Blog Portfolio # 6 December 2011

Coverage: 

Loves Labor Lost

Not So Bullish About the Future

The Sun Also Rises Top 10 & Dear Abby

Bull Market

The Bough of Nonsense

Deafening Silence - Repression of War Experience

Greater Love

Escape

Trench Duty

Facebook - Wildcard

Before the Mirror

Apologia Pro Promate Meo

Depth

Greater Love

Wilfred Owen's poem on greater love was extremely interesting as since at first it came across like a love poem on the lines of a sonnet in context if not structure, and it being a satirical condemnation of World War 1 belied its initial appearance. The poem due to its many nuances instigated greater research as it piqued my interest. What is interesting about this poem is that it invites debate due to its many interpretations. I chose to interpret the woman described as a metaphor for war, but I am sure this analysis is open to discussion which I

welcome.


Research - Greater Love by Wilfred Owen

Interaction

Blogging is not simply writing your own feelings and thoughts in isolation as in writing a novel or a poem. What is so interesting about the world of blogging is that your commentary is being shared with an audience who is able to interact actively with you and others in a lively debate and discussion. This sharing of ideas and thoughts, hearing other view points, agreeing and disagreeing brings alive this social intellectual medium. In this blogging portfolio i enjoyed interacting with Conor on the World War 1 poem, 'Escape'


Escape

Discussion

The blog on "loves Labor Lost" by its very explosive and controversial nature bought on an active discussion with Wesley. Often there are many ways to analyze a passage in a novel and this is a lot about personal view point and interpretation. There can never be a right or wrong ( unless we bring Hemingway into the discussion pool), so there is only opinion. It is always interesting to hear the other side of the coin as it brings freshness, ideas and a new perspective. I welcomed the lively debate and hope it continues.

Loves Labor Lost

Xenoblogging


While the blog written by Naoise was very well written and all points were relevant and agreed upon, I was surprised by the point made that the abandonment of God and death due to war was unnecessary and this prompted me to make the Comment Primo so I could put forward my point of view.


Naoise's Greater Love

Wildcard

Well i really need to press the 'like' button on this "Generation Why " article that discusses with great insight and humor the futility of Facebook. Virtual world communication has really revolutionized our lives not just in the way we interact socially but on our personalities. My blog goes on to discuss this article and give my own views on whether the social network has really made us more social as a society or drained us of old fashioned propriety and ideals and actually made into less social creatures that ironically no longer need to come face to face or pick up a paper book for that matter!

Facebook :)

Apologia Pro Poemate Meo

Apologia Pro Poemate Meo provides insight into Owen's intent when writing his poetry, which is to criticize "you" at home (contemporary reader for using war propoganda and images as a form of entertainment). He describes the various methods of propoganda throughout the poem with cynisism. There is much more than grief in this poem; he is blaming those who supported the war. It is almost a threat in the last couple of stanzas.

Wilfred Owens’s satirical Apologia utilizes religious diction, sarcastic tone and repetitive structure, to depict his vocal condemnation, trough contradiction and ridicule, an inadequate war that no longer holds his appeal.

Speaker – Owen 1st person – come back from war
Audience – Army commander/government official

Structure – I not We – Personal first hand account of his experience – I too saw god – replying
Intended to emphasize
Heroic couplet – Provide narrative account
Sarcasm- use of propaganda successful, promises fulfilled – pride, glory, heroic praise

(1) – I, too saw God through Mud – as Promised god will be with soilders in war….truth – god abandoned soldiers to die
(2) – Mud on Cracked checks – Soldiers put mud on checks for camoloflauge….mud cracked to due soldiers smiles – truth – mud cracked due to their pain and agony
Soldiers soul’s are contaminated with mud (metaphor) as murders….thou shall not kill, put mud on the name of Christianity
(3) – More Glory than Blood – glory doesn’t exist….blood shed of innocent
(4) – Laughs more glee than child – more laughter than excited child

Structure – I too saw God – in aggrence with other soilders – Indented to act as topic sentence…..personal account through contradictions
Dash – acts as topic sentence

Owen creating his own propaganda…contradictions used to create sarcastic tone….

(5) – Merry it was to laugh there – fun/frolic at trenches
(6) – Death absurd, Life absurder – Worse to be alive, than to be dead…absurd to kill, faceless war
(7) – Power was on us to slash bones – Politicians forcing soldiers to kill innocent lives… slash – violently kill
(8) – Not to feel sickeness or remorse – Politicians act as devil urging soldiers on

(9) – I too have dropped off fear – Argrees with other soilders…lost his soul/heart – can’t feel Fear anymore
(10) – Behind the barrage, dead as my platoon – Barrage – wall of bullets coming towards him, dead as my platoon – dead as my platoon – sarcastic tone no remorse of being dead like his other group soilders
(11) – Sailed my spirt surging light and clear –Religious diction - Sprit has left his body towards the religious light.
(12) – Past the entanglement where hopes lay strewn – contrast of entanglement of dead bodies scatted on ground and hope which is died, no longer with soldiers

(13) - And witnessed exultation – Religious diction – exultation – soldiers put on pedestal – worshiped for powerfully murdering - sarcastic
(14) – Faces that used to curse me, scowl for scowl – public/nation who used look down upon me
(15) – Shine and lift up with passion and oblation –Religious Diction - Publics face lights with shine, pride – Oblation – bow down to soldiers and offer bread and wine, as people bow down infront of church during mass. Bread – body, wine – blood. Sarcastic – people have no respect
(16) – Relgious Allusion/Diction – Seraphic for an hour, through they were foul – Seraphic – people treated him like angle like figure/mystical being – but are foul – poison filled


(17) – I have made fellowships – Developed comradery between soldiers
(18) – talks about love but makes clear this is real and true love not the frivolous romantic love of man with woman as described in love songs. (binding of fair lips- kissing a woman ).

(21)- Ribbon slips medal of honor held with ribbon is useless and worthless to a dead soldier
(22) - The soldier is wounded and medal of metal did not protect him as the sword of hard wire enters his heart his arm is wounded and bandaged and dripping with blood as the rifle bullet hits him and the bandage figuratively has been knit by the rifle as a metaphor for knitting needle. The effect of this is the uselessness of being honored by the government what use is a medal just to give up your life.

Talking about being in the trenches he sarcastically says he has seen beauty and found peace with the loud noises of bombs. He has found beauty in the oaths the soldiers make to pledge duty to their country, hoarse as signifies suffering no water dry throat. Describes music in the silence in between the gun fire. Silent means the soldiers have to obey and not question their commanders. Again sarcastic tone as truth is the soldiers are shell shocked and weary and not at peace mentally disturbed.

