Great Works I: Remixing Memory

The first difference I noticed between the poems was the part when they describe her husband leaving her. Focusing on Pound said “You dragged your feet when you went”. From Pound I’m portraying her husband doesn’t want to go as stated “Dragged your feet”. You can get that  he doesn’t want to leave his wife. And W.J.B Fletcher “That Parting at Ch’ang Kan” and Ezra Li Po “The River-Merchant’s Wife: A Letter” descriptions they both paints two different sceneries. Fletcher Stated “Before the door, where stood your parting feet”(19). Reading this line you catch no emotion from her husband.

The Second difference I captured was between Pounds poem and Shigeyoshi Obata “Two Letters From Chang-Kan-I”. Looking at Pound’s poem she stated “At sixteen you departed” (15). And for that same scene Obata translated it as “I was sixteen when you went on a long journey” (18). Pound’s doesn’t have much description in her sentence, But as you read Obata you get details. That he didn’t just left he actually went faraway from her. The advantage about Obata poem you can feel the depression from that line that her husband is going to be away for a while.

Lastly paying attention to the end of the poems to the line where the wife states that she will wait for him and meet him, tmost of them states where she wants to meet her husband. “Ch’ang Kan”  it said “I will go straight until I reach the Long Wind Sands” (30) and Fletcher has “Across the sand the wind flies straight to greet”(30).  In my opinion Fletcher is describing this place call “Long Winds Sand”.

From reading all the translation of Chang Kan, I have to say Shigeyoshi Obata “Two Letters From Chang-Kan-I” is my favorite. I was able to understand the intentions of the poem better and understand what line meant, as to comparing it to W.J.B Fletcher who’s poem was written in an ancient time language.

The painting is really focusing on the scene when the evil Ravana is trying to capture Rama beautiful wife, Sita. I chose this illustration because this was the image that attracted me the most. Looking at this painting that focuses on how Ravana transforms  into someone else reminds me of The Odyssey, comparing Ravana to Athena, She also had the ability of a shifter. In this illustration the artist forces is audience to observe Sita and Ravana actions. Ravana is drawn in the position as a beggar. You can get a sense as if his trying to convey Sita to trust him. Then Sita is basically expressing her rejection from him. The action on how people are drawn or are shown are very important because it affects how the audiences thinks and portraying there opinions. Looking at Sita’s hands and arms, as well as position depicts her rejection towards the Ravana. One her arms are out towards him and palms are facing him, meaning no. And second her head is turned to the other direction, turning away from him. Sita’s beauty is very much portrayed in this illustration. Her beautify is emphasized in the poem and it’s the reason why Ravana is obsessed with her. The artist draws her looking very attractive, but whats interesting is how he clothed her. She is wearing a long skirt that’s hiding her legs with a see through top exposing her breast. The forest is shown in the background making it be very peaceful but your not attentive to that. Your attention is how invasive Ravana is with Sita.

Reading this scene in the poem is not how i was imaging it in my mind. The transformation or Ravana is how I image him to look, illustrated to look kind and similar type. From the poem I had the image of Sita not being rejecting.”I am a sanyasi. I cannot enter your home. To accept your gracious offering you must leave your home.” She didn’t not get any feeling of bring harmed. I seen her as she took pity of the Ravana who was in  disguised. The image doesn’t portray how he was able to fool Rita in to capturing her. And also looking the throne with carpet that’s surrounding her in this image is was quite told in the story. I assumed that the throne he drew represents the home of her’s.

Reading through book 9 pages 211-229, Odyssey takes the time to tell his story about his voyage that lead him to where his standing today in Phaeacians’s Kingdom. As Odysseus tell about his adventure in the city of Cicones’ and the land of Cyclops it was brought to my attention how the ancient greek culture value of Xenia in Odyssey can be quite disturbing and intruding. The question that was brought to attention throughout Book 9 reading was is disobeying the Greek culture, Xenia, such a bad thing. Zeus being greek god , protector of travelers, holding xenon as a law being a concept of hospitality that has to be devoted to travelers. To allow strangers into your home having no jurisdiction or say.

The Cicones felt invaded and offended at Odysseus’s and his men who assumed to be squatting and feasting in the their home “There was too much wine to swill, too many sheep to slaughter…”(213) From this Cicones didn’t show much hospitality towards their visitor. As the warriors ate the “Cicones sought out other other Cicones”(213) and attacked Odysseus and his men “broke our lines and beats lies down at last”(213). Chased out off Ismarus island and coming across the land of Cyclops, encounter the same situation which is becoming very redundant for Odysseus’s and his men. The confrontation between the one-eyed beast, Polyphemus, and the Odysseus’s and his men is the centerpiece of how the greek culture of Xenia is not followed in everyones household. As the one-eyed beast is provoked by their presence Odysseus try to remind the beast Xenia law of the geeks “respect the gods, my friend. We’re suppliants…Zeus of Strangers guards all guest and suppliants:strangers are sacred-Zeus will avenge their rights!”(220) But Polyphemus challenges and responds “must be a fool, strangers…telling me to fear the gods or avoid their worth.”(220). This scene in Book 9 is essentially important for Odysseus as he intends to seek vigorous o Suitor who are invading his home where whom his wife Penelope tends to be home alone with.