The Human Abstract, is a sad but true poem. I find it funny that in this one short poem Blake explains how the world functions on a day to day bases. The human Abstract reminds me of a book that I have previously read. The entire poem refers to the human abstract but what stood out at me the most was the first stanza. Humanity has always been a struggle of give and take. When happiness is present there must be something sacrificed in order to obtain that happiness. The human abstract comes into play when human life is sacrificed. This is present in the history of Christianity and in many other religions.
“Pity would be no more,
If we did not make somebody poor
And mercy no more could be,
If all were as happy as we:
And mutual fears bring peace:” (Line 1-5)
Blake states that the human abstract is present in the human brain. I believe that he is referring to the longing for power, or to achieve better conditions and thrive. But the contrary is that someone is always hurt in the process wither it is directly or indirectly.
Although everyone wishes for world peace and a crime free society, If given that opportunity there are so many people whom would have nothing to do. There would be no system of discipline or even a drive to do better and advance as a whole.
Monday, June 28, 2010
" I wandered lonely as a cloud"
At times I find myself just daydreaming or find my mind wondering aimlessly, “I Wondered Lonely as a Cloud” reminds of those time where I need the ability to just wonder and clear my mid. The cloud in reference floats above the ground and the author is floating with the cloud above earthly things. Everything seems light and surreal.
“In such a jocund company:
I gazed and gazed but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought." (line 16-18)
The poem is written as Wordsworth gains admiration for his surroundings, it seems as if the poem was not planned but at the moment Wordsworth found himself amidst beauty and nature. In the above referenced stanza Wordsworth recognizes the wealth in beauty. This is something that a lot of people find themselves doing when they do not stop to take advantage of their surroundings. At time you find yourself with a different form of wealth.
“In such a jocund company:
I gazed and gazed but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought." (line 16-18)
The poem is written as Wordsworth gains admiration for his surroundings, it seems as if the poem was not planned but at the moment Wordsworth found himself amidst beauty and nature. In the above referenced stanza Wordsworth recognizes the wealth in beauty. This is something that a lot of people find themselves doing when they do not stop to take advantage of their surroundings. At time you find yourself with a different form of wealth.
Victorian Ladies and Gentlemen
Victorian Ladies and Gentlemen such as John Newman and Charlotte Bronte represented literature at the time. I found most of the pieces that I read to be confined. The authors wrote about society and every writing seemed to be so proper. From the readings I drew that Victorian ladies and gentlemen were social beings that lived to please their neighbors and their social ranks. The only writings which seems far fetched in the time period was that of Margret Fuller and Mary Wollstonecraft.
Of course when writing this I was tempted to only touch base on Fuller and Wollstonecraft however the represented the minority at that period in time and it seems as if they where actually radicals ahead of their time.
On the other hand however there was Carolina Norton and Isabella Beeton who more exemplified the mindset of the time. In both of their writings these women spoke of the roll of women in the household and a woman’s duties to her husband. It seems like the fear of being judged by others meant more to them than their individual happiness. Divorce was out of the question and it had to be granted through written permition. Beeton even writes of the first two years of marriage and how miserable she was, however with time she learnt to cope with married life. Things remained peaceful within households especially because women kept their place and men where satisfied as long as needs were meet and their women were submissive.
Although a little immature, and maybe far-fetched my interpretation of the Victorian Ladies in gentlemen is a comparison to an episode of real Housewives of New Jersey or a reality show of its kind. The women seem to be superficial Barbies and the men money hungry, egotistical, shovenist.
Of course when writing this I was tempted to only touch base on Fuller and Wollstonecraft however the represented the minority at that period in time and it seems as if they where actually radicals ahead of their time.
On the other hand however there was Carolina Norton and Isabella Beeton who more exemplified the mindset of the time. In both of their writings these women spoke of the roll of women in the household and a woman’s duties to her husband. It seems like the fear of being judged by others meant more to them than their individual happiness. Divorce was out of the question and it had to be granted through written permition. Beeton even writes of the first two years of marriage and how miserable she was, however with time she learnt to cope with married life. Things remained peaceful within households especially because women kept their place and men where satisfied as long as needs were meet and their women were submissive.
Although a little immature, and maybe far-fetched my interpretation of the Victorian Ladies in gentlemen is a comparison to an episode of real Housewives of New Jersey or a reality show of its kind. The women seem to be superficial Barbies and the men money hungry, egotistical, shovenist.
William Yeats "A Prayer for My Daughter"
Although the poem is entitled “A Prayer for My Daughter”, it seems to me like the mother is also having an indirect conversation with her daughter through the prayer. She prays for her daughter’s beauty but like so many other mothers, she wants what is best for her daughter. With beauty she knows that there are certain life lessons that her daughter must also learn. However this mother does not pray to make her daughter humble. Beauty does only takes a woman so far, but the ability to be humble enhances her beauty. I remember my parents praying for me however I find it strange that this particular mother prays for her child’s beauty. Of all things why not pray for well-being.
“May she be granted beauty and not yet
Beauty to make a stranger’s eye distraught
Or hers before a looking-glass, for such
Being made beautiful over much” (Line 17-20)
The mother prays that her daughter is not made too beautiful in order to save someone else feelings. This makes me worry about the mother’s sanity because she tends to be a little confused. I am reminded of a man who raped a woman and says that she was asking for it because of her looks. By doing this the mother shows the ideals of what the woman’s place was at that time.
“May she be granted beauty and not yet
Beauty to make a stranger’s eye distraught
Or hers before a looking-glass, for such
Being made beautiful over much” (Line 17-20)
The mother prays that her daughter is not made too beautiful in order to save someone else feelings. This makes me worry about the mother’s sanity because she tends to be a little confused. I am reminded of a man who raped a woman and says that she was asking for it because of her looks. By doing this the mother shows the ideals of what the woman’s place was at that time.
