World Literature

“I pursued my undertaking with unremitting ardor. My cheeks had grown pale with study, and my person had become emaciated with confinement. Sometimes on the very brink of certainty, I failed, yet still I clung to the very hope which the next day or the next hour might realize.”

In this passage, Mary Shelley, gives us a bit of insight on how determined Victor’s character really is, showing us why this experiment is the one worth all his concern. By this far in the book, we are already very familiar with Victor’s fascination with science. But here we are more than able to see how persistent he really was. The passage uncovers that he did in fact have some difficulties in the very beginning. But, He had a vision and Victor did not stop until he got it right. He was so intensely involved that he managed to shut himself off from the world, with what I assume was having very little to no communication at all with a soul outside of his experiment. When he observes, “My cheeks grew pale with study” this only reveals to the reader how intrigued he was and explained why “he clung to hope” when things did not add up. At this point he was so lost at being this perfectionist that isolation just made a lot more of sense to him rather than not until he succeeded.

Chapter 15 quote:

“What did this mean? Who was I? What was I? Whence did I come? What was my destination?”

During this time, the monster had found himself a suitcase with various items one being books. Throughout the chapter the monster tried to figure out who he was by studying the characters and connecting it back to himself in the books he had found. After reading the books, the monster describes his sympathetic feelings towards what he had read. The monster says that he found himself “similar yet at the same time strangely unlike to the beings” he had read about. Just the fact that the monster is able to feel, whether it be things he has experienced himself or not, gives this so called “monster” more human features. The feelings that arouse through his reading made him question his own existence by doing so he demonstrates that he does acquire basic human needs; the need to understand. As mentioned in class, this book was written during the time of the Scientific Revolution and one of the things that came from this revolution was the scientific method. The scientific method is used to be able to answer any questions that arise, that being the case, the monster is able to apply the first step to this scientific method by asking questions like the one quoted above. Only human beings are able to decipher feelings and be curious about the world around them, which is something the monster displays when expressing his feelings towards the reading and his questioning his actuality and his reality.

Darren Koomson

Blog Post #1

“My temper was sometimes violent, and my passions vehement; but by some law in my temperature they were turned not towards childish pursuits but to an eager desire to learn, and not to learn all things indiscriminately.”

This passage in the book Frankenstein by Mary Sheller the title character is discussing what his strongest desires were in life especially as a child growing up. A lot of his curiosity led to him to wanting to learn more and not just consume what his elders would tell him. His anger and passion was more so in the form of researching and studying and less so towards “childish pursuits” he states. In my interpretation childish pursuits meant him not being mad at things like not getting something he wanted or throwing temper tantrums as a common child would do.

He goes on further to say that about his desire to learn and not to learn all things ‘indiscriminately’. I think what he is saying is that in his pursuit to learn more there was purpose in doing so and not doing so in a random manner. His pursuits in the education he was seeking was more calculated. The language of that passage read to myself that he was that his ambitious in his desires even at an early age which is rare to recognize in a child. This thinking is what I think lead him to create the “monster” he created when he grew older. I believe what the narrator is trying to reveal to the reader is what led him to become this obsessed “mad scientist” that readers would often characterize him as.

Quote:

“I do therefore humbly offer it to public consideration, that of the hundred and twenty thousand children already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed… that remaining hundred thousand may, at a year old, be offered in sale to the persons of quality and fortune through the kingdom”

Throughout this paragraph, Swift provides quite a few statistics about births in Ireland, this I believe is to give the essay more of a comedic effect.  Since this essay was intended to be a satire and calling for a genocide isn’t such a “modest proposal,” one way to attempt to make this subject matter funny is to really try to sell this idea to people.  Throughout this essay, Swift routinely ignores the sheer cost of lives and instead talks about the benefits of fewer Catholics, less spent on resources to keep children alive, and the encouragement of marriage.

In this paragraph, Swift uses the word savage to describe the Irish people, even comparing the lack of marriage among Irish families to the breeding of swine, sheep, and black cattle.  Swift uses this derogatory language to back up his proposal, and to draw comparisons as to how the British landlords treated Irish peasants.

Brian Leisen

Blog Post-September 7^th

Comparative Literature 2850-HTRA

Passage:

But as to myself, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of success, I fortunately fell upon this proposal, which, as it is wholly new, so it hath something solid and real, of no expense and little trouble, full in our own power, and whereby we can incur no danger in disobliging England. For this kind of commodity will not bear exportation, the flesh being of too tender a consistence in salt, although perhaps I could name a country which would be glad to eat up our whole nation without it.

               This passage from Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal specifically addresses the biggest contributor to the impoverished kingdom of Ireland in the 18^th century. The passage is able to convey that a disengaged English government has raped Ireland for exclusive benefit at the expense of the Catholic majority.

The first two lines stating that Swift has become exhausted from “vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of success.” The language describing his efforts alludes to any proposal from England to bring relief to Ireland in the past has been thoughtless, disengaged fantasy that has never been implemented or hasn’t attributed any relief to the Irish people.

