🏛️ 典故與文化背景
燒屋
放火燒毀奇諾的家，是要逼出珍珠（他們以為藏在屋裡），也是警告。在樹枝屋聚落，一間屋子幾分鐘就會燒光——「家之歌」的實體化為灰燼。
阿波洛妮亞的哀歌
墨西哥原住民與天主教傳統中，女性親屬要為死者唱正式的哀歌（lament）。她跑回去換最好的頭巾，是要在儀式上得體——史坦貝克用這個細節帶出一點人性的幽默，也讓悲劇更真實。
「把魔鬼傳下去」
民間信仰中，邪物要「賣掉」或「送走」才能擺脫——像中國民間的「轉運」「送煞」。胡安．托馬斯的建議代表傳統的智慧：不要對抗邪惡，把它傳給別人。
痲瘋病
在《聖經》與中世紀傳統中，痲瘋病人被視為不潔，必須離開社群。奇諾自比痲瘋病，表示他已經成為社群的威脅。
胡安．托馬斯的忠誠
他雖然害怕，仍然藏匿弟弟、散布假消息、借來糧食和刀——全書最溫暖的兄弟情。他的「雙重擁抱與雙頰親吻」是拉丁美洲的告別禮，而「願上帝與你同行」「像是死別」。
往北
奇諾說「聽說北方有城市」——下加利福尼亞北部有恩塞納達（Ensenada）、提華納（Tijuana），再往北就是美國。往北，也是當時無數墨西哥人尋求出路的方向。
大刀（machete）
十八吋長的工作刀，在拉丁美洲是砍甘蔗、開路的工具，也是武器。奇諾「撫摸刀刃」——他已經準備好殺人。
珍珠＝靈魂
這是全書的轉折點。奇諾已經不是為了兒子的教育而保護珍珠，而是因為珍珠成了他的身分和尊嚴。這也是浮士德式的悲劇——人把靈魂押在一件東西上。
📖 導讀
奇諾奔回家，心中竟湧起一股奇異的興奮：「現在他不困惑了，因為只剩一件事可做。」前方火光一閃，「一座高高的火焰建築」照亮小路——是他的樹枝屋。胡安娜抱著孩子跑出來：屋子被翻遍了，地板被挖，連孩子的吊箱都被翻倒，接著他們從外面放火。「是誰？」「黑暗的人。」
鄰居們湧出來撲滅火星，奇諾突然害怕起光——「光對他是危險」。他拉著胡安娜沿著陰影溜進哥哥胡安．托馬斯的家。透過牆縫，他們看見火焰沖天、屋頂塌落，聽見嫂嫂阿波洛妮亞發出正式的哀悼哭聲；她又想起自己戴的是次好的頭巾，跑回家換最好的那條——這時奇諾低聲說：「阿波洛妮亞，別叫。我們沒受傷。」史坦貝克在悲劇中留了一點黑色幽默。
奇諾對哥哥說：「我被攻擊，在打鬥中殺了一個人。」胡安．托馬斯說：「是那顆珍珠。這珍珠裡有魔鬼。你應該把它賣掉，把魔鬼傳下去。」奇諾說：「我受到的侮辱比我的生命更深。」他知道自己「像痲瘋病一樣」會連累哥哥，只求躲一天。胡安．托馬斯答應了。
他們在黑暗中坐了一整天，聽見鄰居在灰燼裡耙找他們的骨頭，聽見大家得知船被打破時的震驚。胡安．托馬斯出去散布假消息（「他們往南逃了」「他大概淹死了」），每次回來都帶回借來的東西：紅豆、米、乾辣椒、鹽，還有一把十八吋長、像小斧頭一樣重的工作刀——奇諾一看到它，眼睛就亮了。暴風吹了一整天，把海面打成白色，紅樹林「像受驚的牛群一樣起伏」，沙塵像雪一樣飄——「風很好，不會留下足跡。」入夜，兄弟以雙重擁抱告別。「你不肯放棄珍珠嗎？」「這顆珍珠已經成了我的靈魂。我要是放棄它，就會失去我的靈魂。」
重點
- 奇異的興奮：失去一切之後，奇諾反而清楚了——只剩求生這一條路。
- 燒毀的家：家之歌的實體被毀——樹枝屋、吊箱、火坑都沒了。
- 光是危險：獵物害怕光——奇諾的世界顛倒了。
- 阿波洛妮亞的頭巾：悲劇中的日常與黑色幽默——人性在儀式中依然計較體面。
- 「珍珠裡有魔鬼」：哥哥也認為該「把魔鬼傳給別人」——民間對邪物的理解。
- 像痲瘋病：奇諾成了會傳染的不祥之人。
- 大刀：從採珠刀到砍刀——奇諾準備好戰鬥。
- 風抹去足跡：自然暫時站在他們這邊。
- 珍珠＝靈魂：奇諾與珍珠已經分不開——放棄它等於放棄自己。
📕 中英對照（逐句）
Kino, hurrying towards his house, felt a surge of exhilaration.
