the expression of emotion in man and animals-第52章
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ear to be nearly so correct as that by Sir C。 Bell; who attributes it to the sympathy (_i。 e_。 habitual co…action) of all the respiratory muscles。 The nostrils of an angry man may be seen to become dilated; although his mouth is open。
'7' Mr。 Wedgwood; ‘On the Origin of Language;' 1866; p。 76。 He also observes that the sound of hard breathing 〃is represented by the syllables _puff; huff; whiff_; whence a _huff_ is a fit of ill…temper。〃
But the muscular system is often affected in a wholly different way; for trembling is a frequent consequence of extreme rage。 The paralysed lips then refuse to obey the will; 〃and the voice sticks in the throat;〃'7' or it is rendered loud; harsh; and discordant。 If there be much and rapid speaking; the mouth froths。 The hair sometimes bristles; but I shall return to this subject in another chapter; when I treat of the mingled emotions of rage and terror。 There is in most cases a strongly…marked frown on the forehead; for this follows from the sense of anything displeasing or difficult; together with concentration of mind。 But sometimes the brow; instead of being much contracted and lowered; remains smooth; with the glaring eyes kept widely open。 The eyes are always bright; or may; as Homer expresses it; glisten with fire。 They are sometimes bloodshot; and are said to protrude from their socketsthe result; no doubt; of the head being gorged with blood; as shown by the veins being distended。 According to Gratiolet;〃 the pupils are always contracted in rage; and I hear from Dr。 Crichton Browne that this is the case in the fierce delirium of meningitis; but the movements of the iris under the influence of the different emotions is a very obscure subject。
Shakspeare sums up the chief characteristics of rage as follows:
〃In peace there's nothing so becomes a man; As modest stillness and humility; But when the blast of war blows in our ears; Then imitate the action of the tiger: Stiffen the sinews; summon up the blood; Then lend the eye a terrible aspect; Now set the teeth; and stretch the nostril wide; Hold hard the breath; and bend up every spirit To his full height! On; on; you noblest English。〃 _Henry V_。; act iii。 sc。 1。
'7' Sir C。 Bell ‘Anatomy of Expression;' p。 95) has some excellent remarks on the expression of rage。
'8' ‘De la Physionomie;' 1865; p。 346。
The lips are sometimes protruded during rage in a manner; the meaning of which I do not understand; unless it depends on our descent from some ape…like animal。 Instances have been observed; not only with Europeans; but with the Australians and Hindoos。 The lips; however; are much more commonly retracted; the grinning or clenched teeth being thus exposed。 This has been noticed by almost every one who has written on expression。'9' The appearance is as if the teeth were uncovered; ready for seizing or tearing an enemy; though there may be no intention of acting in this manner。 Mr。 Dyson Lacy has seen this grinning expression with the Australians; when quarrelling; and so has Gaika with the Kafirs of South America。 Dickens;'10' in speaking of an atrocious murderer who had just been caught; and was surrounded by a furious mob; describes 〃the people as jumping up one behind another; snarling with their teeth; and making at him like wild beasts。〃 Every one who has had much to do with young children must have seen how naturally they take to biting; when in a passion。 It seems as instinctive in them as in young crocodiles; who snap their little jaws as soon as they emerge from the egg。
'9' Sir C。 Bell; ‘Anatomy of Expression;' p。 177。 Gratiolet (De la Phys。 p。 369) says; ‘les dents se decouvrent; et imitent symboliquement l'action de dechirer et de mordre。'I If; instead of using the vague term _symboliquement_; Gratiolet had said that the action was a remnant of a habit acquired during primeval times when our semi…human progenitors fought together with their teeth; like gorillas and orangs at the present day; he would have been more intelligible。 Dr。 Piderit (‘Mimik;' &c。; s。 82) also speaks of the retraction of the upper lip during rage。 In an engraving of one of Hogarth's wonderful pictures; passion is represented in the plainest manner by the open glaring eyes; frowning forehead; and exposed grinning teeth。
'10' ‘Oliver Twist;' vol。 iii。 p。 245。
A grinning expression and the protrusion of the lips appear sometimes to go together。 A close observer says that he has seen many instances of intense hatred (which can hardly be distinguished from rage; more or less suppressed) in Orientals; and once in an elderly English woman。 In all these cases there 〃was a grin; not a scowlthe lips lengthening; the cheeks settling downwards; the eyes half…closed; whilst the brow remained perfectly calm。〃'11'
This retraction of the lips and uncovering of the teeth during paroxysms of rage; as if to bite the offender; is so remarkable; considering how seldom the teeth are used by men in fighting; that I inquired from Dr。 J。 Crichton Browne whether the habit was common in the insane whose passions are unbridled。 He informs me that he has repeatedly observed it both with the insane and idiotic; and has given me the following illustrations:
Shortly before receiving my letter; be witnessed an uncontrollable outbreak of anger and delusive jealousy in an insane lady。 At first she vituperated her husband; and whilst doing so foamed at the mouth。 Next she approached close to him with compressed lips; and a virulent set frown。 Then she drew back her lips; especially the corners of the upper lip; and showed her teeth; at the same time aiming a vicious blow at him。 A second case is that of an old soldier; who; when he is requested to conform to the rules of the establishment; gives way to discontent; terminating in fury。 He commonly begins by asking Dr。 Browne whether he is not ashamed to treat him in such a manner。 He then swears and blasphemes; paces tip and down; tosses his arms wildly about; and menaces any one near him。 At last; as his exasperation culminates; he rushes up towards Dr。 Browne with a peculiar sidelong movement; shaking his doubled fist; and threatening destruction。 Then his upper lip may be seen to be raised; especially at the corners; so that his huge canine teeth are exhibited。 He hisses forth his curses through his set teeth; and his whole expression assumes the character of extreme ferocity。 A similar description is applicable to another man; excepting that he generally foams at the mouth and spits; dancing and jumping about in a strange rapid manner; shrieking out his maledictions in a shrill falsetto voice。
'11' ‘The Spectator;' July 11; 1868; p。 810。
Dr。 Browne also informs me of the case of an epileptic idiot; incapable of independent movements; and who spends the whole day in playing with some toys; but his temper is morose and easily roused into fierceness。 When any one touches his toys; he slowly raises his head from its habitual downward position; and fixes his eyes on the offender; with a tardy yet angry scowl。 If the annoyance be repeated; he draws back his thick lips and reveals a prominent row of hideous fangs (large canines being especially noticeable); and then makes a quick and cruel clutch with his open hand at the offending person。 The rapidity of this clutch; as Dr。 Browne remarks; is marvellous in a being ordinarily so torpid that he takes about fifteen seconds; when attracted by any noise; to turn his head from one side to the other。 If; when thus incensed; a handkerchief; book; or other article; be placed into his hands; he drags it to his mouth and bites it。 Mr。 Nicol has likewise described to me two cases of insane patients; whose lips are retracted during paroxysms of rage。
Dr。 Maudsley; after detailing various strange animal…like traits in idiots; asks whether these are not due to the reappearance of primitive instincts〃a faint echo from a far…distant past; testifying to a kinship which man has almost outgrown。〃 He adds; that as every human brain passes; in the course of its development; through the same stages as those occurring in the lower vertebrate animals; and as the brain of an idiot is in an arrested condition; we may presume that it 〃will manife