Month: December 2018

The meaning of New Year is distorted in China in Lu Xu’s age when people believe in ghosts, but they do not understand the real mysterious meaning of soul. They were just afraid of ghosts would take the personal fortune from them. The most important thing they asked for is their self-interests. It is bitter for me to see that the lives of humans were meaningless to others, when they ask for fortunes by the name of sacrifice. The death of a human was thought to be evil if it happened at the time of New Year; in other words, people should be blamed if they died then.

When the dehumanization becomes the customs, it is a world full of walking corpses. Few people care and console Xianglin’s wife for her loss of her husband son; they set themselves aside and look her as a crazy widow. As a woman lost all of her dependencies and lovers, if there were any help and understanding, the life for her should not be that misery. The treatments towards Xianglin’s wife is much similar towards and animals for sacrifice. What is the difference between human and animal here? The tragedy of Xianglin’s wife is the tragedy of we human being.

 

0:00-2:08

“Some of the Beauties which indeed are finely shaped, as almost all are, and who have pretty Features, are very charming and novel, for they have all that is called beauty, except the Color, which is a reddish Yellow or after a new Oiling, which they often use to themselves, they are of the color of a new Brick, but smooth, soft and sleek.”

“I have named the highest Degree of Love; for sure, great Souls are most capable of that passion.”

What does color mean to us? Why do we always judge others from their appearance? What is love? What it the deep of slavery?

The book OROONOKO represents the content regarding values of beauty, love, honor, and reveals the slavery issues. I was inspired many times by the pure idea when soaking myself into the book. It is so beautiful when Oroonoko and Imoinda keep their dignity and humanity when facing the forces and custom. They believe reasoning, justice, liberty, freedom and the feeling of love. The combination of Romance and Realism make the book a great adventure. At the same time, as the author Aphra Behn mentions at the beginning that “Though I shall omit, for Brevity’s sake, a thousand little Accidents of his Life, which, however pleasant to us, where History was scared, a World where he finds Diversions for every Minute, new and strange”, the deep issues under the surface is complicated, which we as human still fight to solve like the pursuit of freedom and happiness.

“No Age or Wrinkles should incline him to change, for her Soul would be always fine, and always young; and he should have an eternal Idea in his Mind of the Charms she now bore, and should look into his Heart for that Idea, when he could find it no longer in her Face.”

I understand how hard it is in reality to find and maintain the purity of our humanity in a world with invisible corruption. It is easy to become rigid for the public.  I was persuaded to believe the life should be boring and compromise by the name of Grown-up. Being like Oroonoko, there should be courage, deep belief and pure honor.

1:39:49-1:43:20

“Be calm! I entreat you to hear me, before you give vent to your hatred on my devoted head. Have I not suffered enough, that you seek to increase my misery? Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend for it.”                                                               – VOLUME II, CHAPTER II

In the first part of this book, I do not see many direct descriptions of this “monster”, which is more like an imagination lives in Frankenstein’s fears. Finally, the “monster” met Frankenstein and beg him to listen to his story before destroying him.

When I listened to his arguments and story, and I tried to understand his feelings and inner mind, I both happily and pitifully found out that how pure and lovely this creature is. I do not see a monster at all.

Without love and guidance, his journey began with darkness and confusion; he seeks light and happiness as we all human do. However, his experience is determined to be more challenging and heart-broken. Nobody tells him how to see, hear and feel this world; nobody accepts him, loves him or teaches him. How easy it is for him to be lost and depraved! But, he does not set aside and let the fate destroys himself.

Due to his inhuman appearance, he was treated as a devil by his creator and all the people except a blind old man and a little girl. Despite all of the despair and unfairness, he still appreciates sincerely the view of happiness of this cottage family. So limited the pleasure is that he enjoys much.

“Sometimes I wished to express my sensations in my own mode, but the uncouth and inarticulate sounds which broke from me frightened me into silence again.” “I would remain in my hovel, watching, and endeavouring to discover the motives which influenced their actions.” What I see is his pure curiosity towards this world and eagerness for love and understanding. My dear “monster”, you do nothing wrong; you are a guiltless child in my eyes. Please accept and love yourself no matter how the world see you; please keep your warmth and compassion; please explore who you are in your deep heart and embrace it.