奇諾匆匆奔向他的家，感到一股興奮湧上心頭。
Now he was not confused, for there was only one thing to do, and Kino’s hand went first to the great pearl in his shirt and then to his knife hanging under his shirt.
現在他不困惑了，因為只剩一件事可做；奇諾的手先摸了摸襯衫裡的大珍珠，再摸了摸掛在襯衫底下的刀。
He saw a little glow ahead of him, and then without interval a tall flame leaped up in the dark with a crackling roar, and a tall edifice of fire lighted the pathway.
他看見前方有一點微光，接著毫無間隔地，一道高高的火焰在黑暗中劈啪轟響著竄起，一座高聳的火焰建築照亮了小路。
Kino broke into a run; it was his brush house, he knew.
奇諾拔腿就跑；他知道，那是他的樹枝屋。
And he knew that these houses could burn down in a very few moments.
他也知道，這種房子幾分鐘就會燒光。
And as he ran a scuttling figure ran towards him—Juana, with Coyotito in her arms and Kino’s shoulder-blanket clutched in her hand.
他跑著跑著，一個匆匆的身影朝他奔來——是胡安娜，懷裡抱著柯尤提托，手裡緊緊抓著奇諾的披肩毯。
The baby moaned with fright, and Juana’s eyes were wide and terrified.
嬰兒嚇得呻吟，胡安娜的眼睛睜得大大的，滿是恐懼。
Kino could see the house was gone, and he did not question Juana.
奇諾看得出屋子已經沒了，他沒有問胡安娜。
He knew, but she said: “It was torn up and the floor dug—even the baby’s box turned out, and as I looked they put the fire to the outside.”
他知道，可是她說：「屋裡被翻得亂七八糟，地板被挖開——連孩子的木箱都被倒出來，我還在看的時候，他們就從外面放了火。」
The fierce light of the burning house lighted Kino’s face strongly.
燃燒的屋子發出的猛烈火光，強烈地照亮了奇諾的臉。
“Who?” he demanded.
「是誰？」他質問。
“I don’t know,” she said.
「我不知道。」她說。
“The dark ones.”
「黑暗的人。」
The neighbours were tumbling from their houses now, and they watched the falling sparks and stamped them out to save their own houses.
這時鄰居們紛紛從屋裡跌撞出來，他們盯著飄落的火星，把它們踩熄，保住自己的房子。
Suddenly Kino was afraid.
奇諾突然害怕起來。
The light made him afraid.
是光讓他害怕。
He remembered the man lying dead in the brush beside the path, and he took Juana by the arm and drew her into the shadow of a house away from the light, for light was danger to him.
