
and summer days,
and all sorts of days
that would be her own.
She breathed a quick prayer
that life might be long.
It was only yesterday
she had thought with a shudder
that life might be long.
She arose at length
and opened the door to her sister’s importunities.
There was a feverish triumph in her eyes,
and she carried herself unwittingly
like a goddess of Victory.
She clasped her sister’s waist,
and together they descended the stairs.
Richards stood waiting for them at the bottom.
Someone was opening the front door
with a latchkey.
It was Brently Mallard
who entered,
a little travel‑stained,
composedly carrying his gripsack and umbrella.
He had been far from the scene of accident,
and did not even know
there had been one.
He stood amazed
at Josephine’s piercing cry;
at Richards’ quick motion
to screen him from the view of his wife.
But Richards was too late.
When the doctors came
they said she had died
of heart disease—
of joy that kills.
译文
所有人都知道马拉德夫人患有心脏病，
因此在告知她丈夫离世的噩耗时，
大家都极尽温柔、小心翼翼。
她的姐姐约瑟芬，
语无伦次、欲言又止，
半遮半掩地把噩耗告诉了她。
她丈夫的朋友理查兹也守在一旁。
当初铁路事故消息传来、
遇难名单首位赫然写着布伦特利·马拉德的名字时，
正是他在报社第一时间得知消息。
他又紧急确认电报、核实死讯，
只为抢先一步，
由自己温柔告知噩耗，
避免旁人鲁莽直白、刺痛夫人。
面对噩耗，
她没有像许多女人那样，
麻木呆滞、无法接受现实。
她瞬间崩溃，
毫无克制、放声痛哭，
扑倒在姐姐的怀里。
当汹涌的悲痛渐渐平息，
她独自走进自己的房间，
不让任何人跟随。
窗前摆着一把宽敞舒适的扶手椅，
她缓缓瘫坐下去。
身心俱疲的沉重疲惫席卷全身，
从躯体蔓延至心底深处。
透过敞开的窗户，
她望见房前空旷的广场，
枝头新叶颤动，
满是春日新生的生机。
雨后清新甘甜的气息弥漫在空气里。
楼下街道上，
小贩沿街叫卖、声声不绝。
远处传来悠扬的歌声，
隐约飘荡入耳，
屋檐下无数麻雀叽叽喳喳、雀跃欢鸣。
西边天际的云层层层堆叠，
缝隙间处处露出澄澈的蓝天。
她头靠着椅背静静坐着，
周身一动不动。
偶尔一阵哽咽涌上喉咙、震颤身躯，
如同哭累入梦的孩童，
在睡梦中依旧低声啜泣。
她尚且年轻，
面容清秀平和，
眉眼间藏着常年压抑的隐忍，
亦藏着一丝坚韧的力量。
此刻她目光空洞，
遥遥望向远方的蓝天，
眼神放空凝滞。
这并非沉思的凝望，
而是思绪放空、万物静止的恍惚。
有什么东西正在向她靠近，
她心怀恐惧、静静等待。
那究竟是什么？
她无从言说，
它太过微妙、难以捕捉、无法定义。
但她真切地感知到，
它从天际缓缓蔓延而来，
借着周遭的声响、气息与色彩，
一点点向自己靠近。
她的胸口剧烈起伏，心绪翻涌。
她终于渐渐看清，
有一股力量即将占据自己的身心。
她拼命用意志抵抗，
可纤细苍白的双手、微弱的内心力量，
根本无力抗衡。
当她终于放下挣扎、彻底释然，
一丝轻语从微张的唇间缓缓溢出。
她一遍遍低声默念：
“自由了，自由了，自由了！”
眼中的空洞与恐惧尽数消散，
眼神重新变得清亮敏锐、熠熠生辉。
脉搏剧烈跳动，
奔涌的热血流淌全身，
让她的每一寸肌肤都变得松弛、温暖。
她无暇思考，
