Unit 16A - The Oyster and the Pearl
The Oyster and the Pearl
William Saroyan
Harry Van Dusen's barber shop in O.K.-by-the-Sea, California, population 909. It's an old-fashioned shop, crowded with stuff not usually found in barber shops... Harry himself, for instance. He has never been known to put on a barber's white jacket or to work without a hat of some sort on his head.
On the walls, on the shelves, are many odds and ends, some apparently washed up by the sea, which is a block down the street: shells, rocks, pieces of driftwood, a life jacket, rope, sea plants. There is one old-fashioned chair.
When the play begins, Harry is seated in the chair. A boy of nine or ten named Clay Larrabee is giving him a haircut. Harry is reading a book, one of many in the shop.
Well, I did what you told me, Mr. Van Dusen.
I hope it's all right. I'm no barber, though.
You want to look at it in the mirror?
(He holds out a small mirror.)
No thanks. I remember the last one.
I guess I'll never be a barber.
Maybe not. On the other hand, you may turn out to be the one man hidden away who will bring merriment to the tired old human heart.
Who? Me?
Why not?
Merriment to the tired old human heart? How do you do that?
Compose a symphony, paint a picture, write a book, invent a philosophy.
Not me! Did you ever do stuff like that?
I did.
What did you do?
Invented a philosophy.
What's that?
A way to live.
What way did you invent?
The take-it-easy way.
That sounds pretty good.
All philosophies sound good.
The trouble with mine was, I kept forgetting to take it easy.
Until one day. The day I came off the highway into this barber shop.
The barber told me the shop was for sale.
I told him all I had to my name was eighty dollars.
He sold me the shop for seventy-five, and threw in the haircut.
I've been here ever since. That was twenty-four years ago.
How old were you then?
Old enough to know a good thing when I saw it.
What did you see?
O.K.-by-the-Sea, and this shop. (He gets out of the chair, goes to the hat tree, and puts on the hat hanging there.)
I guess I'd never get a haircut if you weren't in town, Mr. Van Dusen.
Nobody would, since I'm the only barber.
I mean, free of charge.
I give you a haircut free of charge, you give me a haircut free of charge. That's fair and square.
Yes, but you're a barber. You get a dollar a haircut.
Now and then I do. Now and then I don't.
Well, anyhow, thanks a lot. I guess I'll go down to the beach now and look for stuff.
I'd go with you, but I'm expecting a little Saturday business.
This time I'm going to find something real good.
The sea washes up some pretty good things, doesn't it?
It sure does, except money.
What do you want with money?
Things I need.
What do you need?
I want to get my father to come home again. I want to buy Mother a present...
Now, wait a minute, Clay. Let me get this straight. Where is your father?
I don't know. He went off about a month ago.
What do you mean, he went off?
He just picked up and went off.
Did he say when he was coming back?
No. All he said was, Enough's enough. He wrote it on the kitchen wall.
Enough's enough?
Yeah. We all thought he'd be back in a day or two, but now we know we've got to find him and bring him back.
How do you expect to do that?
Well, we put an ad in the paper.
This paper? But your father's not in town. How will he see an ad in this paper?
He might see it. Anyhow, we don't know what else to do.
We're living off the money we saved from the summer we worked, but there isn't much left.
The summer you worked?
Yeah. The summer before last, just before we moved here.
We picked cotton in Kern County. My father, my mother, and me.
What do you say in your ad?
Well, I say... 'Clark Larrabee, come home. Your fishing tackle's in the closet safe and sound.
The fishing's good, plenty of perch, and bass.
Let bygones be bygones. We miss you. Mama, Clay, Roxanna, Rufus, Clara.'
Do you think if my father reads it, he'll come home?
I don't know, Clay. I hope so.
Yeah. Thanks a lot for the haircut, Mr. Van Dusen.
(Clay goes out. Harry takes off the hat, and begins to shave.
A pretty girl in a swimming suit comes into the shop, closing a colorful parasol.)
Miss America, I presume.
Miss McCutcheon.
Harry Van Dusen.
How do you do?
Miss McCutcheon.
I'm new here.
You'd be new anywhere. Surely you don't live here.
As a matter of fact, I do. At any rate, I've been here since last Sunday.
You see, I'm the new teacher at the school.
You are?
Yes, I am.
How do you like it?
Well, as a matter of fact, I want to quit and go home in San Francisco.
But at the same time I have a feeling I ought to stay.
What do you think? Shall I go, or shall I stay?
Depends on what you're looking for.
I stopped here twenty-four years ago because I decided I wasn't looking for anything any more.
Well, I was mistaken. I was looking, and I've found exactly what I was looking for.
What's that?
A chance to take my time. What are you looking for, Miss McCutcheon?
Well...
I mean, beside a husband...
I'm not looking for a husband. I expect a husband to look for me.
That's fair.
I'm looking for a chance to teach.
That's fair too.
But this town... The children just don't seem to care about anything—whether they get good grades or bad, whether they pass or fail.
On top of that, almost all of them are unruly.
The only thing they seem to be interested in is games, and the sea.
That's why I'm on my way to the beach now.
I thought if I could watch them on a Saturday, I might understand them better.
Yeah, that's a thought.
Nobody seems to have any sensible ambition. It's all fun and play.
How can I teach children like that? What can I teach them?
English. Of course.
Singing, dancing, cooking...
Cooking? ... I must say I expected to see a much older man.
Well. Thank you. Not at all.
The question is: Shall you stay or shall you go back to San Francisco? Yes.
The answer is: Go back while the going's good. Why?
You're too good for a town like this. I am not!
Too young and too intelligent. Youth and intelligence need excitement.
There are kinds of excitement.
Yes, there are. You need the big-city kind.
There isn't an eligible bachelor in town.
You seem to think all I want is to find a husband.
(She sits almost angrily in the chair and speaks very softly.)
I'd like a haircut if you don't mind, Mr. Van Dusen.
You'll have to get that in San Francisco, I'm afraid.
Why? Aren't you a barber? I am.
Well, this is your shop. It's open for business.
I'm a customer. I've got money. I want a poodle haircut.
I don't know how to give a poodle haircut, but even if I knew how, I wouldn't do it.
Why not?
I'm sorry, Miss McCutcheon.
In my sleep, in a nightmare, I would not cut your hair.
(The sound of a truck stopping is heard from across the street.)
Mr. Van Dusen, I've decided to stay, and the first thing I've got to do is change my appearance.
I don't fit into the scenery around here.
Oh, I don't know—if I were a small boy going to school, I'd say you look just right.
You're just like the children. They don't take me seriously, either.