他想起路邊灌木叢裡躺著的那個死人，就抓住胡安娜的手臂，把她拉進一棟房子的陰影裡，遠離火光，因為光對他來說是危險。
For a moment he considered and then he worked among the shadows until he came to the house of Juan Tomás, his brother, and he slipped into the doorway and drew Juana after him.
他想了一下，然後在陰影之間穿行，直到來到他哥哥胡安．托馬斯的家，他溜進門，把胡安娜也拉了進去。
Outside, he could hear the squeal of children and the shouts of the neighbours, for his friends thought he might be inside the burning house.
外面，他聽得見孩子們的尖叫和鄰居們的叫喊，因為朋友們以為他可能在燃燒的屋子裡。
The house of Juan Tomás was almost exactly like Kino’s house; nearly all the brush houses were alike, and all leaked light and air, so that Juana and Kino, sitting in the corner of the brother’s house, could see the leaping flames through the wall.
胡安．托馬斯的家跟奇諾的家幾乎一模一樣；幾乎所有的樹枝屋都一樣，全都漏光透風，所以胡安娜和奇諾坐在哥哥家的角落，隔著牆就看得見竄跳的火焰。
They saw the flames tall and furious, they saw the roof fall and watched the fire die down as quickly as a twig fire dies.
他們看見火焰又高又猛，看見屋頂塌下來，看著火像細枝燒的火一樣很快熄滅。
They heard the cries of warning of their friends, and the shrill, keening cry of Apolonia, wife of Juan Tomás.
他們聽見朋友們警告的叫喊，還有胡安．托馬斯的妻子阿波洛妮亞尖銳的哀號。
She, being the nearest woman relative, raised a formal lament for the dead of the family.
她是血緣最近的女性親屬，於是為家族的死者唱起正式的哀歌。
Apolonia realised that she was wearing her second-best head-shawl and she rushed to her house to get her fine new one.
阿波洛妮亞發現自己戴的是第二好的頭巾，就衝回家去拿那條漂亮的新頭巾。
As she rummaged in a box by the wall, Kino’s voice said quietly: “Apolonia, do not cry out.
她在牆邊的箱子裡翻找的時候，奇諾的聲音輕輕地說：「阿波洛妮亞，別叫出聲。
We are not hurt.”
我們沒受傷。」
“How do you come here?” she demanded.
「你們怎麼會在這裡？」她質問。
“Do not question,” he said.
「別問。」他說。
“Go now to Juan Tomás and bring him here and tell no one else.
「現在去找胡安．托馬斯，帶他過來，別告訴任何人。
This is important to us, Apolonia.”
這對我們很重要，阿波洛妮亞。」
She paused, her hands helpless in front of her, and then: “Yes, my brother-in-law,” she said.
她停了一下，雙手無助地垂在身前，然後說：「好，我的小叔。」
In a few moments Juan Tomás came back with her.
不一會兒，胡安．托馬斯跟她一起回來了。
He lighted a candle and came to them where they crouched in a corner, and he said: “Apolonia, see to the door, and do not let anyone enter.”
他點了一根蠟燭，走到他們蹲著的角落，說：「阿波洛妮亞，看好門，別讓任何人進來。」
He was older, Juan Tomás, and he assumed the authority.
胡安．托馬斯年紀較大，他擔起了做主的責任。
“Now, my brother,” he said.
「好，我的弟弟。」他說。
“I was attacked in the dark,” said Kino.
「我在黑暗中被人攻擊，」奇諾說。
“And in the fight I have killed a man.”
「打鬥中我殺了一個人。」
“Who?” asked Juan Tomás quickly.
「是誰？」胡安．托馬斯很快地問。
“I do not know.
「我不知道。
It is all darkness—all darkness and shape of darkness.”
全是黑暗——全是黑暗，和黑暗的形狀。」
“It is the pearl,” said Juan Tomás.
「是那顆珍珠。」胡安．托馬斯說。
“There is a devil in this pearl.
「這顆珍珠裡有魔鬼。
You should have sold it and passed on the devil.