Soldiers after death abounded by god egged on by the devil (government) have to go to the darkness of hell religious diction heaven and hell. The world of the soldiers in this world before death is just watching the bombs (flare) and their only contact with heaven is a shell like a rocket traveling on a road upward to heaven (highway metaphor for the road to heaven). Accuses the government of being the devil residing in hell (you share with them) religious diction continues.

Final verse he taunts the government that now the soldiers are dead you cannot hurt or reach them anymore they are safe from your lies and propaganda. You cannot hear their laughter and joke (mirth) admits that owen has been sarcastic and is acting the court jester like in shakepeare as you like it. He has been taunting and insulting the government cleverly disguised by happy positive tone that states they have found all the false promises the government offered to soldiers to join the army (joy peace become heroes be loved by public honor medal etc). in a final line insult he says to the govt these men now dead were too good for you u are beneath them. You can only cry now that u have lost soldiers to fight your battle but u are useless and should not be given access to the joy and peace (merriment) they might find in death.

Before the Mirror

It is interesting to note that Owens poem Greater Love is inspired by Swinburne’s poem, Before the Mirror since both though describing the actions or emotions of a woman are quite different in content. Owens poem a wars per my analysis uses the female gender as a seductress as a metaphor for the war. The war (woman) with her allure and feminine wiles seduces young men to fight in World War 1 only to have them heartbroken by their disillusionment at the harsh reality to war. Please refer to my link

On the other hand Swinburnes’ poem deals with three women a mistress in part 1, a wife in part 2 and a prostitute in part 3. This was actually inspired by a series of three paintings by James Whistler (Symphony in white no 1, Symphony in white no 2 and Symphony in white no3). The title “Before The Mirror” conjures up the imagery of a woman staring at herself in front of a mirror, which is of course a feminine trait of vanity. But staring at ones reflection we are able to see into our soul. Each face tells a story of a life lived. From examination of every line, wrinkle scar or mark or color reflects a past since these are the wounds of a life lived in the same way a soldier holds war wounds. And of course beauty fading with the onset of age is hard for a woman to bear. A woman has many burdens in life and all this is reflected in the spirit of her face. Her sadness, heart break or happiness is there for all to see and especially her as she stares at her reflection.

In part 1 describing the mistress the first line reminds us of Owens poem “Red lips not so red”, and here “White rose in red rose-garden is not so white”. The former refers to a woman who has lost her allure while the second, the mistress is tainted by being party to an extra marital affair. White is the color of purity while red is passion but both women lack purity and are tainted. The reference to the “behind the veil forbidden shut up from sight “refers to the clandestine nature of their relationship which breaks the Christian Commandment of ‘thou shalt be faithful’. Ironically the veil normally refers to a bride dressed in white but here it is the veil the mistress needs to hide behind to keep her relationship a secret from society who does not condone such a liaison. The poem questions the many lovers that may have drifted into her life often leaving her lonely and heartbroken as she waits for crumbs from a man who will never commit to her. I think the last stanza here also refers to the danger a mistress faces of abandonment by her lover when she ages and her beauty fades.

Part 2 refers to the wife. The wife has many duties to perform such as looking after children, home and hearth and after many years often like the mistress can feel lonely and neglected especially if love has faded and is replaced by mundane routine. A wife is often egged by society to play a sacrificial role and stand by her husband as divorce often brings shame. The wife stares at her reflection and wonders at her life lived and her aging face. She knows she is simply “a rose at heart and not in reality now. “She knows not loves that kissed her” reflects her pain of no longer being loved and looks at her hand with a wedding ring “my hand a fallen rose” to depict the breakdown of her marriage. As she sees her face in the mirror she no longer recognizes herself and therefore describes her reflection as a “art thou the ghost my sister”, showing years have passed and she has changed physically but also internally. In the last stanza she ponders about the future, “new years will bear” but she consoles herself that surely she still has true self which cannot be taken away with time, “what grief what joy for dower, but one thing knows the flower, the flower is fair”.

Part 3 deals with a prostitute who in society is considered as the lowest rung in the ladder of woman hood as she knows not of love but sells her body to the highest bidder for profit. The first stanza reflects that as many men pass through her door on a temporary basis she feels little joy but little grief and all become her past quickly as she sexually, “lie down and lie”. The lie means lying down sexually but also lie as the lies she often tells to please her clients. The second stanza further builds on the temporary liaisons she forms , “take flight and fly”. She performs a service for men that serves not just their physical needs but their emotional ones as they bear their heart to her without the judgement, nagging or condemnation a wife or to a lesser extent a mistress will give, “the flowing of mens’ tears beneath the sky”.

Facebook :)

The greatest irony of Facebook is the title which is never explained or discussed in the article. In the virtual world neither does anyone meet face to face and neither does language or the art of reading books seem an important part of this mode of communication.” Generation Why? “ indeed as the title cleverly prompts. Do we really need this new invention, and why has it become such an important part of 500 million and counting peoples lives. Did we not get excited that we can be connected by text and instant messaging and email? Did we not marvel that we can carry a mobile phone with us 24/7 and can be in constant touch with anyone around the world? Then why the need for this limiting form of communication called Facebook whose rules we have to live by, whose set format we have to follow like sheep. Why this herd mentality for a device that robs us of our own freedom, privacy and creativity? I think deep down people want their 15 minutes of fame, they want to be a celebrity and feel famous. There is also a social status that people want to achieve. We can now can Google our name and read about ourselves in the way previously only a celebrity could. Yes we are now all celebrities. We add endless so called friends to show how popular we are. But how many of these people do we really know, or even meet. How many of these people will cry at our funeral or even attend? Facebook leads to insecurities galore and now we have another medium to feel small. Earlier you felt left out when you didn’t have a date at the prom or were not picked for the team or were left out of party invite. Wasn’t that bad enough ? Now we wonder why we don’t get enough friend requests or birthday wishes despite the set reminders and desperately hope our “friends” will place kind comments and press the like button of our pictures. Nothing has changed our medium has simply changed. We are still being judged and placed in social hierarchy.

But why the desire to gaze into the lives of others and tell the world about our thoughts, our activities our lives? I think Facebook is perceived as a safe place to get things off our chest, a form of therapy. So we put our status as “sad today” and wait for an outpouring of sympathy or a pat in the back for any small achievement we have Deep down we are all voyeurs who slow down to check a car crash. In the same way we are like flies on the wall checking on the profiles of our old school friends or the like. We snigger if ex boyfriends have not amounted to much or have gained weight. And we do all this in a safe environment in the comfort our own homes. But the question arises how safe are we? Surely there are greater forces who have our information and are monitoring our every move like a virtual Big Brother. Privacy is a big concern in Facebook and a controversial one. Facebook has just introduced a facial recognition technique without informing its users. This will invade our personal privacy as it automatically identifies people in photos without their knowledge. Are we browsing into trouble? Yes, but most users are oblivious to the fact.

