Mill was a very well educated young man. His parents forced him to stick to his studies, and made him tutor his younger siblings to be sure he was understanding everything he was learning. I was in awe by how intelligent Mill was. I was also very intrigued by the radical he was. It is strange to see someone come from a good background with a privileged upbringing turn out to be so radical. He "advocated sexual equality, the right to divorce, universal suffrage, free speech, and proportional representation"(513). These topics that he was advocating were very different than what people are used to. I think it is hard to fully comprehend how radical these ideas are because we have not lived in a time without having these privileges. Perhaps sometimes we take for granted these rights that we currently have today without giving enough recognition to people like Mill who advocated these ideas making it possible to live the lives we currently lead. It is hard not to respect a man that went against the grain of society to try to make changes for the better. I really enjoyed Mill because he was so straight forward and to the point. I am a very no nonsense kind of person, so this style of writing appeals to me.
In Mill's work "On Liberty", he discusses opinions and how important they can be. Mill makes some very interesting arguments in this section. He states, "If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."(515). In this section, Mill is trying to make the reader realize that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. You do not need to conform to what the majority thinks, and the majority should not put pressure on you to conform. Mill uses the word power here, which is perhaps referring to how powerful majority can be and how cruel individuals can be if you do not share their same beliefs. It could also be referring to the government and the upper class people in society. Because these people have power, they get to make the decisions, but that does not give them the right to silence the opinions of the others.
Mills goes on to discuss why different opinions are so important. He writes, "But the peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent form the opinion, still more that those who hold it."(515). Mill believes that oppressing or even withholding different opinions does a disservice to society in the present and the future generations to come. I think if opinions that go against the grain are oppressed then society will never evolve. I know that many people are resistant to change because they like the security that comes with the lives they currently have. However, if no one ever gave an opinion that was different from the norm there would be no progression; I think society would be at a standstill.
He goes even further to state, "If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error."(515). Here Mill is trying to provide further evidence of how important it is to share different opinions and keep an open mind when listening to these opinions. Perhaps listening to something new will bring truth...you could see an issue from a different perspective and find a new truth. If that new opinion, however, does not bring new truth, it will be able to give people more confidence in their current beliefs because they know that they have examined it deeply and solidified their truth. This was very interesting to me because I really enjoy listening to other peoples opinions and exploring them deeply to be sure that I am confident with my beliefs. One thing I really related this to was religion. I do not understand how people can be so sure of their own faith when they know nothing about all the other faiths that exist. I think sometimes understanding all the options that are available makes your beliefs stronger. I think it is important to understand completely what you believe in and to do that, you must consider all aspects of those beliefs...even differing ones.
Another quote that really stood out to me was, "Wrong opinions and practices gradually lead to fact and argument: but facts and arguments, to produce any effect on the mind, must be brought before it."(516). Here Mill is just again emphasizing how important it is to keep an open mind. Although change is hard, it is important to listen to other ideas because they could bring you to a new truth. If, however, you never give these ideas a chance you will not be able to evolve and find truth because you will be stuck in your ways.
At the end of Chapter 2 of "On Liberty", Mill uses his straight forward style to summarize his main points to be sure the reader understood just what he was trying to say. He says first that people must not be afraid to stand up for what they believe in and share their opinions. Second he says that it is important to listen to the opinions of others because even if they do not contain whole truths, they may contain partial truths which can lead to new ideas. Third, he tries to get the reader to understand that these alternate opinions are not just good for helping the individual grow, but they are also a necessity for helping a society grow. As I discussed earlier, I think this is so true. Too many times people just join the majority because it is hard to stand up and separate yourself from the crowd. It is so important, though, to have people who are willing to do this...and also to have people who will listen... or society will never evolve.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Robert Browning
Robert Browning was not quite what I was expecting. He differentiated himself from the other authors we have read because he added unexpected twists into his works. It was very hard to guess what was going to happen because just when you thought you had it figured out, something would change and the story would take an entirely new direction. I saw this pattern was especially relevant in "Porphyria's Lover". Porphyria's Lover begins as a love story and takes a turn for the worse as it ends in a murder.
The poem begins with a rainy, somber day which in hindsight is not typical of most love stories. It states, "The rain set early in to-night,/ The sullen wind was soon awake,/ It tore the elm-tops down for spite,/ And did its worst to vex the lake:"(1-4). There was a horrible storm that damaged the lake and the surrounding trees. This storm clearly must have been violent to cause so much damage, and this is not how most love stories begin. Normally there is some type of serene setting that gets the reader in the mood for the story...this storm does set the tone for the rest of the poem, but it is just not the tone that the reader is expecting to find.