Oscar Wilde- "Symphony in Yellow"
Symphony in Yellow was a short poem but yet I imagined a big symphony orchestra with a lot of crescendos. Although the only word in the poem that actually refers to music was the word symphony, I still felt the presence of tons of big instruments and a section of first and second violins. This poem took me back to my days in orchestra class. Many times when music is played and you really start to feel the beat and the emotion you find yourself following the music wither it is in your mind or with your hand. Your body always responds to the difference in the tone, volume, harmony or even the director’s movements.
I find it interesting that Wilde uses the color yellow to symbolize the symphony. Not only are some instruments gold in color but, the color yellow brings a feeling of warmth, liveliness, and happiness.
“An omnibus across the bridge
Crawls like a yellow butterfly,
And, here and there, a passer-by
Shows like a little restless midge” (Line 1-4)
Like the yellow butterfly described by Wilde a symphony usually starts off slow. There are many ups and downs and as an audience member sitting in your seat it is hard to control your fingers and keep yourself from moving to the music. A feeling of restlessness overcome you and you suddenly feel like getting up from your seat. you try to fight the feeling until suddenly the music ends and the symphony come to a crash landing. The "rod of ripples jade" has suddenly fallen and the piece is over.
I find it interesting that Wilde uses the color yellow to symbolize the symphony. Not only are some instruments gold in color but, the color yellow brings a feeling of warmth, liveliness, and happiness.
“An omnibus across the bridge
Crawls like a yellow butterfly,
And, here and there, a passer-by
Shows like a little restless midge” (Line 1-4)
Like the yellow butterfly described by Wilde a symphony usually starts off slow. There are many ups and downs and as an audience member sitting in your seat it is hard to control your fingers and keep yourself from moving to the music. A feeling of restlessness overcome you and you suddenly feel like getting up from your seat. you try to fight the feeling until suddenly the music ends and the symphony come to a crash landing. The "rod of ripples jade" has suddenly fallen and the piece is over.
The Subjection of Women
The Subjection of Women, gave me chill bumps as I read it, maybe its because I have not heard a man express his interpretation of women on paper in such a well organized, admirable and motivational manner. The fact that Mill compares the subjection of women to the oppression of slaves is a leveling ground. He then explains that the oppression of both divisions were unjust but on a logical level it not fair no logical to claim oppression of two groups that are both alike and have equal representation intellectually as their oppressors. Mill then touches on the subject of social and religious oppression. I liked that fact that he emphasized that woman were just as equal as men who treated them as if they were their masters. Yet, tradition has repeated itself over and over again that the role of women is under a man and within her place.
The reading is well organized. The fact that Wilde represents this belief as a timeline in history through his references, he proves that there has been a tradition of the subjection of woman that has not been justifiable. It seems as if Wilde has studied woman as his life’s profession because he even understands that every woman is not the same and this is what makes the woman race interesting. Every woman has quality and quantity however each has something unique to her that gives her the essence to contribute to man. However I believe that Wilde understands in order to understand this essence and truly stand equally with women, men should not subject women. To fully understand a woman’s equality to that of a man, men must put away their pride and their notions of superiority to truly level with women.
The reading is well organized. The fact that Wilde represents this belief as a timeline in history through his references, he proves that there has been a tradition of the subjection of woman that has not been justifiable. It seems as if Wilde has studied woman as his life’s profession because he even understands that every woman is not the same and this is what makes the woman race interesting. Every woman has quality and quantity however each has something unique to her that gives her the essence to contribute to man. However I believe that Wilde understands in order to understand this essence and truly stand equally with women, men should not subject women. To fully understand a woman’s equality to that of a man, men must put away their pride and their notions of superiority to truly level with women.
Oscar Wilde- "Preface to the Picture of Dorian Gray"
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder! Oscar Wilde expressed this in “ Preface to the Picture of Dorian Gray”. I love the fact that Wilde used words to express the interpretation of art. I believe that this poem serves as a median for artists and people who have not the slightest idea of the study of art. Although the preface was intended for a piece of art I feel like it can be applied to many other idealism in our society; those such as fashion, music, and even knowledge. Everyone has a different interpretation of beauty.
Wilde simply explains that no artist is morbid. Instead, they just bring their inner expressions to the surface. I found this to be interesting because there are times when a work of art is not as simple as pretty pastels on a canvas. Art can have depth, darkness and even symbolism however these non-traditional ways of expression are the artist’s ways of showing a difference in emotion within them. It is not fair for people who express themselves through the use of language to just see these particular pieces as “morbid”. Just like curse words and emotionally-charged language is used for a speaker or a poet, symbolism and color serves as the vice for artists.
Although everyone looks at the same canvas, there are many interpretations of exactly what is taking place. Wilde ends the preface by saying that all art is useless. However I disagree with him based on my interpretation of this piece, all art has meaning however the meaning is not concrete. Therefore Art is in the eye of the beholder, not only the artists.
Wilde simply explains that no artist is morbid. Instead, they just bring their inner expressions to the surface. I found this to be interesting because there are times when a work of art is not as simple as pretty pastels on a canvas. Art can have depth, darkness and even symbolism however these non-traditional ways of expression are the artist’s ways of showing a difference in emotion within them. It is not fair for people who express themselves through the use of language to just see these particular pieces as “morbid”. Just like curse words and emotionally-charged language is used for a speaker or a poet, symbolism and color serves as the vice for artists.
Although everyone looks at the same canvas, there are many interpretations of exactly what is taking place. Wilde ends the preface by saying that all art is useless. However I disagree with him based on my interpretation of this piece, all art has meaning however the meaning is not concrete. Therefore Art is in the eye of the beholder, not only the artists.
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