Woolf was a very powerful female writer. She felt like an outsider because of the expectation of women. Women were not supposed to be formally educated, so she was in a realm of educated men. She was full of wisdom despite the limitations of her experience and education. Early on, Woolf discovered that "voyaging out had become a matter of voyaging within." (1222) This statement is true on many different levels. First off, this statement just drips of modernism. Secondly, my fiction teacher always used to say that writing about what you know is usually the best way to go. The genuine, natural writing style is easier for people to relate to and allows for more ambiguity.
Reading Woolf's biography gives insight to the inspiration for much of her work. Her mother died when she was only thirteen and caused her to have a mental breakdown. I am not sure if I would have a mental breakdown, but I would certainly be emotionally crushed if my mother passed away. She also dealt with the loss of her father and a brother as well. Thus, loss of loved ones was near and dear to Virginia's heart. The other issue that she wrestled with in her writing frequently was feeling no sense of belonging and trapped within a stereotypical expectation of women.
Her marriage was formed of two people that felt out of place. The devotion that they had to each other was romantic and ideal. He helped her find her place in the literary world. The thing that most saddened me was her death. She killed herself so her husband would not have to deal with another mental breakdown. Was she not concerned that she might be the cause of his mental breakdown or further digression into isolation? In my opinion, her suicide was a selfish escape, masked by her thinking she was doing him a favor.
The Lady in the Looking-Glass: A Reflection is perfect example of modernism. Beautiful descriptions of a room open the story. A woman named Isabella is seen in the reflection of the mirror. The majority of the poem is the narrator trying to figure out Isabella. She appears perfect in the muted view of the mirror. The narrator seems to have been observing her for sometime, hopefully as a friend and not a stalker. The tone suggests a sense of innocent curiosity about the mysterious girl. The lights of the room are constantly changing and the narrator cannot seem to define the rhythm of the room. In the same sense, he sees Isabella as an undefinable presence. The narrator sees only her outward appearance, but knows that there must be more to this woman: "The comparison showed how very little, after all these years, one knew about her; for it is impossible that any woman of flesh and blood of fifty-five or sixty should be really a wreath or a tendril." (1224) This statement applies to not only Isabella but also to Virginia. She is more than just an aesthetically pleasing object like society viewed her. Women were often treated as objects and that's one reason that Virginia felt out of place. The narrator seems to credit Isabella with similar death. He speaks of letters that are stored in her like metaphorical locked cabinets or drawers. No one can see her inner workings, but he still senses their presence and longs to encounter them. Isabella's exterior is described as well-kept and adorned. Her interior still remains the most desired to discover. He defined her as: "she was one of those reticent people whose minds hold their thoughts enmeshed in clouds of silence--she was filled with thoughts." (1227) Her mind is imagined to have the same fluid-like quality of the light in her room. The curiosity of the narrator is increasingly heightened as he attempts to "get into her head".
In the end, she is naked physically and metaphorically in front of the mirror. She does not see any light or depth within herself. When she gazes into the mirror, all she sees is emptiness.
I think this poem is very easy to relate to. Image is an important issue to women even today. We may have more liberties and freedoms, but we are still enslaved by an expectation of how women should be. Women are still treated like aesthetic objects, hence why there are so many plastic surgery options and diet pills. Mirrors are still dangerous for women. Image distortion is a common suffering for women. Emptiness is still reflected back through mirrors. However, I have a very cool, curvy mirror from IKEA, so I will probably keep mine anyways.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Ambiguity of Shaw
Ambiguity is more than just a style for Shaw, it is essential to his very person. He was "one of the most celebrated and controversial writers of the twentieth century." (1002) Shaw did not want to advocate simple solutions to social problems or a definitive morality. Ambiguity is the vital theme to modernist work. Modernism encourages one to translate "right" and "wrong" according to self, and not by over-arching meta narratives. Shaw encouraged self-education, seeking out the "truth" outside of established realms. He thought that school was designed "to keep little devils locked up where they cannot drive their mothers mad." (1002) Shockingly, I believe Shaw has a point. For one, I am an education major and have encountered some children that I pity their mothers. Secondly, I find that school often confines students learning to standards and no creative or personal thought is encouraged. Students get trapped into fill in the blank book work instead of seeking out wisdom and knowledge through individualized thought. I do not think education should be written off like Shaw seems to think, but I think more balance needs to ensue.
