Hey guys-
I've read a portion of the day's essays...they're better than you would
have led me to believe. Have some confidence in yourselves!
Finish reading Heart of Darkness over the weekend. Look over the "Hero's
Journey" notes I gave you and the list of archetypal symbols. Blog a
semi-brief entry describing which archetypal elements appear prominently
in the text. Also discuss to what degree the novel adheres to, and
diverges from, the archetypal hero's journey. If you feel like looking up
the Wikipedia entry on Dante's Inferno, that would only help you better
understand Conrad's narrative structure.
There's still six people who need to blog last night's entry (one line
from the first half of the novel, discussed in terms of significance).
Please do so. If more than one half of the class doesn't blog a new entry
over the weekend, then there will be a penalty...to be determined.
HAVE A FABULOUS WEEKEND!
The most obvious archetypal symbol would be the title itself, "Heart of Darkness" in which "Darkness (or Black)" represents chaos, mystery, the unknown, death, wisdom, evil and melancholy. We can assume that Marlow looks that the Africans as an inferior race and that Africa, in general, is an uncivilized, chaotic, yet mysterious and unknown, place.
The "Call to Adventure" is Marlow going to Africa. "Crossing of the first Threshold" would be when he reaches and witnesses Africa in all its glory. There is no "Woman as the Temptress" because there is a lack of women. He doesn't refuse to leave Africa ("Refusal of the Return"). He tries to make sense of everything when he returns to England ("The Crossing of the Return Threshold").
In relation to Dante's Inferno, Marlow first states that it seems like he is traveling to the center of the Earth. When he reaches Africa (like how Dante traverses Hell), he goes through encounters much like how Dante goes through the nine circles of hell, each generally one of the seven sins. Marlow experiences most, if not all, of the aspects of each sin.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Heart of Darkness: Part 1
"It's queer how out of touch with truth women are! They live in a world of their own and there had never been anything like it and never can be. It is too beautiful altogether, and if there were to set it up it would go to pieces before the first sunset. Some confounded fact we men have been living contentedly with ever since the day of creation would start up and knock the whole thing over." (12)
So far there have been a lack of women in the novels we've read (besides Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea) who aren't portrayed as contemptuous... yet again. I chose this line (or paragraph) because it is very applicable in more than one sense. The narrator could be assumed to be christian because he is European and his use of "day of creation." He probably supports what the Bible has to say like "I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet" (1 Timothy 2:12). Oh, the Bible had quite some humor. He views women as a narrow-minded sex who never bother to look beyond their own concerns and what not and are incapable of that. And if that were to even happen, their understanding of the world would be shattered. Yet, the narrator, a white man heading to Africa, will most likely act in the same manner in which he perceives women. He will become the narrow-minded because he will refuse to understand African culture and will undermine them because he will believe his culture is imperialistic. So far, it is he who has lived in his own world and this is his first time heading to Africa.
So far there have been a lack of women in the novels we've read (besides Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea) who aren't portrayed as contemptuous... yet again. I chose this line (or paragraph) because it is very applicable in more than one sense. The narrator could be assumed to be christian because he is European and his use of "day of creation." He probably supports what the Bible has to say like "I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet" (1 Timothy 2:12). Oh, the Bible had quite some humor. He views women as a narrow-minded sex who never bother to look beyond their own concerns and what not and are incapable of that. And if that were to even happen, their understanding of the world would be shattered. Yet, the narrator, a white man heading to Africa, will most likely act in the same manner in which he perceives women. He will become the narrow-minded because he will refuse to understand African culture and will undermine them because he will believe his culture is imperialistic. So far, it is he who has lived in his own world and this is his first time heading to Africa.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Wide Sargasso Sea: Part 2
The point-of-view changes to Rochester's perspective. Rhy does this to show us what Rochester is thinking and for us to decide for ourselves whether or not Rochester deserves the sympathy he did in Jane Eyre. We're also guranteed that the story told so far throught Big Bertha's narration is not a skewed interpretation of her self-pity. In that, we get to see from a third-person point-of-view of Big Bertha and how she is viewed. We feel more sympathy for us as she tells her story to Rochester.This is now Rochester's story.
Bertha tells Rochester that if she were to die, she would want to die now when she is happy and would he be willing to murder her because she's confident that he'll be the person taking her happiness away. Rochester now feels obligated for her happiness and if he leaves her, she'll be correct. If he stays, she'll be happy but he'll be miserable. Only a truly self-serving selish person would decide to leave. If Rhys or Bronte allowed him to leave her; they'll be supporting the stigma of humans on that we are all innately selfish.