这份突如其来的喜悦是否荒诞怪异。
心底澄澈通透的感知告诉她，
所有疑虑，皆微不足道。
她清楚，
再见丈夫冰冷安详的面容、
再也不会温柔注视自己的双眼时，
自己定会再度落泪悲伤。
但越过此刻的悲痛，
她望见了往后漫长的余生——
完完全全、只属于自己的人生。
她张开双臂，
满心欢喜地迎接崭新的未来。
往后余生，
她不必再为任何人而活，
只为取悦自己、成全自己。
再也没有旁人的意志，
强行束缚、左右她的人生。
世人总固执地以为，
自己有权将个人意愿强加于人，
无论初衷是善意或是刻薄，
这份束缚，皆是桎梏与伤害。
她爱过丈夫，
偶尔真心相待。
但更多时候，
她从未真正心甘情愿。
可那又如何！
爱情本就是无解的谜题，
在这份挣脱束缚、掌控自我的新生面前，
根本不值一提。
“自由了！身心皆得自由！”
她反复轻声呢喃。
门外，约瑟芬跪在门前、贴着锁孔苦苦哀求，
让她开门，生怕她独自郁结、伤身致病。
她淡淡回应：“走开，我没事。”
此刻的她，正透过敞开的窗户，
汲取着世间最珍贵的新生力量。
她肆意畅想往后的岁月，
春日明媚、夏日热烈，
朝朝暮暮，尽数属于自己。
她默默祈祷，愿余生漫长安稳。
就在昨日，
她还满心战栗、惧怕余生漫漫难熬。
良久，她起身开门，
回应姐姐急切的呼唤。
她眼底藏着热烈的欣喜与胜利的荣光，
身姿轻盈，宛如重生的女神。
她挽住姐姐的腰，
一同缓步走下楼梯。
理查兹正等候在楼下。
忽然，前门被钥匙打开，
布伦特利·马拉德推门而入。
他风尘仆仆、神色安然，
手中提着行囊、握着雨伞。
他根本未曾遭遇事故，
甚至全然不知那场灾难。
约瑟芬骤然失声尖叫，
理查兹慌忙上前遮挡，
不让马拉德夫人看见丈夫。
可一切为时已晚。
当医生赶来诊治，
最终判定：她死于心脏病突发，
死于极致狂喜带来的致命冲击。
🔍长难句赏析与拆解
原句：
Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble,
great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible
the news of her husband’s death.
句式解读：
本句开篇采用现在分词作原因状语，
knowing引导的分句提前交代背景条件。
主句为被动语态经典句型，
great care was taken to do，
规避主观主语，让行文更加客观、沉稳，
契合文学美文的叙事质感。
to break…the news 为真正目的状语，
as gently as possible 插入修饰动作，
层层叠加句式，细节饱满、节奏舒缓。
句子主干：
People told her husband’s death news
as gently as they could,
because she had heart disease.
文学赏析：
开篇极简交代人物身体状况与故事背景，
为全文悲剧结局埋下核心伏笔。
一句铺垫，既解释众人温柔报丧的缘由，
也暗示女主命运早已被病痛束缚，
为结尾突发猝死、乐极生悲的反转结局
做好完美铺垫，前后呼应、结构精妙。
写作迁移点拨：
适合叙事开篇、背景铺垫、人物处境描写，
适配命运、遗憾、意外、世事无常类主题。
仿写：
Knowing that he was trapped in deep sorrow,
great care was taken to comfort him as softly as possible
and ease his inner pain.
原句：
There would be no powerful will
bending hers
in that blind persistence
with which men and women
believe they have a right to impose
a private will upon a fellow‑creature.
句式解读：
本句为多层嵌套复合句，
主干清晰，
后面嵌套定语从句修饰blind persistence。
with which引导从句，
深度解释世人固执掌控他人的心态，
impose…upon 为高级固定搭配，
表示“强加于”。
整句长短结合、层层递进，
兼具议论深度与文学美感。
句子主干：
No one would force their will on her,
for no one had the right to control others’ life.