The poem goes on the discuss Porphyria's entrance to the house. I thought this entrance was a little strange. It almost seemed as if he was mad at her for something and she had to make him acknowledge her. Browning writes, "And, last, she sat down by my side/ And called me. When no voice replied/ She put my arm about her waist, /And made her smooth white shoulder bare,/ And all her yellow hair displaced,/ And, stooping, made my cheek lie there,"(14-19). I do not think that this is a typical description of how someone would act when their lover returned home. He essentially ignored her and she "made"(as it states in line 19) him acknowledge her. When in love, one does not usually say that the other person made them do something involving affection.
I think as the poem goes on, the reader begins to see that Porphyria is madly in love with the narrator, but he may not feel as strongly about her. Lines 33 through 35 state, "Porphyra worshiped me; surprise/ Made my heart swell, and still it grew/ While I debated what to do.". He realized how important he was to her, and I think he was flattered to be in that position, but he did not know how to react. Later he states,"In one long yellow string I wound/ Three times her little throat around,/ And strangled her."(39-41). The narrator found a solution to his problem. He decided to kill her which seems very far fetched, but I think that he was so caught up in the moment that he wanted to keep it forever. He never wanted to lose that moment with her, so he killed her and laid with her the remainder of the night. He rationalizes his decision which is made clear in lines 41 and 42 when he says, "No pain felt she;/I am quite sure she felt no pain.". I think this shows that he did care for her because he did not want her to suffer, but he wanted to preserve that moment in time and this was the only way he found possible.
Another thing that I thought about (which could be completely of base) was that he did love her, but that he could not remain faithful to her. In lines 25 to 27 Browning writes, "And give herself to me for ever./ But passion sometimes would prevail, /Nor could to-night's gay feast restrain". To me these lines could be showing that Porphyria was crazy about the narrator and promised herself to him, but his passion would not always allow him to be faithful. He could have felt guilty about not staying faithful which made him feel sorry for her. He killed her so that she could stay in that moment forever. I don't know if this is at all accurate, but it is just something that crossed my mind as I was reading it.
The poem begins with a rainy, somber day which in hindsight is not typical of most love stories. It states, "The rain set early in to-night,/ The sullen wind was soon awake,/ It tore the elm-tops down for spite,/ And did its worst to vex the lake:"(1-4). There was a horrible storm that damaged the lake and the surrounding trees. This storm clearly must have been violent to cause so much damage, and this is not how most love stories begin. Normally there is some type of serene setting that gets the reader in the mood for the story...this storm does set the tone for the rest of the poem, but it is just not the tone that the reader is expecting to find.
The poem goes on the discuss Porphyria's entrance to the house. I thought this entrance was a little strange. It almost seemed as if he was mad at her for something and she had to make him acknowledge her. Browning writes, "And, last, she sat down by my side/ And called me. When no voice replied/ She put my arm about her waist, /And made her smooth white shoulder bare,/ And all her yellow hair displaced,/ And, stooping, made my cheek lie there,"(14-19). I do not think that this is a typical description of how someone would act when their lover returned home. He essentially ignored her and she "made"(as it states in line 19) him acknowledge her. When in love, one does not usually say that the other person made them do something involving affection.
I think as the poem goes on, the reader begins to see that Porphyria is madly in love with the narrator, but he may not feel as strongly about her. Lines 33 through 35 state, "Porphyra worshiped me; surprise/ Made my heart swell, and still it grew/ While I debated what to do.". He realized how important he was to her, and I think he was flattered to be in that position, but he did not know how to react. Later he states,"In one long yellow string I wound/ Three times her little throat around,/ And strangled her."(39-41). The narrator found a solution to his problem. He decided to kill her which seems very far fetched, but I think that he was so caught up in the moment that he wanted to keep it forever. He never wanted to lose that moment with her, so he killed her and laid with her the remainder of the night. He rationalizes his decision which is made clear in lines 41 and 42 when he says, "No pain felt she;/I am quite sure she felt no pain.". I think this shows that he did care for her because he did not want her to suffer, but he wanted to preserve that moment in time and this was the only way he found possible.
Another thing that I thought about (which could be completely of base) was that he did love her, but that he could not remain faithful to her. In lines 25 to 27 Browning writes, "And give herself to me for ever./ But passion sometimes would prevail, /Nor could to-night's gay feast restrain". To me these lines could be showing that Porphyria was crazy about the narrator and promised herself to him, but his passion would not always allow him to be faithful. He could have felt guilty about not staying faithful which made him feel sorry for her. He killed her so that she could stay in that moment forever. I don't know if this is at all accurate, but it is just something that crossed my mind as I was reading it.
