如果仅仅顺从复仇的怒火，却不能进行一个国民自觉理性的思考，那么为159年前帝王专享而平民不得一顾的圆明园报仇雪恨，叫嚣巴黎圣母院火灾是一报还一报的仇恨宣泄，又与当年英法联军以复仇为名焚烧劫掠圆明园的行径有何区别呢？
这句话太荒谬了！ 首先第一点，网民的语言泄愤仅仅是语言上的，而且十个人的。而英法联军极其恶劣的行径早就印刻在历史的耻辱柱上了。作者发问“有何区别”，那么我倒想问问你个人的“叫嚣”和国家军队的入侵你觉得没有区别吗？ 第二，作者一再说帝王专享的圆明园，中国人民的怨愤仅仅是为一座园林被烧毁吗？不是啊，那是帝国主义的入侵践踏着国家的主权啊！
由这个基点向前回溯，英法联军对圆明园的劫掠和焚毁就不仅仅是毁灭了一座皇家私人园林，而是一座属于全体国民的公共建筑。由此，火烧圆明园成为“国耻”才得以在理论上成立。
“国耻”的成立怎么能单从私家园林和公共建筑来断定呢？不管圆明园的性质是私家园林还是公共建筑，在当时圆明园是国家性质，国家级别的园林，虽然清朝政府清朝皇室在当时衰落腐败，在我们现在的角度来看是封建的，落后的。但是在当时来看他们仍是国家的象征，我们视“火烧圆明园”为“国耻”是因为此等恶行践踏了国家的尊严与主权，不仅仅是烧掉了一座园林而已！
不得不说，纵观历史，中国人在毁灭宫殿上的才能可谓出类拔萃，从项羽一把火烧掉的阿房宫，到被黄巢蹂躏的大明宫，再到金人铁蹄下化作刍牧的东京汴梁皇宫和如今只剩一片地基的南京明故宫遗址，乃至被砸成两段的孔子墓碑，考虑到国人对自己的文明瑰宝尚能下此狠手，那么这种幸灾乐祸的喝彩倘使付诸实践，恐怕整个西方文明的瑰宝都不够当复仇烈火的柴禾。
作者有考虑这些史实的背景和立场吗？没有。 在历史上中国保护文物的事例有多少，作者了解了吗？ 作者单从毁灭的角度举例，有失偏颇。 抗战时期文物大迁移等等这些保护措施就不管了吗？
“无法同情”
无法同情并不代表要实施报复。 这种无法共情是否真如作者所言有到报复的极端心态？ 若只是少数人存在这种极端仇恨的人，那么作者接下来的论断便没有立足之点了。
人民的圣堂与帝王的私园
作者在此处认为巴黎圣母院是人民的圣堂，认为圆明园是帝王的私园，意义为何？因为一个是人民的，一个是私家的，所以巴黎圣母院就更值得保护吗？这是在给八国联军的恶行分辨吗？
His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.
The snow at the end of this story adds a chilly and solemn feeling. This snow is like a white sheet covering the whole Ireland as if it is a funeral ceremony for this country. But in Ode to the West Wind of Shelley, if winter comes, can spring be far behind? Therefore, although snow stands for death and coldness, it still summons rebirth and recovery, which are what Joyce exactly desired.
Mrs. Malins, who had been silent all through the supper, said that her son was going down to Mount Melleray in a week or so.
Mrs. Malins is an old women and appears anility. In a dancing party full of active atmosphere, she was alone in a corner all the time. She seems lonely and dull as if everything was dead as a doornail.
“Mamma is mamma but Maria is my proper mother.”
Joe really respects and is grateful to Maria from the bottom of his hear. His love to Maria is from genuine thoughts rather than hypocrisy.
What could he do now but marry her or run away?
Any decision is not perfect. I understand his anxiety. Morality, inner desire and social dogmas fill his heart. I think he want to escape but he can't. He and the girl both bear the restraint.
His bulk, his easy pace, and the solid sound of his boots had something of the conqueror in them.
bulk, easy pace and solid sound are skillfully organized.