你應該把它賣掉，把魔鬼傳給別人。
Perhaps you can still sell it and buy peace for yourself.”
也許你現在還是可以賣掉它，替自己買回平安。」
And Kino said: “Oh, my brother, an insult has been put on me that is deeper than my life.
奇諾說：「喔，我的哥哥，我受到的侮辱比我的生命還要深。
For on the beach my canoe is broken, my house is burned, and in the brush a dead man lies.
因為海灘上我的獨木舟破了，我的家被燒了，灌木叢裡躺著一個死人。
Every escape is cut off.
每一條退路都被切斷了。
You must hide us, my brother.”
你一定要把我們藏起來，我的哥哥。」
And Kino, looking closely, saw deep worry come into his brother’s eyes and he forestalled him in a possible refusal.
奇諾仔細看著，看見深深的憂慮浮上哥哥的眼睛，他搶在哥哥可能拒絕之前開口。
“Not for long,” he said quickly.
「不會太久。」他很快地說。
“Only until a day has passed and the new night has come.
「只要過了一天，新的夜晚來臨就好。
Then we will go.”
然後我們就走。」
“I will hide you,” said Juan Tomás.
「我會把你們藏起來。」胡安．托馬斯說。
“I do not want to bring danger to you,” Kino said.
「我不想給你帶來危險。」奇諾說。
“I know I am like a leprosy.
「我知道我就像痲瘋病一樣。
I will go tonight and then you will be safe.”
我今晚就走，這樣你就安全了。」
“I will protect you,” said Juan Tomás, and he called: “Apolonia, close up the door.
「我會保護你。」胡安．托馬斯說，他喊道：「阿波洛妮亞，把門關好。
Do not even whisper that Kino is here.”
連悄悄話都不准說奇諾在這裡。」
They sat silently all day in the darkness of the house, and they could hear the neighbours speaking of them.
他們在屋裡的黑暗中靜靜坐了一整天，聽得見鄰居們在談論他們。
Through the walls of the house they could watch their neighbours raking through the ashes to find the bones.
透過屋牆，他們看得見鄰居們在灰燼裡耙找骨頭。
Crouching in the house of Juan Tomás, they heard the shock go into their neighbours’ minds at the news of the broken boat.
蹲在胡安．托馬斯的屋子裡，他們聽見鄰居們得知船被打破的消息時，心中受到的震驚。
Juan Tomás went out among the neighbours to divert their suspicions, and he gave them theories and ideas of what had happened to Kino and to Juana and to the baby.
胡安．托馬斯走到鄰居之間轉移他們的懷疑，他提出各種說法和想法，說奇諾、胡安娜和孩子可能發生了什麼事。
To one he said: “I think they have gone south along the coast to escape the evil that was on them.”
他對一個人說：「我想他們沿著海岸往南走了，要逃離纏著他們的邪惡。」
And to another: “Kino would never leave the sea.
又對另一個人說：「奇諾永遠不會離開大海。
Perhaps he found another boat.”
也許他找到了另一艘船。」
And he said: “Apolonia is ill with grief.”
他還說：「阿波洛妮亞傷心得病倒了。」
And in that day the wind rose up to beat the Gulf and tore the kelps and weeds that lined the shore, and the wind cried through the brush houses and no boat was safe on the water.
那一天風颳了起來，拍打著海灣，撕扯著岸邊的海帶和水草，風在樹枝屋間哭嚎，海上沒有一艘船是安全的。
Then Juan Tomás told among the neighbours: “Kino is gone.
於是胡安．托馬斯在鄰居之間說：「奇諾走了。
If he went to the sea, he is drowned by now.”
如果他出海了，現在早就淹死了。」
And after each trip among the neighbours Juan Tomás came back with something borrowed.
每次到鄰居那裡走一趟，胡安．托馬斯都會帶回一些借來的東西。
He brought a little woven straw bag of red beans and a gourd full of rice.
