The Tragedy of America

Author: Dreiser (USA)
Translator: Xu Ruzhi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-01-01
Features: Excerpt: Hearing this, the little girl began to play the organ, producing a series of tones that were precise but very faint; at the same time, her fairly loud soprano joined her mother’s soprano and her father’s uncertain baritone in singing. Meanwhile, the other children took out a stack of hymnals from the organ and sang along weakly. As they sang, the diverse onlookers on the street remained indifferent, staring blankly. Such an ordinary family, singing aloud in public, in defiance of the pervasive doubt and indifference in the world, captivated everyone. Some were intrigued by the frail, underdeveloped physique of the girl playing the organ; others were interested in or sympathetic toward the father’s unrealistic and shabby appearance, with his lifeless blue eyes and the rather sagging, poorly dressed body that betrayed his utter misfortune. Among them, only the mother stood out, exuding a sense of determination and resolve. Even if blind or mistaken, she could not be brought low—she could at least protect herself. She was stronger than the others, displaying a confident, albeit ignorant, demeanor that commanded respect. If you paid close attention to her, seeing her place the hymnal beside her and gaze straight ahead, you would surely think, "Wow, look at this person—despite her flaws, she’s the kind who does as she believes." Every gesture of hers revealed her unwavering faith in the wisdom and benevolence of the all-powerful, real, and watching ruler of the world she proclaimed.