A Study of Reading Habits
Philip Larkin
(1919-1985)
When getting my nose in a book
Cured most things short of school,
It was worth ruining my eyes
To know I could still keep cool,
And deal out the old right hook
To dirty dogs twice my size.
Later, with inch-thick specs,
Evil was just my lark:
Me and my cloak and fangs
Had ripping times in the dark
The women I clubbed with sex!
I broke them up like meringues.
Don’t read much now: the dude
Who lets the girl down before
The hero arrives, the chap
Who’s yellow and keeps the store,
Seem far too familiar. Get stewed:
Books are a load of crap.
I think that this poem is about somebody who reads a lot and then is disappointed when his life is nothing like what he reads in books. Though I can certainly understand the meaning of 'losing yourself in a good book', ie feeling like you are part of the story when you are reading something really interesting, I think that if you can't distinguish reality from fiction- ie expect your life to be like that in books (you really feel like you are (Dracula or Superman or Jack the ripper or whatever) then you have a problem. If you read books and expect yourself to become like the characters in them, that's not good, because obviously you won't be. Books are not 'a load of crap' just because the reader doesn't grow a pair of fangs and bite people. (This is also you won't turn into the personality as well).
Friday 21 November 2008
Wednesday 19 November 2008
AWAKENING 35-39 FIN
35-39
Edna dies. Basically, that's what happens. She can't handle Robert leaving her. She realizes their relationship is just like the failed loves of her youth. The psychological stress of having Robert again and then losing him sends her over the edge. Additionally, she realizes that love and others' opinions are not enough to live for, but since she can't conceive of any other way to define herself, she can't handle the realization that she could be forever alone. She does not want to live on the opnions of her husband and children, but neither does she want to be alone so she swims out in an attempt to feel exultant like she did that one time and in control, but she goes too far and gives up and drowns very symbolically.
Edna dies. Basically, that's what happens. She can't handle Robert leaving her. She realizes their relationship is just like the failed loves of her youth. The psychological stress of having Robert again and then losing him sends her over the edge. Additionally, she realizes that love and others' opinions are not enough to live for, but since she can't conceive of any other way to define herself, she can't handle the realization that she could be forever alone. She does not want to live on the opnions of her husband and children, but neither does she want to be alone so she swims out in an attempt to feel exultant like she did that one time and in control, but she goes too far and gives up and drowns very symbolically.
AWAKENING 30-34
30-34
Edna has a dinner party. Robert comes back. Awkwardness ensues. Robert meets Arobin. Robert leaves. Arobin leaves when Edna doesn't want his presence at that moment. Many things are important about all of this. We really see clearly now how Robert feels about Edna. He loves her but he doesn't want to show it and doesn't like it when Edna tries to make him seem like he does love her. The contrast with Arobin is clear; unlike Robert, he activelys seeks Edna out even when she doesn't want him. The dinner party is awkward because of who is at it. (Creoles, the doctor, Arobin, Mrs. Highcamp, etc.) It gets weird at the end because Edna is upset when Victor sings a song that Robert used to like to sing. She doesn't want to be reminded of Robert at this party. She also doesn't want to have anything to do with Arobin immediately after the party, though he convinces her otherwise.
Edna has a dinner party. Robert comes back. Awkwardness ensues. Robert meets Arobin. Robert leaves. Arobin leaves when Edna doesn't want his presence at that moment. Many things are important about all of this. We really see clearly now how Robert feels about Edna. He loves her but he doesn't want to show it and doesn't like it when Edna tries to make him seem like he does love her. The contrast with Arobin is clear; unlike Robert, he activelys seeks Edna out even when she doesn't want him. The dinner party is awkward because of who is at it. (Creoles, the doctor, Arobin, Mrs. Highcamp, etc.) It gets weird at the end because Edna is upset when Victor sings a song that Robert used to like to sing. She doesn't want to be reminded of Robert at this party. She also doesn't want to have anything to do with Arobin immediately after the party, though he convinces her otherwise.
25-29 AWAKENING
25-29
Edna goes to the races, meets Arobin and co. She starts an affair with Arobin and decides to move out of her house and plans to have a dinner party with her husband's money. Her affair with Arobin is sort of surprising because one would think that she would remain loyal to Robert, whom she loves. She does think of him, and recognizes that she does not love Arobin, but she likes the sensations of being with him too much to follow her better judgment. She is not ashamed of what she is doing. (she doesn't broadcast it of course, we see this later when she is talking to Madame Ratignolle, because she does not want to be looked down upon by society). she did resist Arobin at first. Her desire to be 'self-sufficient' is another part of her awakening. She wants physical independence now, to an extent, not just the freedom that comes from doing what she wants, but from being on her own. She is not actually that self-sufficient however, because she has servants and she throws that dinner party with her husband's money.
Edna goes to the races, meets Arobin and co. She starts an affair with Arobin and decides to move out of her house and plans to have a dinner party with her husband's money. Her affair with Arobin is sort of surprising because one would think that she would remain loyal to Robert, whom she loves. She does think of him, and recognizes that she does not love Arobin, but she likes the sensations of being with him too much to follow her better judgment. She is not ashamed of what she is doing. (she doesn't broadcast it of course, we see this later when she is talking to Madame Ratignolle, because she does not want to be looked down upon by society). she did resist Arobin at first. Her desire to be 'self-sufficient' is another part of her awakening. She wants physical independence now, to an extent, not just the freedom that comes from doing what she wants, but from being on her own. She is not actually that self-sufficient however, because she has servants and she throws that dinner party with her husband's money.
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