More Importantly, Swift states that this “modest proposal” is “of no expense and little trouble, full in our own power, and whereby we can incur no danger in disobliging England.” The sentence brings light to previous prosperities that were ripped away from the Irish from the English Woolen and Navigation Acts. These laws crippled Ireland’s export industry by banning them to compete with England’s exports or ensuring that their exports benefitted England exclusively.

Lastly, Swift ends the passage with “although perhaps I could name a country (England) which would be glad to eat up our whole nation without it.” Swift is once again saying that England would bring about the total destruction of Ireland if it would help England prosper in any way. Swift once again highlights that the suffering in Ireland is occurring because England is ensuring that any chance that the Irish Catholics have of prosperity will be thwarted for England’s own exclusive benefit.

Swift is trying to convey that even as outlandish as this proposal is, it could still not save Ireland from the clutches of the crushing English policies in place. To demonstrate how grave and serious the issue is, Swift states that despite this satirical solution, Ireland will still be susceptible to total destruction because of England’s harsh exploitation.

Explain how Swift uses irony in order to make his point in “A Modest Proposal.”  Who or what is the target of his irony?  Why might irony be more effective than a straightforward argument?

One page, double-spaced.  Due September 12.  Please save it to your dropbox folder.

Brian Leisen

Blog Post September 7^th

Comparative Literature 2850-HTRA

Passage:

Tartuffe: ‘Twould never occur to those who would know me best To think I acted from self-interest. The treasures of this world I quite despise; Their specious glitter does not charm my eyes; And if I have resigned myself to taking The gift which my dear Brother insists on making, I do so only, as he well understands, Lest so much wealth fall into wicked hands, lest those to whom it might descend in time Turn it to purposes of sin and crime, And not, as I shall do, make use of it For Heaven’s glory and mankind’s benefit.

Cleante: Forget these trumped-up fears. Your argument Is one the rightful heir might well resent; It is moral burden to inherit Such wealth, but give Damis his chance to bear it. And would it not be worse to be accused Of swindling, than to see that wealth misused? I’m shocked that you allowed Orgon to broach This matter, and that you feel no self-reproach; Does religion teach that lawful heir May freely be deprived of what is theirs? And if the Lord has told you in your heart That you and young Damis must dwell apart, Would it not be the decent thing to beat A generous and honorable retreat, Rather than let the son of the house be sent, For your convenience, into banishment? Sir, if you wish to prove the honesty of your intentions…

Tartuffe: Sir, it is half-past three. I’ve certain pious duties to attend to, And hope my prompt departure won’t offend you. (page 273-274, Act Four, Scene One)

The final passage, which ended the conversation between Cleante and Tartuffe regarding his newly acquired inheritance, is slightly out of character for Tartuffe. It is the first time that Tartuffe does not have an agreeable response with what the other character is saying. Tartuffe makes an argument to Cleante on why he should take the inheritance (273) and cuts off Cleante’s rebuttal with this response. In addition, his reasoning of “certain pious duties” is not only ambiguous but ironic. The break in character is an illumination of Tartuffe’s true intentions.

The break in character alone shows that Tartuffe believes he has completed his primary goal of stealing Orgon’s fortune. Even though Tartuffe gave a “righteous” explanation as to why he should have the inheritance, the fact that he made the argument alone as opposed to going along with Cleante hints that his interest is in Orgon’s fortune. Evidence of this is shown by how he reacts to conflicts with coming onto Elmire and his arranged marriage with Mariane. In both scenarios, Tartuffe bends in agreeance with what the other characters want. Once he knows that Orgon’s fortune is his, Tartuffe stands firm for the first time in the play.

Not only does Tartuffe make an argument that aligns with his self-interest, the passage is an interjection, cutting off Cleante as he makes a case for why Tartuffe should not have the inheritance. This further fortifies that Tartuffe believes he no longer has to submissively bend to the will of others for the sake of being well received because he believes he has Orgon’s fortune. The wording alone displays confidence and a slight disregard for keeping up his ongoing charade that could even be characterized as sloppy because it poorly masks Tartuffe’s true intentions. When you take away the playful language and paraphrase, it is as if someone cut you off mid-sentence and said “Ok, it’s late, I have other great things I need to be doing, hope you don’t mind.” The interjection shows that Tartuffe is about done pretending because he believes he finally has what he wants.

The ironic part of what Tartuffe said was the use of the word pious. Although pious can mean devoutly religious, one of its dictionary definitions  is a hypocritical display of virtue.  Tartuffe, however, does not intend for the word to convey hypocrisy.  It is Moliere who hints at Tartuffe’s true nature by using this word, which has another more derogatory meaning.   In fact, it has now become extremely apparent that Tartuffe is a hypocrite at this point in the play. In addition, to state that he has devoutly religious things he should be doing is ridiculous in itself, which further fortifies that Tartuffe is becoming careless because he is confident that he has acquired Orgon’s fortune.