This poem by Eliot was very interesting as it seemed to examine the mind of the modern man. Prufrock seems to be talking to a woman that he is interested in, but does not seem to ever want to actually ever approach the girl. So although this was entitled a love song, this man never seems to be interested in actually entering an actual relationship.
Eliot writes:
"Let us go then, you and I,
When the evening is spread out against the sky
Like a patient etherised upon a table;
Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,
The muttering retreats" (1194)
Although the narrator speaks of us, he is not able to communicate his true feelings to those that he may love. He is a man who is obviously insecure of himself and is unable to express his true feelings to others in his life. His insecurity is obviously a deterrent as he speaks of love but is unable to attain it. In the following passage the narrator makes a comment about the views of others around him.
"And indeed there will be time
To wonder, "Do I dare?" and, "Do I dare"
Time to turn back and descend the stair,
With a bald spot in the middle of my hair."
The insecurity this man feels is present in all that he does and he becomes concerned about even the smallest affairs in his life. The thing that I love the most about the poem is the way in which it is structured. The way in which Eliot writes really seemed to be really easy to understand because of the language he uses.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Woolf- A room of one's own
In this chapter Woolf narrates a passage on the topic of Women and Fiction. In this passage Woolf states the necessary elements for a women to be able to write fiction. "A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction; and that, as you will see, leaves the great problem of the true nature of woman and the true nature of fiction unsolved." (1229) The main reason this seems to be is that women of this period were not allowed the same priviledges of the males. Therefore they were not able to walk on the grass, or to go in the library so they need their own priveledge to be able to write.
It seemed that Woolf seemed to be making a case for the ability of women and criticizing the fact that women are not able to serve these abilities due to their lack of resources. This poem was interesting to me because it really showed the feelings of inequality that were obvious during this period. Although we take this for granted now, women and people of other races have just recently gained the right to do anything they might want. It also made me think about how some people in this country are still not able to do what they would like due to the fact that they are held captive by their financial obligations.
It seemed that Woolf seemed to be making a case for the ability of women and criticizing the fact that women are not able to serve these abilities due to their lack of resources. This poem was interesting to me because it really showed the feelings of inequality that were obvious during this period. Although we take this for granted now, women and people of other races have just recently gained the right to do anything they might want. It also made me think about how some people in this country are still not able to do what they would like due to the fact that they are held captive by their financial obligations.
Yeats- No Second Troy
In this poem Yeats seems to compare Maud Gonne to Helen of Troy. He was really destroyed in the loss of his lover and most of his poetry seemed to be inspired by his lost love.
"Why should I blame her that she filled my days
With misery, or that she would of late
Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways," (1118)
I looked up Maud Gonne and she was an early member of the theatre movement started by her longtime suitor Yeats. You can feel the misery and pain present by Yeats in his poetry.
I really enjoyed and could understand the feelings of Yeats as we have all been in his position at one time. Dealing with lost loves is hard for anyone, yet with Yeats we are able to read his feelings through his poetry.
"Why, what could she have done, being what she is?
Was there another Troy for her to burn" (1118)
I found this to be a very interesting passage in the poem as I read it to be wondering if she ever did this to anyone else. I could be wrong as my understanding of poetry is limited but that is a powerful idea thought by all jilted lovers. It is only natural for one to think about how the other moves on with their lives. This poem just really stood out to me because it is so commonplace. I mean it shows the feeling of a famous writer who deals with the complexity of life.
"Why should I blame her that she filled my days
With misery, or that she would of late
Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways," (1118)
I looked up Maud Gonne and she was an early member of the theatre movement started by her longtime suitor Yeats. You can feel the misery and pain present by Yeats in his poetry.
I really enjoyed and could understand the feelings of Yeats as we have all been in his position at one time. Dealing with lost loves is hard for anyone, yet with Yeats we are able to read his feelings through his poetry.
"Why, what could she have done, being what she is?
Was there another Troy for her to burn" (1118)
I found this to be a very interesting passage in the poem as I read it to be wondering if she ever did this to anyone else. I could be wrong as my understanding of poetry is limited but that is a powerful idea thought by all jilted lovers. It is only natural for one to think about how the other moves on with their lives. This poem just really stood out to me because it is so commonplace. I mean it shows the feeling of a famous writer who deals with the complexity of life.
Yeats- The Second Coming
Since I am a Christian I was drawn to Yeats description of the second coming. The second coming has really become a hot topic in the Christian church over the last 100 years. Currently there is all kind of material such as the left behind books that give an account of how they believe the end times will occur. All of these writings are just opinions because the only reference we have to the end of times is Revelation, which is a book filled with visions and symbols. These symbols had specific meaning for the people of this time so it is hard to believe we will really ever have a good working knowledge of what is to come. Yeats begins the poem with a description of the world at this time.
"Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity." (1122)
Of what I know of the book of Revelation this poem seems to paint a seemingly realistic portrayal of the end of days. As the passage says above innocence is destroyed by the evil that is unleashed upon the earth. The people who are good are shaken past the point of action, while the worst of humanity enjoys this period of anarchy.
Perhaps the most puzzling part of the poem is when he brings up his vision of the creature with the lion body and the head of a man. There are lots of creatures like this in Revelation but I did not see the importance of including one in this writing. Yeats goes on to talk about how Christianity has really been put to sleep through as if they were a baby in a cradle.
"The twenty centuries of stony sleep were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, and what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches toward Bethlehem to be born." (1123)
This passage of the poem really confused me as I thought the first couple stanzas were pretty straight foward. I honestly have no idea what he was trying to say her and who is supposed to be born in Bethlehem. Jesus was originally from Bethlehem but I don't think he's going to be born again. I really do not know who else he could be talking about though and I am very interested in reading the ideas of my classmates who seem to have a better understanding of poetry than I.
"Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity." (1122)
Of what I know of the book of Revelation this poem seems to paint a seemingly realistic portrayal of the end of days. As the passage says above innocence is destroyed by the evil that is unleashed upon the earth. The people who are good are shaken past the point of action, while the worst of humanity enjoys this period of anarchy.
Perhaps the most puzzling part of the poem is when he brings up his vision of the creature with the lion body and the head of a man. There are lots of creatures like this in Revelation but I did not see the importance of including one in this writing. Yeats goes on to talk about how Christianity has really been put to sleep through as if they were a baby in a cradle.