There is of course a sinister side to Facebook. People put up fake profiles and fake profile pictures. They can pretend to be someone else and live a secret life far removed from their actual lives. They can chat with strangers and be the person they only fantasized about. Of course there are lurking dangers when phaedophiles lure young unsuspecting victims to their lair. Wolf in sheep’s clothing or computer geek pretending to be a handsome hunk to chat to women, who knows in the virtual world of make beleif.

I think we need to learn to reconnect to communication of the old fashioned kind. Technology is a wonderful tool for business and at times personal. But ask yourselves do you always want to eat at Mcdonalds or once in a while would you like to enjoy a meal at a fancy In the same way would it not be nice to receive a letter, speak on the phone or actually meet over a cappuccino. I fear where we are heading in our virtual lives which instead of giving us more leisure time is robbing us of our time as our lives become more busy. This reminds me of a movie I once saw when a bunch of friends never meet. They even dated and broke up online without ever meeting. Human interaction loses its human touch when we are sucked into the virtual machine.

Lets face it. We can live successful, productive and social lives without Facebook. Did we not do so before its inception? Its time to take our lives back and unfriend Mr Zuckerberg.

Trench Duty

This poem gives a grim account of a soldier being dragged from slumber to take watch duty in the trenches of the front line of active duty during World War 1. The soldier, un-named is reluctant and there are no signs of pride to serve his country.

Diction shows his oblivion such as, “numbed” which could imply more than his sleepy state but his numbness about the war in general. The tone of the poem is matter of fact as if war weary the soldier has given up the fight psychologically and is devoid of passion or emotion. Further word usage and diction such as “blunder” and “mirk” show his awkwardness and his dismal state of mind and the fact that the trenches are the worst place on this earth, a living hell which he manages to register even in his stupor. There is imagery of darkness which is contrasted with the “dark’s a glare” as they are attacked with bombs. Sassoon tries to depict both confusion, “rumbling and bumping” and dreadfulness with “horror” and fear and dread with “stiff and chilled”. What is clear is that the crouching men are only briefly aware of the events around them and are literally and figuratively kept in the dark which adds to the ominous tone and confusion. Again, they are fighting an enemy in the dark and they do not know why.

Siegfried made a public outcry against the war and his poetry reflects this theme. This is highlighted in upon hearing a soldier has been killed the response is, “why did he do it?” This implies the senselessness of a war that the soldiers do not understand. Why did this young soldier put himself in the line of fire and give up his life for a war that serves no purpose. This is further reiterated with the mention of stars in the sky which could be firings interspersed with the celestial beings of the sky. The metaphor “blank stars” means that while we associate a star lit sky as peaceful and romantic, here the stars are anything but that. They offer no light and beauty and do not twinkle in the sky like fairy dust. It is as if on this night in the trenches the stars real or otherwise have lost their sparkle and luster or sheen. They are devoid of all of these and are a blank empty vessel, much like the soldiers themselves who are now former shadows of their former selves. With their spirit broken they have lost their spark and the will to go on. They too like the stars are drained and empty, robbed of the exuberance and vigor of youth.

The final line shows that the noise and bone chilling fear has woken the soldier from his sleepy state. And yet, his matter of fact realization and declaration. “and some chap’s dead” brings home the reality of war. Soldiers can no longer care or show emotion, they are shell shocked into submission. They know the war is lost as there are never any real winners in war.

Escape

The World War 1 poem by Robert Graves, a soldier in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, describes his own near death experience where he was wrongly assumed and declared dead before being discovered as alive and injured. He gives a graphic and frighteningly morbid account of the horrifying experience that haunts him

Graves uses AABB rhyming and skillfully uses diction, metaphors and imagery and allusions to describe his ordeal. The poem is aptly named “Escape’ as he narrowly escapes being buried alive, before being discovered as still breathing. Graves himself once said, “ ..nine tenths of what passes as English poetry is the product of either careerism, or keeping one’s hand in ;a choice between vulgarity and banality”. Graves falls in the one tenth of English poets that writes from his soul as he shares his personal experiences and sends a message about the futility of a senseless war. He uses one stanza so as not to break up the fast paced rhythm which adds to the excitement and matches his erratic thoughts and heart beat and fear.

The poem opens with Graves already ‘dead’ an hour awakens as he is being carried to his funeral for burial. Here he uses powerful imagery and a reference to the allusion of Cerberus in Greek mythology who was a giant hound which guarded the gates of Hades (the underworld where the dead were taken),and was posted to prevent ghosts of the dead from leaving the underworld. It is interesting that Graves uses imagery of hell instead of heaven as perhaps to denote himself as a sinner who has killed innocents and does not deserve salvation or forgiveness, as he cannot forgive himself. He uses the diction “Lethe” which is a river in Greek Mythology and the Goddess of oblivion (reference to his oblivious state of mind, “I felt the vapours of forgetfulness”). The dead were taken to the river where they were to drink its waters before entering the underworld of many realms. In his delirium as he awakens he sees various metaphors “ A cross” which has religious significance, ‘a rose in bloom’ signifying life and his awakening and “ cage with bars” showing he has not yet escaped his prison. He also sees “new stars” as he is reborn and the sky will have stars that are new for him but are “subterrene” alluding to his underworld status. He also mentions a “Barbed arrow feathered in fine stars” signifying weaponry and death.

As he is discovered as breathing he continues with the Greek allusion and describes his savior as “Lady Proserpine”, who in the dark place of Hades was the Queen and for “ Henna’s sake “ or joy saves him from death. As he scrambles for life he gives the imagery of the evils of the underworld trying to prevent his escape with the diction “ demons, heroes and policeman-ghosts”. He fights for the keyword “Life, Life” which is repeated for importance and describes the aforementioned Cerberus who was known to have three heads and a serpent tail adding to the horrific imagery, “ lion, lynx and sow”. In his head his soldiers instincts wants to grab his revolver but he realizes this is missing but realizes he has some morphine and places this in the hounds moth disguised with biscuit and jam to put to sleep his tormentor in graphic fast paced gripping detail. Graves describes his brain wave as “luminous” which serves to remind us that he is escaping the darkness into the light. He continues this lightness theme signifying escape from the hand of death with hope in the final sentence where the sun brings daylight, life warmth and happiness, “O Life ! O Sun.”

Greater Love

Greater Love by Wilfred Owen is a hard hitting and bitter critique of the war. The poem has four stanzas and is written in AABBAb rhyming style. The poem appears to be an ironic comparison between the romantic love of a man and woman which is diminished against the monumental love of a soldier’s patriotism for his country or perhaps to some extent the love and loyalty he feels for his brother in arms, his comrades who fight along side him. The image portrayed is that of a woman in mourning standing at the grave side of her dead lover while the narrator (poet) compares the two loves in a scathing and disparaging attack albeit in a tone which lacks much passion or emotion, rather in quiet acceptance.

