Section vii- first line
“One-legged frogs”
This sentence immediately made me think of the plagues of Egypt. The whole theme surrounding this poem is obviously environmentalism and that the Earth has become plagued with uncaring habitants. Then this sentence comes into play and it brings in a religious element to the poem. In biblical times, Egypt was taken by ten plagues which were imposed by God since the Pharaoh did not want to let the israelites free from the slavery they were in. The plagues made it almost impossible to live in Egypt by turning its river water into blood, having frogs invade the land, making the livestock sick, etc. The one-legged frogs are Osbourne’s version of what will happen if we keep taking for granted Earth’s riches and we will all be punished for our harm.
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/epidemics/tp/10PlaguesEgypt.htm
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Natalia Malaver, Yohana Gonzalez, Alexandra Lopez
-From the beginning of the story, it seems very repetitive- there’s not much getting accomplished. Also, another thing worth noting is the word, “finished” on page 767.
The reason I brought up the repetitiveness in the story and the word, “finished” is because it relates to the title, “Endgame.” I believe this is all relating back to death, and its unstoppable, and sort of torturous, life. Hamm is blind and a paralytic, while Clov can’t stop trying to leave a room; they are constantly arguing in an absurd and irrational way. Shortly after, repetition is shown again in the same page, “grain upon grain, one by one, and one day, suddendly, there’s a heap, a little heap, the impossible heap.” These “grains” made me think of Hamm and Clov’s interactions. They insult and argue back and forth, which is the “grain by grain” that accumulates, and their arguing about “finishing” themselves- dying. So maybe, the “impossible heap” might be their longed for wish to die and have their “endgame” complete, but since it is impossible then they will keep trying to repeat this perpetual cycle.
I also thought the part of the conversation where Hamm says, “Nature has forgotten us.” was interesting. This is when you truly see nihilistic expression, during this conversation their misery is more and more obvious. The context surrounding this quote is of lifelessness and carelessness- their arguments get to point in which they just sound inanimate because of how redundant the conversation is. They both just want to have their life “finished” because of how deprived they are from real feelings, which is how “nature” left them.
-I actually thought that in the play “End game” by Samuel Beckett was an expression of absurdism and not nihilism. Although the characters don’t have much to live for, they continue to live their lives as if waiting for a purpose. This can be seen in the quote by Hamm in the beginning of the play “Enough it’s time it ended… And yet I hesitate, I hesitate to end. Yes, there it is it’s time it ended and yet I hesitate to—to end”. This quote signifies Hamm acknowledging it is the end of human existence, but even though he is aware of the fact that it all ended he is hesitates in ending his own life. The quote is even repeated within the same lines to point out its significance and the use of dash, helps emphasize his hesitation. If it were nihilistic, life would have no meaning regardless of what they would do and living in a dystopia, unable to see or stand, he would would have probably committed suicide. However though absurdism one still lives life as if it had a meaning and even in his current situation, Hamm continues to live although he knows it’s the end.
An example is also seen in the quote by Hamm stating to Clov “Let’s go from here, the two of us! South! You can make a raft and the currents will carry us away, far way to other…mammals!”. Here we can see Hamm is making plans with Clov to travel for the adventure and explore new sights. Although there would be no purpose in it considering they live in a dystopia and Hamm is unable to see or stand. This is absurdism because Hamm still holds that longing for wanderlust and even in his current situation Hamm continues to life as if it had a meaning.
-I think Samuel Beckett’s Endgame is indeed an expression of absurdism. Hamm does question his life and what is to come of it now that they live in this post apocalyptic world. He still searches for meaning in it and expresses a will to continue seeking out life and keeping himself busy. Hamm says “ There are days that, one isn’t inspired. Nothing you can do about it just wait for it to come… I’ve got on with it a little all the same” (787). He recognizes that although he may have his doubts about his life, he will continue to live and search just the same. I disagree with a group member who believes the story is nihilistic. I think that the repetitive discussions that Hamm and Clov have show their want of continuing life and they repeat themselves in order to find meaning, as if having these conversations over and over will bring some clarity, not because they are just conversing in a disregard less manner. These conversations don’t show disinterest in their actions, they aren’t just speaking to speak, they are seeking to find more or their lives.
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Yohana Gonzalez, Alexandra Lopez, Natalia Malaver
The second person narrative actively uses the use of “you.” This causes the audience to be more active, and to actively imagine yourself in Felipe’s position. Also what we noticed was how the use of the second person, ultimately made the reader closer to Felipe’s actions, but yet, made Felipe distance himself from his own actions. This is done in the sense that most of the time he has no idea why he is doing something, he is just doing it.