文学赏析：
这是全文核心主旨句，
道出女主内心最深的桎梏与觉醒。
婚姻的束缚、他人的掌控，
无关善恶，都是对自我人生的剥夺。
作者借女主的顿悟，写出人性的通病：
世人总习惯性以爱为名、以善意自居，
强行左右他人的人生。
句子深刻通透，极具思辨力量，
升华全文自由、独立、自我觉醒的主题。
写作迁移点拨：
适用于独立自我、挣脱束缚、
活出自我、拒绝盲从类议论文、美文结尾升华。
仿写：
There would be no stubborn prejudice
limiting his vision
in that fixed mindset
with which many people
believe they have a right to judge
others’ choices and dreams.
📝全篇句式特点
本文选自凯特·肖邦经典短篇小说《一小时的故事》，
是世界文学史上女性觉醒、自我救赎的传世名篇。
文章文风细腻克制、意蕴深远，
擅长以环境烘托心境、以细节暗藏情绪，
多用分词状语、嵌套从句、哲理长句，
画面感与思想性兼具。
全文情节极简、反转极致：
听闻丈夫离世的噩耗，
常人皆为之悲痛，
女主却在独处的一小时里，
挣脱婚姻桎梏、看透束缚人生，
获得前所未有的心灵自由。
春日生机的景物描写，
完美映衬女主重获新生的喜悦，
悲喜反差极具张力。
就在她满心憧憬自由余生时，
丈夫意外归来，瞬间击碎所有希望，
极致的狂喜骤然落空，
心脏骤停、猝然离世，
成就震撼人心的悲剧反转。
核心词汇
1. afflict
/əˈflɪkt/
折磨，使苦恼
动词 (v.)
2. veil
/veɪl/
掩饰，遮盖
动词 (v.)
3. intelligence
/ɪnˈtelɪdʒəns/
消息，情报
名词 (n.)
4. forestall
/fɔːˈstɔːl/
抢先阻止，预先避免
动词 (v.)
5. paralyze
/ˈpærəlaɪz/
使瘫痪，使麻木
动词 (v.)
6. abandonment
/əˈbændənmənt/
放任，纵情
名词 (n.)
7. tumultuously
/tjuːˈmʌltjuəsli/
汹涌地，剧烈地
副词 (adv.)
8. elusive
/iˈluːsɪv/
难以捉摸的，微妙的
形容词 (adj.)
9. exalted
/ɪɡˈzɔːltɪd/
崇高的，高昂的
形容词 (adj.)
10. trivial
/ˈtrɪviəl/
微不足道的，琐碎的
形容词 (adj.)
11. assertion
/əˈsɜːʃn/
坚持自我，主张
名词 (n.)
12. importunity
/ˌɪmpəˈtjuːnəti/
强求，苦苦恳求
名词 (n.)
💡主旨品读
《一小时的故事》是凯特·肖邦的经典短篇代表作，
是探讨女性自我意识觉醒的经典文学文本。
故事的女主人公路易丝长期身处婚姻的枷锁之中，
在当时的时代背景下，女性的人生依附于婚姻与丈夫，
自我的意志常常被伴侣的意愿所压制。
当误传丈夫死亡的消息传来，短暂的悲伤过后，
路易丝在独处的一个小时当中，
觉醒了埋藏心底许久的自我，
体会到不被任何人束缚、只为自己活着的巨大自由与喜悦。
窗外盎然的春日景象，象征着她内心精神世界的重生。
可这份新生仅仅维持一小时，丈夫平安归来的现实瞬间击碎一切，
巨大的心理落差直接夺去她的生命。
小说结局极具讽刺意味，医生判定她死于“致命的喜悦”，
可杀死她的并不是丈夫归来的喜悦，
而是刚刚触碰到自由又转瞬彻底失去的巨大绝望。
作品深刻地反思旧式婚姻制度对女性天性的压抑，
探讨个体自我、人身自由、精神解放的命题。
故事短小精悍，反转冲击力强，
适合用于自我觉醒、挣脱桎梏、
追求自由、时代与人性、命运无常等作文主题，
心理描写细腻深刻，思想内核锐利，
非常适合摘抄赏析和作文段落升华。
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