Tennyson
Reading about Tennyson was very interesting...he had so many ups and downs in his life that it is amazing he was able to stay focused on his work and accomplish all that he did. As I read the very first quote of Tennyson's biography, "There, that is the first money you have ever earned by your poetry, and, take my words for it, it will be the last.", which is something that his grandfather told him, I realized how determined Tennyson must have been. Most people would not continue on with a passion if they did not have the support of their family and Tennyson's grandfather clearly did not believe in his ability. I just though this showed how much perseverance Tennyson must have had. He continued to show his determination and perseverance when his very best friend died and Tennyson was crushed.
Tennyson had some wonderful works that spoke about the death of his friend and the grieving process that Tennyson went through to get through his loss. The works he created after the death of his friend were some of his best and most recognized works. As I was reading, however, I really enjoyed "The Charge of the Light Brigade" the most. I found the poem to be very easy to read. There was no extremely deep meaning behind the poem, but I did find a few interesting characteristics about the poem.
First of all, I thought the rhyming pattern in the poem made it feel very light and fun to read. I thought this was ironic because the content of the poem was actually very heavy and a little depressing. The first time I read the poem, I enjoyed it but I didn't really pay attention to what the poem was discussing. When I went through and read it again, I realized that this poem was talking about the death of hundreds of men.
At one point the poem states, "Forward, the Light Brigade!/ Was there a man dismay'd?/ Not tho' the soldier knew/ Some on had blunder'd;/ Their's not to make reply,/ Their's not to reason why,/ Their's but to do and die;/ Into the valley of Death/ Rode the six hundred."(9-17). This part of the poem was especially sad to me. Here is this group of men that are marching to their death because of an order of someone else. Because of their position, they cannot question this order and they can't disobey, so all they have left to do is obey and die. This to me is sad because these men cannot control their future. They have put their lives in the hands of others and that is a very scary thing to do. I think Tennyson wants the reader to honor these men because they were fighting for their country when the leadership led them to their deaths, but they did not question it...they just continued to fight for their land.
The poem goes on to tell that these soldiers fought hard, but that not all six hundred returned. At one point he states, "Cannon to right of them,/ Cannon to left of them,/Cannon behind them/ Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell,/ While horse and hero fell,/ They that had fought so well/ Came thro' the jaws of Death,/ Back from the mouth of Hell,/ All that was left of them,/ Left of six hundred."(39-49). In these lines, Tennyson is telling of all that this brigade went through. He is basically stating that six hundred men were foolishly led into this horrible place that he compares to Hell. These men fought bravely, but not all of them returned...in fact, most of them did not. The footnote states that 400 of the 600 men were killed. These two hundred men according to Tennyson essentially escaped death. They were lucky not to die. The other four hundred were not so lucky and lost their lives because of an order.
The last section of the poem states, "When can their glory fade?/ O the wild chard they made!/ All the world wonder'd./ Honour the charge they made!/ Honour the Light Brigade,/ Noble six hundred!"(50-55). This last section describes how the people felt about this charge. They respected these men for their bravery. I do wonder, however, if there might have been a little bit of sarcasm in this poem because in my mind although these men were brave to fight in the way that they did, it was also extremely stupid. Does this stupidity make them noble? Perhaps the men that fought and died are noble because they were not the ones that made the decision to make the charge...they just took orders and served their country.
Tennyson had some wonderful works that spoke about the death of his friend and the grieving process that Tennyson went through to get through his loss. The works he created after the death of his friend were some of his best and most recognized works. As I was reading, however, I really enjoyed "The Charge of the Light Brigade" the most. I found the poem to be very easy to read. There was no extremely deep meaning behind the poem, but I did find a few interesting characteristics about the poem.
First of all, I thought the rhyming pattern in the poem made it feel very light and fun to read. I thought this was ironic because the content of the poem was actually very heavy and a little depressing. The first time I read the poem, I enjoyed it but I didn't really pay attention to what the poem was discussing. When I went through and read it again, I realized that this poem was talking about the death of hundreds of men.