"The twenty centuries of stony sleep were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, and what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches toward Bethlehem to be born." (1123)
This passage of the poem really confused me as I thought the first couple stanzas were pretty straight foward. I honestly have no idea what he was trying to say her and who is supposed to be born in Bethlehem. Jesus was originally from Bethlehem but I don't think he's going to be born again. I really do not know who else he could be talking about though and I am very interested in reading the ideas of my classmates who seem to have a better understanding of poetry than I.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Siegfried Sassoon- Glory of Women
Glory of Women is a celebration of the efforts made by women in times of struggle. Although the men faced the brunt of the warfare, the women were left to face its cost. They were left to work the jobs left behind, as well as making many of the weapons of the war.
"You love us when we're heroes, home on leave,
Or wounded in a memorable place." (1099)
Although many men never come back from wars, their women are often the ones who are their for help and support long after the war ends. Although we are in a different period now, nurses now serve on the frontline to help our wounded. Without this love and support many of these men would not make it through these times. These women often go unrecognized so it was encouraging to see this poem about these women.
"You crown our distant ardours while we fight,
And mourn our laurelled memories when we are killed." (1099)
Although glory is often found on the battlefield, this poem reminds us of those who are behind the glorious. Without these ladies to keep their stories alive, their stories would die along with their bodies. Therefore these ladies are glorious because they keep the fight on the homefront. If things were to go bad at home then many men would turn back to take care of the affairs at home.
"O German mother dreaming by the fire,
While you are knitting socks to send your son
His face is trodden deeper in the mud." (1099)
This seemed to be an odd ending for this poem for me since the majority of the poem was praising the work of the British women. It seemed to mock the work of the German woman who was doing the same things they were praising their women for.
"You love us when we're heroes, home on leave,
Or wounded in a memorable place." (1099)
Although many men never come back from wars, their women are often the ones who are their for help and support long after the war ends. Although we are in a different period now, nurses now serve on the frontline to help our wounded. Without this love and support many of these men would not make it through these times. These women often go unrecognized so it was encouraging to see this poem about these women.
"You crown our distant ardours while we fight,
And mourn our laurelled memories when we are killed." (1099)
Although glory is often found on the battlefield, this poem reminds us of those who are behind the glorious. Without these ladies to keep their stories alive, their stories would die along with their bodies. Therefore these ladies are glorious because they keep the fight on the homefront. If things were to go bad at home then many men would turn back to take care of the affairs at home.
"O German mother dreaming by the fire,
While you are knitting socks to send your son
His face is trodden deeper in the mud." (1099)
This seemed to be an odd ending for this poem for me since the majority of the poem was praising the work of the British women. It seemed to mock the work of the German woman who was doing the same things they were praising their women for.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Shaw-Pygmalion
Pygmalion was interesting because it presented a story about a poor girl who wanted more than anything to be an accepted member of a higher society. She was very unhappy with her current occupation and wanted to be trained to be something more. Henry Higgins makes a bet with Colonel Pickering that they can make this poor girl into duchess.
Since Shaw was a proponent of speaking correctly, it is the prominent theme in his story. The language of the flower girl improves dramatically throughout the story as she cannot be understood in the beginning. "Dont you be so saucy. You aint heard what I come for yet. Did you tell him I come in a taxi." (1017)
Pickering is proud of his ability to pronounce the vowel sounds. He brags: "I rather fancied myself because I can pronounce twenty-four distinct vowel sounds; but your hundred and thirty beat me." (1016) The ability to speak well therefore seemed to be a way in which people were separated by class in this story. This really seems to still be the case because everyone judges the intelligence of others partly through their speaking ability. If one does not speak well then they are thought to be stupid. Higgins finds no value in the girl as he instructs his maid to burn her clothes and to clean her up. He treats her as if he can do whatever he wishes with her, as if she were the victim in an experiment.
An interesting subplot in the story was the difference between Alfred and Liza Doolittle. While Alfred comes looking for a free handout from Huggins, Liza is willing to work for her advancement. This subplot brought to light an important argument put forth about the plight of poor people. Many people believe that the poor do nothing to improve their situation, but most of the time they are held down by other factors such as their poor quality of education. The difference of education based on economic factors often keeps the rich wealthy and keeps the poor poor.
The story ends showing how Eliza transformed from a simple flower girl to an educated lady. It really served as an example of how little a difference there is between the rich and the poor. When given only a new set of clothes and a little training, Liza was able to pass herself off as a princess. One simple opportunity in a persons life can change their fortunes from living in the streets to living in luxury.
Since Shaw was a proponent of speaking correctly, it is the prominent theme in his story. The language of the flower girl improves dramatically throughout the story as she cannot be understood in the beginning. "Dont you be so saucy. You aint heard what I come for yet. Did you tell him I come in a taxi." (1017)
Pickering is proud of his ability to pronounce the vowel sounds. He brags: "I rather fancied myself because I can pronounce twenty-four distinct vowel sounds; but your hundred and thirty beat me." (1016) The ability to speak well therefore seemed to be a way in which people were separated by class in this story. This really seems to still be the case because everyone judges the intelligence of others partly through their speaking ability. If one does not speak well then they are thought to be stupid. Higgins finds no value in the girl as he instructs his maid to burn her clothes and to clean her up. He treats her as if he can do whatever he wishes with her, as if she were the victim in an experiment.
An interesting subplot in the story was the difference between Alfred and Liza Doolittle. While Alfred comes looking for a free handout from Huggins, Liza is willing to work for her advancement. This subplot brought to light an important argument put forth about the plight of poor people. Many people believe that the poor do nothing to improve their situation, but most of the time they are held down by other factors such as their poor quality of education. The difference of education based on economic factors often keeps the rich wealthy and keeps the poor poor.
The story ends showing how Eliza transformed from a simple flower girl to an educated lady. It really served as an example of how little a difference there is between the rich and the poor. When given only a new set of clothes and a little training, Liza was able to pass herself off as a princess. One simple opportunity in a persons life can change their fortunes from living in the streets to living in luxury.
Thomas Hardy
The most interesting poem to me by Hardy that we read was the one entitled Hap. It is about a man who was going through times of suffering. It was interesting me because the narrator seemed able to handle it if it made him unique, but was bothered only if it was incidental.
