the expression of emotion in man and animals-第58章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
With the wild Malays of the interior of Malacca； and with the Bugis （true Malays； though speaking a different； language）； Mr。 Geach has often seen this gesture。 I presume that it is complete； as； in answer to my query descriptive of the movements of the shoulders； arms； hands； and face； Mr。 Geach remarks； 〃it is performed in a beautiful style。〃 I have lost an extract from a scientific voyage； in which shrugging the shoulders by some natives （Micronesians） of the Caroline Archipelago in the Pacific Ocean； was well described。 Capt。 Speedy informs me that the Abyssinians shrug their shoulders but enters into no details。 Mrs。 Asa Gray saw an Arab dragoman in Alexandria acting exactly as described in my query； when an old gentleman； on whom he attended； would not go in the proper direction which had been pointed out to him。
Mr。 Washington Matthews says； in reference to the wild Indian tribes of the western parts of the United States； 〃I have on a few occasions detected men using a slight apologetic shrug； but the rest of the demonstration which you describe I have not witnessed。〃 Fritz Muller informs me that he has seen the negroes in Brazil shrugging their shoulders； but it is of course possible that they may have learnt to do so by imitating the Portuguese。 Mrs。 Barber has never seen this gesture with the Kafirs of South Africa； and Gaika； judging from his answer； did not even understand what was meant by my description。 Mr。 Swinhoe is also doubtful about the Chinese； but he has seen them； under the circumstances which would make us shrug our shoulders； press their right elbow against their side； raise their eyebrows； lift up their hand with the palm directed towards the person addressed； and shake it from right to left。 Lastly； with respect to the Australians； four of my informants answer by a simple negative； and one by a simple affirmative。 Mr。 Bunnett； who has had excellent opportunities for observation on the borders of the Colony of Victory； also answers by a 〃yes；〃 adding that the gesture is performed 〃in a more subdued and less demonstrative manner than is the case with civilized nations。〃 This circumstance may account for its not having been noticed by four of my informants。
These statements； relating to Europeans； Hindoos； the hill…tribes of India； Malays； Micronesians； Abyssinians； Arabs； Negroes； Indians of North America； and apparently to the Australiansmany of these natives having had scarcely any intercourse with Europeansare sufficient to show that shrugging the shoulders； accompanied in some cases by the other proper movements； is a gesture natural to mankind。
This gesture implies an unintentional or unavoidable action on our own part； or one that we cannot perform； or an action performed by another person which we cannot prevent。 It accompanies such speeches as； 〃It was not my fault；〃 〃It is impossible for me to grant this favour；〃 〃He must follow his own course； I cannot stop him。〃 Shrugging the shoulders likewise expresses patience； or the absence of any intention to resist。 Hence the muscles which raise the shoulders are sometimes called； as I have been informed by an artist； the patience muscles。〃 Shylock the Jew； says；
〃Signor Antonio； many a time and oft In the Rialto have you rated me About my monies and usances； Still have I borne it with a patient shrug。〃 _Merchant of Venice_； act 1。 sc。 3。
Sir C。 Bell has given＇14＇ a life…like figure of a man； who is shrinking back from some terrible danger； and is on the point of screaming out in abject terror。 He is represented with his shoulders lifted up almost to his ears； and this at once declares that there is no thought of resistance。
As shrugging the shoulders generally implies 〃I cannot do this or that；〃 so by a slight change； it sometimes implies 〃I won't do it。〃 The movement then expresses a dogged determination not to act。 Olmsted describes＇15＇ an Indian in Texas as giving a great shrug to his shoulders； when he was informed that a party of men were Germans and not Americans； thus expressing that he would have nothing to do with them。 Sulky and obstinate children may be seen with both their shoulders raised high up； but this movement is not associated with the others which generally accompany a true shrug。 An excellent observer＇16＇ in describing a young man who was determined not to yield to his father's desire； says； 〃He thrust his hands deep down into his pockets； and set up his shoulders to his ears； which was a good warning that； come right or wrong； this rock should fly from its firm base as soon as Jack would； and that any remonstrance on the subject was purely futile。〃 As soon as the son got his own way； he 〃put his shoulders into their natural position。〃
＇14＇ ‘Anatomy of Expression；' p。 166。
＇15＇ ‘Journey through Texas；' p。 352。
Resignation is sometimes shown by the open hands being placed； one over the other； on the lower part of the body。 I should not have thought this little gesture worth even a passing notice； had not Dr。 W。 Ogle remarked to me that he had two or three times observed it in patients who were preparing for operations under chloroform。 They exhibited no great fear； but seemed to declare by this posture of their hands； that they had made up their minds； and were resigned to the inevitable。
We may now inquire why men in all parts of the world when they feel； whether or not they wish to show this feeling；that they cannot or will not do something； or will not resist something if done by another； shrug their shoulders； at the same time often bending in their elbows； showing the palms of their hands with extended fingers； often throwing their heads a little on one side； raising their eyebrows； and opening their mouths。 These states of the mind are either simply passive； or show a determination not to act。 None of the above movements are of the least service。 The explanation lies； I cannot doubt； in the principle of unconscious antithesis。 This principle here seems to come into play as clearly as in the case of a dog； who； when feeling savage； puts himself in the proper attitude for attacking and for making himself appear terrible to his enemy； but as soon as he feels affectionate； throws his whole body into a directly opposite attitude； though this is of no direct use to him。
＇16＇ Mrs。 Oliphant； ‘The Brownlows；' vol。 ii。 p。 206。
Let it be observed how an indignant man； who resents； and will not submit to some injury； holds his head erect； squares his shoulders； and expands his chest。 He often clenches his fists； and puts one or both arms in the proper position for attack or defence； with the muscles of his limbs rigid。 He frowns；that is； he contracts and lowers his brows；and； being determined； closes his mouth。 The actions and attitude of a helpless man are； in every one of these respects； exactly the reverse。 In Plate VI。 we may imagine one of the figures on the left side to have just said； 〃What do you mean by insulting me？〃 and one of the figures on the right side to answer； 〃I really could not help it。〃 The helpless man unconsciously contracts the muscles of his forehead which are antagonistic to those that cause a frown； and thus raises his eyebrows； at the same time he relaxes the muscles about the mouth； so that the lower jaw drops。 The antithesis is complete in every detail； not only in the movements of the features； but in the position of the limbs and in the attitude of the whole body； as may be seen in the accompanying plate。 As the helpless or apologetic man often wishes to show his state of mind； he then acts in a conspicuous or demonstrative manner。
In accordance with the fact that squaring the elbows and clenching the fists are gestures by no means universal with the men of all races； when they feel indignant and are prepared to attack their enemy； so it appears that a helpless or apologetic frame of mind is expressed in many parts of the world by merely shrugging the shoulders； without turning inwards the elbows and opening the hands。 The man or child who is obstinate； or one who is resigned to some great misfortune； has in neither case any idea of resistance by active means； and he expresses this state of mind； by simply keeping his shoulders raised； or he m