A distinguishing factor of Shaw's work is that "there are no outright villains, and no pure heroes or heroines." (1003) Shaw despised ruthless capitalism, but his capitalist characters were still like able and intelligent in other realms. This balance allows the reader to decide their perception of each character. The author does not try to sway the reader to like or dislike any particular character.
Pygmalion presents characters that are endearing at moments and infuriating at others. Most would expect the socially high classes to behave with manners and courtesy befitting them, but this play opens with characters that are lacking. One pities Freddy as he is showered with complaints from the mother and her daughter. In his attempts to be courteous to them, he bumps into a rather disheveled character. The flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, is hardly appealing on the outside. She is a street urchin with terrible speech patterns and a manipulative whine. At moments, I find myself annoyed with her badgering every person to try to get ahead. When I recall the desperation of her situation, my heart softens and realizes that she was probably raised with this mentality. Children are often products of environment. She may try to get money out of the mother, but she is grateful. The mother may have complained, but she was still generous. The daughter, Clara, lacks a whole lot of redeeming value in my opinion. She seems high maintenance and irritable. My favorite character has to be Higgins. He is brutally honest, sarcastic, and nosy, but he does care about the improvement of Eliza's state. He felt certain that he could turn her from a draggletailed guttersnipe to a duchess. (1019). Shaw does an excellent job representing the characters in an undecided manner. Sometimes ambiguity is the answer.
A distinguishing factor of Shaw's work is that "there are no outright villains, and no pure heroes or heroines." (1003) Shaw despised ruthless capitalism, but his capitalist characters were still like able and intelligent in other realms. This balance allows the reader to decide their perception of each character. The author does not try to sway the reader to like or dislike any particular character.
Pygmalion presents characters that are endearing at moments and infuriating at others. Most would expect the socially high classes to behave with manners and courtesy befitting them, but this play opens with characters that are lacking. One pities Freddy as he is showered with complaints from the mother and her daughter. In his attempts to be courteous to them, he bumps into a rather disheveled character. The flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, is hardly appealing on the outside. She is a street urchin with terrible speech patterns and a manipulative whine. At moments, I find myself annoyed with her badgering every person to try to get ahead. When I recall the desperation of her situation, my heart softens and realizes that she was probably raised with this mentality. Children are often products of environment. She may try to get money out of the mother, but she is grateful. The mother may have complained, but she was still generous. The daughter, Clara, lacks a whole lot of redeeming value in my opinion. She seems high maintenance and irritable. My favorite character has to be Higgins. He is brutally honest, sarcastic, and nosy, but he does care about the improvement of Eliza's state. He felt certain that he could turn her from a draggletailed guttersnipe to a duchess. (1019). Shaw does an excellent job representing the characters in an undecided manner. Sometimes ambiguity is the answer.
Beauty of Nature: Hopkins
The genuineness of Hopkins appeals to me. His writings reflect his struggles with keeping his faith. Similar to many Victorian authors, he looks to nature to see God at work. What better way to observe the creator than through His creation!
Nature is merely a thread of the majesty of God and that never ceases to amaze me. I really like to spend time with God outside enjoying His creation. The elaborate design of nature gives me a glimpse of His greatness in a more tangible sense.
Sadly, Hopkins struggled with feeling like his communication with God was like sending a dead letter: one-sided and lacking hope. I believe that Satan likes to use that lie against us. According to the Bible, we are informed that God hears us when we pray and He cares. "For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer." (1 Peter 3:12a)
Hopkins descriptions of nature are beautiful and sincere. One of my favorites was Pied Beauty. This poem thanks God for the originality of creation. He thanks God for uniqueness, whether it be in the form of dappling, freckles, or finches' wings. One could translate be thankful for dappled things or freckles as being thankful for things that are not always seen as beautiful or a blessing. Many girls put cover up over freckles, because they see them as an imperfection. A dappled lamb would be considered less valuable. Hopkins sees the beauty in the differences that are portrayed in nature. I think this appeals to me because I am freckled literally and metaphorically. The concept of all people having to fit into cookie cutter expectations kills me. I thank the LORD for uniqueness too.
Spring and Fall expresses that troubles will come in a gentle way. I imagine a parent sitting with a child and explaining that suffering is a natural phase of life and not to become alarmed. Considering Hopkins' pursuit of faith, I am sure he read this passage at one point, but I wonder if this Biblical passage inspired this poem:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
I think I could have been good friends with Hopkins. His struggles are so honestly presented. He is transparent with his readers and so his readers can sense the depth of his emotion. The last poem I want to bring up is Thou Art Indeed Just, Lord. Hopkins' work was never as successful or well-accepted as he desired and he cried out Jeremiah 12:1 to God. He did not understand why sinners were prospering and he was struggling. In the end of the poem, he declares "send my roots rain" (778). This struggle is easy to relate to. Sometimes God's purposes are not obvious to us and we feel weary of waiting. Hopkins' struggle is an example of what most Christians battle with.