At one point the poem states, "Forward, the Light Brigade!/ Was there a man dismay'd?/ Not tho' the soldier knew/ Some on had blunder'd;/ Their's not to make reply,/ Their's not to reason why,/ Their's but to do and die;/ Into the valley of Death/ Rode the six hundred."(9-17). This part of the poem was especially sad to me. Here is this group of men that are marching to their death because of an order of someone else. Because of their position, they cannot question this order and they can't disobey, so all they have left to do is obey and die. This to me is sad because these men cannot control their future. They have put their lives in the hands of others and that is a very scary thing to do. I think Tennyson wants the reader to honor these men because they were fighting for their country when the leadership led them to their deaths, but they did not question it...they just continued to fight for their land.
The poem goes on to tell that these soldiers fought hard, but that not all six hundred returned. At one point he states, "Cannon to right of them,/ Cannon to left of them,/Cannon behind them/ Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell,/ While horse and hero fell,/ They that had fought so well/ Came thro' the jaws of Death,/ Back from the mouth of Hell,/ All that was left of them,/ Left of six hundred."(39-49). In these lines, Tennyson is telling of all that this brigade went through. He is basically stating that six hundred men were foolishly led into this horrible place that he compares to Hell. These men fought bravely, but not all of them returned...in fact, most of them did not. The footnote states that 400 of the 600 men were killed. These two hundred men according to Tennyson essentially escaped death. They were lucky not to die. The other four hundred were not so lucky and lost their lives because of an order.
The last section of the poem states, "When can their glory fade?/ O the wild chard they made!/ All the world wonder'd./ Honour the charge they made!/ Honour the Light Brigade,/ Noble six hundred!"(50-55). This last section describes how the people felt about this charge. They respected these men for their bravery. I do wonder, however, if there might have been a little bit of sarcasm in this poem because in my mind although these men were brave to fight in the way that they did, it was also extremely stupid. Does this stupidity make them noble? Perhaps the men that fought and died are noble because they were not the ones that made the decision to make the charge...they just took orders and served their country.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Thomas Carlyle
Carlyle was very passionate about his country and the change that needed to occur. He fought for the working class and he spoke to the upper class to try to get these changes. I liked the way that Carlyle opened his writings in "Midas". He used a lot of contrast to try to get his point across. He would write something positive about England, but he would follow with a statement that would devalue the positive that he just stated. For example, Carlyle wrote, "England is full of wealth, of multifarious produce, supply for human want in every kind; yet England is dying of inanition."(477). I found this technique to be very effective. He is telling of how wonderful England is and how much it has to offer, yet it is slowly dying of exhaustion and lack of nourishment.
Carlyle found the treatment of the working class to be repulsive. At one point in "Midas"Carlyle writes, "They sit there , pent up, as in a kind of horrid enchantment; glad to be imprisoned and enchanted, that they many not perish starved."(478). At this point in the passage Carlyle is referring to the people in the workhouses. These workhouses were set up as places to help the poor, but the conditions were unbearable. A footnote explains that the conditions were made worse than any paying job because they did not want loafers. This treatment is absurd and Carlyle called for a change. He looked to the rich to make this change. He expected them to take responsibility for their country and discontinue their ignorance about the treatment of the lower classes. He continues his discussion of the workers in the workhouses by writing, "In the eyes and brows of these men hung the gloomiest expression, not of anger, but of grief and shame and manifold inarticulate distress and weariness;"(478). These men in these workshops were clearly not happy with their lives. They were ashamed of the situation they were in, but there was nothing they could do about it. Circumstance had put them there and they needed help, but the upper class people of the country were abandoning them.
One part of this reading that really struck me was when Carlyle discusses the parents that are being tried for the murders of their children. Of course, it is shocking that any parents could kill their child, the being that they created, but it is hard not to feel bad for them. I can not imagine how hard it would be to watch your child suffer...especially when you know there is nothing you can do to help them. These parents saw it the lesser of the two evils to put their children out of their misery. They did not want to see these children grow up in such horrible circumstances. They realized that even if the children escaped these circumstances, they would never be able to forget the horrid nature of their upbringing. This was so sad to me. I felt bad for the kids because they surely did not bring themselves into that life, but I also felt bad for the parents because they were completely helpless and forced to just watch their children be miserable.
Carlyle claims that no one is really benefiting from the life in England. He states, " We have sumptuous garnitures for our life, but have forgotten to live in the middle of them. It is an enchanted wealth; no man of us can yet touch it. The class of men who feel that they are truly better off by means of it, let them give us their name!"(479). I agree with what Carlyle is saying here. When we are surrounded by such horrible sights and people who can barely get by, it is impossible to enjoy any kind of wealth. No one in society is benefiting from having the majority of the members of that society treated so poorly and stuck in such rotten conditions.
