Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Existentialism
I don’t think I’m much of an existentialist. I mean, it’s cool to think about and all, but I just don’t understand how some people can be so… negative. But really, I’m an atheist, and it looks like most existentialist views are similar to those of an atheist…i.e. something coming from nothing, having no purpose, etc. I just feel like people do have a purpose, but they create it themselves. I’m a huge nurture person in the whole “nature vs. nurture” debate. I think your environment shapes you into the person that you are. From that, you develop your purpose. You figure out what you’re good at, and more so, what you enjoy, and you run with it. That’s what a purpose is… something that affects both you and the world in some sort of positive way. Why people feel the need to throw the whole “God” thing in there, I don’t know. I’m not into that. I just don’t get it. I’d rather believe in myself than another being. I’d rather know that I’m doing something because I want to do it – not because something more powerful than me made that my destiny. I don’t like listening to too many people. I just want to “do me,” as they say. Why is that so difficult? I just wonder why other people don’t feel the same way. Do they like the idea of being controlled? I think being told that there is a God who predetermined my destiny is the biggest insult someone could lay on me. Why would I ever want to be told that I don’t control my own actions? I am in charge of my own life, or at least I would like to think that I am. And if I’ll never know, then so be it, but I’m happy thinking what I do now.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
To an Empty Page
Robert Pack’s To an Empty Page is his ode to a lost lover. He speaks to the empty page as if it is his beloved. Pack uses rhetorical questions and the concept of an echo to express the narrator’s uncertainty and his beloved’s supposed answers. Every time the narrator asks the “page” a question, it seems to answer. Because of the reality of the situation, it is unlikely that the page is responding to him. Therefore, the empty page must be a metaphor for the book that is life, and the echoes to the narrator’s questions are the responses of his lover.
In his use of rhetorical questions and echoic responses, Pack shows both the speaker’s and his lover’s points of view. When the narrator says, “And starting, must I master joy or grief?” and the echo is, “grief,” in line two, the reader can see that the speaker’s lost lover wants him to feel pain over his loss. The rest of the echoed responses are negative, supporting the idea that the speaker’s beloved wants him to painfully mourn their lost relationship.
The concept of the narrator speaking to an empty page is unrealistic. Therefore, it must be that the empty page serves as a metaphor for life as a book. The speaker is writing about his grief and misery on an empty page in his book of life. He begins by asking what thoughts he should begin with, as he is empty and grieving. He continues to ask rhetorical questions, and the echoed responses are those he hears in his head in his lover’s voice.
Pack’s usage of rhetorical questions and extended metaphor serve to convey the meaning of his poem. Without these literary devices, having both the speaker’s and his lover’s thoughts in one poem would be impossible. It is because of the extended metaphor and rhetorical questions that the reader understands both the concept of an empty page and echoed responses respectively.
In his use of rhetorical questions and echoic responses, Pack shows both the speaker’s and his lover’s points of view. When the narrator says, “And starting, must I master joy or grief?” and the echo is, “grief,” in line two, the reader can see that the speaker’s lost lover wants him to feel pain over his loss. The rest of the echoed responses are negative, supporting the idea that the speaker’s beloved wants him to painfully mourn their lost relationship.
The concept of the narrator speaking to an empty page is unrealistic. Therefore, it must be that the empty page serves as a metaphor for life as a book. The speaker is writing about his grief and misery on an empty page in his book of life. He begins by asking what thoughts he should begin with, as he is empty and grieving. He continues to ask rhetorical questions, and the echoed responses are those he hears in his head in his lover’s voice.
Pack’s usage of rhetorical questions and extended metaphor serve to convey the meaning of his poem. Without these literary devices, having both the speaker’s and his lover’s thoughts in one poem would be impossible. It is because of the extended metaphor and rhetorical questions that the reader understands both the concept of an empty page and echoed responses respectively.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Sonnet 116
Shakespeare’s usage of the idea of time reflects the reader’s perception of Father Time. Through personification and other literary devices, Shakespeare effectively shows the relationship between love and time. Associated with time is the concept of change. Shakespeare argues throughout the poem that although time changes, love does not. In making this point, Shakespeare is able to portray love as an everlasting principle that does not, as he says in like 3, “alter” even when it seems that change is inevitable.
In calling love “an ever-fixed mark (L5),” Shakespeare parallels love and time. As time passes, love remains. This establishes the concept that love is stronger than time, so it should be taken more heavily. Strength is carried through to the next line as Shakespeare says that love is “never shaken.” Here, Shakespeare says once you are in love, you cannot escape it. Shakespeare’s use of personification portrays this in a very direct manner.
In his allusion to ships measuring their distance from the stars to find land, Shakespeare shows that love is a necessity. He argues that though the worth of love is not always apparent, it is true that one has not found the meaning of life if they have yet to find love. The way that Shakespeare portrays love as an absolute requisite in life is only made so by the literary devices he uses, such as personification and allusion, without which, his point would be dull and seemingly trivial.
