01-the kreutzer sonata-第5章
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CHAPTER IX。
〃Do you know；〃 suddenly continued Posdnicheff； 〃that this power
of women from which the world suffers arises solely from what I
have just spoken of？〃
〃What do you mean by the power of women？〃 I said。 〃Everybody； on
the contrary； complains that women have not sufficient rights；
that they are in subjection。〃
〃That's it； that's it exactly；〃 said he； vivaciously。 〃That is
just what I mean； and that is the explanation of this
extraordinary phenomenon； that on the one hand woman is reduced
to the lowest degree of humiliation and on the other hand she
reigns over everything。 See the Jews： with their power of money；
they avenge their subjection； just as the women do。 'Ah！ you
wish us to be only merchants？ All right； remaining merchants； we
will get possession of you；' say the Jews。 'Ah！ you wish us to
be only objects of sensuality？ All right； by the aid of
sensuality we will bend you beneath our yoke；' say the women。
〃The absence of the rights of woman does not consist in the fact
that she has not the right to vote； or the right to sit on the
bench； but in the fact that in her affectional relations she is
not the equal of man； she has not the right to abstain； to choose
instead of being chosen。 You say that that would be abnormal。
Very well！ But then do not let man enjoy these rights； while his
companion is deprived of them； and finds herself obliged to make
use of the coquetry by which she governs； so that the result is
that man chooses 'formally；' whereas really it is woman who
chooses。 As soon as she is in possession of her means； she
abuses them； and acquires a terrible supremacy。〃
〃But where do you see this exceptional power？〃
〃Where？ Why； everywhere； in everything。 Go see the stores in
the large cities。 There are millions there； millions。 It is
impossible to estimate the enormous quantity of labor that is
expended there。 In nine…tenths of these stores is there anything
whatever for the use of men？ All the luxury of life is demanded
and sustained by woman。 Count the factories； the greater part of
them are engaged in making feminine ornaments。 Millions of men；
generations of slaves； die toiling like convicts simply to
satisfy the whims of our companions。
〃Women； like queens； keep nine…tenths of the human race as
prisoners of war； or as prisoners at hard labor。 And all this
because they have been humiliated； because they have been
deprived of rights equal to those which men enjoy。 They take
revenge for our sensuality； they catch us in their nets。
〃Yes； the whole thing is there。 Women have made of themselves
such a weapon to act upon the senses that a young man； and even
an old man； cannot remain tranquil in their presence。 Watch a
popular festival； or our receptions or ball…rooms。 Woman well
knows her influence there。 You will see it in her triumphant
smiles。
〃As soon as a young man advances toward a woman； directly he
falls under the influence of this opium； and loses his head。
Long ago I felt ill at ease when I saw a woman too well
adorned；whether a woman of the people with her red neckerchief
and her looped skirt； or a woman of our own society in her
ball…room dress。 But now it simply terrifies me。 I see in it a
danger to men； something contrary to the laws； and I feel a
desire to call a policeman； to appeal for defence from some
quarter； to demand that this dangerous object be removed。
〃And this is not a joke； by any means。 I am convinced； I am
sure； that the time will comeand perhaps it is not far
distantwhen the world will understand this； and will be
astonished that a society could exist in which actions as harmful
as those which appeal to sensuality by adorning the body as our
companions do were allowed。 As well set traps along our public
streets； or worse than that。
CHAPTER X。
〃That； then； was the way in which I was captured。 I was in
love； as it is called； not only did she appear to me a perfect
being； but I considered myself a white blackbird。 It is a
commonplace fact that there is no one so low in the world that he
cannot find some one viler than himself； and consequently puff
with pride and self…contentment。 I was in that situation。 I did
not marry for money。 Interest was foreign to the affair； unlike
the marriages of most of my acquaintances； who married either for
money or for relations。 First； I was rich； she was poor。
Second； I was especially proud of the fact that； while others
married with an intention of continuing their polygamic life as
bachelors； it was my firm intention to live monogamically after
my engagement and the wedding； and my pride swelled immeasurably。
〃Yes； I was a wretch； convinced that I was an angel。 The period
of my engagement did not last long。 I cannot remember those days
without shame。 What an abomination！
〃It is generally agreed that love is a moral sentiment； a
community of thought rather than of sense。 If that is the case；
this community of thought ought to find expression in words and
conversation。 Nothing of the sort。 It was extremely difficult
for us to talk with each other。 What a toil of Sisyphus was our
conversation！ Scarcely had we thought of something to say； and
said it； when we had to r俿um偂ur silence and try to discover
new subjects。 Literally； we did not know what to say to each