At the end of the passage Carlyle writes, "We have more riches than and Nation ever had before; we have less good of them than any Nation ever had before. Our successful industry it hitherto unsuccessful; a strange success, if we stop here! In the midst of plethoric plenty, the people perish;"(480). I think what Carlyle is trying to say is that despite all the wealth that England has, it will never be successful without it's people. If the people are suffering and can not live than all the wealth the nation has acquired is irrelevant. I agree with Carlyle in this sense. A country is nothing without it's citizens. This is why Carlyle is pushing so hard for the upper class to make some type of change.
Carlyle found the treatment of the working class to be repulsive. At one point in "Midas"Carlyle writes, "They sit there , pent up, as in a kind of horrid enchantment; glad to be imprisoned and enchanted, that they many not perish starved."(478). At this point in the passage Carlyle is referring to the people in the workhouses. These workhouses were set up as places to help the poor, but the conditions were unbearable. A footnote explains that the conditions were made worse than any paying job because they did not want loafers. This treatment is absurd and Carlyle called for a change. He looked to the rich to make this change. He expected them to take responsibility for their country and discontinue their ignorance about the treatment of the lower classes. He continues his discussion of the workers in the workhouses by writing, "In the eyes and brows of these men hung the gloomiest expression, not of anger, but of grief and shame and manifold inarticulate distress and weariness;"(478). These men in these workshops were clearly not happy with their lives. They were ashamed of the situation they were in, but there was nothing they could do about it. Circumstance had put them there and they needed help, but the upper class people of the country were abandoning them.
One part of this reading that really struck me was when Carlyle discusses the parents that are being tried for the murders of their children. Of course, it is shocking that any parents could kill their child, the being that they created, but it is hard not to feel bad for them. I can not imagine how hard it would be to watch your child suffer...especially when you know there is nothing you can do to help them. These parents saw it the lesser of the two evils to put their children out of their misery. They did not want to see these children grow up in such horrible circumstances. They realized that even if the children escaped these circumstances, they would never be able to forget the horrid nature of their upbringing. This was so sad to me. I felt bad for the kids because they surely did not bring themselves into that life, but I also felt bad for the parents because they were completely helpless and forced to just watch their children be miserable.
Carlyle claims that no one is really benefiting from the life in England. He states, " We have sumptuous garnitures for our life, but have forgotten to live in the middle of them. It is an enchanted wealth; no man of us can yet touch it. The class of men who feel that they are truly better off by means of it, let them give us their name!"(479). I agree with what Carlyle is saying here. When we are surrounded by such horrible sights and people who can barely get by, it is impossible to enjoy any kind of wealth. No one in society is benefiting from having the majority of the members of that society treated so poorly and stuck in such rotten conditions.
At the end of the passage Carlyle writes, "We have more riches than and Nation ever had before; we have less good of them than any Nation ever had before. Our successful industry it hitherto unsuccessful; a strange success, if we stop here! In the midst of plethoric plenty, the people perish;"(480). I think what Carlyle is trying to say is that despite all the wealth that England has, it will never be successful without it's people. If the people are suffering and can not live than all the wealth the nation has acquired is irrelevant. I agree with Carlyle in this sense. A country is nothing without it's citizens. This is why Carlyle is pushing so hard for the upper class to make some type of change.
The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a time full of drastic changes and progression. The lifestyle of people was altered, and with these changes came a lot of resistance as can be expected. People are afraid of the insecurity that change can bring. The consequences of change can never be fully estimated and this makes many people uncomfortable. On the other hand, change is exciting and people like progression. I thought that the introduction of the Industrial revolution said it perfectly. It states, "This increase, couples with pride in the improvement themselves, created a sense of excitement, of living in stirring time, and bolstered the optimistic conviction that further progress was certain. But the rapidity with which industrialization took place was also profoundly disorienting. Overnight, it seemed, the world had transformed."(487). Just as I was previously discussing, this passage points out some insight on the good and the bad of industrialization. The people enjoyed the progression, but it made them nervous how quickly it all was happening. Culture is about change and moving forward, but it is my belief that people are more comfortable with this change when it comes in small doses. I can not imagine waking up one day and my world as I know it being turned upside down. I imagine that it would be very terrifying being comfortable in one culture and having that torn away and replaced by another that although was very progressive also brought an ample amount of hardship.
The reading states, " Psychologically, it was hard to assimilate such a rapidly altering environment. Many people felt that the world of their childhood had been obliterated."(488). This passage made it clear to me as to why there were so many readings that opposed the Industrial Revolution and focuses on all of the negative things that it brought. If you felt as if your world had been obliterated and all the values that grew up with were gone, would you not be resistant? I think it was very hard for these people to foresee the positive aspects of the revolution.