He knew that he would regret in the morning but at present he was glad of the rest, glad of the dark stupor that would cover up his folly. He leaned his elbows on the table and rested his head between his hands, counting the beats of his temples.
I think the man was not clear about his life. He wasn't confident about his country and family.
Her eyes gave him no sign of love or farewell or recognition.
No love, no farewell, no recognition. No external accidents happened to her but her facial emotion showed despairs. She experienced surfy flounders in her mind. Why was she painful without disturbing her at that moment? She probably was suppressed by paternity for too long time. She feared the future.
I found it strange that neither I nor the day seemed in a mourning mood and I felt even annoyed at discovering in myself a sensation of freedom as if I had been freed from something by his death.
I (in the story) felt I had been freed from the death of Father Flynn. It's the side description that Father Flynn's metal torment. Father Flynn taught me the institutions of the Church. I felt very heavy about them. I'm not a clergy but I can feel the burden of a clergy.
It's easy to see how painstaking Father Staking was. And we can know some reasons of his death
paralysis
I (in the story) said this word paralysis to myself as if this word can predict the torment for Father Flynn. Flynn was always struggling with the mental press from religion. Paralysis is mental instead of physical.
Where would Lola and her sisters and Charlotte be if he’d gone in for hobbies, he’d like to know?
Lola says that all men ought to have hobbies. For Mr. Neave, that sentence is a bit of ironic. Lola can say that since she never experiences difficulties of life. She is a baby but she want entertainment and regard it as a necessary thing. Mr. Neave's family ignore his laborious work.
Was that father turning round?”—or waving?—or standing alone?—or walking off by himself? The strip of water grew broader, darker.
After setting off, her uneasy feelings is activated. She will go to a new world without her intimate family. Many emotions interlace in her mind.
But the imbecile thing, the absolutely extraordinary thing was that he hadn’t the slightest idea that Isabel wasn’t as happy as he. God, what blindness!
William and Isabel have estrangements. What is the key reason that cause the estrangements? Maybe the reason are their characters, the social changes or Isabel don't love William any more.
Ma Parker stood, looking up and down. The icy wind blew out her apron into a balloon. And now it began to rain. There was nowhere.
How miserable Ma Parker is! She lives is just for other people. In the end, she even has no place to cry, to release her sorrow. Although she could speak, she still a dummy in mental. She wanted to tell her sadness but she couldn't. Nobody understand her, nobody would like to listen. Besides, Ma Parker makes me think of another character Hsiang Lin's Wife in a Chinese novel written by LU HSUN.
“I hope the funeral was a—a—success,
He describe the funeral to be successful. I think it's weird. He couldn't the sorrow at all. He just treat it chillily.
In her blue dress, with her cheeks lightly flushed, her blue, blue eyes, and her gold curls pinned up as though for the first time—pinned up to be out of the way for her flight—Mrs. Raddick’s daughter might have just dropped from this radiant heaven.
From those words, we can know Mrs. Raddick's daughter is incredibly beautiful. Mrs. Raddick seemed to think so too -- if her appreciative glances were any indication. The girl; however, appeared only bored as if heaven had been full of casinos and they no longer held any interest for her.
“Come back, Mr. Dove,” said Anne. And Reginald came slowly across the lawn.
I think Anne accepted Regg's love because she called him Mr. Dove and asked him to come back. I believe Anne likes Regg genuinely and she wants to be with Regg. Secular ideas make Anne hesitate but finally she still follows her heart and try to gamble.
Oh, if you only knew how horrid I feel. But we’d be like... like Mr. and Mrs. Dove.
It's just Mr. and Mrs. Dove. One was always in front of the other. One ran forward, uttering a little cry, and the other followed, solemnly bowing and bowing. They unmatch and have entirely different statuses.
Jug
Josephine's nick name is Jug which has the meaning jail or prison. I think she and her sister's name are metaphors implying the relationships between them and the colonel.