Nature is merely a thread of the majesty of God and that never ceases to amaze me. I really like to spend time with God outside enjoying His creation. The elaborate design of nature gives me a glimpse of His greatness in a more tangible sense.
Sadly, Hopkins struggled with feeling like his communication with God was like sending a dead letter: one-sided and lacking hope. I believe that Satan likes to use that lie against us. According to the Bible, we are informed that God hears us when we pray and He cares. "For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer." (1 Peter 3:12a)
Hopkins descriptions of nature are beautiful and sincere. One of my favorites was Pied Beauty. This poem thanks God for the originality of creation. He thanks God for uniqueness, whether it be in the form of dappling, freckles, or finches' wings. One could translate be thankful for dappled things or freckles as being thankful for things that are not always seen as beautiful or a blessing. Many girls put cover up over freckles, because they see them as an imperfection. A dappled lamb would be considered less valuable. Hopkins sees the beauty in the differences that are portrayed in nature. I think this appeals to me because I am freckled literally and metaphorically. The concept of all people having to fit into cookie cutter expectations kills me. I thank the LORD for uniqueness too.
Spring and Fall expresses that troubles will come in a gentle way. I imagine a parent sitting with a child and explaining that suffering is a natural phase of life and not to become alarmed. Considering Hopkins' pursuit of faith, I am sure he read this passage at one point, but I wonder if this Biblical passage inspired this poem:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
I think I could have been good friends with Hopkins. His struggles are so honestly presented. He is transparent with his readers and so his readers can sense the depth of his emotion. The last poem I want to bring up is Thou Art Indeed Just, Lord. Hopkins' work was never as successful or well-accepted as he desired and he cried out Jeremiah 12:1 to God. He did not understand why sinners were prospering and he was struggling. In the end of the poem, he declares "send my roots rain" (778). This struggle is easy to relate to. Sometimes God's purposes are not obvious to us and we feel weary of waiting. Hopkins' struggle is an example of what most Christians battle with.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Living on the Wilde Side
Oscar Wilde is very different from other authors we have read recently. He received many mixed reviews because he was controversial, outrageous, and unafraid of the spotlight. Browning was virtually anonymous with his play writing; but Wilde liked to write them and then play the lead if possible. He lived an extravagant lifestyle and could easily be described as vain about that and himself. His work, The Picture of Dorian Gray is a decent picture of himself. The story presents a character that cares about his eternal beauty that corrupting his soul seems an affordable price. Hints of homosexuality were noticeable in the story as well. Both vanity and homosexuality are relevant to Wilde.
Wilde liked the "shock factor". He was not opposed to writing about subjects that might be societally unacceptable, such as homosexuality, perverse love, etc. This affinity for the inappropriate led many of his works to banishment. His controversial behavior was his demise. Homosexuality was a crime at this point in time and it landed Wilde in prison.
Before his imprisonment, he wrote my favorite Wildian work, The Importance of Being Earnest". The message of the play, according to Oscar was "...That we should treat all trivial things very seriously, and all the serious things of life with sincere and studied triviality." (830) This obsession with triviality is what makes this play hilarious and witty. All the characters are fixate on "paying scrupulous attention to surfaces is an act of the deepest sincerity." (847) The trivial things are certainly obsessed over. Each of the characters have their notions of how things should happen and what behaviors are acceptable. These standards are held to without question. Act one opens with the butler, Lane saying how married couples did not buy fine champagne. Algernon proceeds to ramble about his views on the demoralization of marriage, how the working class should set the example for the upper class, and his cousin's love life. No one within the story seems concerned about offending each other with their opinions. I find this similar to Wilde's life. He certainly acted with disregard to public opinion. In the story, Algernon and Jack fight over the definition of romance. Algy thinks "the very essence of romance is uncertainty. If I ever get married, I'll certainly try to forget that fact." (849) Jack believes in the beauty of marriage and thinks people like Algy are the reason that the divorce court is so busy. (Side note---I wonder if that could still be the reason for the high divorce rate. People get bored?) During this serious conversation, Algy keeps on bringing up the importance of having cucumber sandwiches for his aunt. I cannot think of something much more trivial than a cucumber sandwich.