One reading that I really enjoyed and found refreshing was Fanny Kemble's "Record of a Girl". In this passage Kemble writes about her first time seeing and experiencing a train. The reading reminded me of a young child when they learn something new. There is a sense of great excitement and anticipation. I found her description of the experience very humorous because it is something that I am used to seeing everyday, so it is interesting to have a common part of our lives described in this manner. Kemble constantly refers to the train as if it is a living being. At one point she writes, " the coals, which are its oats, were under the bench and there was a small glass tube affixed to the boiler, with water in it, which indicates by its fullness or emptiness when the creature wants water, which immediately conveyed to it from its reservoirs."(491). Here she refers to the train as a creature that needs water. I thought this description was very youthful and kept me very entertained because I have never thought of a train from this perspective. She describes most aspects of the train in this juvenile and refreshing way. Another quote I found very interesting was, "When I closed my eyes the sensation of flying was quite delightful, and strange beyond description; yet, strange as it was, I had a perfect sense of security, and not the slightest fear"(491). I liked this quote because it is easily tied to what I was previously discussing. Kemble was discussing something that was completely new to her, yet she was not afraid. She embraced this change and unlike many was able to see the positive that came with the Industrial Revolution. She recognizes that this is a strange experience, but she is excited about it and embraces it fully.
The reading states, " Psychologically, it was hard to assimilate such a rapidly altering environment. Many people felt that the world of their childhood had been obliterated."(488). This passage made it clear to me as to why there were so many readings that opposed the Industrial Revolution and focuses on all of the negative things that it brought. If you felt as if your world had been obliterated and all the values that grew up with were gone, would you not be resistant? I think it was very hard for these people to foresee the positive aspects of the revolution.
One reading that I really enjoyed and found refreshing was Fanny Kemble's "Record of a Girl". In this passage Kemble writes about her first time seeing and experiencing a train. The reading reminded me of a young child when they learn something new. There is a sense of great excitement and anticipation. I found her description of the experience very humorous because it is something that I am used to seeing everyday, so it is interesting to have a common part of our lives described in this manner. Kemble constantly refers to the train as if it is a living being. At one point she writes, " the coals, which are its oats, were under the bench and there was a small glass tube affixed to the boiler, with water in it, which indicates by its fullness or emptiness when the creature wants water, which immediately conveyed to it from its reservoirs."(491). Here she refers to the train as a creature that needs water. I thought this description was very youthful and kept me very entertained because I have never thought of a train from this perspective. She describes most aspects of the train in this juvenile and refreshing way. Another quote I found very interesting was, "When I closed my eyes the sensation of flying was quite delightful, and strange beyond description; yet, strange as it was, I had a perfect sense of security, and not the slightest fear"(491). I liked this quote because it is easily tied to what I was previously discussing. Kemble was discussing something that was completely new to her, yet she was not afraid. She embraced this change and unlike many was able to see the positive that came with the Industrial Revolution. She recognizes that this is a strange experience, but she is excited about it and embraces it fully.
Felicia Hemans
Felicia Hemans was a very accomplished writer. She was called a prodigy at a very young age, and I found it amazing that she was able to learn four languages and that she had a publication by age 14. As a woman, I found her quite inspiring. She had five children and her husband left her. She, however, did not crumble after this hard time in her life...she continued to function and love her children and she also continued to produce great works. As most of the poets we have read so far, I found that Hemans past greatly influenced her writings. Her father left her Mom just as her husband left her. She therefore placed a lot of emphasis on a mother in the home and the impact that a mother can have on a child's life. I saw this in many of her poems, but the one where it was most relevant to me was "The Homes of England".
In "The Homes of England", Hemans discusses all the different types of mothers that exist and all the roles that they take on. Hemans uses homes in this poem to represent the different types of mothers. Hemans discusses all types of homes...she talks about stately, merry, blessed, cottage and the Free, fair homes of England. In the first stanza Hemans discusses the "stately Homes of England". She states, "How beautiful they stand!/ Amidst their tall ancestral trees"(2-3). Here Hemans refers to the more privileged mothers of England. They place a lot of emphasis on their family and ancestry. They have a lot of privileges in life and are able to share those with their children.
In the next stanza Hemans refers to the "merry Homes of England"(9). In this stanza Hemans writes, "There woman's voice flows forth in song, / Or childhood's tale is told,/ Or lips move tunefully along/ Some glorious page of old."(13-16). In this passage, Hemans makes it clear that the woman is the presence in the home. The woman is the one that sings to the children and reads to the children. I think this was clearly the case for Hemans. Her mother was the one that nurtured her and pushed her to become so brilliant. When her husband left, she was the one who was there for her children and nurtured them.