Bertha tells Rochester that if she were to die, she would want to die now when she is happy and would he be willing to murder her because she's confident that he'll be the person taking her happiness away. Rochester now feels obligated for her happiness and if he leaves her, she'll be correct. If he stays, she'll be happy but he'll be miserable. Only a truly self-serving selish person would decide to leave. If Rhys or Bronte allowed him to leave her; they'll be supporting the stigma of humans on that we are all innately selfish.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Wide Sargasso Sea: Part 1
Hey guys. Long time, no e-mail!
Read part 1 of Wide Sargasso Sea (approx. pg. 56) for tomorrow. Blog about
your reading with pertinent questions about the story's structure,
point-of-view, characterization of Bertha (or Antoinette, as you will), or
connections between the text and Jane Eyre.
Also, look up the terms "Marginalization" and "Post-Colonialism" on good
ole Wikipedia. Be prepared to discuss in the latter half of class.
If everyone blogs, no quiz. If more than one person blogs, then there will
be a quiz. Cool?
See you tomorrow.
If it isn't another seemingly depressing novel! Jane Eyre was the only book we've read that had a happy ending. Jane and Big Bertha have many similarities in their childhood, the most obvious is that they are alienated and secluded. Conversely, they have many differences due to their similarities. Jane never succumbed to conformity nor compromised her sense of righteousness -- she was a feminist. She could be compared to today's notion of an "independent woman." Jane is more fierce and dominating whereas Big Bertha is more innocent and subservient. She does nothing when her friend cheats her of her pennies and her clothes and then gets a rock thrown on her forehead! On her first day of school, after the house inferno incident, she gets picked on and yet does nothing then she goes and cries! I don't recall Jane crying as pathetic as that. I'm sure Jane would have fought back just as she did to John and Mrs. Reed (verbally).
The readers will unequivocally gain a immense sympathy for Big Bertha's life. She is a victim of racism and social status; her mother had a mental illness; she has no friends; people don't like her; and her brother dies. For a young child, she has experienced many things people experience within a lifetime. Readers who've read Jane Eyre know what lies in her future. She is obliviously seeing her future through her mother's. She ultimately never finds happiness and no one will ever love her; she will only become a nuisance. Interestingly, I am looking forward to the story because it has many deep and profound meaning towards it. Mainly, how Big Bertha will act toward her mother as her disorder worsens and how she is going to react if she discovers that the woman, who is her mother that is slowly becoming a stranger, is who she'll be in the future. It is as if you have discovered the day that you will die and with that knowledge, decide what to do with your time because you realize how short it is.
Read part 1 of Wide Sargasso Sea (approx. pg. 56) for tomorrow. Blog about
your reading with pertinent questions about the story's structure,
point-of-view, characterization of Bertha (or Antoinette, as you will), or
connections between the text and Jane Eyre.
Also, look up the terms "Marginalization" and "Post-Colonialism" on good
ole Wikipedia. Be prepared to discuss in the latter half of class.
If everyone blogs, no quiz. If more than one person blogs, then there will
be a quiz. Cool?
See you tomorrow.
If it isn't another seemingly depressing novel! Jane Eyre was the only book we've read that had a happy ending. Jane and Big Bertha have many similarities in their childhood, the most obvious is that they are alienated and secluded. Conversely, they have many differences due to their similarities. Jane never succumbed to conformity nor compromised her sense of righteousness -- she was a feminist. She could be compared to today's notion of an "independent woman." Jane is more fierce and dominating whereas Big Bertha is more innocent and subservient. She does nothing when her friend cheats her of her pennies and her clothes and then gets a rock thrown on her forehead! On her first day of school, after the house inferno incident, she gets picked on and yet does nothing then she goes and cries! I don't recall Jane crying as pathetic as that. I'm sure Jane would have fought back just as she did to John and Mrs. Reed (verbally).
The readers will unequivocally gain a immense sympathy for Big Bertha's life. She is a victim of racism and social status; her mother had a mental illness; she has no friends; people don't like her; and her brother dies. For a young child, she has experienced many things people experience within a lifetime. Readers who've read Jane Eyre know what lies in her future. She is obliviously seeing her future through her mother's. She ultimately never finds happiness and no one will ever love her; she will only become a nuisance. Interestingly, I am looking forward to the story because it has many deep and profound meaning towards it. Mainly, how Big Bertha will act toward her mother as her disorder worsens and how she is going to react if she discovers that the woman, who is her mother that is slowly becoming a stranger, is who she'll be in the future. It is as if you have discovered the day that you will die and with that knowledge, decide what to do with your time because you realize how short it is.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)