The poem begins with “Red lips are not so red As the stained stones kissed by the English dead.” (1) The red lips are a cliché to how women at that period fashionably wore dark red lipstick and mirrors love poetry and general images of woman hood. This ‘red lips” is in direct juxtaposition of the morbidity of the words that follow signifying death. Lips are generally painted red to attract men to kiss them romantically but in comparison the grave stones are stained with red blood figuratively kissed by the dead soldier who lies within cold. Romance and passion is compared with the finality of death. This comparison continues in the same vein with continuance of diction of romance and courtship with “wooed” and “wooer”, but here we have the soldier being wooed by the lure and heroic romance that war offers on the offset. The chivalry and morality and duty in fighting for the freedom of your country. The poem in fact may also be interpreted as the war or country which is given always a female gender may play the role of a woman in seducing the soldier to sign up and join the army. The soldier has little knowledge that war is not a romantic escapade of story books and fairytales of honor and bravery but brutal and cruel. Whether the female be a woman or war or country the poet states that her eyes have lost their lure in comparison to the dead soldiers eyes blinded in the field of duty.

The female softness of form continues with “slender attitude” in the second stanza and again this is compared with a rather morbid description of a dead soldier cleavered to death with fatal blows and yet this picture is depicted as “exquisite” in comparison to the female. There is now powerful imagery “rolling and rolling there” of miles of grave stones in the distance and the religious sentiment that “God seems not to care’. God, who they prayed to before entering the war to keep them safe did not live up to his promises and now as they lie dead has abandoned them. And yet the poet goes on to claim that the soldiers “fierce love” for their country now instead of enveloping them like a comfort blanket is now in a stranglehold “cramps them in death”. Again the theme of the poem that their initial romantic notion of war has been destroyed without apology to “decripitude”. Strong diction of the soft feminine in comparison to the violent and morbid are startling and powerful.

The third stanza taunts the female that her singing voice cannot compare to the voices of the dead soldiers who “none now hear” due to their untimely demise due to a senseless war.

The fourth and final stanza brings great poignancy. The female’s heart is given lower value and reverence than the soldier’s heart that has been shot, as the soldier has sacrificed his life so that others can live in freedom and that giving gives a sense of pride which in literary terms gives a fullness due to the selfless act. Further, while the female hand is pale due to mourning it cannot be paler than the soldier who now lies dead and drained of color. The line “your cross through flame and hail,” sounds almost like an accusation to the female of the figurative cross (urden and religious symbolism) and the conditions they have to endure , such as “flame” signifying heat and “ hail” denoting bitter cold. And the final taunt that the female may weep for her loss of lover, or the country or war itself may weep for their demise but at last the soldiers rest and no mortal pain can ever touch them again.

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Wilfred Owens’s satirical” Greater Love, utilizes romantic diction, sarcastic tone and personification of the war as a woman who has lost her lure to depict his vocal condemnation of an useless war that no longer holds his appeal.

(1) – Notice Red Lips – image of female – Red Lips Stick….attractive, seductive, sexual, romantic.
(1) – Lips not so red – Sarcastic tone, not a romantic ode to female
(2) – Not as Red as Stained Stones –contrasting image of female lips to graveyard, death – Stained stones metaphor for grave stones. Lips not as red as blood stained graves, kiss of death
(2) – English Dead – Owen English
(3) – Wooed and Wooer – Alliteration – Wooer=war - female, wooed=soldiers lured to war
(4) – Shame to Love Pure – Soldiers pride and love for war contaminated, shame to solider
(5) – O, Love, your eyes lose lure – Speaks to War, females fluttering eyes losses lure
(6) – I behold eyes blinded – Contrast of female eyes to dead eyes of soldiers. Alive soldiers blinded by reality by female (war’s reach for pride and glory)

(7) Slender Attitude – female seductive curved body...movement and attitude…sexual..Sarsactic
(8) – Trembles Not Limbs Knife Skewered – Romantic diction of female trembling and her slender legs, contrast knife trembling due to nerve reaction
(9) – Rolling and Rolling – Body rolling in excruciating pain, dying
(10) – God Seems not Care – Religious Allusion – God abonanded soilders dropping dead….God watches sight of war from above with no care.
(11) – Love they bear – country, pride for war, religious. Owen had strong religious sentiments prior to war
(12) – Cramps them in death’s extreme decrepitude – Love kills soilders. No pride and honour in death, not welcomed by god. Soilders are murders…go to hell. God abandones soilders…anger at them…murders

(13) – Voice sings Not soft – Sarcastic tone – females sweet confronting voice – war proganda luring him
(14) – not so soft anymore like the murmering wind...losts its lure
…….
(17) – Whom none hear – Contrasts by soilders voice who can no longer hear - dead
(18) – Now Earth stopped their piteous mouths that coughed – Mother Nature pities soldiers, why suffer with illness, kills them. Personification

(19) Heart, you were never hot – 1st 2 stanzas NOT – while 4th NEVER – building up anger
Female never has heart, didn’t lose it – never had it – War never cared for soldiers. Not Hot – not warm, passionate.
(20) – Nor full like hearts made great with shot – contrast to soldiers heart….dead soilders were HOT and warm…war (female) NEVER was
(21) – Though Hand be Pale – wwI era pale hands considered beautiful – female
(22) – Pale are all which Trail – Trail – soldiers follow attractive female. Soliders palier by death
(23) – Cross through Flame and Hail – Religious Allusion – Soldiers bearing the Cross to their death. Flame and Hail – hell/ war dragging on for seasons
(24) – Weep you may weep, for you Touch them not – Touch them not – Romantic – All admirers of war (female) left with disgust – death. Cant’ touch them, and lure them to war as soldiers all dead. Female weeps as all her admirers are dead

Background Research - Greater Love by Wilfred Owen

Deafening Silence - Repression of War Experience

The poem Repression of War Experience by Siegfried Sassoon reflects his personal feelings of open condemnation of WW1 which he was once a part of. Sassoon describes a soldier written in first person that we can assume is the poet himself. The male may well be a soldier returned from war and is traumatized from the experience. It is known that many soldiers suffered from post traumatic stress syndrome which left them on the brink of insanity as they cannot come to terms with the cruelty and brutality of war. The soldiers are always young men who leave the comforts of home to fight a battle they may not understand. They witness their friends and colleagues being killed in agonizing pain and may themselves if they live to tell the tale suffer physical and emotional scars. They are often in denial and become reclusive or social outcasts.

The poem starts with a young soldier alone at home. The use of a metaphor, the moth having its wings singed represents a soldier being hurt or killed in war. The lighting of the candles that burns the hapless and naive moth has religiousness symbolism. It is ideals and glory that lead the self righteous to war little realizing the lost cause or the sacrifice they will make. They are drawn to war like a moth to a flame little knowing of the price to pay. “Liquid flame” is a misnomer as fire is not a liquid state but could be used to describe drowning.