She goes on to discuss the "blessed Homes of England"(17). In this stanza Hemans writes, "Is laid the hold quietness/ That breathes from Sabbath-hours!"(19-20). In this passage, I believe that Hemans is just emphasizing another of the many roles that the woman/ mother plays. The woman is the one that teaches her children about faith. The mother is the one that takes the children to church and enforces the sabbath day.
Hemans goes on to discuss the "cottage Homes of England"(25). In this section she just continues to emphasize the role of a mother. Despite the type of mother (they come in all forms), they still serve the same purpose and have the same type of influence in the home and on their children.
In the last stanza, Hemans continues to emphasize the importance of the mother. She writes,"May hears of native proof be rear'd/ To guard each hallowed wall!/ And green for ever be the groves, / And bright the flowery sod,/ Where first the child's glad spirit loves/ its country and its God!"(35-40). In this last passage Hemans just emphasizes the main jobs of the mother. The mother is the one that protects the innocence of their child and nurtures and develops them into the people they become. She believes that a mother's role in the home can never be underestimated. After all, the mother is the one that the child will first bond with and look to for love and care. I think that Hemans was a victim of her circumstance. She did not have very good male figures in her life, so I believe that she underestimated the influence of a male figure in the home also. I am very close to my mother and she has had a huge impact on shaping who I have become, but my father has had an equal influence. I believe that had I been raised just by my mother I would not be the same person today. I think that mothers and fathers bring different things to the table and the impact and influence that they both can have on a child's life should not be underestimated.
In "The Homes of England", Hemans discusses all the different types of mothers that exist and all the roles that they take on. Hemans uses homes in this poem to represent the different types of mothers. Hemans discusses all types of homes...she talks about stately, merry, blessed, cottage and the Free, fair homes of England. In the first stanza Hemans discusses the "stately Homes of England". She states, "How beautiful they stand!/ Amidst their tall ancestral trees"(2-3). Here Hemans refers to the more privileged mothers of England. They place a lot of emphasis on their family and ancestry. They have a lot of privileges in life and are able to share those with their children.
In the next stanza Hemans refers to the "merry Homes of England"(9). In this stanza Hemans writes, "There woman's voice flows forth in song, / Or childhood's tale is told,/ Or lips move tunefully along/ Some glorious page of old."(13-16). In this passage, Hemans makes it clear that the woman is the presence in the home. The woman is the one that sings to the children and reads to the children. I think this was clearly the case for Hemans. Her mother was the one that nurtured her and pushed her to become so brilliant. When her husband left, she was the one who was there for her children and nurtured them.
She goes on to discuss the "blessed Homes of England"(17). In this stanza Hemans writes, "Is laid the hold quietness/ That breathes from Sabbath-hours!"(19-20). In this passage, I believe that Hemans is just emphasizing another of the many roles that the woman/ mother plays. The woman is the one that teaches her children about faith. The mother is the one that takes the children to church and enforces the sabbath day.
Hemans goes on to discuss the "cottage Homes of England"(25). In this section she just continues to emphasize the role of a mother. Despite the type of mother (they come in all forms), they still serve the same purpose and have the same type of influence in the home and on their children.
In the last stanza, Hemans continues to emphasize the importance of the mother. She writes,"May hears of native proof be rear'd/ To guard each hallowed wall!/ And green for ever be the groves, / And bright the flowery sod,/ Where first the child's glad spirit loves/ its country and its God!"(35-40). In this last passage Hemans just emphasizes the main jobs of the mother. The mother is the one that protects the innocence of their child and nurtures and develops them into the people they become. She believes that a mother's role in the home can never be underestimated. After all, the mother is the one that the child will first bond with and look to for love and care. I think that Hemans was a victim of her circumstance. She did not have very good male figures in her life, so I believe that she underestimated the influence of a male figure in the home also. I am very close to my mother and she has had a huge impact on shaping who I have become, but my father has had an equal influence. I believe that had I been raised just by my mother I would not be the same person today. I think that mothers and fathers bring different things to the table and the impact and influence that they both can have on a child's life should not be underestimated.
John Keats
I found John Keats very interesting. I was amazed by his bibliographic information. I can not believe that he was able to create so many great works in such a short amount of time. It is interesting to think about how much he could have accomplished if he had lived longer. Keats' past information got me thinking about how much I can accomplish in my life, and how I sometimes look back to question if I could have accomplished more, and I often look forward wondering what I will continue to accomplish. As I thought about this, I really related it to Keats' sonnet "When I have Fears". I found this sonnet to be addressing exactly my thoughts.
