Those Beautiful Flowers
---Book Review: “Camille”
I read the Chinese version of “Camille” a few years ago. At that time I was deeply moved by the main character Marguerite Gautier. “Camille” or “The Lady of the Camellias” by Alexandre Dumas, fils, is the story of Marguerite Gautier, a young courtesan, or kept woman, in Paris in the mid 1800's, and how she falls in love with a young man, Armand Duval, and then tries to escape from her questionable past. Unfortunately, it comes back to haunt her and she ends up returning to that life and dies painfully and alone, but with the knowledge that she was a noble woman at heart. When I first began to read the book, I did not care for Marguerite or her attitude or lifestyle, but as I got further into the narrative, I realized that her saucy attitude was a front to cover the lonely woman that she really was. She felt used, abused and unloved, until the gentle Armand Duval came into her life and showed her that he loved her as a person and not for what she could do for him. It must have taken great courage for Marguerite to leave the life she had lived for so long, knowing all along that it was probably too good to be true and would not last indefinitely. And it also showed that Marguerite really loved Armand Duval for she could even change herself for him.
However, happiness didn’t last for long. When M. Duval, Armand's father, came to her, pleading for her to leave Armand to save both Armand's reputation and that of his younger innocent sister, Marguerite saw a way to become pure of heart, if not in body. She felt that it was her duty, because she loved Armand so much, to do this even though it meant giving up her own happiness and hurting Armand temporarily. She reluctantly returned to her former life, knowing that some day Armand would forgive her. Sadly, she died in debt and basically alone, except for her one female friend, Julie Duprat, who helped her during her illness. She had her journal sent to Armand after her death, explaining why she had made the choices she had. I think Dumas's last few lines about Marguerite being the exception, not the rule were quite true, and I also agreed with his view that while her lifestyle could not be condoned, we as a society assume that all of these type of women are cold and heartless, while this may not always be the case. A person can make the wrong choices in life when they are young, and try to redeem themselves, but sometimes past situations prevent them from changing their lives, even though they desperately wish to do so. This applies to both men and women in many different types of circumstances: involvement in crime; drug or alcohol abuse; gambling; prostitution; financial problems; poor marriage choices; etc. And this is the fact, which exists in the whole society.
As far as the other characters in the book, I think Marguerite was right in saying that no one truly cared about her, but only wanted something from her, the only exceptions being Armand and Julie Duprat. Of course, the Comte de G. and Comte de N. wanted her body and appearance. The Duke needed to “wake up and smell the coffee” and realize that she could never replace his dead daughter. If he truly cared, he could have helped her leave her lifestyle without “keeping” her himself. And lastly, Prudence was a blood-sucking leech who used Marguerite almost worse than the men. I also think she was jealous of the fact that Marguerite had so much more courage than herself and someone truly loved her.
Last morning, when tiding my bookshelf, I took this book out of the shelf, and a dried flower flew away from the book. It was pale blue, very transparent, with thin fine veins. a dried flower flew away from the book. It was pale blue, very transparent, with thin fine veins. I held it against the morning light and blew on it. The soft breeze carried it away. Camille is just like the camellia, she could never escape from the destiny of withering. But it wasn’t her fault; it’s because of the evil of Capitalism and the hideousness of that society.
Suddenly, I remembered a saying: “Women are like the flowers”. Those pretty women are like those beautiful flowers; their delicate beauty makes people feel they are the miracle of life. However, even the God envies their beauty. It seems that beautiful women always have tragic endings. As we are normal persons, even we can see the hideousness of humanity that results in their fate of withering, we can at most ask quietly in our hearts: Where have those beautiful flowers gone? Where have they gone?

The lady of CAmellias
If a woman has even a tiny sense of dignity, she must shoulder any number of sacrifices rather than have her love varnished with venal character by asking for money from her lover. Extravagances, luxury as well as all other empery pleasures are valueless in front of love. As long as you love me, I ask for nothing else.