other。 All that we could think of concerning the life that was
before us and our home was said。
〃And then what？ If we had been animals； we should have known
that we had not to talk。 But here； on the contrary； it was
necessary to talk； and there were no resources！ For that which
occupied our minds was not a thing to be expressed in words。
〃And then that silly custom of eating bon…bons； that brutal
gluttony for sweetmeats； those abominable preparations for the
wedding； those discussions with mamma upon the apartments； upon
the sleeping…rooms； upon the bedding； upon the morning…gowns；
upon the wrappers； the linen； the costumes！ Understand that if
people married according to the old fashion； as this old man said
just now； then these eiderdown coverlets and this bedding would
all be sacred details； but with us； out of ten married people
there is scarcely to be found one who； I do not say believes in
sacraments （whether he believes or not is a matter of
indifference to us）； but believes in what he promises。 Out of a
hundred men； there is scarcely one who has not married before；
and out of fifty scarcely one who has not made up his mind to
deceive his wife。
〃The great majority look upon this journey to the church as a
condition necessary to the possession of a certain woman。 Think
then of the supreme significance which material details must take
on。 Is it not a sort of sale； in which a maiden is given over to
a debauche； the sale being surrounded with the most agreeable
details？
CHAPTER XI。
〃All marry in this way。 And I did like the rest。 If the young
people who dream of the honeymoon only knew what a disillusion it
is； and always a disillusion！ I really do not know why all think
it necessary to conceal it。
〃One day I was walking among the shows in Paris； when； attracted
by a sign； I entered an establishment to see a bearded woman and
a water…dog。 The woman was a man in disguise； and the dog was an
ordinary dog； covered with a sealskin； and swimming in a bath。
It was not in the least interesting； but the Barnum accompanied
me to the exit very courteously； and； in addressing the people
who were coming in； made an appeal to my testimony。 'Ask the
gentleman if it is not worth seeing！ Come in； come in！ It only
costs a franc！' And in my confusion I did not dare to answer
that there was nothing curious to be seen； and it was upon my
false shame that the Barnum must have counted。
〃It must be the same with the persons who have passed through the
abominations of the honeymoon。 They do not dare to undeceive
their neighbor。 And I did the same。
〃The felicities of the honeymoon do not exist。 On the contrary；
it is a period of uneasiness； of shame； of pity； and； above all；
of ennui；of ferocious ennui。 It is something like the
feeling of a youth when he is beginning to smoke。 He desires to
vomit； he drivels； and swallows his drivel； pretending to enjoy
this little amusement。 The vice of marriage〃 。 。 。
〃What！ Vice？〃 I said。 〃But you are talking of one of the most
natural things。〃
〃Natural！〃 said he。 〃Natural！ No； I consider on the contrary
that it is against nature； and it is I； a perverted man； who have
reached this conviction。 What would it be； then； if I had not
known corruption？ To a young girl； to every unperverted young
girl； it is an act extremely unnatural； just as it is to
children。 My sister married； when very young； a man twice her
own age； and who was utterly corrupt。 I remember how astonished
we were the night of her wedding； when； pale and covered with
tears； she fled from her husband； her whole body trembling；
saying that for nothing in the world would she tell what he
wanted of her。
〃You say natural？ It is natural to eat； that is a pleasant；
agreeable function； which no one is ashamed to perform from the
time of his birth。 No； it is not natural。 A pure young girl
wants one thing；children。 Children； yes； not a lover。〃 。 。 。
〃But；〃 said I； with astonishment； 〃how would the human race
continue？〃
〃But what is the use of its continuing？〃 he rejoined；
vehemently。
〃What！ What is the use？ But then we should not exist。〃
〃And why is it necessary that we should exist？〃
〃Why； to live； to be sure。〃
〃And why live？ The Schopenhauers； the Hartmanns； and all the
Buddhists； say that the greatest happiness is Nirvana； Non…Life；
and they are right in this sense；that human happiness is
coincident with the annihilation of 'Self。' Only they do not
express themselves well。 They say that Humanity should
annihilate itself to avoid its sufferings； that its object should
be to destroy itself。 Now the object of Humanity cannot be to
avoid sufferings by annihilation； since suffering is the result
of activity。 The object of activity cannot consist in
suppressing its consequences。 The object of Man； as of Humanity；
is happiness； and； to attain it； Humanity has a law which it must
carry out。 This law consists in the union of beings。 This union
is thwarted by the passions。 And that is why； if the passions
disappear； the union will be accomplished。 Humanity then will
have carried out the law； and will have no further reason to
exist。〃
〃And before Humanity carries out the law？〃
〃In the meantime it will have the sign of the unfulfilled law；
and the existence of physical love。 As long as this love shall
exist； and because of it； generations will be born； one of which
will finall
