优质实用课件精选——the libido for the ugly 全文讲义

UnitSevenLibidofortheUgly--HenryLouisMencken(1880-1956)HenryLouisMencken(1880–1956)anAmericanjournalist,essayist,magazineeditor,satirist,acerbiccriticofAmericanlifeandculture,andastudentofAmericanEnglish.Knownasthe"SageofBaltimore",heisregardedasoneofthemostinfluentialAmericanwritersandprosestylistsofthefirsthalfofthe20thcenturyMencken’squotation:Acynicisamanwho,whenhesmellsaflower,looksaroundforacoffin.Mencken'sCreed     Ibelievethatreligion,generallyspeaking,hasbeenacursetomankind-thatitsmodestandgreatlyoverestimatedservicesontheethicalsidehavebeenmorethanovercomebythedamageithasdonetoclearandhonestthinking.     Ibelievethatnodiscoveryoffact,howevertrivial,canbewhollyuselesstotherace,andthatnotrumpetingoffalsehood,howevervirtuousinintent,canbeanythingbutvicious.          Ibelievethatallgovernmentisevil,inthatallgovernmentmustnecessarilymakewaruponliberty...     Ibelievethattheevidenceforimmortalityisnobetterthantheevidenceofwitches,anddeservesnomorerespect.Ibelieveinthecompletefreedomofthoughtandspeech... Ibelieveinthecapacityofmantoconquerhisworld,andtofindoutwhatitismadeof,andhowitisrun.     Ibelieveintherealityofprogress.     I-Butthewholething,afterall,maybeputverysimply.Ibelievethatitisbettertotellthetruththantolie.Ibelievethatitisbettertobefreethantobeaslave.AndIbelievethatitisbettertoknowthanbeignorant.PennsylvaniaStateProfileStateUniqueNameTheKeystoneStateCapitalCityHarrisburgLocation40.27605N,076.88450WBirdRuffedGrouseBorderStatesDelaware-Maryland-NewJersey-NewYork-Ohio-WestVirginiaEconomyAgricultureFlowerTheMountainLaurelLargestCityPhiladelphiaLandArea44,892sq.mi.Population1,20,19,661StatehoodDecember12,1787TreeHemlockdescriptiondescriptionispaintingaverbalpictureofaperson,aplace,anobject,ascene,etc.inordertoenablehisreadertoperceivetherealityoftheoriginal,thewriterreproducesanimageandinvokesthatrealityessenciallybyspecificandconcretewordsthatappealtothereader'ssenseofsight,smell,sound,tasteandtouch.thetitlethisisapieceofsubjective,impressionisticoremotionaldescription.libido:conceptoriginatedbySigmundFreudtosignifytheinstinctualphysiologicalorpsychicenergyassociatedwithsexualurgesandwithallconstructivehumanactivity.Inthetext,itmeanspsychicenergygenerally;specifically,abasicformofpsychicenergy,comprisingthepositive,lovinginstinctsmanifestedvariouslyatdifferentstagesofpersonalitydevelopment.Drive,desire.欲望thetitlethewriterusesthiswordtosuggestthattheloveandpassionforuglinessamongAmericansisakindofpathologicalproblemandthathisobservationshaveascientificfoundation.DominantimpressionofuglinessNouns:desolation,filth,grime,horror,ugliness,monstrousness,grotesqueriesAdjectives:hideous,bleak,forlorn,abominable,dirty,horrible,misshapen,shabby,uncomely,dingy,decomposing,shocking,loathsome,gloomy,God-forsaken,frightful,putrid,ghastly,unlovely,diabolical,dreadful,macabre,depressingphrases:appallingdesolation,dreadfullyhideous,intolerablybleak,unbrokenandagonizingugliness,revoltingmonstrousness,incomparableImages:leproushill,uremicyellow,eczematouspatches,malarioushamlets,oneblinksbeforeamanwithhisfaceshotaway,burythemselvesswinishly,likegravestonesinsomegiganticdecayingcemetery,colorofanegglongpastallhopeorcaring,thatofafatwomanwithablackeye,thatofaPresbyteriangrinningSentenceswithsarcasm,ridiculeandirony:wouldhavedisgracedaraceofalleycats,