In “Aura”, Carlos Fuentes strengthens the surreal elements of his novella with the use of the second person narration. He does so in order to induce the reader’s unconscious through the use of the senses. An example of this, can be seen in the quote “But you stop when you hear the painful yowling of a number of cats—yes, you stop to listen. “ (837) This quote evokes the readers hearing, along with the use of the dash and second person narration, it emphasis the fact that it wants the reader to hear the sound. Fuentes wants the reader to become the character and view the events through his eyes, through detailed clarity. The purpose of this is to evoke the reader’s imagination forcing them to tap into their unconscious, and cause them to feel present within the novella. This is repeatedly done, through the detailed accounts of sight, touch and smell. That along with second person narration, was able to strengthen the surrealism and transfix the reader to the novella.
The use of the second person also helps strengthen the theme of lust and attraction in the story. You as the main character are able to place yourself into the shoes of Montero and lust after Aura, a girl you’ve just met. Fuentes wrote, “…occasionally shifting your glance so that Aura won’t catch you in the hypnotized stare that you can’t control. You’d like to fix the girls features in your mind” (837). You are entranced by Aura and are able to feel the narrators wonder more because you are viewing it as him. I also say lust and not love because he is attracted to her physically because he doesn’t even know her and he still wants her.
Lastly, the element of seemingly contradictory events/images, between the psych. and/or metaphysical explanation and the supernatural is incredibly reinforced by the second person narrative. When a writer is using the first or third person narrative, the reader becomes an observer. However, the contradictory events between what might be real or not is almost like being in dream-like state and maybe because it is a dream, there can’t be an observer, only the dreamer itself. I speak about Felipe being in a dream, because of his trance-like state where he is involuntarily following the course of the dream; just like we have been put through the use of the second person narrative. Felipe finally admits that he can’t control what is happening in page 851, “You lie there with your face in the pillow, waiting for what has to come, for what you can’t prevent.”
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Natalia Malaver, Yohana Gonzalez, Alexandra Lopez, Malik Indrissou
“” I’ve made my home next door to you” (p.592)
In this poem, there are two versions- the secular and sacred. It was very interesting to see that the only thing that changed in the poem was merely the distinction between “she” and “He.” Another important aspect of this poem is the constant repetition of the phrase, “without a word being said.” These two things are essential because it changes the entire view of the poem. In the secular version, it seems as though he is so in love with a woman and therefore, there is no need for words. However, in the sacred version, when it is turned to “He” it changes the entire meaning. One important detail is that the word “He” is always capitalized, thus, referring directly to God, since God’s name should be always be referred to with a capitalized letter. When you begin to think about the poem in this way, the poem begins to make more sense. Ghalib was criticizing God for his failure to actually communicate with his followers, and not provide for them. Ghalib states, “You still can’t find my whereabouts without my help, without a word being said” This is merely hinting at that human is greater than God and that we shouldn’t be looking up at someone that “rules” our lives, “without a word being said.”
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Group Members: Natalia Malaver, Alexandra Lopez, Yohana Gonzalez, Malik Indrissou
“A Carcass” by Charlie Baudelaire
“united in one”: this phrase depicts the unity of nature with death, as the carcass will soon become one with nature.
“in your turn”: the narrator is stating to his companion, that she one day she will also end up like the carcass.
“marvelous meat”: through the interesting use of word choice, the narrator is describing the beauty that is in death.
“pitiful bitch”: this phrase is talking about a dog awaiting for the narrator to leave in order to get its morsel from the carcass.
“Pulsed like a wave”: refers to the fragility that is life and how life and death flow together like water. Unable to see the separation between the two.
“Festering womb”: a womb is usually a source of life and here it is used to describe death and decay.
“‘Memory’s aid”: once we are dead we can only live through those that remember us. Only they can keep us alive by keeping us on their memories or else we’d be gone forever.
The analysis of these words/phrases leads my group to a specific interpretation by it allows us to understand the poem better without being confused. Our interpretation of the poem “A Carcass” by Charles Baudelaire, describes death as a natural part of life. He does so through the use of key words that evoke vivid imagery of the grotesque and yet beautiful nature of the carcass. That even his female companion, will eventually die and decay, becoming just like the carcass they found. However through her decomposable she will still be beautiful, because her body will be useful to the process of life by providing food for the animals. Thusly, becoming united in one with nature in the cycle of life.
We think our interpretation of the poem is relevant today because death will always be a part of our lives. Baudelaire shines light on one of humans’ most fearful thing: death. He vivid description and attention to imagery express the “beautiful” side of death that we often forget. That even in death, there is life because we will always be remembered in the memory of others and the mark we left in nature.
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- Although Molière’s Tartuffe satirizes the religious hypocrite, there is also a more subtle social statement- females are capable of reason. It is through this enlightenment belief that Dorine, Mariane, and Elmire expose the irrationality of Orgon, Tartuffe, and Valere thus demonstrating to the 17th century audience the crippling patriarchal authority.
- In the play Tartuffe, there are many lessons that made the Catholic Church appalled. Although not the biggest lesson of the religious hypocrisy of the time, Molière suggest that deceit, though immoral, could also be used for an ethical reason, as you know, the ends justify the means.
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