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.
Friday, 7 November 2008
Awakening 20-24
Edna finds Mademoiselle Reisz, probably because she feels that Reisz is also distant in a way from society. When she finds her, she persuades her to give her a letter from Robert. Mademoiselle Reisz plays an Impromptu. The combination of the music and the letter makes Edna cry because she feels Robert's absence very strongly.
I find it interesting that although the Doctor suspects that Edna has a lover or feels that she wants one, he still advises Mr. Pontellier to let her do what she wants and that 'it' will pass. Perhaps he doesn't understand the strength of Edna's feelings (which I doubt) or he feels sympathetic to her.
Edna's father visits too. And then everyone leaves and Edna is happy to be alone.
I find it interesting that although the Doctor suspects that Edna has a lover or feels that she wants one, he still advises Mr. Pontellier to let her do what she wants and that 'it' will pass. Perhaps he doesn't understand the strength of Edna's feelings (which I doubt) or he feels sympathetic to her.
Edna's father visits too. And then everyone leaves and Edna is happy to be alone.
Awakening 15-19
(I didn't know the word bedlam came from an insane asylum by that name. Footnotes are interesting. I didn't know what the word befurbelowed meant either.)
During the scene where Edna finds out Robert is leaving, the tension at the table is so obvious that it really makes one appreciate the difference between society now and then. Reading this book today, it's obvious what's going on between Robert and Edna (or what will go on) but back then that scene would just be a bit strange, and the one where Robert says goodbye.
Edna also begins to break social conventions in a more noticeable manner, like skipping her reception days. She also displays feelings of resentment against the way she has to live and shows it by stamping on her wedding ring and smashing a vase. Her dislike of being married is made clearer when she visits Madame Ratignolle.
During the scene where Edna finds out Robert is leaving, the tension at the table is so obvious that it really makes one appreciate the difference between society now and then. Reading this book today, it's obvious what's going on between Robert and Edna (or what will go on) but back then that scene would just be a bit strange, and the one where Robert says goodbye.
Edna also begins to break social conventions in a more noticeable manner, like skipping her reception days. She also displays feelings of resentment against the way she has to live and shows it by stamping on her wedding ring and smashing a vase. Her dislike of being married is made clearer when she visits Madame Ratignolle.
Awakening 10-14
Ch 10-14, Ch 15-19, and Ch 20-24
Having now read the entire book, that scene where Edna is really swimming in the water for the first time is much more interesting. It sort of foreshadows the end in a way.
The scene where she refuses to go inside the house when her husband tells her to is interesting because at the end, he does not go in when she asks him if he is going to when she goes in. It makes the whole scene slightly pointless in achievement, but it is the first time Edna really does what she wants to purposefully.
Edna's journey to the island or wherever is one of the weirder parts of the book. It's told in a sort of vague way, as if Edna is dreaming it.
Also: I just realized this about ch 9. The song that Mademoiselle Reisz plays at the end is by Frederc Chopin. Did Kate Chopin choose a composer with the same last name as her for a reason? Maybe to relate Mademoiselle Reisz with her? It's interesting to think about.
Having now read the entire book, that scene where Edna is really swimming in the water for the first time is much more interesting. It sort of foreshadows the end in a way.
The scene where she refuses to go inside the house when her husband tells her to is interesting because at the end, he does not go in when she asks him if he is going to when she goes in. It makes the whole scene slightly pointless in achievement, but it is the first time Edna really does what she wants to purposefully.
Edna's journey to the island or wherever is one of the weirder parts of the book. It's told in a sort of vague way, as if Edna is dreaming it.
Also: I just realized this about ch 9. The song that Mademoiselle Reisz plays at the end is by Frederc Chopin. Did Kate Chopin choose a composer with the same last name as her for a reason? Maybe to relate Mademoiselle Reisz with her? It's interesting to think about.
Friday, 31 October 2008
Awakening 2
A lot of stuff happened and characters were introduced. I like this book, actually. I'm not sure why; it's not my normal type of book. I just think it's interesting.