"If but some vengeful god would call to me
From up the sky and laugh: "Thou suffering thing,
Know that thy sorrow is my ecstasy,
That thy love's loss is my hate's profiting." (1073)
So the writer would accept this pain if it was caused specifically for him. This was interesting to me for a person to accept vengeance for something that was not caused by them. It did not say the vengeful god was upset about anything the narrator said, but he was willing to suffer the consequences if it was caused by this god. It is also an interesting idea put forth by the writer that a God would find solace in the suffering of mere mortals. I guess its just hard for me to come to terms with this due to my beliefs on God.
"Then would I bear it, clench myself, and die,
Steeled by the sense of ire unmerited;
Half-eased in that a Powerfuller than I
Had willed and meted me the tears I shed" (1073)
So the writer finds some solace in the belief that this fate was meant for him. Without this sense of uniqueness, the pain the writer suffers is just pain. When it is caused by a god though, it distinguishes the person. It seems like we often make excuses for bad times that may come upon them or find reasons to make it important.
"If but some vengeful god would call to me
From up the sky and laugh: "Thou suffering thing,
Know that thy sorrow is my ecstasy,
That thy love's loss is my hate's profiting." (1073)
So the writer would accept this pain if it was caused specifically for him. This was interesting to me for a person to accept vengeance for something that was not caused by them. It did not say the vengeful god was upset about anything the narrator said, but he was willing to suffer the consequences if it was caused by this god. It is also an interesting idea put forth by the writer that a God would find solace in the suffering of mere mortals. I guess its just hard for me to come to terms with this due to my beliefs on God.
"Then would I bear it, clench myself, and die,
Steeled by the sense of ire unmerited;
Half-eased in that a Powerfuller than I
Had willed and meted me the tears I shed" (1073)
So the writer finds some solace in the belief that this fate was meant for him. Without this sense of uniqueness, the pain the writer suffers is just pain. When it is caused by a god though, it distinguishes the person. It seems like we often make excuses for bad times that may come upon them or find reasons to make it important.
Hopkins- God's Grandeur
Hopkins was a very interesting writer to read due to the fact that he devoted his life and writings to the ministry. The poem I have chose by Hopkins is God's Grandeur, which tell of his amazement of the workings of God. He really saw God's presence in all things, and detailed this in this poem.
"The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. Why do men not reck his rod." (775)
In this passage Hopkins speaks about how God is working in everything. The world in all its beauty comes directly from the beauty of God. Therefore Hopkins wonders why man does not appreciate it as God's work. We always praise the Romans and Greeks for their architecture, yet if you believe in God then it all goes back to him. We praise the people themselves instead of the God that created everything. This passage also speaks to the fact that people do not often respect the power that God holds over everything. We think of ourselves as being totally in control over all of our affairs instead of trusting God to help us through. Since I do believe in God this passage was especially meaningful because I do not always appreciate the things that God has made.
He then goes on to talk about how amazing the world truly is.
"All for this, nature is never spent;
There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
And through the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward streams" (775)
Even as much as man has abused nature, It still remains intact. So as amazing a creation as nature was, it is as amazing that it is not already ruined. Recently I took a trip to Montana to visit Yellowstone and Glacier national parks. It was breathtaking to see the scenery and animals, and really allowed me to appreciate everything around me. It was nice to see that we still have some areas of wilderness that are not too far away. This poem took me back to my experience there as it helped me appreciate that experience even more.
"The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. Why do men not reck his rod." (775)
In this passage Hopkins speaks about how God is working in everything. The world in all its beauty comes directly from the beauty of God. Therefore Hopkins wonders why man does not appreciate it as God's work. We always praise the Romans and Greeks for their architecture, yet if you believe in God then it all goes back to him. We praise the people themselves instead of the God that created everything. This passage also speaks to the fact that people do not often respect the power that God holds over everything. We think of ourselves as being totally in control over all of our affairs instead of trusting God to help us through. Since I do believe in God this passage was especially meaningful because I do not always appreciate the things that God has made.
He then goes on to talk about how amazing the world truly is.
"All for this, nature is never spent;
There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
And through the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward streams" (775)
Even as much as man has abused nature, It still remains intact. So as amazing a creation as nature was, it is as amazing that it is not already ruined. Recently I took a trip to Montana to visit Yellowstone and Glacier national parks. It was breathtaking to see the scenery and animals, and really allowed me to appreciate everything around me. It was nice to see that we still have some areas of wilderness that are not too far away. This poem took me back to my experience there as it helped me appreciate that experience even more.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Browning- Porphyria's Lover
In this poem Browning seems to present a disturbed man who has apparently found a women who says she loves him. Browning begins his poem with a description of gloomy weather and destruction which forecasts the events of his poem.
"The sullen wind was soon awake,
It tore the elm tops down for spite,
And did its worst to vex the lake:" (662)
When Porphyria comes into the cottage she seems to provide a release from the rough times. She provides a release for the narrator, yet he is too selfish to appreciate what she could bring. He instead wants to guarantee that she will be by his side forever.
"In one long yellow string I wound
Three times her little throat around,
And I strangled her. No pain felt she;" (663)
So instead of appreciating the love that Porphyria had brought to him, the narrator simply kills her to maintain her by his side. The title of the poem made me originally think that it would be about a true love, but instead it was disturbing story of two people. It was not love because he killed Porphyria. In the end the narrator seems to justify the killing by saying that God did not react so it must have been alright.
"And thus we sit together now,
And all night long we have not stirred,
And yet God has not said a word."
It is intriguing to me the stability of the narrator in this poem. It is apparent that he is not stable, but how much of the poem is changed by his instability. I mean did the girl even say that she loved him, or did he just make this up as a rationale to kill her to have her by her side forever.
"The sullen wind was soon awake,
It tore the elm tops down for spite,
And did its worst to vex the lake:" (662)
When Porphyria comes into the cottage she seems to provide a release from the rough times. She provides a release for the narrator, yet he is too selfish to appreciate what she could bring. He instead wants to guarantee that she will be by his side forever.
"In one long yellow string I wound
Three times her little throat around,
And I strangled her. No pain felt she;" (663)
So instead of appreciating the love that Porphyria had brought to him, the narrator simply kills her to maintain her by his side. The title of the poem made me originally think that it would be about a true love, but instead it was disturbing story of two people. It was not love because he killed Porphyria. In the end the narrator seems to justify the killing by saying that God did not react so it must have been alright.
"And thus we sit together now,
And all night long we have not stirred,
And yet God has not said a word."