insultandlaceratetheeyetherewasnotasingledecenthouseinsight…therewasnotonethatwasnotshabbyIawardthischampionshipincomparableincolor,incomparableindesign,theParthenonwouldnotdoubtoffendthemTheMainideaofeachparagraphPara1---Thewritercontraststhegreatwealthofthisregionwiththeabominablehumanhabitationsseeneverywhere.Para2---coverageoftheuglinessinthecounty.Para3---theuglinessofthehousedesignPara4---theuglinessofthecolorofthebricksPara5---evaluatestheuglinessofthisregionasthetoponeintheworld.Para6---triestotracethesourceoftheuglinessfromtheforeignersPara7---speculatesonasolutionforthepuzzle:libidofortheuglyPara8---evidencetoprovehimselfrightPara9---Thewriterfinallygivesananswer.para1acontrastofthegreatwealthofthisregionwiththedominatablehumanhabitationsseeneverywhere.uglinessisnotduetopovertybuttosth.innateintheAmericancharacter---aloveforuglinessforitsownsakeor,asthetitlesays,thelibidofortheugly.sentence1onedayinwintersomeyearsago,IstartedoutfromPittsburghandtravelledthroughthecoalandsteeltownsofWestmorelandCountyinafastrailwaytrain.wordsPittsburgh:acityinSouthwestPennsylvania.ItisoneofthemostimportantindustrialcitiesofAmerica,andacenterofrailandrivertransportation.Termedthe“SteelCity”or“SmokyCity”,itisthecenterofrichbituminous[bɪˈtumənəs-coal(生煤)region,producingalsonaturalgas,oilandlimestone;alargepartofU.S.steelandironisproducedhere.Westmorelandcounty:acountyinSouthwestPennsylvania.ItscountyseatisGreensburg.Itisaminingandmanufacturingregion.roll:totravelinawheeledvehicle翻译几年前的一个冬日，我乘坐宾夕法尼亚铁路公司的一班快车离开匹兹堡，向东行驶一小时，穿越了威斯特摩兰县的煤城和钢都。sentence2thisareaisfamiliartome.bothwhenIwasyoungandwhenIgrewup,Ihadoftentravelledthroughthisregion.这是我熟悉的地方，无论是童年时期还是成年时期，我常常经过这一带。sentence3butsomhowinthepastIneverreallyperceivedhowshockingandwretchedthiswholeregionwas.但以前我从来没有感到这地方荒凉得这么可怕sentence4-1theregionaroundPittsburghwasoneofthemostimportantindustrialcentersofAmerica.herewasthecenterofthemostprofitableandcharacteristicAmericanactivity---indutrialactivity.lucrative:producingwealthorprofit;profitable;有利可图的4-1这儿正是工业化美国的心脏，是其最赚钱、最典型活动的中心，世界上最富裕、最伟大的国家的自豪和骄傲sentence4-2theUnitedstates,therichestandgrandestnationeverseenonearth,bothboastsaboutandfeelsproudofthiscenterofindustrialacyivity.sentence4-3theverysightoftheregionwasterriblyuglyandthewholeregionwassomiserable,gloomyanddepairingthatitwashardforanyonetobear.thisteriblesceneinaregionwhichproducesthroughitsindustrythewealthtomakeAmericatherichestandgrandestnation,makesallhumaneffortstoadvanceandimprovetheirlifeseemsasadandhorriblejoke.翻译4-3然而这儿的景象却又丑陋得这样可怕，凄凉悲惨得这么令人无法忍受，以致人的抱负和壮志在这儿成了令人毛骨悚然的、令人沮丧的笑料wordshideous:horribletosee,hear,etc;veryuglyorrevolting;dreadful非常丑陋的,bleak:cheerless,gloomy,desolate,depressing荒凉的forlorn:inpitifulcondition;wretched;miserable悲惨的,不幸的aspiration:strongdesireorambition,asforadvancement,honor热望,渴望macabre:gruesome;grimandhorrible;ghastly令人毛骨悚然的sentence5peoplecouldnotimagineorcalculatetheamountofwealththatwastobefoundinthisregion.Andinthesameregionthereweresuchterribleanddisgustinghousesthatevenhomelesswildcatswouldfeelashamedtoliveinthem.