Out of all the characters, Algernon is probably the most absurd, but yet surprisingly, my favorite. He seems to think he knows everything, but somehow does not come off as an arrogant jerk. Algy thinks he is quite the lady's man and has women figured out. He cautions Jack about Gwendolen because "...girls never marry the men they flirt with. Girls don't think it right." (850). Jack tries to refute it, but Algy replies that this was a "great truth" and it would account for the excessive number of unmarried men around the world. He has never married but has many ideas about it. Algy finds it inappropriate for wives to flirt with their husbands. What's wrong with a couple still finding each other exciting and romancing? According to Algernon, the cure for all the marital issues is to acquire a Bunbury. His Bunbury is a sickly old man that he uses as an excuse if he wants to escape from the present company for a time. He tells Jack that getting a "Bunbury" is necessary for any married man. Jack seems appalled by the idea that he might need to escape Gwendolyn, but yet he is Earnest in town and Jack in the country. He justifies this deception by saying that he needs to adhere to a moral standard while in the country that he wants freedom from in town. Jack calls Earnest, his young scoundrel brother when speaking to his household in the country. Each character easily calls into question the morality and motives of others' inconsistencies, but never notices their own absurdity. Humanity in general has a tendency to view oneself as more logical and righteous than reality would note. Maybe this is because we cannot agree on an ultimate truth. Algy makes an interesting point about truth: "The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Modern life would be tedious if it were either, and modern literature a complete impossibility." (852) Basically, our concept of "truth" is hardly universal. Many of the recent authors have wrestled with the concept of truth and morality, such as Browning, Tennyson, and obviously, Wilde.
The characters all present their own agendas and standpoints; so why should the author not do the same? Wilde slips in subtle hints of his own opinions and struggles. Much of Wilde's work was censored because of content, so what better way to justify his writings than through the mouth of Algernon: "Oh! It is absurd to have a hard-and-fast rule about what one should read and what one shouldn't. More than half of modern culture depends on what shouldn't be read." (850) To a point, I agree with Algernon's statement. I believe Wilde had many good writings that were not given a chance, but I think there should be some legislation. For example, movie ratings are a good plan, I believe. Young, impressionable minds should be protected and eased into maturity when ready.
I could ramble on about the ridiculousness of the characters for ages. Lady Bracknell blaming a person for bad health or losing both parents. Cecily and Gwendolyn's obsession over the name Earnest or having a good story for their journal. Most importantly, the trivial things are obsessed over and that's where the appeal of this play in lies. I love this play! :)
Wilde liked the "shock factor". He was not opposed to writing about subjects that might be societally unacceptable, such as homosexuality, perverse love, etc. This affinity for the inappropriate led many of his works to banishment. His controversial behavior was his demise. Homosexuality was a crime at this point in time and it landed Wilde in prison.
Before his imprisonment, he wrote my favorite Wildian work, The Importance of Being Earnest". The message of the play, according to Oscar was "...That we should treat all trivial things very seriously, and all the serious things of life with sincere and studied triviality." (830) This obsession with triviality is what makes this play hilarious and witty. All the characters are fixate on "paying scrupulous attention to surfaces is an act of the deepest sincerity." (847) The trivial things are certainly obsessed over. Each of the characters have their notions of how things should happen and what behaviors are acceptable. These standards are held to without question. Act one opens with the butler, Lane saying how married couples did not buy fine champagne. Algernon proceeds to ramble about his views on the demoralization of marriage, how the working class should set the example for the upper class, and his cousin's love life. No one within the story seems concerned about offending each other with their opinions. I find this similar to Wilde's life. He certainly acted with disregard to public opinion. In the story, Algernon and Jack fight over the definition of romance. Algy thinks "the very essence of romance is uncertainty. If I ever get married, I'll certainly try to forget that fact." (849) Jack believes in the beauty of marriage and thinks people like Algy are the reason that the divorce court is so busy. (Side note---I wonder if that could still be the reason for the high divorce rate. People get bored?) During this serious conversation, Algy keeps on bringing up the importance of having cucumber sandwiches for his aunt. I cannot think of something much more trivial than a cucumber sandwich.