I think it is natural for people to have fears about the future because there is no telling what could happen, and I think it is also easily related to because the majority of people do look forward and question what could be accomplished. This sonnet could possibly be a reflection of Keats' health, but I think that it may also reflect the recent death of his brother. His brother Tom had just passed. His passing may have caused Keats' to reflect on his life and realize that life does not last forever. This realization could have instilled some fear into Keats about how unsure his own future was.
Keats writes, "When I have fears that I may cease to be/ Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain, / Before high piled books in charact'ry/ Hold like rich garners the full-ripened grain;"(lines 1-4). In these lines, there is a discussion about death. He is scared that he may die before he has reached his full potential which the reader can see when he says, "before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain"(2). The majority of people set goals in life and strive to accomplish these goals throughout their lifetime. Many people fear failing, and it is scary to think that your life could end before you reach your goals or before you have reached your potential. In the last line, I think Keats realizes that reaching your potential("the full-ripened grain") is very important and should be held on to as if it were a treasure.
Keats is also afraid that he will never get to experience all living has to offer. He does not want to miss out on exploring the world and seeing what chance could bring him. He does not want to miss out on love and all he could gain through that. He shows this when he writes, "When I behold upon the night's starred face, / Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance, / And I think that I may never lie to trace/ Their shadows with the magic hand of chance; / And when I feel, fair creature of an hour, /That I shall never look upon thee more, / Never have relish in the fairy power/ Of unreflecting love"(5-12). So many times we hear of young people dying either from an illness or unexpectedly in some type of accident, and it always makes me think about all the things that the person is missing out on. They never got to experience marriage, having children, having a career and so much more. Like Keats the idea of missing all of these things makes me sad and I do fear it a little. I think that is why it is so important to live life in the present...try everything once and don't procrastinate because you never know what the future holds.
In the last two lines Keats writes, "Of the wide world I stand alone and think,/ Till love and fame to nothingness do sink."(13-14). I think that these two lines are stating just what I was discussing. I think that Keats has realized that worrying about all of these things takes the value from them. Time spent worrying is time wasted...it could have spent actually living and experiencing these things. Death is inevitable, so experience everything you can and live life to the fullest.
I think it is natural for people to have fears about the future because there is no telling what could happen, and I think it is also easily related to because the majority of people do look forward and question what could be accomplished. This sonnet could possibly be a reflection of Keats' health, but I think that it may also reflect the recent death of his brother. His brother Tom had just passed. His passing may have caused Keats' to reflect on his life and realize that life does not last forever. This realization could have instilled some fear into Keats about how unsure his own future was.
Keats writes, "When I have fears that I may cease to be/ Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain, / Before high piled books in charact'ry/ Hold like rich garners the full-ripened grain;"(lines 1-4). In these lines, there is a discussion about death. He is scared that he may die before he has reached his full potential which the reader can see when he says, "before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain"(2). The majority of people set goals in life and strive to accomplish these goals throughout their lifetime. Many people fear failing, and it is scary to think that your life could end before you reach your goals or before you have reached your potential. In the last line, I think Keats realizes that reaching your potential("the full-ripened grain") is very important and should be held on to as if it were a treasure.
Keats is also afraid that he will never get to experience all living has to offer. He does not want to miss out on exploring the world and seeing what chance could bring him. He does not want to miss out on love and all he could gain through that. He shows this when he writes, "When I behold upon the night's starred face, / Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance, / And I think that I may never lie to trace/ Their shadows with the magic hand of chance; / And when I feel, fair creature of an hour, /That I shall never look upon thee more, / Never have relish in the fairy power/ Of unreflecting love"(5-12). So many times we hear of young people dying either from an illness or unexpectedly in some type of accident, and it always makes me think about all the things that the person is missing out on. They never got to experience marriage, having children, having a career and so much more. Like Keats the idea of missing all of these things makes me sad and I do fear it a little. I think that is why it is so important to live life in the present...try everything once and don't procrastinate because you never know what the future holds.
In the last two lines Keats writes, "Of the wide world I stand alone and think,/ Till love and fame to nothingness do sink."(13-14). I think that these two lines are stating just what I was discussing. I think that Keats has realized that worrying about all of these things takes the value from them. Time spent worrying is time wasted...it could have spent actually living and experiencing these things. Death is inevitable, so experience everything you can and live life to the fullest.
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