And Laura, glowing, answered softly, “Have you had tea? Won’t you have an ice? The passion-fruit ices really are rather special.” She ran to her father and begged him. “Daddy darling, can’t the band have something to drink?”
Laura enjoyed the Garden Party now and forgot the thing that a man died near her house. Laura had a warm heart. She was sensitive to other people's misfortune, which was commendable. However, she was still a lady in a rich family and lived a happy life. So, she couldn't authentically know what the poor feel and experience. Her sympathy was superficial. It didn't mean she was wicked. It's just so difficult to give a real empathy that we'll forget those unpleasant things soon in the novel also in our own life.
But at the word “Good-bye,” and although the piano sounded more desperate than ever, her face broke into a brilliant, dreadfully unsympathetic smile. “Aren’t I in good voice, mummy?” she beamed.
The piano sounded more desperate than ever, however, Miss Jose had a brilliant smile. Obviously, she didn't devote to the music. She could sing skillfully but without emotion. Her voice would be inane if she was without empathy.
There, raised high on a throne–seated on his typical antelope, with his four arms stretching towards the four corners of the earth–there, soared above us, dark and awful in the mystic light of heaven, the god of the Moon. And there, in the forehead of the deity, gleamed the yellow Diamond, whose splendour had last shone on me in England, from the bosom of a woman’s dress!
There is a comparison -- two scenes of the diamond on the God of the moon and on Rachel. The diamond brings splendor to both of them. However, how can a woman compare with the God of the moon? Throne, stateliness, holy. We should revere rather than be greedy.
You have lost sight of it in England, and (if I know anything of this people) you have lost sight of it for ever.
The diamond is brought to its home. As an Indian, Mr. Murthwaite must be excited about the final result. He says 'you have lost sight of it for ever'. I think this sentence shows solemnity and the anti-colonization sentiment of the author.
I read the name that he had written. It was GODFREY ABLEWHITE.
Although Godfrey Ablewhite has suspicion in some character's narrative, the change of his personality is a bit farfetched. I can't find any clues that he steals the moonstone at beginning.
It was all over now. The sedative influence had got him; the experiment was at an end.
I think the result is unpersuasive and lacks scientific basis. The effect of opium is just like a magic and without reality. As a detective novel, such reasoning is unqualified.
“Let’s try it another way, sir,” he said. “Keep your own opinion, and see how far it will take you towards finding out the truth. If we are to believe the nightgown–which I don’t for one–you not only smeared off the paint from the door, without knowing it, but you also took the Diamond without knowing it. Is that right, so far?”
In Betteredge's narritive, he believes Rachel make a mistake that she steals the diamond. Although he loves Rachel, he can't trust her and support her. He believes Mr. Cuff's words. However, when suspicion points to Mr. Blake, Betteredge doesn't show any distrust. On the contrary, he is rational and helps Mr. Blake to get his ideas into shape. I think there is some unfairness and bias on female.
“I have served your family, sir, to mighty little purpose, if you doubt it!”
Betteredge's mood is determined. Obviously, he prefer Mr. Blake rather than Mr. Albewhite to marry Miss Rachel. Betteredge loves Rachel so much that he knows who can give happiness to Rachel. As a steward in this family, Betteredge is clear about everyone's personality. This sentence show Betteredge's fidelity and emotional statuses of Franklin and Godfrey in Betteredge's mind. The reason is not only Franklin is Godfrey's old friend, but also Franklin is more upright.
Yes! The Indian had put precisely the same question to Mr. Luker, at parting, which he had put to me; receiving of course, the same answer as the answer which I had given him.
I think we can extract each character's inference of the three Indians' action to analysis their personalities. We can tease the whole story after all characters's narative. We probably can find loopholes in this fiction.
“No one,” she answered.
I really appreciate Miss Rachel's personality now! I think Miss Rachel was in a tough period in her life. After experiencing her mother's death, harm from public's voice and the leaving of her love, she was alone but strong and sober. Although at a difficult situation, she still decided to withdraw her wrong engagement with a firm hand. She is a real independent woman.