They think I'm nothing more than a pretty girl who is going to give up in despair and go home.
If you give me a poodle haircut, I'll look more—well, plain and simple.
I plan to dress differently, too. I'm determined to teach here. You've got to help me.
Now, Mr. Van Dusen, the shears, please.
I'm sorry, Miss McCutcheon. There's no need to change your appearance at all.
(Clark Larrabee comes into the shop.)
You're next, Clark.
(Harry helps Miss McCutcheon out of the chair. She gives him an angry glance.)
I won't forget this rudeness, Mr. Van Dusen.
Never whisper in here. People misunderstand. Good day, Miss.
(Miss McCutcheon opens her parasol with anger and leaves the shop. Clark Larrabee scarcely noticed her.)
Well, Clark, I haven't seen you for a long time.
I'm just passing through, Harry. Thought I might run into Clay here.
He was here a little while ago.
How is he? He's fine, Clark.
I've been working in Salinas. Got a ride down in a truck.
It's across the street now at the gasoline station.
You've been home, of course? No, I haven't. Oh?
I've left Fay, Harry.
You got time for a haircut, Clark?
No, thanks, Harry. I've got to go back to Salinas on that truck.
Clay's somewhere on the beach.
(Handing Harry three ten-dollar bills)
Give him this, will you? Thirty dollars. Don't tell him I gave it to you.
Why not?
I'd rather he didn't know I was around. Is he all right?
Sure, Clark. They're all OK. I mean...
Tell him to take the money home to his mother. (He picks up the newspaper.)
Sure, Clark. It came out this morning. Take it along.
Thanks. (He puts the paper in his pocket.) How've things been going with you, Harry?
Oh, I can't kick. Two or three haircuts a day. A lot of time to read. A few laughs. A few surprises.
The sea. The fishing. It's a good life.
Keep an eye on Clay, will you? Sure.
Yeah, well... That's the first money I've been able to save.
When I make some more, I'd like to send it here, so you can hand it to Clay, to take home.
Anything you say, Clark. (There is the sound of the truck's horn blowing.)
Well... (He goes to the door.) Thanks, Harry, thanks a lot.
Good seeing you, Clark.
(Clark Larrabee goes out. Harry watches him. A truck shifting gears is heard, and then the sound of the truck driving off.
Harry picks up a book, puts his hat on again, sits down in the chair and begins to read. A man of forty or so, well-dressed, comes in.)
Where's the barber? I'm the barber.
Can I get a haircut, real quick?
Depends on what you mean by real quick.
Well, just a haircut then.
OK. I don't believe I've seen you before.
No. They're changing the oil in my car across the street.
Thought I'd step in here and get a haircut. Get it out of the way before I get to Hollywood. How many miles is it?
About two hundred straight down the highway. You can't miss it.
What town is this? O.K.-by-the-Sea.
What do the people do here?
Well, I cut hair.
Friend of mine named Wozzeck repairs watches, radios, alarm clocks, and sells jewelry. Imitation stuff mainly.
Factory here? Farms? Fishing?
No. Just the few stores on the highway, the houses further back in the hills, the church, and the school. You a salesman?
No, I'm a writer.
What do you write?
A little bit of everything. How about the haircut?
You got to be in Hollywood tonight?
I don't have to be anywhere tonight, but that was the idea. Why?
Well, I've always said a writer could stop in a place like this, watch things a little while, and get a whole book out of it, or a play.
Or if he was a poet, a sonnet.
Do you like Shakespeare's?
They're just about the best in English.
It's not often I get a writer in here.
As a matter of fact you're the only writer I've had in here in twenty years, not counting Fenton.
Who's he?
He gets out the weekly paper. Writes the whole thing himself.
Yeah. Well... How about the haircut? OK.
(Harry puts a hot towel around the man's head. Miss McCutcheon, carrying a cane chair without one leg, comes in.
With her is Clay with something in his hand, a small boy named Greeley with a bottle of sea water, and Roxanna with an assortment of shells.)
I've got an oyster here, Mr. Van Dusen.
Miss McCutcheon claims there's not a big pearl in it.
Is she willing to admit there's a little one in it? I don't know.
Mr. Van Dusen, Clay Larrabee seems to believe there's a pearl in this oyster he happens to have found on the beach.
I didn't happen to find it. I went looking for it. You know Black Rock, Mr. Van Dusen?
Well, the tide hardly ever gets low enough for a fellow to get around the ocean side of it,
but a little while ago it did, so I went around there and I found this oyster.
I've been here twenty-four years, Clay,
and this is the first time I've ever heard of anybody finding an oyster on our beach—at Black Rock, or anywhere else.
Well, I did, Mr. Van Dusen. It's shut tight, it's alive, and there's a pearl in it, worth at least three hundred dollars.
A big pearl.
Now, you children listen to me. It's never too soon for any of us to face the truth.
The truth is, Clay, you want money because you need money.
The truth is also that there is no pearl in the oyster.
How do you know? Did you look?
No, but neither did Clay, and in as much as only one oyster in a million has a pearl in it,
truth favors the probability that this is not the millionth oyster...
There's a big pearl in the oyster.
Mr. Van Dusen, shall we open the oyster and show the children that there is no pearl in it?
In a moment, Miss McCutcheon. And what's that you have?
A chair, as you can see.
How many legs does it have?
Three of course. I can count to three, I hope.
What do you want with a chair with only three legs?
I'm going to bring things from the sea the same as everybody else in town.
But everybody else in town doesn't bring things, from the sea—just the children, Judge Applegarth, Fenton Lockhart, and myself.
In any case, the same as the children, Judge Applegarth, Fenton Lockhart, and you. Judge Applegarth? Who's he?
He judged swine at a county fair one time, so we call him Judge.
Pigs?
Swine's a little old-fashioned but I prefer it to pigs, and since both words mean the same thing—
Well, I wouldn't care to call a man like Arthur Applegarth a pig judge.
Did he actually judge swine, as you prefer to put it, at a county fair—one time?
Nobody checked up. He said he did.
So that entitled him to be called Judge Applegarth?
It certainly did.
On that basis, Clay's oyster has a big pearl in it because he says so, is that it?
I didn't say that.
Are we living in the Middle Ages, Mr. Van Dusen?
No, this is 1953, Miss McCutcheon.
Yes, Greeley, and to illustrate what I mean, that's water you have in that bottle. Nothing else.
Sea water.
Yes, but nothing else.
No, but there are little things in the bottle. You can't see them now, but they'll show up later. The water of the sea is full of things.
Salt, perhaps.
No, living things. If I look hard I can see some of them now.