It is intriguing to me the stability of the narrator in this poem. It is apparent that he is not stable, but how much of the poem is changed by his instability. I mean did the girl even say that she loved him, or did he just make this up as a rationale to kill her to have her by her side forever.
Mill- The Subjection of Women
Looking back on my blogs I realized I had failed to write about Mills' controversial writing of his time about the role of women in society. Although we might see this writing as commonplace now, it was revolutionary when he wrote it. Women were looked upon as second class citizens and it was shocking to see a man fighting for their rights. Mill therefore should be considered a patriot for women's rights.
Mill believed that the "principle which regulates the existing social relations between the two sexes- the legal subordination of one sex to the other- is wrong in itself, and now one of the chief hindrances to human improvement." (521) So not only did Mill believe that women should be given equal civil rights, he also believed their should be total equality between the sexes. He even credited his wife for the influence she had in his writings. I was really blown away by the brilliance of Mill as he allowed himself to forfeit the power he could have had to fight for a cause he believed in. Although he held several governmental positions throughout his life, his unpopular view on womens rights took away some of his influence. However, his beliefs laid the path for the rights of women for the next century. Without people like Mill it could have taken much longer for women to receive these rights.
After making a case for the equality of the sexes, he attacks the premises that accompany the inequality. Some people believed that the inequality of women was affirmed by the inability of women to rise up against it. Mill attacks this premise saying "Ever since there have been women to make their setiments known by their writings, an increasing number of them have recorded protests against their present social condition." (523) So although women may have been able to have been silenced in the past, modern methods allowed women to band together through forms such as literature. Women were shown that they were not alone in their anger, and it allowed them a form of action.
This writing really spoke alot about the character of Mill. His writings made him a fairly popular figure, and he could have probably wielded more power if he wouldn't have made a stand for the rights of women. Since women could not vote for him, he did not gain any support by taking on this cause. Modern politicians would do well to take note of the beliefs of Mill as sometimes their are things more important that popular opinion. It is nice to know at one point there were politicians who fought for things that were right, instead of being obsessed about what is popular.
Mill believed that the "principle which regulates the existing social relations between the two sexes- the legal subordination of one sex to the other- is wrong in itself, and now one of the chief hindrances to human improvement." (521) So not only did Mill believe that women should be given equal civil rights, he also believed their should be total equality between the sexes. He even credited his wife for the influence she had in his writings. I was really blown away by the brilliance of Mill as he allowed himself to forfeit the power he could have had to fight for a cause he believed in. Although he held several governmental positions throughout his life, his unpopular view on womens rights took away some of his influence. However, his beliefs laid the path for the rights of women for the next century. Without people like Mill it could have taken much longer for women to receive these rights.
After making a case for the equality of the sexes, he attacks the premises that accompany the inequality. Some people believed that the inequality of women was affirmed by the inability of women to rise up against it. Mill attacks this premise saying "Ever since there have been women to make their setiments known by their writings, an increasing number of them have recorded protests against their present social condition." (523) So although women may have been able to have been silenced in the past, modern methods allowed women to band together through forms such as literature. Women were shown that they were not alone in their anger, and it allowed them a form of action.
This writing really spoke alot about the character of Mill. His writings made him a fairly popular figure, and he could have probably wielded more power if he wouldn't have made a stand for the rights of women. Since women could not vote for him, he did not gain any support by taking on this cause. Modern politicians would do well to take note of the beliefs of Mill as sometimes their are things more important that popular opinion. It is nice to know at one point there were politicians who fought for things that were right, instead of being obsessed about what is popular.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
John Stuart Mill- On Liberty
Mill is probably the writer that speaks to me the most of all the writers we have read so far. His writing On Liberty is a powerful piece that is becoming more and more relevant as time goes along. It seems as if political correctness had turned into silencing people who do not agree with the majority, or the current "academic" thought. Mill however argues for the freedom for all people to express their thoughts no matter how unpopular it is.
"If all mankind minus one, were of the opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." (515)
Mill argues that it is important to respect the opinions of all men, and his words have never been so appropriate. It seems as if we have tried to find ways to supress unpopular opinions instead of evaluating them for their own merit. "There are, it is alleged, certain beliefs, so useful, not to say indispensable to well-being, that it is as much the duty of government to uphold these beliefs, as to protect any other of the interests of society." (516) It is always dangerous when opinions are judged by their usefulness instead of their truth which is what Mill warns against. It is often troubling for me to think about the lack of influence that the poor has because that leads to the tyranny of the majority.
"The majority of the eminent men of every past generation held many opinions now known to be erroneous, and did or approved numerous things which no one will now justify. Why is it then, that there is on the whole a preponderance among mankind of rational opinions and rational conduct." (514)
This was a very interesting passage for me because it made me think about something that I had never really thought about before. At one time it was the majority opinion in this country that women should not have the right to vote in our elections. Luckily we have seen this was a stupid belief but what beliefs of the majority do we have now that we may look back in 50 years and be embarrassed about. I could not really think of something that really stood out but it reminded me that just because something is popular does not make it right. The poor in the time of the Industrial Revolution had no influence over the rapidly expanding world. They were forced to live in poor housing and work in poor conditions. The conditions these people were placed in were inhumane and they did not have any power to fight against it.
"If all mankind minus one, were of the opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." (515)
Mill argues that it is important to respect the opinions of all men, and his words have never been so appropriate. It seems as if we have tried to find ways to supress unpopular opinions instead of evaluating them for their own merit. "There are, it is alleged, certain beliefs, so useful, not to say indispensable to well-being, that it is as much the duty of government to uphold these beliefs, as to protect any other of the interests of society." (516) It is always dangerous when opinions are judged by their usefulness instead of their truth which is what Mill warns against. It is often troubling for me to think about the lack of influence that the poor has because that leads to the tyranny of the majority.
"The majority of the eminent men of every past generation held many opinions now known to be erroneous, and did or approved numerous things which no one will now justify. Why is it then, that there is on the whole a preponderance among mankind of rational opinions and rational conduct." (514)
This was a very interesting passage for me because it made me think about something that I had never really thought about before. At one time it was the majority opinion in this country that women should not have the right to vote in our elections. Luckily we have seen this was a stupid belief but what beliefs of the majority do we have now that we may look back in 50 years and be embarrassed about. I could not really think of something that really stood out but it reminded me that just because something is popular does not make it right. The poor in the time of the Industrial Revolution had no influence over the rapidly expanding world. They were forced to live in poor housing and work in poor conditions. The conditions these people were placed in were inhumane and they did not have any power to fight against it.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Lord Tennyson uses powerful language through his poetry that really allows his readers to feel the emotion of his writings. In Mariana, he tells us the story of a girl who was rejected by the one that she loved. Even before we are introduced to Mariana, Tennyson sets his reader up with a sad and dreary scene.