The soldier tries not to think of his war experience “gagged all day come back to scare you,” (5) but fails. This enforces the title where the soldier tries to repress his war experience but to no avail as it still taunts and haunts him at night. He tries to reassure himself that to think about his negative experiences as long as you don’t “lose control of your ugly thoughts,” (7) but the truth is he is afraid that he may be on the brink. In order to reinforce this thought and to prove himself he is still sane he tells himself to light a pipe with a steady hand that will show no nerves and take a deep breath, count and rid himself of all bad thoughts. He uses the term “right as rain” to signify himself to be ok, but this only leads him to a train of thought on rain. Clearly, the soldier is giving himself self help therapy as he battles with his demons.

He wishes it would rain hard to figuratively cut out the darkness and silence which would comfort him, relieve him of his loneliness and be a welcome distraction, “water to sluice the dark” (14). Darkness and night is always a difficult time for anyone as it is eerie. His mind now wanders to the books on the shelf as he ponders their usefulness of company to wile away the time, and the knowledge they impart. Instead he is unable to focus on reading despite his own advice and instead bites his nails which is a habit borne of nervousness and insecurity, which matches the criteria of his jittery state. He describes “listens to the silence” which is a juxtaposition as no one can hear silence but again shows his fragile mental state akin to a mental patient in a cell. He is of course a prisoner of his own mind and his own demons. The personification of the garden, “waits for something that delays,” (27) mirrors him waiting for daybreak with sunlight and comfort which never seems to come as the night drags on.

He sees shadows as ghosts or spirits of old men who must have had natural slow deaths after living a full perhaps sinful life, “old men with ugly souls, who wore their bodies out with nasty sins” (31). This is in contrast to the deaths at war in France who cannot be lurking outside, and who were denied a full life due to their lives being abruptly and violently short. This brings up contrasting imagery that glorifies the selfless soldier and his sacrifice.

At the end of the poem there is signs of guilt of why he has survived and is “simmering safe at home” (33). He again mentions the peace and silence which is in contrast with the deafening noise of battle in far away France. The soldier, however then contradicts himself when he tells the audience he can hear the endless guns of battle that disturbs his peace and solitude, and even wants reassurance that we the reader hear them too. This shows classic case of insanity as the soldier is mentally traumatized. However at the end the soldier gives up his denial and surrenders himself to his disturbed state of mind. The repression has stopped and now perhaps the healing can start…

The Bough of Nonsense

Robert Grave’s poem, The Bough of Nonsense is a hard hitting satire that condemns a senseless war that sends young men to their graves. Graves, as a member of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, participated in some of the most brutal battles of the war, including the Battle of Loos, in which his friend Charles Sorley was killed, in the brutality of trench warfare. Graves, found it hard to come to terms with the war experience that left him battered both physically and mentally, and it was this battle with his own demons that lasted some twenty years that reflects in his poetic style.

Graves uses rhyming ABABCC and various literary devices such as allusions, diction, religious symbolism and imagery and metaphors to bring his real life experiences and feelings to life. The poem is an idyll, which is a short poem of rustic life or pastoral scene. Graves, uses R and S to denote the dialogue between two soldiers returning home from the battle of Somme two Fusiliers, in France. R may be Robert himself and his fellow elder soldier, S could be, Sorley.

The poem starts with the diction “Limped painfully home,” (2) which instantly allows the reader to know that the duo are battle weary. This is further enforced with “I’ve lived three thousand years,” (3) showing that the soldier figuratively feels that he has been on this earth that long despite his young age as he has seen things that take many lifetimes to see and his weariness makes him feel very, very old. The soldier though thankfully alive from a bitter battle rather than being grateful feels like he is the walking dead and in a zombie life state. The use of the metaphor, “nine parts dead,” (4) may come from the simple comparison of a cat who has lost all nine lives but also could be from the Egyptian belief that a soul has 9 parts not all of which die allowing him to reach immortality. The soldier thinks there is no part of him living and has given up on life and can find no joy in his homecoming. The “bough” (6) which is literally the main branch of a tree may be a clever metaphor for a branch of a religion they worship that is war. Ironically, a tree ,signifies life and hope which is the opposite of war.

The second stanza uses the diction “nonsense,” which may be an euphemism for war which Graves feels is nonsensical. This is repeated in the title and again in stanza 3, 4 and 5. Graves may be trying to show that Christianity condemns killing as a sin, as the Bible says, “ thou shalt not kill,” but the new age leaders of that time are going against this principle and creating a religion that glorifies and rewards killing with medals. This stanza uses diction to show the birth of this new religion on the bough which gives birth on a “nest,” (7) made of skulls and flowers. Birth should bring life but in this case we are reminded of a funeral in its imagery. The “Hatching three eggs” (10) may be a religious symbol for the Holy Trinity, (the father, the son and the holy ghost), which is the basis of Christianity, and “Foaled thirteen squamous young” refers to Jesus and the 12 disciples. However, in this case instead of love and purity the diction “squamous” means scales which gives an imagery of the devil controlled snakes in the garden of Eden. It is interesting that this new God is referred to she who now rids his country of the old religion. The diction, “drink, melancholy, and psalms” (12) has religious symbolism and connotations of holy communion.

The third stanza, has the soldiers wishing to compose a new hymn to hang on the tree for this new religion, but in doing so they use diction of an exotic nature that gives an imagery of a lush jungle with “ monkey tails” (15), and “ banana trees” (17), when in fact they are in France going to Britain. This could show that the new religion has no discipline and is jungle like or animalistic where human values have been forgone. It was known as depicted by Hemingway that post WW1 people often abandoned their morals for a more care free life leading to the term, ‘ the lost generation’.

The fourth stanza pleads to abandon this new religion, “nonsense” (19). Here strong diction are used with religious undertones where they lament that people are hardened and bitter, with “old quince and lime,” (20) which are tart fruit again borne of a tree, have lost old fashioned values. The metaphor of building a “temple with no floor,” (21) and “disappears from sight and leaves no trace,” shows that people now worship war and lose their code and honor and morality and die literally without a trace (death on the battle field of the unknown, un-named soldier) or the death of decency figuratively.

The fifth stanza, uses the allusion of the “Galatians built a fane” which again expands on temple building and refers to the 9th book of the New Testament and the 4 letters of the disciple Paul who pleads to accept Christianity as the new faith. During World War 1 people are not listening to the preaching of Paul and have rejected Christianity, which crumbles in “Autumn rain”, ( 26) diction for the time period that precedes death or end, that is Winter). The “ roof fell in and crushed them flat” shows death of the Church because though the logic of Christianity is positive it cannot survive if the “ nonsense is foundation for the walls,” (30) uses metaphors that show the war or nonsense is more powerful than religion and has caused its destruction to rubble.