You can imagine seeing them. Mr. Van Dusen, are you going to help me or not?
What do you want me to do?
Open the oyster of course, so Clay will see for himself that there's no pearl in it.
So he'll begin to face reality, as he should, as all of us should.
Clay, do you mind if I look at the oyster a minute?
There's a big pearl in it, Mr. Van Dusen.
Clay...Roxanna... Greeley... I wonder if you'd go to Wozzeck's.
Tell him to come the first chance he gets. I'd rather he open this oyster. I might damage the pearl.
OK, Mr. Van Dusen. (They go out.)
What pearl? What in the world do you think you're trying to do to the minds of these children?
How am I ever going to teach them the principles of truth with an influence like yours to fight against? Miss McCutcheon. The people of O.K.-by-the-Sea are all poor.
Most of them can't afford to pay for the haircuts I give them.
There's no excuse for this town at all, but the sea is here, and so are the hills.
A few people find jobs a couple of months every year North or South,
come back half dead of homesickness, and live on next to nothing the rest of the year.
A few get pensions. Every family has a garden and a few chickens, and they make a few dollars selling vegetables and eggs.
In a town of almost a thousand people there isn't one rich man.
Not even one who is well-off. And yet these people are the richest I have ever known.
Clay doesn't really want money, as you seem to think.
He wants his father to come home, and he thinks money will help get his father home.
As a matter of fact his father is the man who stepped in here just as you were leaving.
He left thirty dollars for me to give to Clay, to take home.
His father and his mother haven't been getting along.
Clark Larrabee's a fine man. He's not the town drunk or anything like that,
but having four kids to provide for he gets to feeling ashamed of the showing he's making, and he starts drinking.
He wants his kids to live in a good house of their own, wear good clothes and all the other things fathers have always wanted for their kids.
His wife wants these things for the kids, too.
They don't have these things, so they fight.
They had one too many fights about a month ago, so Clark went off—he's working in Salinas.
He's either going to keep moving away from his family, or he's going to come back.
It all depends on—well, I don't know what. This oyster maybe. Clay maybe. You and me maybe.
(There is a pause. He looks at the oyster. Miss McCutcheon looks at it, too.)
Clay believes there's a pearl in this oyster for the same reason you and I believe whatever we believe to keep us going.
Are you suggesting we play a trick on Clay?
Well, maybe it is a trick. I know Wozzeck's got a few pretty good-sized cultivated pearls.
You plan to have Wozzeck pretend he has found a pearl in the oyster, is that it?
I plan to get three hundred dollars to Clay.
Do you have three hundred dollars? Not quite.
What about the other children who need money?
Do you plan to put pearls in oysters for them, too? Not here. Everywhere.
This isn't the only town in the world where people are poor, where fathers and mothers fight, where families break up.
No, it isn't, but it's the only town where I live.
I give up. What do you want me to do?
Well, could you find it in your heart to be just a little less sure about things when you talk to the kids—I mean, the troubled ones?
You can get Clay around to the truth easy enough just as soon as he gets his father home. (Arthur Applegarth comes in.)
Judge Applegarth, may I present Miss McCutcheon?
An honor, Miss.
How do you do, Judge?
We are honored to have you. The children, the parents and—the rest of us.
Thank you, Judge. I'll be back as soon as I change my clothes.
I told you not to whisper.
I shall expect you to give me a poodle haircut.
Are you out of your mind?
Good day, Judge. Good day, Miss.
(While he is bent over he takes a good look at her knees, calves, ankles, and sandals.
Miss McCutcheon goes out. Judge Applegarth looks from the door to Harry.)
She won't last a month. Why not?
Too pretty. Our school needs an old battle-ax, not a bathing beauty. Well, Harry, what's new?
Just the teacher, I guess.
You know, Harry, the beach isn't what it used to be—not at all.
I don't mind the competition we're getting from the kids.
It's just that the quality of the stuff the sea's washing up isn't good any more.
I don't know. Clay Larrabee found an oyster this morning.
He did? Well, one oyster doesn't make a stew, Harry. On my way home I'll drop in and let you see what I find.
OK, Judge. (The Judge goes out. Harry comes to life suddenly and becomes businesslike.)
Now, for the haircut! (He removes the towel he had wrapped around the writer's head.)
Take your time.
(He examines the shears, clippers, and combs.)
Let's see now.
(The writer turns and watches. A gasoline station attendant comes to the door.)
Just wanted to say your car's ready now.
Thanks. (The attendant goes out) Look, I'll tell you what. How much is a haircut?
The regular price is a dollar. It's too much, though, so I generally take a half or a quarter.
I've changed my mind. I don't want a haircut after all, but here's a dollar just the same.
(He hands Harry a dollar, and he himself removes the apron.)
It won't take a minute.
I know.
You don't have to pay me a dollar for a hot towel. My compliments.
That's OK. (He goes to the door.)
Well, take it easy now.
Thanks. (He stands a moment, thinking, then turns.)
Do you mind if I have a look at your oyster? Not at all.
(The writer goes to the shelf where Harry has placed the oyster, picks it up, looks at it thoughtfully, puts it back without comment,
but instead of leaving the shop he looks around and then sits down on a chair in the corner, and lights a cigarette.)
You know, they've got a gadget in New York that anybody can give anybody else a haircut with.
They have?
Yeah, there was a full-page ad about it in last Sunday's Times.
Is that where you were last Sunday? Yeah.
You've been doing a lot of driving.
I like to drive. I don't know, though—those gadgets don't always work.
Besides, there's something to be said for going to a barber shop once in a while. No use putting the barbers out of business.
Sounds like a pretty good article, though.
Well, it's been nice talking to you.
(Wozzeck, carrying a satchel, comes in, followed by Clay, Roxanna, and Greeley.)
What's all this about, Harry?
I've got an oyster I want you to open.
That's what the kids have been telling me.
He doesn't believe there's a pearl in the oyster, either.
Of course not! What foolishness!
There's a big pearl in it.
OK, give me the oyster. I'll open it. Expert watch repairer, to open an oyster!
How much is a big pearl worth, Louie?
Oh, a hundred. Two hundred, maybe.
A very big one? Three, maybe.
I've looked at that oyster, and I'd like to buy it. How much do you want for it?
I don't know.
How about three hundred?
Three hundred dollars?
Is it all right, Mr. Van Dusen?
(He looks at the writer, who nods.) Sure it's all right.
(The writer hands Clay the money.)
But suppose there isn't a pearl in it?
There is, though.
Don't you want to open it first?
No, I want the whole thing. I don't think the pearl's stopped growing.
He says there is a pearl in the oyster, Mr. Van Dusen.