他帶回一小袋草編袋裝的紅豆，和一個裝滿米的葫蘆。
He borrowed a cup of dried peppers and a block of salt, and he brought in a long working knife, eighteen inches long and heavy, as a small axe, a tool and a weapon.
他借了一杯乾辣椒和一塊鹽，還帶回一把長長的工作刀，十八吋長，重得像一把小斧頭，既是工具也是武器。
And when Kino saw this knife his eyes lighted up, and he fondled the blade and his thumb tested the edge.
奇諾一看到這把刀，眼睛就亮了起來，他撫摸著刀刃，用拇指試了試鋒口。
The wind screamed over the Gulf and turned the water white, and the mangroves plunged like frightened cattle, and a fine sandy dust arose from the land and hung in a stifling cloud over the sea.
風在海灣上尖嘯，把海水打成一片白，紅樹林像受驚的牛群一樣起伏衝撞，細細的沙塵從陸地揚起，像一團令人窒息的雲懸在海上。
The wind drove off the clouds and skimmed the sky clean and drifted the sand of the country like snow.
風趕走了雲，把天空刮得乾乾淨淨，把這片土地上的沙子吹得像雪一樣飄移。
Then Juan Tomás, when the evening approached, talked long with his brother.
傍晚快到時，胡安．托馬斯跟弟弟談了很久。
“Where will you go?”
「你要去哪裡？」
“To the north,” said Kino.
「往北。」奇諾說。
“I have heard that there are cities in the north.”
「我聽說北方有城市。」
“Avoid the shore,” said Juan Tomás.
「避開海岸。」胡安．托馬斯說。
“They are making a party to search the shore.
「他們正在組隊搜查海岸。
The men in the city will look for you.
城裡的人會找你。
Do you still have the pearl?”
珍珠還在你身上嗎？」
“I have it,” said Kino.
「在。」奇諾說。
“And I will keep it.
「我會留著它。
I might have given it as a gift, but now it is my misfortune and my life and I will keep it.”
我本來也許會把它送人，可是現在它是我的不幸、是我的命，我要留著它。」
His eyes were hard and cruel and bitter.
他的眼神堅硬、殘酷而苦澀。
Coyotito whimpered and Juana muttered little magics over him to make him silent.
柯尤提托嗚咽著，胡安娜對著他喃喃念著小小的咒語，讓他安靜下來。
“The wind is good,” said Juan Tomás.
「風很好。」胡安．托馬斯說。
“There will be no tracks.”
「不會留下足跡。」
They left quietly in the dark before the moon had risen.
月亮升起之前，他們在黑暗中悄悄離開了。
The family stood formally in the house of Juan Tomás.
一家人鄭重地站在胡安．托馬斯的屋子裡。
Juana carried Coyotito on her back, covered and held in by her head-shawl, and the baby slept, cheek turned sideways against her shoulder.
胡安娜把柯尤提托背在背上，用頭巾蓋住、兜好，嬰兒睡著了，臉頰側貼在她的肩上。
The head-shawl covered the baby, and one end of it came across Juana’s nose to protect her from the evil night air.
頭巾蓋住了嬰兒，一端繞過胡安娜的鼻子，替她擋住夜晚有害的空氣。
Juan Tomás embraced his brother with the double embrace and kissed him on both cheeks.
胡安．托馬斯給了弟弟一個雙重擁抱，親吻了他的兩頰。
“Go with God,” he said, and it was like a death.
「願上帝與你同行。」他說，聽起來像是死別。
“You will not give up the pearl?”
「你不肯放棄那顆珍珠嗎？」
“This pearl has become my soul,” said Kino.
「這顆珍珠已經成了我的靈魂。」奇諾說。
“If I give it up I shall lose my soul.
「我要是放棄它，就會失去我的靈魂。
Go thou also with God.”