翻译这儿的财富多得无法计算，简直都无法想象——也是在这儿，人们的居住条件又是如此之糟，连那些流浪街头的野猫也为之害羞wordsabominable:nastyanddisgusting;vile;loathsome讨厌的alley:anarrowstreetorwalk;especially,alanebehindarowofbuildingsorbetweentworowsofbuildingsBoyandman,Ihadbeenthroughitoftenbefore.AsaboyandlaterwhenIwasagrown-upman,IhadoftentraveledthroughtheregionHere…heartofindustrialAmerica,thecenterofitsmostlucrativeandcharacteristicactivity,theboastandprideoftherichestandgreatestnationeverseenonearth—Metaphor,comparingthiscentertotheheartofahumanbody;hyperbole:exaggeratingtherichnessandgrandeuroftheregionandofAmericaasawhole.HerewasthecenterofthemostprofitableandcharacteristicAmericanactivity–industrialactivity.;Paraphrasing(Para1)andherewasascenesodreadfullyhideous,toamacabreanddepressingjoke.Thescenethatmettheeyewasterriblyuglyandthewholeregionwassomiserableandgloomythatitwasunbearable.Thisdreadfulscenemakesallhumanendeavorstoadvanceandimprovetheirlotappearasaghastly,saddeningjoke.Herewaswealthbeyondcomputation,almostbeyondImagination–andherewerehumanhabitationssoabominablethattheywouldhavedisgracedaraceofalleycats.Hyperbole:exaggeratingthewealththatwasbeyondcomputationandimagination;Andhabitationssoabominablethatevenhomelesscatswouldhavefeltashamedtoliveinthem;WordsandExpressions(Para2)filth:disgustinglyoffensivedirt,garbage,etc.lacerate:tearjaggedly;mangle(somethingsoft,asflesh)woundorhurt(one’sfeelings,etc.)deeply;distressmonstrousness:strangeshapeagonize—vt./vi.(cause)pain.痛苦,难受Heagonizedformonthsoverthethoughtofhisson’sdeath.Martinbentoverhim,agonizedtoseehowburningwashisskin.agony.n.(u)(c)deeppain,extremesufferingortirednessThiscountrymustnotagaingothroughtheagonyofwar.Theagonyoftheinjuredmanwasdreadfultosee.Thousandsuponthousandsdieinslowagony.Hesufferedagoniesfromhisbrokenarmrevolt—vi.RebelagainstThepeoplerevoltedagainsttheirruler.revolt.---v.t/vi.(cause)(feel)hatredorsicknessof…Theverythoughtofworkinginthebasementrevoltedme.Theviolenceinthemovierevoltedmyparents.Mysoulrevoltedagainstthiswayofdoingbusiness.Hiswholenaturerevoltsat/from/againstsuchacrime.Thereisarevoltingsmellintheseafoodmarket.pretentious—seemimportantorsignificant,usedtoshowdisapproval(自命不凡,爱夸耀的,虚饰的,野心勃勃的)e.g.Hewasatalentedbutpretentiouswriter.Thispubwasofaverydifferenttype,smaller,lesspretentious.pretension--noun(claimtobe,claimtodeserve)e.g.Imakenopretension(s)toskillasanartist,butforenjoyingit.Theyoungprincehaspretensionstothecrown.--boasting,vanity(u)Shetalkedofherrichfriendswithgreatpretension.Pretensionishisworstfault.shabby---poor-looking,mean,unfaire.g.Thebeggar’sclotheswereshabby.Thementalpatientsreceivedshabbytreatment.Whatashabbytrick,leavingmetowalkhomealone.sheer–absolute,completeeg.Shefaintedfromsheerweariness.Hewonbysheerluck.asheerwasteofmoney,bysheerchance,Sheeralcoholwillburntheliningofthethroat.Paraphrasing(Para2)WhatIalludetoistheunbrokenandagonizingugliness,thesheerrevoltingmonstrousness,ofeveryhouseinsight.hyperbole,anexaggerationthateveryhouseisugly.unbrokenugliness:uglinessthatwascontinuousanduninterrupted.Itwasuglynomatterwhereyoulooked.agonizingugliness:uglinessthatcausedgreatpain(topeoplewhosawit)sheerrevoltingmonstrousness:theabsolutedigestinghideousness.oneblinkedbeforethemasone…amanwithhisfaceshotaway.asimile.Theuglinessofthesehouseswasasgruesomeasafacethathasbeenshotandmangled.Afewlingerinmemory,horribleeventhere.Someofthehousesremaininone’smemoryandlaterwhenonepicturestheminone’smindtheystillappeartobehorrible.Therewasnotasingledecenthousewithin….Therewasnotonethatwasnotmisshapen,andtherewasnotonethatwasnotshabby.Therepetitionofthesamestructuralpatternandtheuseofdoublenegativeshelptoemphasizethetwowords“misshapen”and