The last stanza, uses metaphors, “ phantom creatures with green scales” (33) which conjures up the imagery of evil snakes slithering among the trees where the new religion was born. A phantom is a ghost like un human being which again this reinforces a loss of values which has given vent to sin and life going on where the soul is dead. Graves continues to remind us of the newly composed hymn which sings in the tree above them giving religious symbolism. The last line “bright pink birds, flapping their wings” (36) on this bough is difficult to interpret. Bright pink birds are usually flamingoes or crossbills that give an exotic heavenly image of paradise. This could signify that the soldiers are the snakes in a living hell who have fallen from grace and are unable to reach up to heaven that eludes them. Perhaps in their weary state they feel abandoned by God himself.

Graves cuts a graphic image of the spoils of war and gives a powerful hard hitting message that war is nonsense and we need to return to our values that war has robbed us of.

Bull Market

Hemingway uses the symbolism of bullfighting in The Sun Also Rises, to epitomize life in general and his character’s (almost always men) personality. Bullfighting is considered to be a highly man’s sport but consists of bulls (strong man) and the steers (weaker, emasculated man). Hemingway was fascinated by all things Spanish and the fiesta with the running of the bulls and the formal bullfights (analogy) are important both to the plot and as literary devices in this novel. To the people of Spain, bulls are traditionally representative of symbols of strengths and weakness and they are equally revered and feared. During the fiesta, the running of the bulls is lead by the steers who run ahead of the bulls and face occasional attacks by the bulls as they lead the bulls to the

Bull ring for their encounter with the matador. The steers represent the emasculated characters in the novel while the bulls represent the macho characters in the novel. The novel interchanges between the bulls and steers and the emotionally deranged characters ride out their turbulent relationships, which in the same way a bull fight has a beginning and end, ends with the demise of their relationship with one another. This is a novel about sexual and emotional conquests played out in a bull fight situation.

The matador, is the hero both brave and strong who will eventually with great skill and grace under fire (almost ballet like but not in any way effeminate), lead to the death of the bull as he taunts and teases the bull. He risks being gored and loss of his own life but thrives on the cheers of the eager audience and relishes the attention as he teases the bull with his red (fiery passion) cape.

The protagonist of the novel is the war injured Jake who is rendered emasculated by his impotency. Though he is often portrayed with macho interests such as bullfighting, drinking and fishing he acts like a puppy dog to his lost love Brett. He is often depicted as the observer, but sometimes reacts when getting involved in his friends’ problems and acting as the advice giving agony aunt. He is the passive peacemaker who is frustrated and disillusioned with life due to the mental and physical scars he carries due to the war. Overall, his personality is weak and can be considered as the injured steer in the novel.

Brett though alluring and feminine to men is a mentally strong character though she feigns weakness as a means to an end in enticing her legion of admirers. Though being a woman, she depicts masculine qualities with her short hair and is not easily rattled and has a very confident demeanor like a bull first entering the ring. Further, her insatiable desire for sexual encounters is similar to the bull charging towards the cape with unbridled passion, despite the consequences of emotional heartache. However, she often switches places with the matador as she entices men with her figurative cape using sex and her cutting words to bring her victims down. The power she has is equivalent to the bull fight itself.

Robert Cohn, interchanges from bull to steer. He is obsessed with Brett and often makes a fool of himself as he openly pines and follows her. He shows signs of paranoid behavior that no one in the group likes him. He also uses his Jewishness as an excuse for their often hostile (anti -semitic) behavior towards him. Jake tries to convince him that he is liked, though the group often finds him distasteful. In these qualities he behaves like the steer. However, while in Princeton he became a boxer to protect himself against anti-semitism and struggles for his own survival in his heart break over unrequited love for Brett like the bull thrown in the ring. Brett acting like the matador taunts and teases the bull Cohn who struggles for his life until the bitter end as Cohn almost willingly puts himself into a position of imminent death (suicide) like the bull in the ring. He keeps coming back for more knowing his chances of winning are slim. Brett breaks the spirit of the bull Cohn and finally finishes him off not with the sharpness of her blade but her words that send him off as he exits the plot in the novel.

Mike, also serves the purpose of the steer has the hapless fiancé who stands in the sidelines watching the sexual infidelity of his intended Brett who shows him no respect. He is the proverbial punching bag and has become emasculated due to his bankruptcy.

Pedro, the matador in reality also acts as the matador and cape when he breaks down the defenses of Brett who falls for his charm. Though, it may be argued that he also is a victim to her using and dumping men and in this effect acts like a steer to her bull. He also stands up to Cohn and keeps on taking a bashing from him like a bull.

Therefore, the characters interchange from bull, steer and even matador with cape as the novel progresses to its climax.

The Sun Also Rises Top 10

The Top Ten Reasons Why I Want to Be Jake

10. I can go to town about being a war hero and veteran
9. I can spend my days dreaming about Brett and what could have been.
8. I get to drink all the booze I want
7. I enjoy wallowing in self pity
6. Impotency rocks
5. I get to laugh at all the men Brett leaves, and rub their faces in it
4. I have an excuse to do nothing all day and hang at coffee shops
3. My moody expression can be excused as I am a writer thinking about my next novel
2 I get to be the hero and protagonist in Hemingway’s novel

And the number one reason I want to be Jake is…
1. Think of all the money I get to save by not having to date women. *

The Top Ten Reasons Why I Want to Be Brett

10. I am so desirable to men
9. It really boosts my ego to see men fighting over me
8. I never have to pay for a drink
7. I love repeating my words in every sentence like “hell”
6. I have a puppy dog like Jake who shows up hen I snap my fingers
5. I love using men and breaking their hearts
4. I get to collect men like trophies on my mantle piece
3. I get to be a diva
2. I have a title and get to called a Lady without behaving like one

And the number one reason I want to be Brett is…
1. I do not have to have a sex change operation to become this character.*

The Top Ten Reasons Why I want to Be Robert

10. I can beat up anyone I want
9. I get to cheat on Frances with Brett
8. I get to moon about the place with a loves struck heart broken dumb expression on my face
7. I love women ruling my lives and dumping me
6. I get to get drunk and pass out whenever I want
5. I can play the Jewish card whenever I want
4. I can turn my nose up and act bored during the bull fights
3. The novel starts with my name making me very important
2. When the writing fails I can become a professional boxer and show up that Romero

And the number one reason I want to be Robert is …

1. I get to be called two names Robert and Cohn to confuse people.*

The Top Ten Reasons Why I Want to Be Mike

10. I love Brett cheating on me with teenagers
9. I get to tell stories about my medals
8. I get to be a non literary not so clever chap
7. I can get tight and act badly whenever I want
6. I have creditors chasing me throwing me out of bars
5. I get to hate the English
4. I get to gamble to my hearts content and never pay people back
3. I can boast that I am Brett’s fiance
2. I get to be beaten up by a boxing champ and live to tell the tale