-------Marguerite(La Dame Aux Camellias)
Whenever I lingered over the magnificant story, I cannot help deeply touched by the bitterly sweet love, which struck the world as gentle as an April shower, as pure as a blowing snow, as heady as an old wine. It condensed a paradise into a kept woman’s heart, which caught and held us transfixed against prejudice in mind and greed in nature, , and provided a journey that brought home to us a comprehensive understanding of love.
Marguerite, as a kept woman,did not undergo the usual penalty of confronting wrinkles appeared under her eyes, the first death of a courtesans, but was endowed enough fortune to enjoy an unselfish and gorgeous love during her ephemeral life, witch came as a wonderful oasis to lead supply a new prospect in a disparate desert, appeared as a miracle medication to heal her wound in the sinful life, figured as a brisk spring to refresh and revitalize her lonely heart, and emerged as a great beacon of courage to kill all her bad habits in the past and make a firm determination to seek for a peaceful but fantastic life with her loved one.
Lingering between the words, we could completely feel how kind and dignified she was. She refused Armond although she knew he was really loved her with his soul. because of her gloomy despair of life, she did not turn up in his life as a figure who was sad, ill, gay with a giant sadder than grief, besides witch, who spit blood and spent a hundred thousand francs in a year. Touching this words, how can we avoid our zealous sympathy for her? She bickered with the marquis and drove him away from her family, because she hated and refused to be treated as merchandise. Touching her deeds, how could we deny our high respect for her? At last, she renounced all her hope and life just because another woman’s name. What she e although you may get hurt, but it is the only way you can live absolutely. But what she experienced, what she faced and what she did made her a real sublime angle and an eternal ideal woman in people’ heart.
However, no matter what devout wish, no matter what gorgeous love, or no matter what strong struggle, the society was so stone stubborn that it would never show any mercy for a kept woman. Just as Armond said, when God allow a kept woman to accept a real love, it is indeed a grant comfort, but also remorseless punishment, for the man holds the cruel authority to say to his lover, “ Your love is just a kind of commodity”, though the woman had devoted all her heart and spirits to her loves. It cannot denied that it was Marguerite’s joyous fortune to have Armond in her poor destiny, but at the same time, it is also have to be admitted that what a hopeless torture she tolerated and what a disappointed suffering she endured at the last part of her life. It was really too much to her. We even cannot tell what kind our feeling soared inside our bosom, but just happy with her, sad with her, waiting with her, wishing with her, and disappointed with her……
shall we criticize Armond for his foolish and brute deed to Marguerite as he got the same hurt by his horrible vengeance? Shall we condemn Armond, father for his selfish monologue which destroys the kind woman’s dream? Shall we judge the motionless merchant and policemen’s actions before the dying woman?
Through the whole story, we could feel that Maguerite pardon all of them. After tearing running down faces countless, and respect rising high in heart and soul, the conclusion seems so obvious: what ruined Marguerite is not Armond, and he never betrayed Marguerite, but the society. There was a slim chance for a kept woman to gain happiness at that epoch; they had to come to the same end in different ways.
To every woman, life is not all roses. In spite of bias, despoilment or hardship, love itself is universal. Marguerite really lives an abundant life, for she really appreciated a comprehensive love in her limited life journey.
So, love srongly and passionately, although you may get deeply hurt, but it is the only way that you live completely.
Best wishes for love, and best wishes for loved ones.