“shabby”.WordsandExpressions(Para3)uncomely:havingunpleasantappearancegrime:dirt,esp.sootydirt,rubbedintoorcoveringasurfaceasoftheskingully:achannelorhollowwornbyrunningwater;smallnarrowravine狭沟chalet:atypeofSwisshouse,builtofwoodwithbalconiesandoverhangingeaves(瑞士的木造)山上小舍highpitched:steepinslopesideofroofsdingy:dirty-colored;notbrightorclean,grimyclapboard:athin,narrowboardwithoneedgethickerthantheother,usedassiding护墙板,隔墙preposterous:socontrarytonature,reason,orcommonsenseastobelaughable;absurd;ridiculous反常的,十分荒谬的pier:aheavycolumn,usuallysquare,usedtosupportweight,asattheendofanarch支柱perpendicular:exactlyupright;vertical,straightupanddown垂直的precarious:uncertain;insecure;risky不安全的eczematous:ofitchingskindisease湿疹的streak---n.along,narrowline一长条(c)e.g.Youhaveastreakofpaintonyourforehead.Theplaneleftawhitestreakofvaporinthebluesky.Hehasthestreaksofgreyinhisdarkhair.---somequalityinone’spersonalitye.g.Shehasastreakofselfishnessinher.Hehasastreakofhumor,thoughhelooksveryseriousThereisastreakofcrueltyinhischaracter.streak---v.ttomarkalineon…TheIndiansusedtostreaktheirfaceswithpaint.Herdarkhairwasstreakedwithgrey.Thechild’sfacewasstreakedwithtears.---vi.TopassrapidlylikelighteningThewinninghorsestreakedpastthefinishline.Acatstreakedacrosstheroadwithadogbehindit.Paraphrasing(Para3)Thecountryitselfisnotuncomelynotuncomely:litotes,meaningquitecomelyorpleasanttolookat.Thecountryitselfispleasanttolookat.…thereareveryfewsolidblocks.solidblock:agroupofbuildingswithnobreaksoremptyspaceseparatingthem.Eveninthelargertownsthereareveryfewsolidblocksofhouses,sotherearestillmanyemptyspacesonwhichnewbuildingscanbeputup.iftherewerearchitectsofanyprofessionalsenseordignityintheregion,theywouldhaveperfectedachalet…sarcasm.Itsarcasticallyemphasizesthefactthattherewerenoarchitectsworthyofthehonororthehighstandardsdemandedofbyitsprofession.Theyhavetakenastheirmodelabricksetonend.Themodeltheyfollowedwasabrickstandingupright.Andoneandalltheyarestreakedingrime,withdeadandeczematouspatchesofpaintpeeingthroughthestreaks.metaphor,comparingthepatchesofpainttodried-upscalesformedbyaskindisease.Allthehousesherearesmearedwithsootydirt,andsomepaintwhichisnotcoveredupbythesootlookslikedried-upscalesformedontheskinbyeczema.ABriefIntroductiontoLitotesnotuncomely—quitepleasant,beautifulLitotes曲言法(正话反说),是(understatement)低调陈述中的一种现形式.主要是用no,not,none,never以及否定词缀等否定词或否定表达法来表述肯定的内容.e.g.Thefacewasn’tabadone;ithadwhattheycalledcharm.Themanisnofool.Itwasnosmallskilltoputtingaknifeintothemouthwithoutgettinghurt.(understatement)低调陈述的另一种表现手法是弱说代替强说.常用sortof,somethingof,rather,hardly,scarcely,almost之类的词e.g.“Money,”shesayswithquietunderstatement,“iskindoftight..ButImanage.”Herscoreisfarfrombeingsatisfactory.HerscoreleavesmuchtobedesiredMr.Liissomethingofaprofessor.Achalet—atypeofSwisshouse,builtofwoodwithbalconiesandoverhangingeaves瑞士式小木屋Eczematouspatches,eczema—anitchingskindiseaseWordsandExpressions(Para4)downright----adj.straightforward,franke.g.Herdownrightanswerstartleduspresent.Heisadownrightsortofperson.---adj.completee.g.Youareadownrightcheat.Shetoldadownrightlie.downright---adv.Absolutely,彻头彻尾的e.g.Hewasdownrightrudetous.Itmakesmedownrightangrytoseefoodthrownaway.loathe---vt.feelhatred,dislikee.g.YouknowhowIloathtypingandshorthand.Shelikesherjobthoughsheloathesgettingupearlytogotowork.loathing.---n.