I was sitting at work while reading Araby, early in the morning on Saturday. My eyes were weary, and the beginning of the story seemed unexciting. However, this technique did build up my expectation of adventure or wonder soon to come in the midst of the story.
the boy seemed interest in the house and its surroundings. He was curious about the books he read, and hew was even more fascinated by the girl net door. His innocence was exposed by the way he watched for her everyday just so he could walk to school behind her. I could relate to his inability to speak. I have had my fair share of situations, in which, I wanted to say so much more but refrained in hopes that I would be spoken to first. I began to feel his anxious heart awaiting the perfect moment to say something anything.
finally, when the girl turned and spoke to him I could feel his stumbling delight. This was his moment of opportunity. As she spoke to him, he got confused. I understand his confusion, because sometimes when I get excited my mind also runs away with that pleasure. he gets a grasp and filters what has been said. She had asked him if he was going to Araby, the upcoming bazaar. she was excited about it and wished she could go too. He conjures up the ability to ask why she cannot go to the bazaar, and finds out that she has a retreat coming up during the bazaar. His courage soars, as he recommend him to go to the event. He tells her if he goes he will bring something back for her. In his mind, he is thinking this is the perfect way to confess his deep affection. If he goes to Araby and brings her something back, she will be without a doubt happy.
As the next few days' progress, Araby is all he can think about. He wants to get her something special, and it is really the only reason he is going. He gets permission from his uncle and must wait for him to return home so he can go with money fro transportation and for a little spending. However, his uncle is late and has forgotten about the boys desires. i can fell the hope of the young boy drifting ever so softly away with each minute he waits.
When the uncle arrives home, it is quite late, but the boy still wishes to depart. His uncle gives him a small amount of money and the boy scuttles off on his adventure. The florin the boy gets is not very much, but the boy is naive at this point. He just wants to continue and hopefully he finds her a gift. The readier is now confronted with the frustration of living in this time period.
When the boy arrives, the bazaar is closing. At this point, I knew the happy ending would be lost. We have all reached that point of disappointment, but I was rooting for this young man. I wanted him to get the girl and live happily ever after.
This story was written in the midst of WWI, and the author (Joyce) captures the feeling of hope being distraught. he captures the feeling of being lost, wanting adventure, and wanting more. This time period was one that hit modernism with an iron fist. Reading this passage I feel the sense of despair. This time period had a grave effect on the people in the world. Their desires, dreams, and faith were challenged with every waking moment. Modernism realized this and exploited it. it brought people to the face of harsh reality. Just as the boy was naive, he was awakened by his journey. I am sad that he had to learn in such a way that is, to me, almost inhumane. He had no one to turn too. He stood alone in the world and my heart aches knowing that he lost his hope.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The Love Song of J. alfred Prufrock (1915)
The first line brings the reader directly into the setting with the narrator, “Let us go then, you and I.” I believe that this is a technique that the narrator uses to pull the reader into the mind of the character. It works too. As I began to read, I became more aware of my surroundings. I realized that I was alone or by myself in my room, just like Prufrock was in solitary gloom. I felt sorry for Prufrock. It is sad and a waste to dwell on this lady that he will never talk too. The phrase that keeps coming to my mind is seize the day!
Prufrock’s indecisiveness keeps him from proclaiming love to the lady whose love he seeks. In the next stanza, the reader receives images of a dull autumn in which Prufrock makes “a sudden leap” which I can assume is his attempt to speak to his lady love. However, in the next two lines, “and seeing that it was a soft October night, Curled once about the house, and fell asleep,” I get the impression that once again he has hesitated due to his fear of rejection.
The next stanza, the phrase “There will be time,” represents his hesitation in talking to the lady he loves. Prufrock does not dare disturb the universe, meaning that he has never been one to take a chance and will not do so now. He refers to his social circle and how they have never seen him amount to anything more than a lonely man.
He thinks about what he might say if the right time presents itself, but he gives up as soon as he starts. He excuses his indecisiveness by rationalizing that even if he had presented the lady with his words of affection, she would have turned those words down.
This poem is very sad to me. I could not imagine the regret he will die with by never speaking to this lady he cares for so much. I look back on my life and remember all the chances I took, and I realize that no matter what the outcome a new door of opportunity opened even with rejection. Taking a chance has helped me grow as a person. I also look back and reminisce on what could have been if I would have said that or done this. I feel sorry for the man, because he has never learned what it is like to go for what he wants or believes is right.