I think there is, too, Clay; so why don't you just go on home and give the money to your mother?
Well,... I knew I was going to find something good today!
(The children go out. Wozzeck is bewildered.)
Three hundred dollars! How do you know there's a pearl in it?
As far as I'm concerned, the whole thing's a pearl.
Well, I got to get back to the shop, Harry.
Thanks for coming by.
(Wozzeck goes out. The writer holds the oyster in front of him, and looks at it carefully, turning it in his fingers.
As he is doing so, Clark Larrabee comes into the shop.)
We were ten miles up the highway when I happened to see this classified ad in the paper.
(He hands the paper to Harry and sits down in the chair.)
I'm going out to the house, after all. Just for the weekend of course, then back to work in Salinas again.
Two or three months, I think I'll have enough to come back for a long time. Clay come by?
No, I've got the money here.
OK, I'll take it out myself, but first let me have the works—shave, haircut, shampoo, massage.
Sure thing, Clark.
(He bends the chair back, and begins to lather Clark's face. Miss McCutcheon, dressed neatly, looking like another person almost, comes in.)
Well?
You look fine, Miss McCutcheon.
I don't mean that. I mean the oyster.
Oh, that! There was a pearl in it.
I don't believe it.
A big pearl.
You might have done me the courtesy of waiting until I had come back before opening it.
Couldn't wait.
Well, I don't believe you, but I've come for my haircut. I'll sit down and wait my turn.
Mr. Larrabee wants the works. You'll have to wait a long time.
Mr. Larrabee? Clay's father? Roxanna's father? (Clark sits up.)
Clark, I'd like you to meet our new teacher, Miss McCutcheon.
How do you do?
How do you do, Mr. Larrabee. (She looks bewildered.)
Well, perhaps some other time then, Mr. Van Dusen.
(She goes out. Clark sits back. Judge Applegarth stops at the doorway of the shop.)
Not one thing on the beach, Harry. Not a blessed thing worth picking up and taking home.
(Judge Applegarth goes on. The writer looks at Harry.)
See what I mean?
Yeah. Well... so long. (He puts the oyster in his coat pocket.)
Drop in again any time you're driving to Hollywood.
Or away. (He goes out.)
You know, Harry, that boy of mine, Clay... Well, a fellow like that, you can't just go off and leave him.
Of course you can't, Clark.
I'm taking him fishing tomorrow morning. How about going along, Harry?
Sure, Clark. Be like old times again.
(There is a pause.)
What's all this about an oyster and a pearl?
Oh, just having a little fun with the new teacher. You know, she came in here and asked me to give her a poodle haircut?
A poodle haircut! I don't remember what a poodle dog looks like, even.
参考译文——牡蛎与珍珠
牡蛎与珍珠
威廉·萨罗扬
哈里·范杜森的理发店在加利福尼亚州的“海边满意镇”，这个镇子有909人。这是一家老式的理发店，里面有不少一般理发店里不常见的东西，比如哈里这样的理发师就很少见。人们从未见过他穿理发师的白大褂，他头上还总爱戴个帽子。