"With blackest moss the flower-plots
Were thickly crusted, one and all:
The rusted nails fell from the knots
That held the pear to the gable-wall.
The broken sheds look sad and strange:" (586)
Although I had not been introduced to Mariana yet, I was braced by the sadness that accompagnied the introduction. The use of rusted nails and broken sheds was very appropriate for me to state the loss the girl had suffered. She was broken by the absense of the guy that she loved, and it seemed as if she was going to allow herself to rust in her mourning. In the sidenotes at the bottom of page 586 it talked about how Angelo refused to marry Mariana after her brother and her dowry were lost in a shipwreck. So not only did the girl lose her love, but also the hope for another love since she lost her dowry.
We are then introduced to Mariana in the following passage:
"She only said, "My life is dreary,
He cometh not," she said;
She said, "I am aweary, aweary,
I would that I were dead."
This hopelessness reminded me of the hopelessness faced by the prisoners in A visit to Newgate. Although Mariana was free, she was held captive by her feelings for Angelo. Angelo was all that she could think about and since he would not love her she was destined for the same fate as those prisoners. Nothing but him coming would satisfy her, and therefore she was really already dead.
"Old faces glimmer'd thro' the doors,
Old footsteps trod the upper floors,
Old voices called her from without." (588)
This passage seemed to affirm that there was nothing that could save Mariana other than Angelo coming. It did not matter who else came to visit, he was the only one who could save her. You have to truly feel for Mariana as she has seemed to lose all that she cares about.
"With blackest moss the flower-plots
Were thickly crusted, one and all:
The rusted nails fell from the knots
That held the pear to the gable-wall.
The broken sheds look sad and strange:" (586)
Although I had not been introduced to Mariana yet, I was braced by the sadness that accompagnied the introduction. The use of rusted nails and broken sheds was very appropriate for me to state the loss the girl had suffered. She was broken by the absense of the guy that she loved, and it seemed as if she was going to allow herself to rust in her mourning. In the sidenotes at the bottom of page 586 it talked about how Angelo refused to marry Mariana after her brother and her dowry were lost in a shipwreck. So not only did the girl lose her love, but also the hope for another love since she lost her dowry.
We are then introduced to Mariana in the following passage:
"She only said, "My life is dreary,
He cometh not," she said;
She said, "I am aweary, aweary,
I would that I were dead."
This hopelessness reminded me of the hopelessness faced by the prisoners in A visit to Newgate. Although Mariana was free, she was held captive by her feelings for Angelo. Angelo was all that she could think about and since he would not love her she was destined for the same fate as those prisoners. Nothing but him coming would satisfy her, and therefore she was really already dead.
"Old faces glimmer'd thro' the doors,
Old footsteps trod the upper floors,
Old voices called her from without." (588)
This passage seemed to affirm that there was nothing that could save Mariana other than Angelo coming. It did not matter who else came to visit, he was the only one who could save her. You have to truly feel for Mariana as she has seemed to lose all that she cares about.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
A visit to Newgate
In A Visit to Newgate, Dickens writes about visiting the prison on Newgate. He seems to be amazed how people can walk by the prison every day without thinking about the individuals that are congregated there. "These same men, day by day, pass and repass this gloomy depository of the guilt and misery of London, in one perpetual stream of life and bustle, utterly unmindful of the throng of wretched creatures pent up within it." (1) The curiosity of the state of these convicts caused the narrator to visit the prison.
This account goes on to speak about the feeling of hopelessness that is evident in the prison. This feeling of hopelessness was most clearly seen by an older woman that was locked up in prison. "The old woman was talking in that low, stifled tone of voice which tells so forcibly of mental anguish; and every know and then burst into an irrepressible sharp, abrupt cry of grief, the most distressing sound that ears can hear."(3) Her time had prison had worn away all of the hope she may have had for her life, and only left her waiting to die in prison. She had long given up the thoughts of the pleasantries of life on the outside of the prison walls. There seems to be no semblance of real life within the prison walls. There are no real friendships,or any other forms of release for the prisoners.
There was also a mother who was being visited by her daughter. There was no real joy in the visit as their thoughts were focused on the fate of the mother. "A sullen smile came over the girl's face for an instant, as if she were pleased: not so much at the probability of her mother's liberation, as the chance of her getting off in spite of her prosecutors." (4) This girl obviously had suffered through a difficult childhood which forced her to grow up way earlier than most have to. So the hopelessness of the mother has seemed to extend to her daughter as the only thing she understands is misery.
The description seemed to be much different for the boys who were serving time for their petty crimes. Although the women seemed hopeless, the boys seemed to be proud to be there. Perhaps it was because of the short time they had been there, but these boys showed no remorse for their crimes and seemed to feel at home there. "They were evidently quite gratified at being thought worth the trouble of looking at; their idea appeared to be that we had come to see Newgate as a grand affair." (5) So although the women had showed themselves to feel as if they had no hope, the boys were the ones who truly had no hope because they were doomed for the same fate.
If those who were in prison did not feel hopeless enough, the week before a person was put to death they were forced to sit in the condemned pew in the chapel. With the chapel being the only source of hope for many of these people, it is hard to believe that they would have to face this conviction in church the week before they face their ultimate judgement.
This account goes on to speak about the feeling of hopelessness that is evident in the prison. This feeling of hopelessness was most clearly seen by an older woman that was locked up in prison. "The old woman was talking in that low, stifled tone of voice which tells so forcibly of mental anguish; and every know and then burst into an irrepressible sharp, abrupt cry of grief, the most distressing sound that ears can hear."(3) Her time had prison had worn away all of the hope she may have had for her life, and only left her waiting to die in prison. She had long given up the thoughts of the pleasantries of life on the outside of the prison walls. There seems to be no semblance of real life within the prison walls. There are no real friendships,or any other forms of release for the prisoners.
There was also a mother who was being visited by her daughter. There was no real joy in the visit as their thoughts were focused on the fate of the mother. "A sullen smile came over the girl's face for an instant, as if she were pleased: not so much at the probability of her mother's liberation, as the chance of her getting off in spite of her prosecutors." (4) This girl obviously had suffered through a difficult childhood which forced her to grow up way earlier than most have to. So the hopelessness of the mother has seemed to extend to her daughter as the only thing she understands is misery.