Prufrock constantly refers to Michelangelo. I see this as a comparison. Michelangelo is everything Prufrock is not. Michelangelo has a flow of creativity and energy; whereas, Prufrock is lifeless and destitute. I understand his comparison; we all do it. We compare ourselves to famous actors/actresses, and professional athletes. However, with Prufrock, this comparison is an attempt by him to feel sorry for himself. He has no self-esteem whatsoever. He has no confidence and no life. It is hard to relate to such a character, because he does not even like himself. I think about my life and I can be a solitary person also, but I could never be that confined. As human beings, I belief we crave social experiences. I think about depression and other issues that come along with feelings of weariness, regret, embarrassment, longing, and awareness of mortality. I feel sorrow because that is not living.
Near the end of Prufrock’s “love song” there is a reference to Hamlet, a hero who hesitated but eventually acted decisively. Prufrock uses the references towards Hamlet to compare himself, once again, by referring to a character that is his complete opposite. Prufrock does not see himself as confident or heroic.
He, eventually, comes to terms with his solitary future. He will grow old alone, and will die alone. He will be dignified in his solitary confinement of old age and as a passionless old man, because he rationalizes that he chose to be alone and that is how he wants it to end. However, by the tone of the poem I see him as a man that is yearning to be understood and feel affection.
Affection is a part of human nature, as is fear of rejection. As children we need love, care, and friendship. As we get older we still need those feelings of affection, but we fear that those we love will not love us back. We fear that love only lasts as long as the word itself takes to leave the mouth. We understand that our hearts can break if we put them out there, but if we do not try and love we will never receive love in return. It is sad that rejection occurs, but without rejection we would never learn what true love is from lust.
This is a modern poem because Prufrock illustrates disillusionment and disenchanted desires. He captures the nature of life as dull and nonliving. He portrays the essence of pathetic and unmotivated desires for affection.
Prufrock’s indecisiveness keeps him from proclaiming love to the lady whose love he seeks. In the next stanza, the reader receives images of a dull autumn in which Prufrock makes “a sudden leap” which I can assume is his attempt to speak to his lady love. However, in the next two lines, “and seeing that it was a soft October night, Curled once about the house, and fell asleep,” I get the impression that once again he has hesitated due to his fear of rejection.
The next stanza, the phrase “There will be time,” represents his hesitation in talking to the lady he loves. Prufrock does not dare disturb the universe, meaning that he has never been one to take a chance and will not do so now. He refers to his social circle and how they have never seen him amount to anything more than a lonely man.
He thinks about what he might say if the right time presents itself, but he gives up as soon as he starts. He excuses his indecisiveness by rationalizing that even if he had presented the lady with his words of affection, she would have turned those words down.
This poem is very sad to me. I could not imagine the regret he will die with by never speaking to this lady he cares for so much. I look back on my life and remember all the chances I took, and I realize that no matter what the outcome a new door of opportunity opened even with rejection. Taking a chance has helped me grow as a person. I also look back and reminisce on what could have been if I would have said that or done this. I feel sorry for the man, because he has never learned what it is like to go for what he wants or believes is right.
Prufrock constantly refers to Michelangelo. I see this as a comparison. Michelangelo is everything Prufrock is not. Michelangelo has a flow of creativity and energy; whereas, Prufrock is lifeless and destitute. I understand his comparison; we all do it. We compare ourselves to famous actors/actresses, and professional athletes. However, with Prufrock, this comparison is an attempt by him to feel sorry for himself. He has no self-esteem whatsoever. He has no confidence and no life. It is hard to relate to such a character, because he does not even like himself. I think about my life and I can be a solitary person also, but I could never be that confined. As human beings, I belief we crave social experiences. I think about depression and other issues that come along with feelings of weariness, regret, embarrassment, longing, and awareness of mortality. I feel sorrow because that is not living.
Near the end of Prufrock’s “love song” there is a reference to Hamlet, a hero who hesitated but eventually acted decisively. Prufrock uses the references towards Hamlet to compare himself, once again, by referring to a character that is his complete opposite. Prufrock does not see himself as confident or heroic.
He, eventually, comes to terms with his solitary future. He will grow old alone, and will die alone. He will be dignified in his solitary confinement of old age and as a passionless old man, because he rationalizes that he chose to be alone and that is how he wants it to end. However, by the tone of the poem I see him as a man that is yearning to be understood and feel affection.
Affection is a part of human nature, as is fear of rejection. As children we need love, care, and friendship. As we get older we still need those feelings of affection, but we fear that those we love will not love us back. We fear that love only lasts as long as the word itself takes to leave the mouth. We understand that our hearts can break if we put them out there, but if we do not try and love we will never receive love in return. It is sad that rejection occurs, but without rejection we would never learn what true love is from lust.
This is a modern poem because Prufrock illustrates disillusionment and disenchanted desires. He captures the nature of life as dull and nonliving. He portrays the essence of pathetic and unmotivated desires for affection.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Welcome
Hi! I'm Megan and this is my blog. I'm still trying to figure everything out, so it is a work in progress. Thanks for stopping by to check it out today.
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