I must, and will, stop it,” she said. “Mamma! hear what I say. Miss Clack! hear what I say. I know the hand that took the Moonstone. I know–” she laid a strong emphasis on the words; she stamped her foot in the rage that possessed her–“I KNOW THAT GODFREY ABLEWHITE IS INNOCENT. Take me to the magistrate, Godfrey! Take me to the magistrate, and I will swear it!”
Rachel seemed to be very sure that Mr. Godfrey was innocent. She was also sure about who the thief was. If Rachel had been the guilty one, she could have transferred suspicion to Mr. Godfrey because Rachel had no affection for him. However, she didn't. So she's probably not the thief.
Information of both outrages was communicated to the police, and the needful investigations were pursued, I believe, with great energy. The authorities held that a robbery had been planned, on insufficient information received by the thieves. They had been plainly not sure whether Mr. Luker had, or had not, trusted the transmission of his precious gem to another person; and poor polite Mr. Godfrey had paid the penalty of having been seen accidentally speaking to him. Add to this, that Mr. Godfrey’s absence from our Monday evening meeting had been occasioned by a consultation of the authorities, at which he was requested to assist–and all the explanations required being now given, I may proceed with the simpler story of my own little personal experiences in Montagu Square.
The thieves apparently had locked the target on Mr. Godfrey and Mr. Luker. And I guess these thieves had had enough clues about what they had done(I think it's probably about the moonstone.) and then planed a robbery. Now Mr.Godfrey and Mr.Luker are very suspicious.
The applicant stated that he had been annoyed, at intervals throughout the day, by the proceedings of some of those strolling Indians who infest the streets. The persons complained of were three in number. After having been sent away by the police, they had returned again and again, and had attempted to enter the house on pretence of asking for charity.
We know these three Indians is always tracing the moonstone. Mr. Luker was disturbed by them. I think Mr. Luker must have done something related to the moonstone. If we find information what Mr. Luker have done, we may find where the moonstone is.
“It’s not the Diamond,” says the Sergeant. “The whole experience of my life is at fault, if Rosanna Spearman has got the Diamond.”
I'm confused about. The sergeant said it's not the diamond. Then what is the thing hidden in the case? Rosanna went through all the trouble to hide this thing and didn't destroy it. It must be very important to her. Would it be valuable or related to Mr. Franklin?
For a wonder, he had had a good night’s rest at last; and the unaccustomed luxury of sleep had, as he said himself, apparently stupefied him.
I think this action(good night's rest) is abnormal. We have known Mr. Franklin care about the moon stone very much and he has fell in love with Ms. Rachel. How could he have a good night's rest after the loss? It's so strange that something may happened to him at night.
“If you ever go to India, Miss Verinder, don’t take your uncle’s birthday gift with you. A Hindoo diamond is sometimes part of a Hindoo religion. I know a certain city, and a certain temple in that city, where, dressed as you are now, your life would not be worth five minutes’ purchase.
This fiction was set in Victorian era around 1848. At that time, India was dominated and exploited by British East India Company in the name of trade. The moon stone is just an epitome. I think this sentence said by Mr. Murthwaite was a bit ironic and indignant. Maybe Collins was reflecting colonialism during the writing.
My girl was in high spirits, and I saw she had something to say to me. She gave me a kiss on the top of my bald head, and whispered, “News for you, father! Miss Rachel has refused him.
The author creates various characters and builds complicated relations among them. Maybe the exquisite relations imply clues about moon stone. Interesting!
Although I attach no sort of credit to the fantastic Indian legend of the gem, I must acknowledge, before I conclude, that I am influenced by a certain superstition of my own in this matter. It is my conviction, or my delusion, no matter which, that crime brings its own fatality with it. I am not only persuaded of Herncastle’s guilt; I am even fanciful enough to believe that he will live to regret it, if he keeps the Diamond; and that others will live to regret taking it from him, if he gives the Diamond away.
Vishnu’s curse, the dying Indian's curse, this paragraph seems to be the narrator's curse. As if the legend and everything happened in sally were true. Or everything is true.