The description seemed to be much different for the boys who were serving time for their petty crimes. Although the women seemed hopeless, the boys seemed to be proud to be there. Perhaps it was because of the short time they had been there, but these boys showed no remorse for their crimes and seemed to feel at home there. "They were evidently quite gratified at being thought worth the trouble of looking at; their idea appeared to be that we had come to see Newgate as a grand affair." (5) So although the women had showed themselves to feel as if they had no hope, the boys were the ones who truly had no hope because they were doomed for the same fate.
If those who were in prison did not feel hopeless enough, the week before a person was put to death they were forced to sit in the condemned pew in the chapel. With the chapel being the only source of hope for many of these people, it is hard to believe that they would have to face this conviction in church the week before they face their ultimate judgement.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Thomas Carlyle
Although Thomas Carlyle was said to be a difficult and cranky person, his works played a large role in the other writers in his generation. "Mill, Tennyson, Browning, Dickens, Ruskin, and many others idolized him." (475) Carlyle was the son of a stonemason and his wife who raised numerous children under a strict Calvinist household. His parents recognized his intelligence and sent him to study for the ministry at the University of Edinburgh. He grew tired of the ministry and began his career as a writer soon after.
In his writing Past and Present, Carlyle states his opinion of the current state of England. Although England has become wealthier than ever, that wealth did not improve the wellbeing of its people. "England is full of wealth, of multifarious produce, supply for human want of every kind; yet England is dying of inanition." (477) This writing seems to agree with the other writings of the time which spoke about how the wealth of England was being made on the back of the poor. They were forced to live in poor houses which were designed to be as uncomfortable as possible so that they would not want to stay there any longer than they had to. The plight of the poor in England in this period is similar to the poor in our country. There are areas of every town where those who are less fortunate live, and much of the hardest work is done by those who get paid the least.
The Gospel of Mammonism is almost like a parable for modern culture. A widow who had lost everything, applied for assistence and got none. Due to her circumstances she got sick and died with typhus fever. Not only did this fever kill her but it also killed 17 other people. This shows a powerful example of the plight of the poor in the modern capitalist culture. The financial costs are seen to be much more important than the human costs. "Seventeen of you lying dead will not deny such proof that she was of your flesh; and perhaps some of the living may lay it to heart." (481) Instead of looking at the widow as if she were a person, they simply saw her as someone that they could deny without much consequence. Little did they know her sickness would not die with her.
The last writing of Carlyle I have chose to look at is his writing entitled Labour. In this he believed that there was a sacredness in work. "Work, never so Mammonish, mean, is in communication with Nature; the real desire to get Work done will itself lead one more and more to truth, to Nature's appointments and regulations, which are truth." (481) Many people think of work simply as a means to make money, but Carlyle argues that truly knowing oneself involves finding one's true vocation. Without this true vocation, one cannot be blessed.
In his writing Past and Present, Carlyle states his opinion of the current state of England. Although England has become wealthier than ever, that wealth did not improve the wellbeing of its people. "England is full of wealth, of multifarious produce, supply for human want of every kind; yet England is dying of inanition." (477) This writing seems to agree with the other writings of the time which spoke about how the wealth of England was being made on the back of the poor. They were forced to live in poor houses which were designed to be as uncomfortable as possible so that they would not want to stay there any longer than they had to. The plight of the poor in England in this period is similar to the poor in our country. There are areas of every town where those who are less fortunate live, and much of the hardest work is done by those who get paid the least.
The Gospel of Mammonism is almost like a parable for modern culture. A widow who had lost everything, applied for assistence and got none. Due to her circumstances she got sick and died with typhus fever. Not only did this fever kill her but it also killed 17 other people. This shows a powerful example of the plight of the poor in the modern capitalist culture. The financial costs are seen to be much more important than the human costs. "Seventeen of you lying dead will not deny such proof that she was of your flesh; and perhaps some of the living may lay it to heart." (481) Instead of looking at the widow as if she were a person, they simply saw her as someone that they could deny without much consequence. Little did they know her sickness would not die with her.
The last writing of Carlyle I have chose to look at is his writing entitled Labour. In this he believed that there was a sacredness in work. "Work, never so Mammonish, mean, is in communication with Nature; the real desire to get Work done will itself lead one more and more to truth, to Nature's appointments and regulations, which are truth." (481) Many people think of work simply as a means to make money, but Carlyle argues that truly knowing oneself involves finding one's true vocation. Without this true vocation, one cannot be blessed.
The Condition of the Working Class in England in 1844
Friedrich Engels is a German who wrote about the appalling conditions of the English working class. This working poor class was seen by Engels to have been left behind by the Industrial Revolution. Although the Industrial Revolution helped those who were able to own factories or other mediums of production, those who worked in the factories struggled through bad conditions and crowded living spaces. Since all these jobs were confined to the cities, the cities were severely overcrowded with people. Engels writings became a classic socialist writing and led him to work with Marx on his writings on social injustice.
The first and main problem Engels saw in the cities was how overcrowded these areas were. Although he sees the magnificence of modern London, he believes that this magnificence appears that way due to the sacrifice that has been made by its working poor. "It is only when he has visited the slums of this great city that it dawns upon him that the inhabitants of modern London have had to sacrifice so much that it is best in human nature in order to create those wonders of civilization with which their city teem." (500) So the beauty and industry of London is really tainted with the lives of those who have been forced to work for meager wages.
Another unfortunate result of Industrialization is how the massive growths stripped the sense of humanity from the people in the cities. Since the populations were so large, the sense of community between the people was inexistent. "The more that Londoners are packed into a tiny space, the more repulsive and disgraceful becomes the brutal indifference with which they ignore their neighbors and selfishly concentrate upon their private affairs." (502) Since a sense of community would be about the only thing that could stand up against the desires of the business owners, they had no real protection against the growing influence of businessmen.
