영어로 읽는 고전 _ 메러디스 니콜슨의 미국인에 대하여
"The Man in the Street: Papers on American Topics"는 20세기 초에 쓰인 Meredith Nicholson의 수필집입니다.
이 작품은 문학, 정치, 사회를 포함한 미국 생활의 다양한 측면을 성찰하며, 평범한 미국 시민의 특성에 대한 통찰을 제공합니다. Nicholson의 글은 미국 문화의 복잡한 양상에 대한 더 깊은 이해를 도모하는 다양한 주제들을 다룹니다.
수필집의 도입부는 미국인의 정체성과 소도시 생활에 대한 Nicholson의 탐구를 위한 토대를 마련합니다. "Let Main Street Alone!"이라는 첫 번째 수필에서, 그는 소도시 미국의 미덕과 특징에 대해 논하면서, Sinclair Lewis의 "Main Street"와 같은 문학 작품이나 대도시에서 흔히 볼 수 있는 비판적인 묘사에 반론을 제기합니다. 그는 작은 공동체에서 발견되는 자부심과 독특성을 강조하며, 평범한 시민들의 삶과 고투에 대한 더 깊은 이해를 촉구합니다.
이 글은 성찰적이면서도 대화체적인 문체로 쓰여, 독자들이 Nicholson의 관점을 통해 미국인의 다양한 경험을 고찰하도록 이끕니다.
Classics Read in English _ The man in the street _ Papers on American topics by Meredith Nicholson
"The Man in the Street: Papers on American Topics" by Meredith Nicholson is a collection of essays written in the early 20th century. The work reflects on various facets of American life, including literature, politics, and society, offering insights into the character of the average American citizen. Nicholson's writing captures a range of topics that aim to foster a greater understanding of the intricate tapestry of American culture. The opening of the collection sets the stage for Nicholson's exploration of themes surrounding American identity and small-town life. In the first essay, titled "Let Main Street Alone!", he engages in a discourse on the virtues and idiosyncrasies of small-town America, arguing against the critical portrayals often seen in larger cities and literary works, such as Sinclair Lewis's "Main Street." He emphasizes the pride and distinctiveness found in smaller communities, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the lives and struggles of ordinary citizens. The writing is both reflective and conversational, inviting readers to consider the rich tapestry of American experiences through Nicholson’s lens.
Among the contents
CERTAIN questions lie dormant for long periods and then, often with no apparent provocation, assume an acute phase and cry insistently for attention. The failure of the church to adjust itself to the needs of the age; the shiftlessness of the new generation; the weaknesses of our educational system?these and like matters are susceptible of endless debate. Into this general classification we may gaily sweep the query as to whether a small town is as promising a habitat for an aspiring soul as a large city. When we have wearied of defending or opposing the continuance of the direct primary, or have found ourselves suddenly conscious that the attempt to decide whether immortality is desirable is unprofitable, we may address ourselves valiantly to a discussion of the advantages of the provinces over those of the seething metropolis, or take the other way round, as pleases our humor. Without the recurring stimulus of such contentions as these we should probably be driven to the peddling of petty gossip or sink into a state of intellectual coma.