《茶花女》读书笔记
她，静静地坐在窗前，望着窗外的大千世界，眼神里充满了迷茫和愤恨。多少次床上肉体的挣扎使她逐渐麻木，为了金钱可以不惜一切代价。在这个烟雨淅沥的傍晚，也许她，依旧静静地坐在窗前。太多的喧嚣使她逐渐忘却了平静的滋味，而今晚，不同于任何一个疯狂之夜。她手执一朵白色的山茶花，望眼欲穿，盼着他心爱的阿尔芒……
也许跟小仲马自身的经历有关，在他细腻的笔下成功地塑造出了一位圣洁的女性——玛格丽特。也许很多人也并不相信，一位如此风流的女性，竟然会拥有那么纯洁圣贞的爱情。也许，玛格丽特根本就不属于那个年代，她是独特的。但被迫走上一条肮脏的道路，心却始终追随着圣洁。在那个金钱，肉欲横飞的年代，她不得不这样做来维持自己的生计。可是，她也应该有属于自己的权利！爱的权利！但那个年代禁锢了她，使她再也无法逃脱那一个牢笼——金钱，权力，虚伪的牢笼。玛格丽特就好像一直被束缚了的金丝雀，即使打开了鸟笼，他最终还是会淹没在社会的舆论，别人不平等的眼光和唾弃声中。
玛格丽特从一位质朴的乡下姑娘为了谋生来到巴黎，不幸落入了滚滚红尘，沦为一位风流婀娜的妓女，染上了随意挥霍金钱的恶习。她疯狂的寻欢作乐麻痹自己，忘却自己的行径，但内心却始厌恶极了这种空虚，伪装的生活。玛格丽特好似在一条荆棘丛生的沼泽里挣扎，保持有纯洁心灵的女子，她渴望真正的爱情，纯洁的爱情，一切善良美好的东西。终于，她遇到了阿尔芒，那个善良，风度翩翩的小伙子。玛格丽特第一次看到别人会为她的病痛掉眼泪，她也第一次受到无微不至的关切。他们相爱了，爱得那么真，那么美，没有一丝一毫的尘埃。玛格丽特动心了，因为她自己始终都有一颗纯真的心，只不过被尘世所封杀了而已。她跟随着阿尔芒逃离了那个烟雾迷茫的城市，到乡村过起了美满的田园生活。然而，这只不过是一个很美很美的梦幻，玛格丽特把这个肮脏的社会想得太简单了。当玛格丽特心灵的创伤刚刚开始愈合的时候，阿尔芒的父亲无情的再一次撕碎了玛格丽特的美梦，揭开了她的伤疤。现实社会的虚伪，金钱，权力再一次把玛格丽特推入茫茫无边的灾难之中。她被迫离开了阿尔芒，受尽了阿尔芒的误解与屈辱，最终含恨黄泉。啊，如此传奇的一个女子，在我的心中，它比任何一朵山茶花都要纯洁，美丽。
世界上最难做到的不是任何一次的成功，而是始终追随自己的心，追随着纯洁与美丽。在如此繁乱的社会里，玛格丽特做到了，她始终追随着自己的心。她是那样的善良，没有将阿尔芒父亲对他的侮辱透露给阿尔芒一个字；她是那样的坚强，对于阿尔芒的侮辱始终默默地承受，没有告诉自己心爱的人离去的原因；她是那样的伟大，那样的圣洁……
美丽的玛格丽特，我愿在你的唇旁啜饮你的泪水，让你不再悲伤；我愿牵起你可爱的小手，拉住你去寻找阿尔芒；我愿触碰你的心灵，轻轻为你抚平创伤；我愿在你的墓旁，放上一朵你最爱的白色山茶花，因为，你是最圣洁的姑娘。若要有人将你中伤，那他一定是世界上最蠢的阿尔芒。安息吧，玛格丽特，最美的白色山茶花，你看，你看，这里的天空多么明亮，多么富丽堂皇……
你在终夜看守着这脆弱的生命，
你在你的肉体里还留存着偎抱中所灌输的温和的柔情；
你紧紧的对着那默静无言的唇，
这也是你爱阿尔芒而给阿尔芒的爱的初吻。
无情的风，无情的雨，
再加上一个无情而柔弱无力的黄昏；
你为了青春你牺牲了你的青春，
一个不可超越的身体，便会有忧闷，悲苦，和消灭的温存。

her journal sent to Armand after her death， explaining why she had made the choices she had. I think Dumas's last few lines about Marguerite being the exception， not the rule were quite true， and I also agreed with his view that while her lifestyle could not be condoned， we as a society assume that all of these type of women are cold and heartless， while this may not always be the case. A person can make the wrong choices in life when they are young， and try to redeem themselves， but sometimes past situations prevent them from changing their lives， even though they desperately wish to do so. This applies to both men and women in many different types of circumstances： involvement in crime； drug or alcohol abuse； gambling； prostitution； financial problems； poor marriage choices； etc. And this is the fact， which exists in the whole society.