墙壁的架子上摆放着不少小零碎，其中有些明显是海潮冲上来的东西，如贝壳、石块、浮木碎块、一件救生衣、绳子、海里的植物等等。海边离此仅有一个街区之远。店里还有一把老式的椅子。
帷幕拉开时，哈里正坐在理发椅上，一个九、十岁的男孩正在给他理发，他叫克莱·拉腊比。店里有很多书，哈里正读其中一本。
嗯，范杜森先生，按照你说的剪了，
但愿还凑合，虽然我不是做理发师的料。
你想照镜子看看吗？
（他拿起了一面小镜子。）
谢谢，不用了，我还记得上次你给我理的头发的样子。
我估摸我永远当不了理发师。
也许当不了，不过没准将来你能出其不意地给疲惫的老人带来欢乐呢。
谁？我吗？
怎么就不能呢？
给疲惫的老人带来欢乐？怎么做呢？
创作一部交响乐，画张画，写本书，或是发明一种哲学。
这我可干不了。你做过这类事吗？
做过。
你做的是什么？
我发明了一种哲学。
什么是哲学？
一种生活方式。
你发明的是什么方式？
轻松生活的哲学。
听起来挺不错的。
所有流派的哲学听起来都不错，
可问题是我老是忘记要活得轻松，
直到有一天我离开公路，来到了这家理发店。
那个理发师告诉我，这家店要出售，
我对他说我只有80美元。
他以75美元的价格把店卖给了我，还免费给我理了一次发。
从那天起我就一直呆在这里。这可是24年前的事了。
你那时多大？
不小了，知道看到的是好东西了。
你看到什么了？
海边满意镇，还有这家理发店。（他从座椅上站了起来，走近帽架，戴上了挂在上面的帽子。）
范杜森先生，你要是不在这儿，就不会有人给我理发了。
我是这里唯一的理发师，我要是不在，没人会理发了。
我是说免费理发。
我免费给你理发，你也免费给我理发，这是公平交易呀。
这倒是，可你是理发师，理一次发收一美元呀。
有时我收费，有时我不收费。
好了，不管怎么说，谢谢你了。我现在要到海边去找东西了。
我真想跟你一起去，不过周六我指望会有些生意。
这次我会找到好东西的。
大海还真能冲上来好东西，是不？
除了钱以外，还真是这样。
你要钱干吗？
换到我需要的东西。
你需要什么东西？
我想让我爸回家，我想给我妈买件礼物……
等等，克莱，我得把事情搞清楚，你爸在什么地方？
我也不知道，他一个月之前离家出走了。
离家出走？你这是什么意思？
他收拾了自己的东西，就走了。
他说了什么时候回来吗？
没有，他只是说，忍无可忍了。这话他写在了厨房的墙上。
忍无可忍？
是的，我们都以为他一两天就会回来，现在我们明白了，我们得找到他，把他弄回来。
你打算怎么把他弄回来呢？
嗯，我们在报上登了个广告。
这份报吗？可是我们都知道你爸不在镇上，他怎么会看到这份报上的广告呢？
他没准能看到。反正我们也没有什么别的办法。
我们现在只好花我们夏天干活挣的钱，剩下的也不多了。
你们夏天干活？
对，是去年夏天，在我们搬到这儿以前。
我们在克恩县摘棉花，我爸、我妈还有我。
你在广告里都说了些什么？
嗯，我说，“克拉克·拉腊比，回家吧。你的渔具在壁橱里完好无损，
渔情不错，有不少河鲈，还有海鲈。
过去的都过去了，我们都想你。妈妈、克莱、洛克沙娜、鲁弗斯、克拉拉。”
你说我爸看到后会回家吗？
克莱，我说不准，但愿如此吧。
是啊，谢谢你给我理发，范杜森先生。
（克莱出了理发店，哈里摘下了帽子，开始刮胡子。
一位身着泳装的年轻漂亮女子进了店，合上了她那色彩鲜艳的阳伞。）
是“美国小姐”驾临了吧。
我姓麦卡琴。
我是哈里·范杜森。
你好！
麦卡琴小姐，你好。
我是新搬来这里的。
你到哪里都会是新的。你肯定不住在这儿吧。
我就住在这里，至少打上周日起我就住在这儿了。
我是学校新来的老师。
是吗？
没错。
感觉怎么样？喜欢这个地方吗？
怎么说呢，说实话我想走了，回旧金山的老家，
不过我又觉得我该留下来。
你说我是该走还是该留？
这取决于你到这儿来寻求什么。
24年前，我决定留在这里是因为我确定我不再追求什么了。
结果我错了，我发现那时我仍然在追求，而且我找到了我所追求的东西。
你所追求的是什么呢？
是悠闲自得的生活。你又寻求什么呢，麦卡琴小姐？
嗯……
我的意思是，除了找个丈夫之外……
我可不是来找丈夫的，我指望丈夫来找我。
这倒也合乎情理。
我在寻找一个教书的机会。
这也合情合理。
不过在这个镇子里……孩子们好像什么也不关心，成绩是好是差，是及格还是不及格他们都不在乎。
除此之外，几乎所有的孩子上课时都不守规矩，
好像只对游戏和大海感兴趣，
所以我现在要去海边。
周六在海边观察观察他们，没准能让我更好地了解他们。
这倒是个好主意。
这些孩子中没人有什么抱负，整天不是寻开心就是玩游戏。
这样的孩子我怎么教？教他们什么？
教英语呀。那是当然的。
唱歌、跳舞、烹饪……
烹饪？……没想到这种话会从你这么年轻的人嘴里说出来。
呃，谢谢夸奖。别客气。
问题是你究竟是留在这儿，还是回旧金山？是的。
我给你的回答是：趁你还来得及，回去吧。为什么？
你太好了，不适合我们这样的镇子。你胡说！
太年轻，太聪明。青春和才智需要令人激动、兴奋的生活。
令人兴奋的生活多种多样。
是的，你需要大城市的那种。
再说，这地方也没有适合你的单身汉。
你似乎以为我只是想找个丈夫。
（她近乎生气地坐在椅子上，轻声地说。）
范杜森先生，请给我剪个短发。
对不起，恐怕你得回旧金山去剪了。
为什么？难道你不是理发师？我是。
那好，这是你的理发店，现在正在营业，
我是顾客，而且我有钱，我要剪个鬈毛狗那样的短发。
我不会剪鬈毛狗那样的短发，不过即便我会，我也不干。
为什么？
麦卡琴小姐，很抱歉，
即便是在梦里，在噩梦中，我也决不把你的头发剪短。
（传来了一辆卡车停在路对面的声音。）
范杜森先生，我已经决定留下来了，我要做的第一件事就是改变自己的形象。
我现在的样子与这里的环境不协调。
哦，我不大同意，我要是个上学的小男孩，就会说你看起来正合适。
你跟那些孩子一样，不把我的话当真。
他们认为我只不过是个漂亮的女孩子，早晚会绝望放弃、打道回府。
你要是把我的头发剪短，我就会看起来……呃……朴素些。
我打算把着装也改变下。我决心在这里教书，你得帮帮我。
范杜森先生，请剪吧。
抱歉，麦卡琴小姐，你根本没有必要改变自己的形象。
（克拉克·拉腊比进入理发店。）
克拉克，下一位轮到你了。
（哈里将麦卡琴小姐从椅子扶起，她生气地瞥了他一眼。）
范杜森先生，我不会忘记你的无礼。
在这里永远别低声说话，这会使人误会。再见，小姐。
（麦卡琴小姐生气地打开阳伞，离开了理发店。克拉克没有注意到她。）
喂，克拉克，好久不见了。
哈里，我路过这儿，以为没准能碰到克莱。
他刚才还在这里呢。
他还好吗？挺好的，克拉克。
我在萨利纳斯上班，搭了辆卡车来的，
车在马路对面的加油站。
肯定回过家了吧？没有。是吗？
哈里，我离开费伊了。
有时间剪发吗，克拉克？
不了，谢谢。我得乘那辆卡车回萨利纳斯。
克莱这会儿在海滩上呢。
（交给哈里三张十美元的钞票）
把这交给克莱，好吗？30美元。别说是我给你的。