(u)Theylookatthemwithloathing.Ihaveagreatloathingforgeometry.loathsome----adj.tobedisgusting,hatede.g.Somepeoplethinksnakesareloathsomecreatureswhileothersthinkotherwise.Thevillainoftheplaywascompletelyloathsome.Paraphrasing(Para4)Whenithastakenonthepatinaofthemillsitisthecolorofanegglongpastallhopeorcaring.ridiculeandirony,laughingscornfullyatthecolorofthesehouses;alsometaphor,comparingthecolorofthebrickstocolorofrotteneggs.Whenthebrickiscoveredwithblacksootofthemillsittakesonthecolorofarottenegg.Nomorethanitwasnecessarytosetallofthehousesonend.Neitherwasnecessary.Thewriterposesthequestioninordertoprovokethequestioningofthecause.Redbrick,eveninasteeltown,ageswithsomedignity.Redbrick,eveninasteeltown,looksquiterespectablewiththepassingoftime.Eveninasteeltown,oldredbricksstillappearpleasingtotheeye.ButinWestmorelandtheypreferthaturemicyellow,uremia:atoxicconditioncausedbythepresenceinthebloodofwasteproductsnormallyeliminatedintheurineandresultingfromafailureofthekidneystosecreteurine.ButitseemsthatpeopleinWestmorelandcountypreferthatyellowcolorproducedbythediseaseuremia.andsotheyhavethemostloathsometownsandvillageseverseenbymortaleye.hyperbole,exaggeratingtheuglinessofthetownsandvillages.mortaleye:humaneyesAComparisonofSarcasm(讽刺),ridicule(嘲弄),irony(反讽),Sarcasm:abitterorwoundingremark,主要用于伤人感情的那一类幽默,常运用嘲笑或讽刺性反语e.g.Obviously,iftherewerearchitectsofanyprofessionalsenseofdignityintheregion,theywouldhaveperfectedachalettohugthehillsides.…havingchosenit,theyletinmellowintoitspresentshockingdepravity.Sarcasmandironye.g.Iawardthischampionshiponlyafterlaboriousresearchandincessantprayer.Itisincrediblethatmereignoranceshouldhaveachievedsuchmasterpiecesofhorror.Ridicule-makefunof,deride,laughat.Makeridiculouse.g.…asteelstadiumlikeahugerat-trapsomewherefurtherdowntheline.…theymadeitperfectintheirownsightbyputtingacompletelyimpossiblepenthouse.irony(sayingonethingandmeaningtheopposite)WordsandExpressions(Para5)laborious:involvingmuchhardwork;difficult;industrious;hard-workingdecompose:breakuporseparateintobasiccomponentsorparts;rotmalarious:offeverconveyedbymosquitoesforsake:giveup;renounce(ahabit,idea,etc.)hamlet:averysmallvillageaberrant:turningawayfromwhatisright,true,etc;deviatingfromwhatisnormalortypicaluncompromising:notyielding;firm;inflexible;determinedinimical:likeanenemy;hostile;unfriendly;adverse;unfavorableingenuity:cleverness,originality,skill,etc.grotesquery:thequalityorstateofbeinggrotesquediabolical:ofthedevilordevils;fiendishconcoct:devise,invent,orplanIawardthischampionshiponlyafterlaboriousresearchandincessantprayer.sarcasmandirony.IcametotheconclusionthatWestmorlandhadthemostloathsometownsandvillagesonlyaftervisitinganccomparingmanyplacesnotonlyintheUnitedStatesbutalsoinothercountriesandafterconstantlyprayingtoGodforguidance.championship:usedironicallytodescribenotthebestbuttheworst.Paraphrasing(Para5)Ihaveseen….Iamfamiliarwith…,andhavemadescientificexplorations….SafeinaPullman,Ihavewhirledthrough…Ihavebeento…Parallelstructurestoshowhisvisitstothoseplaces.inapullman:travelinginapullmancar.