Engels also writes about how the poor are often congregated into areas so that they can be ignored or not seen by the other citizens and tourists. "He who visits Manchester simply on business or for pleasure need never see the slums, mainly because the working class districts and the middle class districts are quite distinct. This division is due partly to deliberate policy and partly to instinctive and tacit agreement between the two social groups." (504)
The first and main problem Engels saw in the cities was how overcrowded these areas were. Although he sees the magnificence of modern London, he believes that this magnificence appears that way due to the sacrifice that has been made by its working poor. "It is only when he has visited the slums of this great city that it dawns upon him that the inhabitants of modern London have had to sacrifice so much that it is best in human nature in order to create those wonders of civilization with which their city teem." (500) So the beauty and industry of London is really tainted with the lives of those who have been forced to work for meager wages.
Another unfortunate result of Industrialization is how the massive growths stripped the sense of humanity from the people in the cities. Since the populations were so large, the sense of community between the people was inexistent. "The more that Londoners are packed into a tiny space, the more repulsive and disgraceful becomes the brutal indifference with which they ignore their neighbors and selfishly concentrate upon their private affairs." (502) Since a sense of community would be about the only thing that could stand up against the desires of the business owners, they had no real protection against the growing influence of businessmen.
Engels also writes about how the poor are often congregated into areas so that they can be ignored or not seen by the other citizens and tourists. "He who visits Manchester simply on business or for pleasure need never see the slums, mainly because the working class districts and the middle class districts are quite distinct. This division is due partly to deliberate policy and partly to instinctive and tacit agreement between the two social groups." (504)
The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution allowed tasks to be done in a much quicker manner than in the years that preceded it. With all the positives that came with the Industrial Revolution it also brought with it negative aspects for the poor. The factory system made their workers work long hours for meager pay, and therefore the poor generally sent their kids to work in the factories to help the family. Many jobs were done away with because of new technology which caused overcrowding in the cities. Therefore the infrastructures were not able to handle the rapidly growing populations. All of these conditions caused many of the writers of this time to look back upon the past as the golden age.
Fanny Kemble's Record of a Girlhood explained her first ride on a Steam Engine. She was a famous young actress who was the first woman to ride on the steam locomotive. Her explanation is very interesting because of her description of something that would seem to be commonplace to us. She is interested in every detail of this experience and even explains how the pistons work on the engine. "She goes upon two wheels which are her feet, and are moved by bright steel legs called pistons; these are propelled by steam, and in proportion as more steam is applied to the upper extremities of these pistons, the faster they move the wheels.." (490)
It was also interesting to think about how amazed Kemble was to be going 35 miles an hour. "You cannot imagine how strange it seemed to be journeying on thus, without any visible cause of progress other than the magical machine." (491) It is just interesting to think about how far we have came to where 35 miles an hour is thought to be a pedestrian speed.
Although most writers wrote negatively against the Industrial Revolution, writers such as Thomas Macaulay saw it as a form of progress. "We firmly believe that, inspite of all the misgovernment of her rulers, she has almost always been becoming richer and richer." (492) Although there might have been negative consequences for some people, he believes that the Industrial Revolution has played a positive role in England.
Charles Dickens on the other hand believed that Industrialization had taken the identity out of the modern worker. The modern worker had become simply a cog in the machine, and the machines had destroyed the uniqueness of the cities. The cities had all become one in the same, all controlled by their machinery. "All the public inscriptions in the town were painted alike, in severe characters of black and white. The jail might have been the infirmary, the infirmary might have been the jail, the town-hall might have been either, or both, or anything else, for anything that appeared to the contrary in the graces of their construction." (498) This idea had some merit as many of the factory workers were forced to work long hours without much reward.
Fanny Kemble's Record of a Girlhood explained her first ride on a Steam Engine. She was a famous young actress who was the first woman to ride on the steam locomotive. Her explanation is very interesting because of her description of something that would seem to be commonplace to us. She is interested in every detail of this experience and even explains how the pistons work on the engine. "She goes upon two wheels which are her feet, and are moved by bright steel legs called pistons; these are propelled by steam, and in proportion as more steam is applied to the upper extremities of these pistons, the faster they move the wheels.." (490)
It was also interesting to think about how amazed Kemble was to be going 35 miles an hour. "You cannot imagine how strange it seemed to be journeying on thus, without any visible cause of progress other than the magical machine." (491) It is just interesting to think about how far we have came to where 35 miles an hour is thought to be a pedestrian speed.
Although most writers wrote negatively against the Industrial Revolution, writers such as Thomas Macaulay saw it as a form of progress. "We firmly believe that, inspite of all the misgovernment of her rulers, she has almost always been becoming richer and richer." (492) Although there might have been negative consequences for some people, he believes that the Industrial Revolution has played a positive role in England.
Charles Dickens on the other hand believed that Industrialization had taken the identity out of the modern worker. The modern worker had become simply a cog in the machine, and the machines had destroyed the uniqueness of the cities. The cities had all become one in the same, all controlled by their machinery. "All the public inscriptions in the town were painted alike, in severe characters of black and white. The jail might have been the infirmary, the infirmary might have been the jail, the town-hall might have been either, or both, or anything else, for anything that appeared to the contrary in the graces of their construction." (498) This idea had some merit as many of the factory workers were forced to work long hours without much reward.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Dorothy Wordsworth
Dorothy Wordsworth did not want to be a writer, and even fought against having her works published saying they were meant only for her family. She wrote and allowed her writings to become public only through the insistence of her brother. She uses simple language to outline her powerful messages instead of camouflaging them with complex wordings. She provides very detailed and colorful situations of ordinary things.
In the Grasmere Journals Dorothy gives detailed descriptions of the actions of herself and those around her. Although many of the journals do not explain world changing events, she describes them in such a way that it attaches importance to these otherwise everyday occurrences. "The light of the fire made them a beautiful sight, with their innocent countenances, their rosy cheeks and glossy curling hair." (295) She shared a very special bond with her brother as the text points out that Mary Hutchinson was not simply marrying her brother William but marrying into that bond. (291)
In thoughts on my sick-bed Wordsworth describes the thoughts of herself struggling through debilitating illness. "Couchant within this feeble frame hath been enriched by kindred gifts, that, undesired, unsought-for came with joyful heart in youthful days.." (293) So Wordsworth seems to face her illness with an understanding that aging is a natural process and there is nothing she can do but accept it. Instead she thinks of the most beautiful things and finds herself among them. "No need of motion, or of strength, or even the breathing air: I thought of nature's loveliest scenes; and with memory I was there." (294) If this was truly the way she accepted her imminent death it seems to be a beautiful death. Too often we get caught up in the finality of death to really appreciate the lives that we each live. We all have these beautiful moments and what better time is their than sickness than to remember these times.