Out of all the characters, Algernon is probably the most absurd, but yet surprisingly, my favorite. He seems to think he knows everything, but somehow does not come off as an arrogant jerk. Algy thinks he is quite the lady's man and has women figured out. He cautions Jack about Gwendolen because "...girls never marry the men they flirt with. Girls don't think it right." (850). Jack tries to refute it, but Algy replies that this was a "great truth" and it would account for the excessive number of unmarried men around the world. He has never married but has many ideas about it. Algy finds it inappropriate for wives to flirt with their husbands. What's wrong with a couple still finding each other exciting and romancing? According to Algernon, the cure for all the marital issues is to acquire a Bunbury. His Bunbury is a sickly old man that he uses as an excuse if he wants to escape from the present company for a time. He tells Jack that getting a "Bunbury" is necessary for any married man. Jack seems appalled by the idea that he might need to escape Gwendolyn, but yet he is Earnest in town and Jack in the country. He justifies this deception by saying that he needs to adhere to a moral standard while in the country that he wants freedom from in town. Jack calls Earnest, his young scoundrel brother when speaking to his household in the country. Each character easily calls into question the morality and motives of others' inconsistencies, but never notices their own absurdity. Humanity in general has a tendency to view oneself as more logical and righteous than reality would note. Maybe this is because we cannot agree on an ultimate truth. Algy makes an interesting point about truth: "The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Modern life would be tedious if it were either, and modern literature a complete impossibility." (852) Basically, our concept of "truth" is hardly universal. Many of the recent authors have wrestled with the concept of truth and morality, such as Browning, Tennyson, and obviously, Wilde.
The characters all present their own agendas and standpoints; so why should the author not do the same? Wilde slips in subtle hints of his own opinions and struggles. Much of Wilde's work was censored because of content, so what better way to justify his writings than through the mouth of Algernon: "Oh! It is absurd to have a hard-and-fast rule about what one should read and what one shouldn't. More than half of modern culture depends on what shouldn't be read." (850) To a point, I agree with Algernon's statement. I believe Wilde had many good writings that were not given a chance, but I think there should be some legislation. For example, movie ratings are a good plan, I believe. Young, impressionable minds should be protected and eased into maturity when ready.
I could ramble on about the ridiculousness of the characters for ages. Lady Bracknell blaming a person for bad health or losing both parents. Cecily and Gwendolyn's obsession over the name Earnest or having a good story for their journal. Most importantly, the trivial things are obsessed over and that's where the appeal of this play in lies. I love this play! :)
Short Bit about Social Pressure then on to TENNYSON!
Understanding the social pressures of this time period is vital to our understanding of it's literature. Basically, birthright and class were the defining points of the time. A person's social life also determined their freedom to speech, education, and financial resources.
Upon reading this perspectives article, I gained more respect for authors like John Stuart Mill and Thomas Carlyle. They stepped out of the confines of society bravely to stand up for what they believed to be right.
Tennyson is a great example of resilience. Under the parylizing effects of discouragement, many young men would have given up. His grandfather told him that he would never find success with his writing. I hope the grandfather lived long enough to see himself proved wrong. Tennyson was named Poet Laureate. I think Alfie's powerful writing stems from his honesty. He struggles with living in a materialistic society and trying to understand and live by Biblical truth. He pondered if a Christian society was even possible. Alfred is honest about his doubts and struggles, thus, his works are relateable. He somehow was a rebel and a conformist at the same time. I think he was rebellious in subtle ways, and not in the blatent, controversial fashion of previous authors. Ambiguity clouded most of his works, providing a shield of protection around him. I hope that the ambiguity is not an indicator of his own state. Living and dying with no sense of truth or self is really quite disheartening. Some of his works indicate a "let's just wait and see" mentality. The Kraken is beautifully depicted, but left with ambiguity. The descriptions are very vividly portrayed as if the narrator is looking at the beast. In the end, the poem says "Until the latter fire..." (586), we remain unsure of it's existence. This may be a stretch but I wondered if the sea beast is supposed to symbolize the devil. In the end times, the devil is supposed to come into the spotlight, which would fit with "he shall rise". Also "on the surface die" coincides with God's final victory over him in the final days.
Mariana drips of disappointed expectations and hopes. The main idea of the poem seems to be life without love is not worth it. She talks about nature with a dreary tone. Without love, her world is dim and everything appears in a negative light. In the second to last stanza, she talks about the beauty of a dreamy house, but she still wishes she was dead. The narrator seems to have given up on life. She is probably clinically depressed, but this was before the days of Zoloft. Again, I am typing out my musings and they may be completely unconnected. Tennyson struggled with feeling sure of Biblical truth, could the he in this poem be read as God? The world around was dark and chaotic and the narrator wondered where God was. Could the narrator be a metaphorical Tennyson? This connection might be a stretch. Feel free to find the weakness of this comparison.