(whichwasnamedafteritsinventorGeorgeM.Pullman(1831-97)backstreets:small,meanstreets;streetsinslumareaGod-forsakenvillages:gloomy.Desolatevillagestidewaterhamlet:verysmallvillageneartheseaaffectedbytheriseandfalloftidesTheyareincomparableincolor,andtheyareincomparableindesign.sarcasm.Peoplecannotfindsuchterriblecoloranddesigninanyotherregion.Itisasifsometitanicandaberrantgenius,uncompromisinglyinimicaltoman,haddevotedalltheingenuityofHelltothemakingofthem.genius:usedironicallytomeananevilgenius,havinggreatabilitytodoevil.Hell:thepowersofevilordarknesshyperboleandirony.Itisassomegeniusofgreatpower,whodidn’tliketodotherightthingsandwhowasaninflexibleenemyofman,employedalltheclevernessandskillofhelltobuildtheseuglyhouses.Theyshowgrotesqueriesofuglinessthat,inretrospect,becomealmostdiabolical.Theyshowsuchfantasticandbizarreuglinessthat,inlookingback,theybecomealmostfiendishandwicked.onecanscarcelyimaginehumanbeingsbearinglifeinthem.OnecanscarcelyimaginepeoplelivinginthesehousesandbearingandbringingupchildreninthemWordsandExpressions&Paraphrasing(Para6)Aretheysofrightfulbecausethevalleyisfullofforeigners—dull,insensatebrutes,withnoloveofbeautyinthem?insensate:notfeeling,ornotcapableoffeelingRhetoricquestionforeffect.Arethehousessofrightfullyuglybecausethevalleyisinhabitedbyalotofforeignerswhoarestupidandunfeelinglikeanimalsandwhohavenoloveofbeautyinthem?—savingperhapsinthemoreputridpartsofEngland.putrid:decomposing;rottenandfoul-smellingyouwon’tfindanyabominablehousesinEurope,exceptinsomerottenanddecayingareasinEngland.ButintheAmericanvillageandsmalltownthepullisalwaystowardugliness,andinthatWestmorelandvalleyithasbeenyieldedtowithaneagernessborderinguponpassion.pull:drawingforce,appealborderupon:tobelike,almostbesarcasm.ButintheAmericanvillageandsmalltown,theappealisalwaystowardsugliness,andinthatWestmorelandvalleypeoplehavegivenintothisappealeagerlyoralmostpassionately.Itisincredible…achievedsuchmasterpiecesofhorror.sarcasmandirnoy.Itishardtobelievethatpeoplebuiltsuchhorriblehousesjustbecausetheydidnotknowwhatbeautifulhouseswerelike.WordsandExpressions&Paraphrasing(Para7)Thereseemstobeapositivelibidofortheugly,asonotherandlessChristianlevelsthereisalibidoforthebeautifulantithesis.PeopleincertainstrataofAmericansocietyseemdefinitelytohungerafteruglythings;whileinotherlessChristianstrata,peopleseemtolongforthingsbeautifulitisimpossibletoputdownthewallpaperthatdefacestheaverageAmericanhomeofthelowermiddleclasstomereinadvertence,ortotheobscenehumorofthemanufacturers.putdown(to)attribute(to)deface:spoiltheappearanceof;disfigure;mar损坏外表inadvertence:thequalityofbeinginadvertent;oversight,粗心大意，疏忽obscene:offensivetoone’sfeelings,ortoprevailingnotionsofmodestyofdecency;lewd;disgusting猥渎的，可憎的Theymeet,insomeunfathomableway,itsobscureandunintelligibledemands.unfathomable:whichcannotbeunderstood;whichcannotbereached.Theseuglydesigns,insomewaythatpeoplecannotunderstand,satisfythehiddenandunintelligibledemandsofthistypeofmind.WordsandExpressions&Paraphrasing(Para8)Buttheychosethatclapboardedhorrorwiththeireyesopen,andhavingchosenit,theyletitmellowintoitspresentshockingdepravity.witheyesopen:withfullunderstandingofwhatisinvolvedmellow:tomakefull,rich,soft,gentle.Menckenusesthiswordironicallytomean“toletitdeteriorate,toletitgofrombadtoworse”depravity:adepravedcondition;corruption;wickedessTheychose,fullyunderstandingwhattheyweredoing,thishorriblehousemadeofclapboardandthenletitdeterioratetothispresentshocking,sinfulconditionTheylikeitasitis:besideit,theParthenonwouldnodoubtoffendthem.sarcasm.IfoneweretoputabeautifulbuildingliketheParthenonthere,theywouldbeoffended.After…theymadeitperfectintheirownsightbyputting