And the number one reason why I want to be Mike is….
1. I can tell all my friends I am bankrupt so they have to pay for my drinks

The Top Ten Reasons Why I want to be Montoya

10. I get to overcharge foreigners to stay in my hotel
9. I get to poke my nose in their business
8. I get to practice my English speaking to the group
7. I get a hotel named after me
6. I get to raise the price of drinks during the fiesta
5. So many people insisting on over drinking come to my hotel despite the hiked prices
4. I get to be in this book without having any important role
3. I am not a part of that pack of losers
2. I am the only sober who gets to stay sober

And the number one reason I want to be Montoya is…

1. I get to get rid of that motley crew when they leave and finally have some peace.*

The Top Ten Reasons Why I want to be Romero

10. I am so good looking and admired
9. I get to have a fling with Brett
8. All the crowds come to the ring to watch my skills in the bull fight
7. I can pretend I know little English and listen in on conversations
6. I get to wear tight costumes
5. My bull fighting skills come in handy when I need to use a skewer at a barbecue
4. I get to fight with Cohn and bulls all on the same day
3. People want to meet me and ask me questions
2. I am going to be rich and famous
And the number one reason why I want to be Romero is…

1. I am a teenager and never had any pimples.*

The Top Ten Reasons I Want to Be Bill

10. Brett will not break my heart
9. Get to go on a fishing trip with Jake
8. I get to jet off from the States, Paris, Vienna, Spain, Budapest
7. I can be so happy that I made a ton on my last book
6. I get to go to Loyola with Bishop Manning
5. I get to drink myself silly despite the Anti-Saloon League
4. Will not get into any fist fights
3. I get to dislike Cohn
2. I am the only one who gets to have a good time on this trip

And the number one reason I want to be Bill…

1. Being a taxidermist I can collect the dead bulls and stuff them.*

Dear Mind-Boggled in Cincinatti,

I empathize with you. I, too have been involved with a woman who I cannot let go of and whom I love and yet, I have learned how to fade into the background, as she moves from one failed fling to another. I cannot be with her though as I am impotent but, she keeps me hanging on to her as a crutch to pick up the pieces. I need to break this pattern of emotional blackmail and abuse and so must you and your lady.

When you have never been with someone on a day to day basis, it is so easy to romanticize about them as the perfect partner. Believe me, the woman you have strong feelings for is far from perfect. You just never have been able to see her warts and all No spell has been cast that cannot be broken. What you have for her and obviously she has for “ Rex” is an addiction. You are both junkies and being with the object of your desire is a shot in the arm. You are surviving on the thrill even though you know this is a sure fire way to self destruction. She and you need to realize that you are in a toxic relationship that exists only in your mind. There is no future in this fake, no basis affair and the more you continue to see her, the less likely will there be room for someone healthier to come into your life.

My friend you cannot help her. She is not your responsibility and until you let go of her, she will never be able to help herself. You can take a horse to water, but you cannot force the horse to drink. She has to learn to come out of this situation, and you have to be cruel to be kind. There is no easy way to do this. There is no easing out of this. You have to go cold turkey and throw her out of your life. It’s just like pulling off a band aid, yeah, it hurts but then its over. When it’s over, there is a deep sense of relief and calm. You can now move on and look to the future and heal. And yes, it is true, time does heal all wounds of an emotional nature. Of course, you will have the scars to show but wear these scars proudly. It’s like going to the war and fighting for freedom. The scars are the scars of war, wear them well as they are your medals of honor. Fight, fight for your freedom. Be the hero, not the hero of those soppy love stories, but the un- hailed hero who does the morally right thing in an honorable and chivalrous way for the overall good of all.

No you are not nuts at least not in the clinical psychiatrist definition. Love is a deep unexplained emotion. Our hearts are deep chasms of desire and there is a reason why Cupid is blind. Writers and poets have written reams about love, but you are not alone in your foolishness. Take heart, Mind-Boggled in Cincinatti, you will survive this blimp in your life. And if all else fails, well there is another solution to all that ales you. Yes, that was no typo! Yes, simply turn to drink and become an aimless writer. Frequent coffee shops at day where the caffeine will erase all painful memories and at night turn to the bars where the alcohol will do the trick. Further, I recommend a road trip with an equally depraved like minded group of middle aged losers. After a while when you are surrounded in the subversive proximity of your companions your troubles, and your idiosyncrasies will appear infinitely miniscule in comparison.

Let me know how it turns out.

Abby.

Incognito –Jake

Not So 'Bullish' About the Future

Chapter 15 highlights the fun, frolic and gaiety of the start of the fiesta. This gay abandonment and party spirit must seem like a release following the years of World War 1. For the expatriate generation the fiesta is liberation of their suppression, where they can find themselves. A journey of self- discovery, of sorts for the group continues its theme. Throughout, the novel the theme of heavy drinking both for social reasons and to deliberately loosen their spirits and unleash their inner spirits plays heavily for all the characters, (Cohn passes out due to excessive alcohol). Alcohol serves as a curtain that they can hide behind, or to, forget the demons that troubles them. It acts as a useful foil for the emotional issues they face and disguises their insecurities, as it gives them courage, albeit a false sense of one.

During the start of the festivities, Cohn asks, who are the foreigners that the locals are celebrating and is surprised to learn that his group is. The group obviously feels very welcome and part of the celebrations and forgets that they are all outsiders to the spectacle. They are all trying to fit in and develop a sense of belonging, not just at this fiesta but generally.

How Cohn is viewed within the group is highlighted in this chapter, and insights into his character are revealed. Following, the trend of college, Cohn is still an outsider in society and is first and foremost viewed as a Jew. When he remarks he will be bored at the upcoming bull fight, we are reminded of his insecurities. He was a boxer at college and must view bull fighting as a non manly showmanship and not real fighting. The group picks up on this remark and will not let him forget him forcing an apology out of him after he feels nauseous at the blood bath, “He’s got this Jewish superiority so strong that he thinks the only emotion he’ll get out of the fight will be being bored”. In fact the skill of the bull fighter (Romero) belies the danger he faces, “Romero’s bull-fighting gave real emotions, because he kept the absolute purity of line in his movements and always quietly and calmly let the horns pass him close each time”. All the men in the group must feel a certain sense of emasculation and awe at watching the young bull fighter who manages to catch the eye of their love interest, Brett. The chapter ends with her foreshadowing how she will not fare well with her soon to be realized love affair with Romero and again emphasizes “hell” as her key word that symbolizes her turbulent love life that she wears like an albatross around her neck, “These bull fights are hell on one”.