为什么不告诉他？
我不想让他知道我来过。他没事吧？
当然没事，他们都没事。我的意思是……
叫他把钱带回家，给他妈妈。（他拿起那份报纸。）
放心吧，克拉克。报纸是今天刚出的，带走吧。
谢谢。（他把报纸放进衣袋。）哈里，你过得怎么样？
我没什么可抱怨的。一天理两三个发，有好多时间读书，毎天都有几件让人开怀大笑或是令人惊讶的事情，
还有大海、钓鱼等等，生活不错。
帮我照看克莱，好吗？当然。
嗯……对了，这是我能攒下的第一笔钱，
我要多挣点儿，我想寄到你这儿，你交给克莱带回家。
—切照办，克拉克。（听到了卡车的喇叭声。）
嗯……（他走到门口。）麻烦你了，哈里。十分感谢！
见到你很高兴，克拉克。
（克拉克·拉腊比走出理发店，哈里看着他。观众听到卡车换挡的声音，然后就是车开走的声音。
哈里信手拿起一本书，戴上帽子，坐到椅子上，开始读了起来。一位穿着讲究、40岁左右的男人走了进来。）
理发师在哪儿？我就是。
能不能给我剪个发？要快！
那要看你说的快是什么意思。
哦，就简单剪个发。
没问题。我们以前好像没有见过面。
没有。他们在街对面正给我的车加油，
我想正好趁没到好莱坞之前把头发给理了。这儿离好莱坞还有多远？
沿公路一直往南大约200英里，你不会错过的。
这个镇叫什么？海边满意镇。
这里的人都以什么谋生？
我给人理发，
我有位叫沃采克的朋友，他修表、收音机、闹钟，还卖首饰，大多数是仿制品。
这里有工厂、农庄、渔业吗？
都没有。只有沿公路几家商店，后面山里有些住宅，还有教堂和学校。你是位推销员吗？
不是，我是个作家。
你写什么？
什么都写点儿。怎么样？给我剪发吧！
你今晚得到好莱坞吗？
我今晚不必赶到任何地方。不过是打算到好莱坞。你问这干什么？
呃，我一直都说作家可以在我们这样的地方停下来，观察一段时间，然后就写本书或 剧本出来。
如果是位诗人，就写出一首十四行诗来。
你喜欢莎士比亚的十四行诗吗？
那差不多是英语里最棒的诗了。
我这里难得见到作家来。
事实上20年来，你是唯一光顾本店的作家，不算芬顿的话。
他是谁？
他出版我们这里的周报，一个人把所有的内容全包了。
是吗？嗯，现在理发吧！好的。
（哈里用一条热毛巾包起男士的头。麦卡琴小姐走进来，拿着把缺一条腿的藤椅。
她身后跟着克莱，手里拿着一件东西，一个名叫格里利的小男孩拿着一瓶海水，洛克莎娜拿着各种各样的贝壳。）
范杜森先生，我找到了一只牡蛎。
麦卡琴小姐愣说里面没有一颗大珍珠。
她乐意承认里面有颗小珍珠吗？我不知道。
范杜森先生，克莱似乎深信，他在海边偶然找到的一只牡蛎里面有颗珍珠。
我可不是偶然发现它的。我是特意去找的。范杜森先生，你知道“黑石”吧？
潮水很少退到低得能让人到达它靠海的一边，
可刚才，潮水很低，我绕到那边去了，在那儿找到了这只牡蛎。
我在此地已有24年了，克莱，
这可是第一次听说有人在我们这儿的海滩找到牡蛎——不管是在“黑石”还是在别的地方。
范杜森先生，可我找到了，闭得紧紧的，是活的，里面有颗至少值300美元的珍珠。
一颗大珍珠。
孩子们，听我说，对我们任何人来说，越快面对事实越好。
克莱，事实是你需要钱，因此你想得到钱。
另一个事实是这只牡蛎里面没有珍珠。
你怎么知道，你看了吗？
我没看，克莱也没看呀。100万只牡蛎中只有一只里面可能有珍珠，
这只牡蛎有珍珠的几率太小……
这只牡蛎里面肯定有珍珠。
范杜森先生，我们是不是打开这只牡蛎，让孩子们亲眼看到里面没有珍珠？
等等吧。麦卡琴小姐，你手里拿的是什么？
你不是看见了？是把椅子啊。
它有几条腿？
当然是三条，我希望还能数到三吧。
你要一把只有三条腿的椅子干什么？
我只是像镇上其他人那样，从海滩捡东西。
可是镇上并不是所有人都从海滩捡东西，只有孩子们、阿普尔加思评判员、芬顿·洛克哈特和我去捡。
我就跟他们一样——孩子们、阿普尔加思评判员、芬顿·洛克哈特还有你。阿普尔加思评判员？他是谁？
他曾在县里举办的商品交易会上评判过豕，所以我们就称他为评判员。
你是说猪？
“豕”这个字是有点过时了，不过比起“猪”我还是更喜欢它。既然两个字的意思一样，
我不介意称像亚瑟·阿普尔加思这样的人为猪评判员。
他是不是真的在县里举办的一次商品展销会上评判过你所说的豕呢？
没有人核实过，是他自己说的。
他自己这么说，就有资格被人称为阿普尔加思评判员了吗？
当然。
按此推理，克莱说他的牡蛎里有珍珠，那他的牡蛎里面真的就有珍珠了吗？
我没有这么说。
范杜森先生，我们是生活在中世纪吗？
不是的，麦卡琴小姐，现在是1953年。
是的，格里利，为了说明我的意思，你拿的瓶子里是水，没有别的东西。
是海水。
是的，但里面没有别的东西。
不，水里还有些小东西，现在看不见，以后会显现出来的，海水里有好多东西。
或许有盐吧。
不，还有活物呢。要是使劲儿看，我现在就能看见一些。
你可以想象你能看到。范杜森先生，你打算帮我还是不帮？
你想要我做什么呢？
把这只牡蛎打开，让克莱亲眼看到里面没有珍珠。
这样他就能够面对现实。而这正是他应该做的，也是我们所有人都应该做的。
克莱，让我看看这只牡蛎，行吗？
这里面一定有颗大珍珠，范杜森先生。
克莱……洛克莎娜……格里利……你们能不能去一趟沃采克的钟表店，
请他尽快来一趟。我希望由他来打开牡蛎，我怕自己会把珍珠弄坏了。
好的，范杜森先生。（他们走了。）
什么珍珠？你到底要给孩子们灌输什么思想，
有你这样的人影响他们，我怎么能教他们学会面对现实？
麦卡琴小姐，海边满意镇的居民都是穷人，
我给他们理发，多数人都没钱付。
这个镇子根本没有存在的理由，但是这里有海、有山。
有些人一年中只有一两个月在北边或者南边找点活干，
想家想得厉害，就回来，剩下的日子几乎没有收入。
有的人有退休金。家家都有菜园子，都养鸡。他们靠卖菜、卖鸡蛋挣点钱。
在这个近千人的镇上，一个富人也没有，
连个家境殷实的人也没有。可是这些人是我所认识的最富有的人。
克莱不是你想象的那样，真的想要钱。
他是想要他父亲回家，他认为钱能帮他把他父亲弄回家。
在你刚才出门时进来的那个人就是克莱的父亲。
他在我这儿留下了30美元叫我让克莱拿回家。
这孩子的父母不和。
克拉克·拉腊比是个好人，不是镇上常见的酒鬼或二流子。
可是有四个孩子要养活，他对自己的现状感到羞愧，因此开始酗酒。
他想让孩子们有属于自己的好房子、穿上好衣服，想要自己的孩子拥有所有父亲都希望自己孩子享有的东西。
他的老婆也希望孩子们有这些东西。
但他们因为没有这些东西，所以经常吵架。
一个月之前，他们吵得厉害，克拉克就离家出走了，在萨利纳斯干活，
既不去更远的地方，也不回家。
他回不回家取决于……我也不知道取决于什么，或许是这只牡蛎，或许是克莱。也许是你我二人。
（停顿片刻，他看了看那只牡蛎。麦卡琴小姐也看了看牡蛎。）
克莱深信这只牡蛎里面有颗珍珠，就像你我坚信使你我得以坚持生活下去的任何信念一样。