I thought that the conversation between Madame Ratignolle and Robert was interesting. In class, we learned that how it would be unthinkable for a Creole woman to have an affair. Madame Ratignolle's assumption that Edna could still do this is fairly shocking, then. It shows that Ratignolle, despite being Edna's friend, considers her just an American who wouldn't know any better. While true, it is still not something you'd think your friend would say about you.
I thought that the conversation between Madame Ratignolle and Robert was interesting. In class, we learned that how it would be unthinkable for a Creole woman to have an affair. Madame Ratignolle's assumption that Edna could still do this is fairly shocking, then. It shows that Ratignolle, despite being Edna's friend, considers her just an American who wouldn't know any better. While true, it is still not something you'd think your friend would say about you.
Awakening 1
I could not find any bird imagery, or if there was, I didn't see it.
The only reference to water was that they were on an island at the beach.
Madame Ratignolle is Edna's friend. She is described as a 'mother-woman' and the perfect Creole woman. She has three children and is married. She presumably has a high place in society, being a Creole, but lower than the male Creoles, since that was their society. There is also the 'quadroon' nurse to Edna's children. She has a low place in society. She does not play much of a role.
Of male characters, there are Robert, Mr. Pontellier, Edna's children and X. Robert is Edna's friend. He is 'young'. He talks to her a lot. She spends most of her time with him. He has a high place in society, being a Creole man. Edna is attracted to him. Mr. Pontellier is Edna's husband, with a high place in society. He views Edna as a piece of his property, though he feels that he loves her. Edna does not love him. Occasionally, she feels trapped and constrained by him. Edna's children are her children. Since they are Creoles, they are 'upper class', but being children, aren't exactly part of 'society'. Edna does not obsessively love them. She is fond of them and occasionally both ignores and dotes on them, but does not display the typical Creole overly obsessive love for them.
The only reference to water was that they were on an island at the beach.
Madame Ratignolle is Edna's friend. She is described as a 'mother-woman' and the perfect Creole woman. She has three children and is married. She presumably has a high place in society, being a Creole, but lower than the male Creoles, since that was their society. There is also the 'quadroon' nurse to Edna's children. She has a low place in society. She does not play much of a role.
Of male characters, there are Robert, Mr. Pontellier, Edna's children and X. Robert is Edna's friend. He is 'young'. He talks to her a lot. She spends most of her time with him. He has a high place in society, being a Creole man. Edna is attracted to him. Mr. Pontellier is Edna's husband, with a high place in society. He views Edna as a piece of his property, though he feels that he loves her. Edna does not love him. Occasionally, she feels trapped and constrained by him. Edna's children are her children. Since they are Creoles, they are 'upper class', but being children, aren't exactly part of 'society'. Edna does not obsessively love them. She is fond of them and occasionally both ignores and dotes on them, but does not display the typical Creole overly obsessive love for them.
Lost Brother
Lost Brother
I knew that tree was my lost brother
when I heard he was cut down
at four thousand eight hundred sixty-two years;
I know we had the same mother.
His death pained me. I made up a story.
I realized, when I saw his photograph,
he was an evergreen, a bristlecone like me,
who had lived from an early age
with a certain amount of dieback,
at impossible locations, at elevations
over ten thousand feet in extreme weather.
His company: other conifers,
the rosy finch, the rock wren, the raven and clouds,
blue and silver insects that fed mostly off each other.
Some years bighorn sheep visited in summer—
he was entertained by red bats, black-tailed jackrabbits,
horned lizards, the creatures old and young he sheltered.
Beside him in the shade, pink mountain pennyroyal—
to his south, white angelica.
I am prepared to live as long as he did
(it would please our mother),
live with clouds and those I love
suffering with God.
Sooner or later, some bag of wind will cut me down.