In calling love “an ever-fixed mark (L5),” Shakespeare parallels love and time. As time passes, love remains. This establishes the concept that love is stronger than time, so it should be taken more heavily. Strength is carried through to the next line as Shakespeare says that love is “never shaken.” Here, Shakespeare says once you are in love, you cannot escape it. Shakespeare’s use of personification portrays this in a very direct manner.
In his allusion to ships measuring their distance from the stars to find land, Shakespeare shows that love is a necessity. He argues that though the worth of love is not always apparent, it is true that one has not found the meaning of life if they have yet to find love. The way that Shakespeare portrays love as an absolute requisite in life is only made so by the literary devices he uses, such as personification and allusion, without which, his point would be dull and seemingly trivial.
Sonnet 39 Essay
Sir Philip Sidney’s Sonnet 39 continues his series of poems about Astrophel and Stella, a lover and his beloved who does not love him in return. In Sonnet 39, the speaker, who the reader can assume to be Astrophel, speaks to Sleep, in a desperate need for rest. He begins by mentioning the contents of dreams, such as “the poor man’s wealth, the prisoner’s release (L3),” and calling sleep “the indifferent judge between the high and low (L4).” In these descriptions, it is clear that the speaker believes that dreams allow even the most likely events to occur within them. The way that Astrophel wishes to see Stella in his dreams introduces the theme of unrequited love, which is the essence of the poem in its entirety.
In offering Sleep such an enticing proposition, including objects such as “smooth pillows” and the “sweetest bed (L9),” the speaker shows that he is willing to rightfully submit Sleep nearly anything in order to get some rest. When Astrophel says, “a chamber deaf to noise and blind to light (L9),” he of course is speaking about a bedroom that is both dark and quiet, two characteristics that sleep-oriented rooms are generally accustomed to. His acts of submission make him seem quite desperate to see his beloved, which is why he is so willing to give up everything he can possibly offer to Sleep
The inner turmoil that the speaker is experiencing is also quite obvious. In lines 5-7, he says, “With shield of proof, shield me from out the prease/ Of those fierce darts Despair at me doth throw; / O make in me those civil wars to cease.” The “civil wars” that exist within his mind most likely involve his unrequited lover. He wants Sleep to protect him from the “fierce darts” that Despair throws at him. The speaker’s personification of “Despair” insinuates that the conflicts he has undergone because of Stella have resulted in his misery. He feels that his love for Stella is not being returned to him by her, and it is causing him to feel desperate for her attention, which he believes he can only attain in his dreams.
The theme of unrequited love that is reflected throughout this poem is the summation of the conflict that exists within Astrophel, the speaker. Because he is not being loved in return by his beloved, Astrophel becomes miserable and wishes to gain an ounce of sleep, which he has clearly not been able to do because of the chaos that exists within his mind. His dreams seem to be the only break from reality and literal rest from the world. In lines 13-14, the speaker says, “Move not thy heavy grace, thou shalt in me,/ Livelier than elsewhere, Stella’s image see.” This demonstrates that Astrophel lives solely for Stella, and not having her in his life makes it not worth living. The last line of the poem shows that Astrophel is liveliest when he sees Stella, so even in sleep, Astrophel would be happiest by seeing Stella anyway he possibly can, even if it is only in his dreams.
In offering Sleep such an enticing proposition, including objects such as “smooth pillows” and the “sweetest bed (L9),” the speaker shows that he is willing to rightfully submit Sleep nearly anything in order to get some rest. When Astrophel says, “a chamber deaf to noise and blind to light (L9),” he of course is speaking about a bedroom that is both dark and quiet, two characteristics that sleep-oriented rooms are generally accustomed to. His acts of submission make him seem quite desperate to see his beloved, which is why he is so willing to give up everything he can possibly offer to Sleep
The inner turmoil that the speaker is experiencing is also quite obvious. In lines 5-7, he says, “With shield of proof, shield me from out the prease/ Of those fierce darts Despair at me doth throw; / O make in me those civil wars to cease.” The “civil wars” that exist within his mind most likely involve his unrequited lover. He wants Sleep to protect him from the “fierce darts” that Despair throws at him. The speaker’s personification of “Despair” insinuates that the conflicts he has undergone because of Stella have resulted in his misery. He feels that his love for Stella is not being returned to him by her, and it is causing him to feel desperate for her attention, which he believes he can only attain in his dreams.
The theme of unrequited love that is reflected throughout this poem is the summation of the conflict that exists within Astrophel, the speaker. Because he is not being loved in return by his beloved, Astrophel becomes miserable and wishes to gain an ounce of sleep, which he has clearly not been able to do because of the chaos that exists within his mind. His dreams seem to be the only break from reality and literal rest from the world. In lines 13-14, the speaker says, “Move not thy heavy grace, thou shalt in me,/ Livelier than elsewhere, Stella’s image see.” This demonstrates that Astrophel lives solely for Stella, and not having her in his life makes it not worth living. The last line of the poem shows that Astrophel is liveliest when he sees Stella, so even in sleep, Astrophel would be happiest by seeing Stella anyway he possibly can, even if it is only in his dreams.
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