Upon reading this perspectives article, I gained more respect for authors like John Stuart Mill and Thomas Carlyle. They stepped out of the confines of society bravely to stand up for what they believed to be right.
Tennyson is a great example of resilience. Under the parylizing effects of discouragement, many young men would have given up. His grandfather told him that he would never find success with his writing. I hope the grandfather lived long enough to see himself proved wrong. Tennyson was named Poet Laureate. I think Alfie's powerful writing stems from his honesty. He struggles with living in a materialistic society and trying to understand and live by Biblical truth. He pondered if a Christian society was even possible. Alfred is honest about his doubts and struggles, thus, his works are relateable. He somehow was a rebel and a conformist at the same time. I think he was rebellious in subtle ways, and not in the blatent, controversial fashion of previous authors. Ambiguity clouded most of his works, providing a shield of protection around him. I hope that the ambiguity is not an indicator of his own state. Living and dying with no sense of truth or self is really quite disheartening. Some of his works indicate a "let's just wait and see" mentality. The Kraken is beautifully depicted, but left with ambiguity. The descriptions are very vividly portrayed as if the narrator is looking at the beast. In the end, the poem says "Until the latter fire..." (586), we remain unsure of it's existence. This may be a stretch but I wondered if the sea beast is supposed to symbolize the devil. In the end times, the devil is supposed to come into the spotlight, which would fit with "he shall rise". Also "on the surface die" coincides with God's final victory over him in the final days.
Mariana drips of disappointed expectations and hopes. The main idea of the poem seems to be life without love is not worth it. She talks about nature with a dreary tone. Without love, her world is dim and everything appears in a negative light. In the second to last stanza, she talks about the beauty of a dreamy house, but she still wishes she was dead. The narrator seems to have given up on life. She is probably clinically depressed, but this was before the days of Zoloft. Again, I am typing out my musings and they may be completely unconnected. Tennyson struggled with feeling sure of Biblical truth, could the he in this poem be read as God? The world around was dark and chaotic and the narrator wondered where God was. Could the narrator be a metaphorical Tennyson? This connection might be a stretch. Feel free to find the weakness of this comparison.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Strange Twists and Turns of Robert Browning
If I had to sum up Browning, I would say expect the unexpected. If you think you have predicted the outcome of one of his poems, do not be too sure. It is kind of like the poem equivalent to "Saw". No one can truly claim that they predicted the ending on that movie. Another connection is the level of violence at times. His work, Porphyria's Lover, is very surprisingly gruesome. The poem begins with the tones of a beautiful romance. I found myself slipping into "chick-flick" mode, ready to be swept away in an enrapturing tale. Enraptured, I was, but not in the way I expected. Browning somehow creates a rhythm and movement in his writing that carries the reader without a chance of boredom. My engagement with his poem surprised me since I usually do not like poetry. The ending of the poem is appalling, but yet memorable because of it's unexpected nature. My only concern with a writing style based upon shock factor is that it does not allow for simplicity or predictability when so desired. The commonplace things are also beautiful in their time and place.
Browning's explanation for writing about "bad" things was quite convincing and logical however. According to Browning, "...all of nature, even human nature, bespeaks some part of an unknowable absolute. Thus everything becomes material for poetry, the dirty, deformed, and despicable no less than the beautiful, pure, and radiantly good." (662)
The way that he portrays the "bad" people, we are reminded of the humanity of each one. Often, we villainize a person to the point of dehumanization. We see them as only the despicable act and not a person that did one despicable act. The narrator in Porphyria's Lover does speak tenderly about her and her features. One can almost believe that he cares about her. The poem is unsettling because you know that you should loathe the murdering lover, but somehow, sensitivity for him still remains.
I have similar inconsistencies of feeling while reading My Last Duchess. At one moment, I am despising the man for the way he despises his lady's loyalty and his musing about a second marriage. The way in which he describes his lady inspires one to believe that he does love her. However, the poem suggests that he will murder the girl which I find disheartening.
Browning's villains remind me of the man from the movie, "Dead Man Walking". I was required to see this movie for First Year Seminar. Prior to seeing the movie, I was for capital punishment. After seeing the movie, my standpoint was less solid. It is easy to hold a perspective until a person and scenario is represented before you. In the past, I just assumed that all the people that might receive capital punishment were merely murderers. I will admit to dehumanizing them in that sense. The character in this movie was guilty of a terrible rape and double-murder. In the end, when justice is served, I found myself feeling unsettled. His crime was heinous and thus, part of me wanted him to be killed. On the other hand, he showed remorse and a change of heart.