你是不是建议我们使个花招欺骗克莱？
怎么说呢，也许算是一个花招吧。我知道沃采克有几颗个儿不小的人工养殖的珍珠。
你打算让沃采克假装在牡蛎里找到颗珍珠，是吗？
我打算弄300美元给克莱。
你现在有300美元吗？还没有这么多。
其他家里缺钱的孩子怎么办？
你打算也为他们把珍珠放入牡蛎里面？不仅仅是这里，到处都一样。
在这个世界上不只是这个镇子上的人穷、父母打架、家庭不和。
你说得对，但唯独此地是我居住的地方。
我说不过你。你想要我干什么？
怎么说呢，对待孩子，我的意思是有问题的孩子们，你能不能不要那么肯定，跟他们说道理的时候不要把话说得那么不留余地？
等克莱把他父亲弄回家以后，你就容易让他面对现实了。（阿瑟·阿普尔加思走进来。）
阿普尔加思评判员，请允许我向你介绍麦卡琴小姐。
很荣幸见到你，小姐。
你好，评判员！
孩子们，家长们——还有其他所有的人，我们都很高兴你能来我们镇。
谢谢你，评判员。我换好衣服立刻回来。
我对你说过，不要耳语。
我希望你给我剪个鬈毛狗那样的短发。
你疯了。
再见，评判员。再见，小姐！
（弯下身的时候，他好好看了看她的膝盖、小腿、脚腕和凉鞋。
麦卡琴小姐走出店门。阿普尔加思评判员的目光从门口转到哈里身上。）
她呆不过一个月。为什么？
太漂亮了。我们的学校需要个厉害的娘们儿，不需要泳装美人。哦，哈里，有什么新鲜事吗？
我想就是这位新老师的到来。
我说，哈里，海滩今非昔比，大不如前了。
我倒是不介意咱们跟孩子们竞争。
主要是海水冲上来的东西质量不行了。
我看不见得，今天早晨克莱·拉腊比还找到只牡蛎。
是吗？不过一只牡蛎也炖不成一锅汤，哈里。我从海边回家的时候再来，让你看看我找到些什么玩意儿。
好吧，评判员。（评判员离去，哈里突然回过神来，想起了他的生意，忙了起来。）
这下该给你理发了。（他撤去包在作家头上的毛巾。）
不着急。
（他检查剪刀、推子和梳子。）
好，这就开始了。
（作家转过身向外看去，加油站的一位服务员来到门口。）
我来告诉您车已备好了。
谢谢。我跟你说，剪一次发多少钱？
正常的价格是一美元。这太贵了，所以我通常只收半价或是25美分。
我改变主意了，不剪发了，不过还是要照付给你一美元。
（他交给哈里一美元，自己卸下围裙。）
剪个发只要一会儿工夫。
我知道。
你不必为热毛巾付一美元，那是免费的！
别客气。（他向门走去。）
多保重！
谢谢！（他站着想了一会儿，然后转过身。）
我看看这只牡蛎，可以吗？当然可以。
（作家走到哈里放置牡蛎的架子旁，把它拿了起来，看着它沉思了片刻，没有说什么又把它放回原处；
他没离开理发店，而是环顾了一下四周，然后坐在角落里的一把椅子上，点了一支烟。）
知道吗，在纽约有种玩意儿，用它谁都能给别人理发。
是吗？
是的，上星期日的《纽约时报》为它登了个整版的广告。
你上周日是在纽约吗？没错。
不少时间在路上开车吧。
我喜欢开车。那理发的玩意儿也不是总好使，
再说了，隔三岔五到理发店去理一次发也还不错，没必要让理发师失业。
这听起来像是篇好文章。
哦，很高兴能和你这么聊聊。
（沃采克拿着工具袋走进来，后面跟着克莱、洛克莎娜以及格里利。）
到底是怎么回事，哈里？
我有只牡蛎，想请你打开。
孩子们就是这么说的。
他也不相信里面有颗珍珠。
当然不相信，多可笑啊。
里面有颗大珍珠。
好吧，把牡蛎拿来，我把它打开。叫修表专家去撬开一只牡蛎，亏你想得出来！
一颗大珍珠值多少钱，路易？
呃，100或者200吧。
挺大的呢？300吧。
我看了那只牡蛎，我想买下来。你想卖多少钱？
我不知道。
300怎么样？
300美元？
行吗，范杜森先生？
（他看了看作家，作家点点头。）当然没问题。
（作家把钱交给克莱。）
要是里面没有珍珠呢？
里面有。
难道你不想先打开看看吗？
不想，我要的是全部，不仅仅是里面的珍珠。那颗珍珠还在长呢。
他说这只牡蛎里有珍珠，范杜森先生。
我也认为里面有，克莱。快回家把钱交给你妈妈吧。
哈……我就知道今天能找到好东西的！
（孩子们走了，沃采克困惑不解。）
300美元！你怎么知道里面有珍珠呢？
对我来说，这整件事情就是颗珍珠。
得了，我得回店里去了，哈里。
谢谢你来一趟。
（沃采克走了。作家把牡蛎拿到自己面前仔细端详一番，在手心里转动着它。
这时克拉克·拉腊比进入理发店。）
卡车在公路上开出了十英里的时候我才看到报上的分类广告。
（他把报纸递给哈里自己坐进了理发椅。）
我这就回家过周末，然后回萨利纳斯干两三个月的活，
我想那会儿挣下的钱够在家里过上一阵子。克莱来过吗？
没有，钱还在我这儿。
那我就自己带回家，不过先给我来个全套服务——刮胡子、剪发、洗头、按摩。
没问题，克拉克。
（他把理发椅往后倒下，开始给克拉克刮脸。麦卡琴小姐走了进来，她着装整齐，好像换了个人似的。）
怎么样？
你现在的样子很好，麦卡琴小姐。
我不是问你这件事。我问的是牡蛎。
哦，那件事，里面有颗珍珠。
我不信。
一颗大珍珠。
出于礼貌，你应该等我回来以后再打开牡蛎的。
等不及了。
我不相信你的话。不过我是来剪发的，我就坐在这里等。
拉腊比先生可是要全套服务，你得等很长时间。
拉腊比先生？克莱的父亲？洛克莎娜的父亲？（克拉克坐起身来。）
克拉克，让我向你介绍我们新来的老师，麦卡琴小姐。
你好！
拉腊比先生，你好！（她看起来糊涂了。）
好吧，范杜森先生，那我就以后再来。
（她走出店门。克拉克又半躺下来。阿普尔加思评判员在店门口站住。）
哈里，海滩上什么都没有，没有一样东西值得捡回家。
（阿普尔加思评判员接着说。作家看了哈里一眼。）
明白我对你说的那些话了吗？
是的，哦……再见。（他把牡蛎放进外衣兜里。）
无论你什么时候开车去好莱坞，都欢迎你进来坐坐。
或者开车离开的时候。（他走了出去。）
我说，哈里，我那个儿子，克莱……嗯，有那样的孩子你是不能出走，把他丢下的。
当然不能，克拉克。
我明天上午带他去钓鱼。你跟我们一起去，怎么样，哈里？
一定去，克拉克，就跟我们以前一样。
（停顿片刻。）
那牡蛎和珍珠是怎么回事？
哦，我是跟新来的老师逗着玩呢。她来叫我给她剪个鬈毛狗似的短发。
别说鬈毛狗似的短发，就连鬈毛狗是什么模样我都不记得了。
作品赏析——William Saroyan’s The Oyster and the Pearl: Summary & Analysis
In William Saroyan’s play The Oyster and the Pearl there is a lot of symbolism. The theme of the play is to take it easy and relax and life will be much happier. Harry Van Dusen is a barber that has a philosophy of “Take it easy.”