　LBSALE[10]LBSALE Those Beautiful Flowers
　　　　　　　　　---Book Review: “Camille”
I read the Chinese version of “Camille” a few years ago. At that time I was deeply moved by the main character Marguerite Gautier. “Camille” or “The Lady of the Camellias” by Alexandre Dumas, fils, is the story of Marguerite Gautier, a young courtesan, or kept woman, in Paris in the mid 1800‘s, and how she falls in love with a young man, Armand Duval, and then tries to escape from her questionable past. Unfortunately, it comes back to haunt her and she ends up returning to that life and dies painfully and alone, but with the knowledge that she was a noble woman at heart. When I first began to read the book, I did not care for Marguerite or her attitude or lifestyle, but as I got further into the narrative, I realized that her saucy attitude was a front to cover the lonely woman that she really was. She felt used, abused and unloved, until the gentle Armand Duval came into her life and showed her that he loved her as a person and not for what she could do for him. It must have taken great courage for Marguerite to leave the life she had lived for so long, knowing all along that it was probably too good to be true and would not last indefinitely. And it also showed that Marguerite really loved Armand Duval for she could even change herself for him.
However, happiness didn’t last for long. When M. Duval, Armand‘s father, came to her, pleading for her to leave Armand to save both Armand‘s reputation and that of his younger innocent sister, Marguerite saw a way to become pure of heart, if not in body. She felt that it was her duty, because she loved Armand so much, to do this even though it meant giving up her own happiness and hurting Armand temporarily. She reluctantly returned to her former life, knowing that some day Armand would forgive her. Sadly, she died in debt and basically alone, except for her one female friend, Julie Duprat, who helped her during her illness. She had her journal sent to Armand after her death, explaining why she had made the choices she had. I think Dumas‘s last few lines about Marguerite being the exception, not the rule were quite true, and I also agreed with his view that while her lifestyle could not be condoned, we as a society assume that all of these type of women are cold and heartless, while this may not always be the case. A person can make the wrong choices in life when they are young, and try to redeem themselves, but sometimes past situations prevent them from changing their lives, even though they desperately wish to do so. This applies to both men and women in many different types of circumstances: involvement in crime; drug or alcohol abuse; gambling; prostitution; financial problems; poor marriage choices; etc. And this is the fact, which exists in the whole society.
As far as the other characters in the book, I think Marguerite was right in saying that no one truly cared about her, but only wanted something from her, the only exceptions being Armand and Julie Duprat. Of course, the Comte de G. and Comte de N. wanted her body and appearance. The Duke needed to “wake up and smell the coffee” and realize that she could never replace his dead daughter. If he truly cared, he could have helped her leave her lifestyle without “keeping” her himself. And lastly, Prudence was a blood-sucking leech who used Marguerite almost worse than the men. I also think she was jealous of the fact that Marguerite had so much more courage than herself and someone truly loved her. 　　As far as the other characters in the book， I think Marguerite was right in saying that no one truly cared about her， but only wanted something from her， the only exceptions being Armand and Julie Duprat. Of course， the Comte de G. and Comte de N. wanted her body and appearance. The Duke needed to "wake up and smell the coffee" and realize that she could never replace his dead daughter. If he truly cared， he could have helped her leave her lifestyle without "keeping" her himself. And lastly， Prudence was a blood-sucking leech who used Marguerite almost worse than the men. I also think she was jealous of the fact that Marguerite had so much more courage than herself and someone truly loved her.