Similarly, I think that Browning likes to take our minds and hearts and put them in an egg scrambler. His works force the reader to question all preconceived notions. My feelings about Browning are consistent with my feelings about his works: intriguing in an unsettling sense. If you are looking for a feel-good read, look elsewhere, like Shaw perhaps.
Browning's explanation for writing about "bad" things was quite convincing and logical however. According to Browning, "...all of nature, even human nature, bespeaks some part of an unknowable absolute. Thus everything becomes material for poetry, the dirty, deformed, and despicable no less than the beautiful, pure, and radiantly good." (662)
The way that he portrays the "bad" people, we are reminded of the humanity of each one. Often, we villainize a person to the point of dehumanization. We see them as only the despicable act and not a person that did one despicable act. The narrator in Porphyria's Lover does speak tenderly about her and her features. One can almost believe that he cares about her. The poem is unsettling because you know that you should loathe the murdering lover, but somehow, sensitivity for him still remains.
I have similar inconsistencies of feeling while reading My Last Duchess. At one moment, I am despising the man for the way he despises his lady's loyalty and his musing about a second marriage. The way in which he describes his lady inspires one to believe that he does love her. However, the poem suggests that he will murder the girl which I find disheartening.
Browning's villains remind me of the man from the movie, "Dead Man Walking". I was required to see this movie for First Year Seminar. Prior to seeing the movie, I was for capital punishment. After seeing the movie, my standpoint was less solid. It is easy to hold a perspective until a person and scenario is represented before you. In the past, I just assumed that all the people that might receive capital punishment were merely murderers. I will admit to dehumanizing them in that sense. The character in this movie was guilty of a terrible rape and double-murder. In the end, when justice is served, I found myself feeling unsettled. His crime was heinous and thus, part of me wanted him to be killed. On the other hand, he showed remorse and a change of heart.
Similarly, I think that Browning likes to take our minds and hearts and put them in an egg scrambler. His works force the reader to question all preconceived notions. My feelings about Browning are consistent with my feelings about his works: intriguing in an unsettling sense. If you are looking for a feel-good read, look elsewhere, like Shaw perhaps.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
John Stuart Mill = Genius
I am astounded that I have never encountered Mill before. In the short section I read about him, I quickly came to admire him. He was definitely a radical because he advocated: "sexual equality, the right to divorce, universal suffrage, free speech, and proportional representation." (513) In the times of heightened equality that we live in, it can be difficult for us to begin to comprehend why this is so radical. The Victorian Era was coming into a place of change thanks to people like Mill, but there were still very defined realms for the genders. The women were to remain in the "private sphere", tending their homes and family. Men were expected to cross between both spheres, spending more time in the "public sphere". These spheres were supposed to remain separate so the security of the home would not be comprimised.
Mill was different from the beginning. His parents were strong advocates of education and thus, he was home-schooled in everything from psychology to political economy. To solidify what he learned, he was forced to tutor his eight siblings. I felt a connection to Mill at this point, because I was home-schooled my entire life. My parents were not severe like Mill's, but I am used to the strong commitment to education. Education is a constant process and I believe that both Mill's and my parents understand that.
Being a radical was not a problem with Mill. He wrote politicals pieces at a very young age. Not to mention, he was arrested at age seventeen for distributing birth control. The question that came to mind when I read about his arrest: did his eight siblings drive him to that point?
He advocated constantly for the individuals' right. His piece, On Liberty, was the framework of his defense for the individual. In a society that was run based upon status and class, the lower class, such as factory workers, were pretty much devoid of voice and rights. Mill says, "If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." (515) Democracy seems to be the goal of Mill, in a world that is still dominated by those with appropriate birthrights. He knows that he is being radical and that what he says his hard to come to terms with.
The people as a whole were losing their faith, but were too scared of change or revelation to explore a new opinion. The society was against the concept of change because of the fear of instability that comes with any new discovery. At the time, most were content to live on blissfully ignorant and that is why people like Mill were declared "radical".