He tries to spread his philosophy by talking to people when he is cutting their hair. It was almost as if the haircuts were just a way of getting people in the barbershop to talk.
The hats that Harry wore symbolized the attitude that he was in. The sea symbolizes life. The name of the small town that the story takes place in is called O.K.-by-the-Sea.
That name symbolizes that life isn’t perfect but by taking it easy it can be more fun. Vivian McCutcheon is a new school teacher that does everything “by the book.” She just tries to fit in. This is symbolized by her wanting a poodle haircut.
She didn’t really want one but she was trying to be like everyone else. Harry knew this and that is why he would not give her the haircut. Harry’s philosophy is superior to Vivian’s philosophy of fitting in. This is shown by how much happier Harry and everyone else that lives by his philosophy is than Vivian. All the little things in the story have symbolism too.
The bottle of seawater stands for the details of life that have to be looked for. Clay and Clark Larrabee symbolize the problems and difficulties that occur in life. Two of the most important symbols in the story are the oyster and the pearl. The oyster symbolizes obstacles that must be overcome to get to hope(the pearl).
Beachcombing represents looking for the obstacles to get to hope. The pearl is hope. When Clay found the oyster he thought there was a pearl inside. Everyone except Harry told him there was nothing inside of the oyster. Harry probably knew there wasn’t anything inside of the oyster but he wanted to make Clay happy. The Oyster and the Pearl is filled with symbolism.
Much of it I did not recognize. Taking it easy and relaxing is a great philosophy to have because life will be a lot easier not worrying about material things. Happiness is all a person needs.
Cite this article as: William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team), "William Saroyan’s The Oyster and the Pearl: Summary & Analysis," in SchoolWorkHelper, 2019, William Saroyan’s The Oyster and the Pearl: Summary & Analysis | SchoolWorkHelper.
Reference: William Saroyan’s The Oyster and the Pearl: Summary & Analysis | SchoolWorkHelper
Key Words:
oyster ['ɔistə]
n. 牡蛎
clay [klei]
n. 粘土，泥土
n. (人的）肉体
pearl [pə:l]
n. 珍珠
v. (用珍珠)装饰，呈珍珠状
population [.pɔpju'leiʃən]
n. 人口 ，(全体)居民，人数
block [blɔk]
n. 街区，木块，石块
compose [kəm'pəuz]
vt. 组成，写作，作曲，使镇静
vi. 创作
symphony ['simfəni]
n. 交响乐
invent [in'vent]
vt. 发明，创造，捏造
except [ik'sept]
vt. 除，除外
prep. & conj.
kitchen ['kitʃin]
n. 厨房，(全套)炊具，灶间
tackle ['tækl]
v. 处理，对付，阻截
n. 用具，滑车，对付
perch [pə:tʃ]
n. 栖木，高位，杆 v. 栖息，就位，位于
shave [ʃeiv]
n. 修面，刮胡子
understand [.ʌndə'stænd]
vt. 理解，懂，听说，获悉，将 ... 理解为，认为<
unruly [ʌn'ru:li]
adj. 难控制的，无法无天的，任性的
presume [pri'zju:m]
vt. 姑且认定，假定，推测，认为是理所当然
intelligence [in'telidʒəns]
n. 理解力，智力
n. 情报，情报工作，情报
intelligent [in'telidʒənt]
adj. 聪明的，智能的
ambition [æm'biʃən]
n. 雄心，野心，抱负，精力
vt. 有 ..
sensible ['sensəbl]
adj. 可察觉的，意识到的，实用的
shears [ʃiəz]
n. 大剪刀，剪床
scenery ['si:nəri]
n. 布景，风景，背景
whisper ['wispə]
n. 低语，窃窃私语，飒飒的声音
vi. 低声
determined [di'tə:mind]
adj. 坚毅的，下定决心的
plain [plein]
n. 平原，草原
adj. 清楚的，坦白的，简
despair [di'spɛə]
n. 绝望，失望
vi. 失望
rudeness
n. 无礼；粗蛮
misunderstand ['misʌndə'stænd]
v. 误解，误会
glance [glɑ:ns]
v. 一瞥，扫视，匆匆一看，反光，闪烁，掠过
nightmare ['nait.mɛə]
n. 恶梦，使人极其痛苦的事情或经历，梦魇
haven ['heivn]
n. 港口，避难所，安息所 v. 安置 ... 于港中，
gasoline ['gæsəli:n]
n. 汽油
horn [hɔ:n]
n. 动物角，喇叭，触角，角状物，力量源泉
shifting [ʃiftiŋ]
n. 转移 adj. 不断改换的 动词shift的现在分词
imitation [.imi'teiʃən]
n. 模仿，效法
adj. 假造的，冒充的
jewelry ['dʒu:əlri]
n. 珠宝，珠宝类
sonnet ['sɔnit]
n. 十四行诗
willing ['wiliŋ]
adj. 愿意的，心甘情愿的
oyster ['ɔistə]
n. 牡蛎
probability [.prɔbə'biliti]
n. 可能性，或然率，机率
entitled [in'taitld]
adj. 有资格的，已被命名的 动词entitle的过去
swine [swain]
n. 猪
illustrate ['iləstreit]
v. 举例说明，（为书）作插图，图解
homesickness
n. 乡愁
参考资料：
- William Saroyan’s The Oyster and the Pearl: Summary & Analysis | SchoolWorkHelper
- http://www.kekenet.com/daxue/201708/52146shtml
- http://www.kekenet.com/daxue/201708/52146shtml
- http://www.kekenet.com/daxue/201708/52146shtml
- http://www.kekenet.com/daxue/201708/52146shtml
- http://www.kekenet.com/daxue/201708/52146shtml
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