In the Grasmere Journals Dorothy gives detailed descriptions of the actions of herself and those around her. Although many of the journals do not explain world changing events, she describes them in such a way that it attaches importance to these otherwise everyday occurrences. "The light of the fire made them a beautiful sight, with their innocent countenances, their rosy cheeks and glossy curling hair." (295) She shared a very special bond with her brother as the text points out that Mary Hutchinson was not simply marrying her brother William but marrying into that bond. (291)
In thoughts on my sick-bed Wordsworth describes the thoughts of herself struggling through debilitating illness. "Couchant within this feeble frame hath been enriched by kindred gifts, that, undesired, unsought-for came with joyful heart in youthful days.." (293) So Wordsworth seems to face her illness with an understanding that aging is a natural process and there is nothing she can do but accept it. Instead she thinks of the most beautiful things and finds herself among them. "No need of motion, or of strength, or even the breathing air: I thought of nature's loveliest scenes; and with memory I was there." (294) If this was truly the way she accepted her imminent death it seems to be a beautiful death. Too often we get caught up in the finality of death to really appreciate the lives that we each live. We all have these beautiful moments and what better time is their than sickness than to remember these times.
William Wordsworth
Wordsworth was the son of Lord Lonsdale who was the main property owner of a beautiful yet isolated region. He shared a very special bond with his sister Dorothy, which he lived with for a large portion of his life. Wordsworth devoted himself to his poetry which caused him to fall out of favor with the people of his time. His conservative political views also bothered some critics but he was appointed Poet Laureate in 1843. (196) For me Wordsworth was much easier to read than Blake. He was much more straightfoward with his ideas and although his writings were very powerful I felt alot more comfortable with my understanding of what he was really trying to say.
His poem entitled Micheal tells a story about a shepard who lost everything he had gained his in life because he had to guarantee a bad loan. In an attempt to save his land Micheal asked Luke to reach out to a wealthy relative for help.
"Our Luke shall leave us, Isabel; the land shall not go from us, and it shall be free; He shall possess it, free as is the wind that passes over it. We have thou knowest, another kinsman, he will be our friend in this distress." (223)
All Micheal had was his family and his property and as soon as he died he lost both. The land that he had hoped would be taken by his son Luke was instead sold off to a stranger. "At Isabels death the estate was sold, and went into a stranger's hand." (227) The main point that can be received from this is although Micheal might not have had alot, he was proud of what he had. He was extremely proud of his son for going to his wealthy relative for help to pay their debt and was proud of the land he had acquired through his life. This shows that happiness can be found in all situations. Micheal found his happiness through the simple things in life such as family and property. He was by no means wealthy yet he was able to appreciate what he had, while he had it. He did not complain about the misfortune that he faced, he simply tried to find a way to overcome the difficulties.
His poem entitled Micheal tells a story about a shepard who lost everything he had gained his in life because he had to guarantee a bad loan. In an attempt to save his land Micheal asked Luke to reach out to a wealthy relative for help.
"Our Luke shall leave us, Isabel; the land shall not go from us, and it shall be free; He shall possess it, free as is the wind that passes over it. We have thou knowest, another kinsman, he will be our friend in this distress." (223)
All Micheal had was his family and his property and as soon as he died he lost both. The land that he had hoped would be taken by his son Luke was instead sold off to a stranger. "At Isabels death the estate was sold, and went into a stranger's hand." (227) The main point that can be received from this is although Micheal might not have had alot, he was proud of what he had. He was extremely proud of his son for going to his wealthy relative for help to pay their debt and was proud of the land he had acquired through his life. This shows that happiness can be found in all situations. Micheal found his happiness through the simple things in life such as family and property. He was by no means wealthy yet he was able to appreciate what he had, while he had it. He did not complain about the misfortune that he faced, he simply tried to find a way to overcome the difficulties.
The Poetic Genius
Although William Blake was not formally educated, he provides some of the most vibrant poetry through his eccentricity and imagination. He work was not appreciated during his life, and his work became more popular as an inspiration for the Beat poets of the 1950's and 1960's. (74)
The most interesting thing that I found in the writings of William Blake was the idea of the Poetic Genius. "That the Poetic Genius is the true man, and that the body or outward form of man is derived from the Poetic Genius." (76) He argues that it is this genius that has created everything so that all religions are simply deviations upon one thought. The reception of the Poetic Genius is the reason that Blake says there are different religions. So the only real difference for Blake regarding different religions is how these people understood the Poetic Genius. The ideas of angels, demons, and spirits all come out of the Poetic Genius. Therefore the religious differences that have endured throughout history are trivial to Blake because these religions are all of one thought.
Blake writes that man could not acquire knowledge from acquired knowledge, so a universal Poetic Genius has to exist. (77) That being said the knowledge that is available is already known, so that to find more knowledge you have to rely on something else. People cannot simply rely on old knowledge to progress but they should look to the Poetic Genius of man to continue their ascension into new ideology. Blake also believes that all men are alike in outward form as well as in the Poetic Genius. So there is some sort of common state of man that is universal and the only real differences are those brought on by the differences of interpretation of the Poetic Genius.
The most interesting thing that I found in the writings of William Blake was the idea of the Poetic Genius. "That the Poetic Genius is the true man, and that the body or outward form of man is derived from the Poetic Genius." (76) He argues that it is this genius that has created everything so that all religions are simply deviations upon one thought. The reception of the Poetic Genius is the reason that Blake says there are different religions. So the only real difference for Blake regarding different religions is how these people understood the Poetic Genius. The ideas of angels, demons, and spirits all come out of the Poetic Genius. Therefore the religious differences that have endured throughout history are trivial to Blake because these religions are all of one thought.
Blake writes that man could not acquire knowledge from acquired knowledge, so a universal Poetic Genius has to exist. (77) That being said the knowledge that is available is already known, so that to find more knowledge you have to rely on something else. People cannot simply rely on old knowledge to progress but they should look to the Poetic Genius of man to continue their ascension into new ideology. Blake also believes that all men are alike in outward form as well as in the Poetic Genius. So there is some sort of common state of man that is universal and the only real differences are those brought on by the differences of interpretation of the Poetic Genius.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
About Me
My name is Jeremy Mckay and I am a fifth year senior at Mercer. This is my last semester at Mercer and I took this class to fulfill my English requirement. I have took online classes at other places but this is my first one at Mercer. I prefer online classes because they allow you to do your work on your own time.
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