願上帝也與你同行。」
📚 字詞與句法（15）
1exhilarationKK [ɪgˌzɪləˈreʃən]（n.）興奮、振奮
- 詞義：原文
Kino, hurrying towards his house, felt a surge of exhilaration.——失去一切後反而感到奇異的振奮。 - 例句：the exhilaration of skiing down a mountain ／ 滑雪下山的暢快
- 詞源 × 實用度：拉丁文 exhilarare（使愉快），同源 hilarious。
- 同義詞常用度：excitement 90%、thrill 70%、elation 45%、exhilaration 50%（第 3／4 名）。
- 詞性變化：v. exhilarate；adj. exhilarating；n. exhilaration。
2edificeKK [ˈɛdəfɪs]（n.）大型建築、大廈
- 詞義：原文
a tall edifice of fire lighted the pathway——把火焰比成一座建築。 - 例句：The cathedral is an impressive edifice. ／ 那座大教堂是一棟宏偉的建築。
- 詞源 × 實用度：拉丁文 aedificium（建築物），同源 edify（教化）。正式用語。
- 同義詞常用度：building 95%、structure 80%、edifice 35%（第 3／4 名）、construction 50%。
- 詞性變化：n. edifice。
3keeningKK [ˈkinɪŋ]（adj./n.）哀號、慟哭
- 詞義：原文
the shrill, keening cry of Apolonia。 - 例句：The women's keening filled the village. ／ 婦女們的哀號響遍村子。
- 詞源 × 實用度：愛爾蘭語 caoineadh（為死者哀哭），愛爾蘭喪禮傳統。
- 同義詞常用度：wailing 70%、lamenting 50%、mourning 60%、keening 30%（第 4／4 名）。
- 詞性變化：v./n. keen。
4lamentKK [ləˈmɛnt]（n./v.）哀歌、悲嘆
- 詞義：原文
raised a formal lament for the dead of the family。 - 例句：Many people lament the loss of small bookshops. ／ 許多人為小書店的消失感到惋惜。
- 詞源 × 實用度：拉丁文 lamentum。今天動詞「惋惜」很常用。
- 同義詞常用度：mourn 70%、grieve 65%、bemoan 40%、lament 55%（第 3／4 名）。
- 詞性變化：v./n. lament；n. lamentation；adj. lamentable。
5rummageKK [ˈrʌmɪdʒ]（v.）翻找
- 詞義：原文
As she rummaged in a box by the wall。 - 例句：She rummaged through her bag for her keys. ／ 她在包包裡翻找鑰匙。
- 詞源 × 實用度：法文 arrumage（船艙裝貨）。rummage sale＝舊貨義賣。
- 同義詞常用度：search 85%、dig 60%、root 35%、rummage 55%（第 3／4 名）。
- 詞性變化：rummage / rummaged / rummaged / rummaging。
6forestallKK [forˈstɔl]（v.）搶先阻止、預先防範
- 詞義：原文
he forestalled him in a possible refusal.——搶在哥哥拒絕之前開口。 - 例句：The government acted quickly to forestall a crisis. ／ 政府迅速行動，防止危機發生。
- 詞源 × 實用度：中古英文 forestallen（在市場前攔截商品）。正式用語。
- 同義詞常用度：prevent 90%、preempt 45%、head off 40%、forestall 35%（第 4／4 名）。
- 詞性變化：forestall / forestalled / forestalled / forestalling。
7leprosyKK [ˈlɛprəsɪ]（n.）痲瘋病
- 詞義：原文
I know I am like a leprosy.——奇諾自比為會傳染的不祥之物。 - 例句：Leprosy is now curable with antibiotics. ／ 痲瘋病現在可以用抗生素治癒。
- 詞源 × 實用度：希臘文 lepros（有鱗的）。聖經中痲瘋病人被逐出社群。
- 同義詞常用度：Hansen's disease 40%、leprosy 75%（第 1／2 名）。
- 詞性變化：n. leprosy；n. leper（痲瘋病人；被排斥者）。