Mill brought up some excellent points in regards to suppression of opinions. He said that if opinions were silenced, the possibility of it being filled with truth is denied. If one refuses to acknowledge the opinion, then we are assuming ourselves to be without fault. Assuming in any cases is not a good plan. I am very glad that the society did not keep on assuming that they knew basically all there was to know. Our world would be a vastly different place, affecting everything from individual liberties to technology as a whole. Mill also finds listening to every opinion important because each one may contain some degree of truth that may help with the understanding of truth in general. Debate is important to the discovery of truth as well because opinions contradicting can expose the truth. Individuals deserve the right to grow and explore their beliefs and opinions; thus, according to Mill, personal exploration should never be dissuaded.
In the Victorian Era, social standing and appearance dictated the lives of most people. People were reaching for the trends like teenagers in American Eagle, because exterior was such a focal point. Individuality was being silenced and uniformity encouraged. I completely agree with Mill's statement: "No one's idea of excellence in conduct is that people should do absolutely nothing but copy one another." (517) Since class was often pre-determined by birth, people were expected to follow their class' standards without any question. I can almost picture Mill waving his arms and screaming at an army of drones in fancy dresses and polished shoes.
The expected uniformity makes me think of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. In his story, all the social classes were given standards to adhere to and prescribed drugs to keep them from questioning their contentment in their "place". Mill argues that our humanity is taken from us when we blindly accept a societal expectation in place of our own reasoning.
I want to close this blog on a brilliant quote to mill around in your mind:
"A person whose desires and impulses are his own--are the expression of his own nature, as it has been developed and modified by his own culture--is said to have a character. One whose desires and impulses are not his own, has no character, no more than a steam engine has a character." (518)
"Better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation." -Herman Melville
Mill was different from the beginning. His parents were strong advocates of education and thus, he was home-schooled in everything from psychology to political economy. To solidify what he learned, he was forced to tutor his eight siblings. I felt a connection to Mill at this point, because I was home-schooled my entire life. My parents were not severe like Mill's, but I am used to the strong commitment to education. Education is a constant process and I believe that both Mill's and my parents understand that.
Being a radical was not a problem with Mill. He wrote politicals pieces at a very young age. Not to mention, he was arrested at age seventeen for distributing birth control. The question that came to mind when I read about his arrest: did his eight siblings drive him to that point?
He advocated constantly for the individuals' right. His piece, On Liberty, was the framework of his defense for the individual. In a society that was run based upon status and class, the lower class, such as factory workers, were pretty much devoid of voice and rights. Mill says, "If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." (515) Democracy seems to be the goal of Mill, in a world that is still dominated by those with appropriate birthrights. He knows that he is being radical and that what he says his hard to come to terms with.
The people as a whole were losing their faith, but were too scared of change or revelation to explore a new opinion. The society was against the concept of change because of the fear of instability that comes with any new discovery. At the time, most were content to live on blissfully ignorant and that is why people like Mill were declared "radical".
Mill brought up some excellent points in regards to suppression of opinions. He said that if opinions were silenced, the possibility of it being filled with truth is denied. If one refuses to acknowledge the opinion, then we are assuming ourselves to be without fault. Assuming in any cases is not a good plan. I am very glad that the society did not keep on assuming that they knew basically all there was to know. Our world would be a vastly different place, affecting everything from individual liberties to technology as a whole. Mill also finds listening to every opinion important because each one may contain some degree of truth that may help with the understanding of truth in general. Debate is important to the discovery of truth as well because opinions contradicting can expose the truth. Individuals deserve the right to grow and explore their beliefs and opinions; thus, according to Mill, personal exploration should never be dissuaded.
In the Victorian Era, social standing and appearance dictated the lives of most people. People were reaching for the trends like teenagers in American Eagle, because exterior was such a focal point. Individuality was being silenced and uniformity encouraged. I completely agree with Mill's statement: "No one's idea of excellence in conduct is that people should do absolutely nothing but copy one another." (517) Since class was often pre-determined by birth, people were expected to follow their class' standards without any question. I can almost picture Mill waving his arms and screaming at an army of drones in fancy dresses and polished shoes.
The expected uniformity makes me think of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. In his story, all the social classes were given standards to adhere to and prescribed drugs to keep them from questioning their contentment in their "place". Mill argues that our humanity is taken from us when we blindly accept a societal expectation in place of our own reasoning.
I want to close this blog on a brilliant quote to mill around in your mind:
"A person whose desires and impulses are his own--are the expression of his own nature, as it has been developed and modified by his own culture--is said to have a character. One whose desires and impulses are not his own, has no character, no more than a steam engine has a character." (518)
"Better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation." -Herman Melville
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