Comparison of “Spending the Night in a Tower by the River” & “I’m Not Alone”
After reading “Spending the Night in a Tower by the River” by Tu Fu I was reminded of the song “I’m Not Alone” by Calvin Harris. In “Spending the Night” the narrator is situated in the study on top tower observing his surroundings. Tu Fu’s poem invokes a sense of contemplation and isolation. The song “I’m Not Alone” also invokes a sense of reflection, isolation, and nostalgia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7KaMBXEXBA
In “I’m Not Alone” the singer is constantly asking if he can keep up with his lifestyle while trying to convince himself that he is not alone. I think the narrator in Tu Fu’s poem is alone at night without being able to sleep because he “[worries] over battles.” Both works invoke a sense of being insignificant in the universe. The last line of “Spending the Night” is “I have no strength to right the universe.” The narrator feels that he is to small to correct the wrongs in the universe. That same feeling is shown in “I’m Not Alone” when the singer sings:
God, I can’t do this any more
Though I’ll be laid down on the floor
As many feet walk through the door
I’m not alone.
Tu Fu’s poem was written around the year c. 760, while “I’m Not Alone” was written 2009. It is interesting that throughout time humans have always questioned their significance in the universe, only to realize that we are very small and almost insignificant in the spectrum. I enjoyed reading Tu Fu’s poem because his style was easy to read which allows you to transport to the narrator’s point of view.
I think it is interesting that the same themes can always be found in literary works over many centuries and across the globe. This is something I brought up in my own post. Whether it is questioning your existence in the universe or the role of women in the home/work, we all ask ourselves the same questions. To me, this instills a sense of community; as humans, we are all connected.
This is a great comparison between two great works. They were both searching for themselves in this great big world. We this throughout history as we are always making new discoveries in the world. We are realizing how we’re not alone there is always something else to be discovered.