8divertKK [daɪˈvɝt]（v.）轉移、轉向
- 詞義：原文
Juan Tomás went out among the neighbours to divert their suspicions。 - 例句：The flight was diverted to another airport. ／ 航班改降另一座機場。
- 詞源 × 實用度：拉丁文 divertere（轉開）。日常常用。
- 同義詞常用度：redirect 60%、deflect 50%、distract 65%、divert 60%（第 2／4 名）。
- 詞性變化：v. divert；n. diversion。
9fondleKK [ˈfɑndl̩]（v.）愛撫、撫弄
- 詞義：原文
he fondled the blade and his thumb tested the edge——像愛撫情人一樣撫摸刀子。 - 例句：She fondled the soft fur of the kitten. ／ 她撫弄著小貓柔軟的毛。
- 詞源 × 實用度：fond（喜愛的）。注意：用在人身上常帶性騷擾的意味。
- 同義詞常用度：caress 55%、stroke 75%、pet 60%、fondle 40%（第 4／4 名）。
- 詞性變化：fondle / fondled / fondled / fondling。
10stiflingKK [ˈstaɪflɪŋ]（adj.）令人窒息的
- 詞義：原文
hung in a stifling cloud over the sea. - 例句：a stifling summer afternoon ／ 悶熱得令人窒息的夏日午後
- 詞源 × 實用度：stifle（悶住、壓抑）。
- 同義詞常用度：suffocating 60%、oppressive 50%、airless 35%、stifling 55%（第 2／4 名）。
- 詞性變化：v. stifle；adj. stifling。
11gourdKK [gord]（n.）葫蘆
- 詞義：原文
a gourd full of rice——曬乾的葫蘆當容器。 - 例句：They drank water from a dried gourd. ／ 他們用乾葫蘆喝水。
- 詞源 × 實用度：拉丁文 cucurbita。
- 同義詞常用度：（專有名詞）calabash 30%。
- 詞性變化：n. gourd(s)。
12brother-in-law（n.）小叔、大伯、姐夫、妹夫
- 詞義：原文
“Yes, my brother-in-law,” she said.——阿波洛妮亞稱奇諾為小叔。 - 例句：（親屬稱謂）
- 詞源 × 實用度：英文一個字涵蓋中文好幾種稱謂。
- 同義詞常用度：（專有稱謂）
- 詞性變化：n. brothers-in-law（複數）。
13"the dark ones" / "shape of darkness"（修辭）無名的敵人
- 特徵：敵人始終沒有臉、沒有名字。
- 原文例：
“I don’t know,” she said. “The dark ones.”It is all darkness—all darkness and shape of darkness. - 效果：敵人不是某個人，而是整個體制、整個社會的貪婪——它無形、無所不在。這也是寓言的手法：惡被抽象化。
- 仿寫：No one ever saw who sent the letters; they came from "them," from the faceless ones.
14動物比喻寫自然（修辭）
- 特徵：用受驚的牲畜描寫暴風中的植物。
- 原文例：
the mangroves plunged like frightened cattle、drifted the sand of the country like snow。 - 效果：整個自然都在騷動不安——呼應奇諾一家的處境。而「像雪一樣」的沙，在熱帶海邊是奇異的意象，抹去一切痕跡。
- 仿寫：The palm trees thrashed like horses trying to break their tethers.
15珍珠與靈魂的等號（句法）
- 特徵：一句宣言，把物與人畫上等號。
- 原文例：
I might have given it as a gift, but now it is my misfortune and my life and I will keep it.This pearl has become my soul. If I give it up I shall lose my soul. - 效果：珍珠從「財富」變成「不幸」「生命」，最後變成「靈魂」——奇諾已經被它附身。讀者也看到悲劇的必然：一個人不可能丟掉自己的靈魂，除非付出極大的代價。
- 仿寫：The house was no longer a building to her; it was her mother, her childhood, herself.