—Stanley Moss
This is a poem about a man (the poet) who heard that a really old tree was cut down. He relates himself to the tree, calling it his lost brother because they had the same mother. The mother that the poet speaks of is 'Mother Earth'. The poet tries to envision the tree's life in order to come to terms with its death. The poet's reference to living as long as the tree is not literal. Presumably, he means that he will live in heaven. 'Suffering with God' is an odd sentence. Perhaps it is because the poet thinks that life is a better place than death in heaven. I like the last line the most because of the phrase 'bag of wind'. It could be a deliberately vague reference to anything that could kill him (this relates to trees because a strong wind will blow a tree down) Additionally, a 'windbag' is a derogatory term for someone who talks a lot about nothing meaningful. It sort of means 'pompous idiot'. Since the poet is presumably a literary, intelligent person, it's sort of funny that he thinks such people will kill him. It could be sort of a veiled insult.
(FYI: I really really really hate poetry. It's just a bunch of words thrown together in an ungrammatical order that can be construed to mean whatever you want it to. A kindgergartner could throw together a string of random words and call it poetry, and if you didn't know who had written it, you would believe that it was real. Poetry is a way of saying what you mean in the weirdest, vaguest, most incomprehensible way possible. It does not appeal to me. I hate being forced to 'understand' something that has been willfully encoded in unsentences and unparagraphs and ungrammar. It's more like decrypting a secret spy-message than reading and appreciating great thoughts and ideas. Therefore, I have an incredibly difficult time writing about poems because I hate them, I don't care about them and the ones on our list are either extra-super-random (or so deep that it is brain-defyingly beyond my ability to comprehend) or too obvious to write much about or just plain weird.)
(Sorry about the rant. I just do not like poetry at all. There is occasionally a phrase or a poem I will enjoy, but 99.9% of the time, I hate poetry.)
I knew that tree was my lost brother
when I heard he was cut down
at four thousand eight hundred sixty-two years;
I know we had the same mother.
His death pained me. I made up a story.
I realized, when I saw his photograph,
he was an evergreen, a bristlecone like me,
who had lived from an early age
with a certain amount of dieback,
at impossible locations, at elevations
over ten thousand feet in extreme weather.
His company: other conifers,
the rosy finch, the rock wren, the raven and clouds,
blue and silver insects that fed mostly off each other.
Some years bighorn sheep visited in summer—
he was entertained by red bats, black-tailed jackrabbits,
horned lizards, the creatures old and young he sheltered.
Beside him in the shade, pink mountain pennyroyal—
to his south, white angelica.
I am prepared to live as long as he did
(it would please our mother),
live with clouds and those I love
suffering with God.
Sooner or later, some bag of wind will cut me down.
—Stanley Moss
This is a poem about a man (the poet) who heard that a really old tree was cut down. He relates himself to the tree, calling it his lost brother because they had the same mother. The mother that the poet speaks of is 'Mother Earth'. The poet tries to envision the tree's life in order to come to terms with its death. The poet's reference to living as long as the tree is not literal. Presumably, he means that he will live in heaven. 'Suffering with God' is an odd sentence. Perhaps it is because the poet thinks that life is a better place than death in heaven. I like the last line the most because of the phrase 'bag of wind'. It could be a deliberately vague reference to anything that could kill him (this relates to trees because a strong wind will blow a tree down) Additionally, a 'windbag' is a derogatory term for someone who talks a lot about nothing meaningful. It sort of means 'pompous idiot'. Since the poet is presumably a literary, intelligent person, it's sort of funny that he thinks such people will kill him. It could be sort of a veiled insult.
(FYI: I really really really hate poetry. It's just a bunch of words thrown together in an ungrammatical order that can be construed to mean whatever you want it to. A kindgergartner could throw together a string of random words and call it poetry, and if you didn't know who had written it, you would believe that it was real. Poetry is a way of saying what you mean in the weirdest, vaguest, most incomprehensible way possible. It does not appeal to me. I hate being forced to 'understand' something that has been willfully encoded in unsentences and unparagraphs and ungrammar. It's more like decrypting a secret spy-message than reading and appreciating great thoughts and ideas. Therefore, I have an incredibly difficult time writing about poems because I hate them, I don't care about them and the ones on our list are either extra-super-random (or so deep that it is brain-defyingly beyond my ability to comprehend) or too obvious to write much about or just plain weird.)
(Sorry about the rant. I just do not like poetry at all. There is occasionally a phrase or a poem I will enjoy, but 99.9% of the time, I hate poetry.)
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