H.L.Menken

 (1880--1956)American educator, author, critic

His works:

The American Language  1918

Prejudices     (6 vols) 1919--1927

Happy days

Newspaper Days                        1940--1943 autobiography

Heathen Days

25 Books and thousands of articles

2. Libido 

concept originated by Sigmund Freud to signify the instinctual physiological or psychic energy. 

   Emotional energy; sexual desire

 * a special psychoanalytic term meaning psychic energy generally; 

 * or specifically basic form of psychic energy, comprising the positive, loving instincts and manifested variously at different stages of personality development. 

    精神能量的一种基本形式，包含积极的爱的本能，并在性格发展的不同阶段中表现出来

III. Text Introduction & Organization

3.1 Text Introduction 

“The Libido for the Ugly” is a piece of subjective, impressionistic or emotional description. In this strong impressionistic or highly emotional piece of description, ugliness, as the dominant  impression, stands out vividly and prominently.

3.2 Text Organization 

Part I  (para 1~2) 

the general impression of Westmoreland  rich and ugly

Part II  (para 3~5)

the description of the design and color of the houses

Part III (para. 6~8) 

the reason and cause why the people in Westmoreland love such ugly houses

Part IV (para. 9):Conclusion

Mencken is being very critical of the American race and the American society, which hates beauty as well it hates truth

3.3 Thesis

 ---By revealing the ugliness of Westmoreland,the author attacks the whole American race--- a race that loves ugliness for its own sake, that lusts to make the world intolerable; a race which hates beauty as it hates truth. 

Why?

He wants to demonstrate that what he describes has psychological and scientific foundation. Usually, people love things beautiful, but a group of people in the US love things ugly for its own sake (because they are ugly) Why? There must be some scientific and psychological reasons.