一見、夫人が亡夫に対する愚痴を墓前で長々とこぼし、全部吐き出してしまって、清々する昇華物語のようだが、奥が深い。
まず夫人はユダヤ人であるのに墓参りに花を持っていく。ユダヤ教では墓に花を持って行かずに、墓参りに来たという印に石を持っていく。するとこの話は、純粋に墓参りではなくなる。夫人はイディッシュ劇の女優であったことを考えると、花は舞台公演の象徴で舞台を墓場に持ち込んだことになる。
従って、夫人が墓の前を舞台に見立てて、滔々と演ずる話ある夫人の物語。墓の前で愚痴を並べる夫人の言葉はほとんど嘘。大体アザラシのコート（5万円から10万円するらしい）を着た絹のストッキングをはいた夫人が、家賃を払えないわけがない。また神父がアブラハムは立派な人だったと間接的に言っている。
ショーは、墓地を舞台に仕立て、娘を30メートル先に待たせ、娘に聞こえないところで、娘の悪口も含めて大熱演をするわけだ。
There are various interpretation concerning the meaning of the priest's remark: "For Abraham Rechevsky I will pray for nothing." I wonder what is the real meaning of the remark.
They are:
(1) I will pray for no money (this is the most probable answer)
(2) I will not pray for him.
(3) It is my belief that the priest offered to pray for free. I believe she gave him a dollar because she felt as though he was similar to a homeless beggar and gave him money out of feelings of superiority...she felt she was above him. That is what I am getting from it. Also, I believe she gave him the dollar because she was happy her husband was still remembered.
(4) It sounds like Abraham was a great guy.
(5) Abraham was so great, even a cheap priest as willing to work for nothing.
Brief summary up to the problem:
One day, Madam Rechevsky asks her daughter (Helen) to take her to her husband's grave. Helen reluctantly drives her to the cemetary. They arrive at the cemetary....
... Madam Rechevsky clutched a dozen yellow chrysanthemums in her hands and on her face was a look of anticipation, almost pleasure, as they apporoached the grave.
"Perhaps . . ." A bearded old man in holy black, all very clean and pink-faced, came to them and touched Madam Rechevsky's arm. "Perhaps, you would like me to make a prayer for the dead, lady?"
"Go away!" Madam Rechevsky pulled her arm impatiently. "Abraham Rechevsky does not need professional prayers!"
The old man bowed gently, spoke softly. "For Abraham Rechevsky I will pray for nothing."
Madam Rechevsky stopped, looked at the man for a moment. Her cold gray eyes smiled a little. "Give the old man a dollar, Helen," she said and touched the man's arm with royal condescension.
Helen dug in her bag and produced a dollar and the old man bowed gravely again.
Helen hurried after her mother.
"See," Madam Rechevsky was muttering as she charged along. "See. Dead fifteen years and still he is famous, all over the world. I bet that old man hasn't offered to pray for anyone free for twenty-five years." She turned on Helen. "And yet you didn't want to come!" She strode on, muttering, "All over the world."
"Don't walk so fast, Momma," Helen protested. "Your heart . . ."
まず夫人はユダヤ人であるのに墓参りに花を持っていく。ユダヤ教では墓に花を持って行かずに、墓参りに来たという印に石を持っていく。するとこの話は、純粋に墓参りではなくなる。夫人はイディッシュ劇の女優であったことを考えると、花は舞台公演の象徴で舞台を墓場に持ち込んだことになる。
従って、夫人が墓の前を舞台に見立てて、滔々と演ずる話ある夫人の物語。墓の前で愚痴を並べる夫人の言葉はほとんど嘘。大体アザラシのコート（5万円から10万円するらしい）を着た絹のストッキングをはいた夫人が、家賃を払えないわけがない。また神父がアブラハムは立派な人だったと間接的に言っている。
ショーは、墓地を舞台に仕立て、娘を30メートル先に待たせ、娘に聞こえないところで、娘の悪口も含めて大熱演をするわけだ。
There are various interpretation concerning the meaning of the priest's remark: "For Abraham Rechevsky I will pray for nothing." I wonder what is the real meaning of the remark.
They are:
(1) I will pray for no money (this is the most probable answer)
(2) I will not pray for him.
(3) It is my belief that the priest offered to pray for free. I believe she gave him a dollar because she felt as though he was similar to a homeless beggar and gave him money out of feelings of superiority...she felt she was above him. That is what I am getting from it. Also, I believe she gave him the dollar because she was happy her husband was still remembered.
(4) It sounds like Abraham was a great guy.
(5) Abraham was so great, even a cheap priest as willing to work for nothing.
Brief summary up to the problem:
One day, Madam Rechevsky asks her daughter (Helen) to take her to her husband's grave. Helen reluctantly drives her to the cemetary. They arrive at the cemetary....
... Madam Rechevsky clutched a dozen yellow chrysanthemums in her hands and on her face was a look of anticipation, almost pleasure, as they apporoached the grave.
"Perhaps . . ." A bearded old man in holy black, all very clean and pink-faced, came to them and touched Madam Rechevsky's arm. "Perhaps, you would like me to make a prayer for the dead, lady?"
"Go away!" Madam Rechevsky pulled her arm impatiently. "Abraham Rechevsky does not need professional prayers!"
The old man bowed gently, spoke softly. "For Abraham Rechevsky I will pray for nothing."
Madam Rechevsky stopped, looked at the man for a moment. Her cold gray eyes smiled a little. "Give the old man a dollar, Helen," she said and touched the man's arm with royal condescension.
Helen dug in her bag and produced a dollar and the old man bowed gravely again.
Helen hurried after her mother.
"See," Madam Rechevsky was muttering as she charged along. "See. Dead fifteen years and still he is famous, all over the world. I bet that old man hasn't offered to pray for anyone free for twenty-five years." She turned on Helen. "And yet you didn't want to come!" She strode on, muttering, "All over the world."
"Don't walk so fast, Momma," Helen protested. "Your heart . . ."
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