It is poignant that the next day jubilation is replaced with rain, as Romero has literally rained on their parade as he steals the affection of Brett, from Jake, Cohn and Mike. Chapter 16 shows how Cohn and Mike begin drowning their sorrows and badly behaving as a way to deal with their heartaches. Brett on the other hand laments at what a woman is forced to go through in love and then contradicts herself by, “I’ve always done just what I wanted” and “I do feel such a bitch”. Well aware of how she mistreats men she continues her path of self-destruction. All the while like a broken record, yet again the hapless Jake stands on the sidelines ever ready to help Brett start her romance with Romero as he will be there to pick up the broken pieces later on.

Chapter 17 shows that heightened emotions come to a head. Cohn, unable to deal with the loss of Brett to Romero (though, he was never this upset strangely about Brett seeing Mike??), uses his boxing skills for the first time out of the ring by punching Jake and Mike in an inebriated state. Things are out of control in the same way the bull runs down the street out of control trying to take victims. Thus what happens in the fiesta actually mirrors what is happening in or acts as a metaphor for the friends lives. Cohn, is the first victim to fall in the same way they discover, that a man has been killed by the runaway bull that morning. Perhaps, chapter 15, where Cohn passes out, and Bill says, “I think he’s dead” foreshadows his fate. Cohn, punches Romero but eventually admits defeat and leaves the plot. Figuratively, speaking Cohn has been killed off in the story, and the boxer is down for the count!

Loves Labor Lost

Chapter four though relatively short is an important chapter in the novel as it gives a first and last insight into the relationship shared by Brett and the protagonist Jake. It also while reveals their present equation also gives valuable insight into their past and even hints about the future.

The passage starts on page 33 with Brett saying “ Don’t touch me “, in response to Jake’s impromptu kiss and ends on page 35 with “ We were sitting now like two strangers”.
Well Brett and Jake are not two strangers they have a rich and colorful history which includes a romantic liaison, but the details of which are hinted at but never divulged. We the reader are just left guessing at what brings the two to this point. What is clear that they are very much in love, but have decided to not be together. Brett not yet divorced is already engaged to another man and about to embark in flings with two more and has left a trail of broken hearts. But, the most broken heart of all sits beside her now. Jake, unable to fulfill the physical desires of Brett as he is rendered incompetent with a war injury makes the ultimate sacrifice in giving up Brett. She on the other hand indulges shamefully with men, all the while hanging on to the hapless Jake who is always quietly and patiently waiting in the wings to pick up the pieces so after her dramatics she can start a new equally destructive liaison. Two questions come to mind, firstly why does Jake allow himself to be such a door mat? And secondly, if in this convenient arrangement why cannot these two marry while keeping an open relationship where companionship is fulfilled for Brett through Jake and physical relations by others? After all, are they not informally carrying out this arrangement anyway? Perhaps, the answer lies in the fact that they both enjoy the sheer pleasure of the torture of love. This is hinted at by the last few lines, where Jake says, “ Its very funny. And it’s a lot of fun too to be in love”. This may be said in jest or sarcasm but Brett retorts, “ I think it’s hell on earth”. The words “hell” are repeated often by her, as it has religious significance. Of penance for sins on this earth.She implies earlier on that she has used men, “ Well I think of the hell I’ve put chaps through. I’m paying for it now”. Brett considers her heartache divine retribution for her sins and enjoys wallowing in self pity as it makes her a pious self sacrificial lamb to the slaughter. She worships her pain like a religion but her promiscuity may have been a way to deal with her heartache over Jake, therefore she comes full circle in no win situation. Using men helps her to forget Jake but by hurting others God hurts her through taking Jake away from her. Brett does not want to see Jake, she has to. This tellingly explains that seeing him is part of the sentence she has been condemned to by her judge and executioner, to see him, be in love but never have him is her punishment that she willingly serves. Jake on the other hand is serving his sentence, he is a living dead man devoid of emotions or hope, an outsider and the soul audience to the play being enacted.

I am almost reminded of the novel “Hunger”, where the protagonist would almost in a masochistic manner torture himself as he felt he deserved to be hungry. In the same way, is it not possible for the two to move on and find solutions, but they choose not to do so, ”And there’s not a damn thing we could do”, “ We’d better keep away from each other”, “ But darling I have to see you “. It hardly seems to matter who says the lines when the sentiments they share echo off each others pain. Yes, indeed, loves labor lost !


Hi Wesley, you made some well thought comments on the passage in chapter V. Cohn, is obviously very smitten after his meeting earlier with Brett, but obviously this will not hold well with Jake who is in love with Brett. He still maintains a very good platonic friendship with Brett but cannot be with her due to his impotency. Therefore, while on the surface Jake is calm, composed and trying to be friendly with his friend and look out for his interest, deep down he harbors jealousy and resentment. Some of this is directed at Cohn, but mostly it is directed at him self as he is helpless to reverse his situation. Therefore, I disagree that Jake is in control of himself. If he were he would win over Brett and become a whole man that can be sexually active. In fact I feel both men have their own share of problems and burdens, and do not have control over their lives. The hapless and frustrated Jake is caught in a no win situation with Brett as he watches her affairs from the sidelines, while Cohn always ruled by the women in his life is torn over his loyalty towards Frances but desperately wants to tear himself away from this relationship and feels the lovely Brett will offer an escape not just from France but ironically Frances ( Hemingway may have used this name intentionally) . I do not really think Jake is confident to believe that Brett would choose him over Cohn, but realizes that ultimately Brett the free bird will never allow any man to tie her down as she drifts from one aimless liaison to the next. It is debatable if Jake is trying to protect Cohn, Brett or himself more in discouraging the Cohn-Brett union. However, the final comment “ God help you”, is thought by Jake in a sarcastic tone as he reveals to us that he is not the unconditional friend to Cohn that Cohn thinks he is.

http://whamilton.hsblogs.aes.ac.in/2011/10/12/tsar-chapter-5-important-passage/

Blog Portfolio # 5 October 2011

Coverage

Comedy and Tragedy

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/08/comedy-and-tragedy.html

As You Like It! Act I Character Web

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/08/as-you-like-it-act-i-character-web.html

Bros for Life

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/08/bros-for-life.html

Richard Cory – A Lasting Impression

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/08/richard-cory-lasting-impression.html

As I See It…

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/08/as-i-see-it.html

Just Humor Me!

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/08/just-humor-me.html

Bitter Sweet Love

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/09/bitter-sweet-love.html

Out with the Old, in with the New

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/09/out-with-old-in-with-new.html

As You Like It Comic!

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/09/as-you-like-it-comic.html

The Sun Sets on Unrequited Love

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/10/sun-sets-on-unrequited-love.html

The Sun Also Rises Allusions

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/10/sun-also-rises-allusions.html

Route March

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/10/route-march.html

Anna Hazare is India

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/10/anna-hazare-is-india.html

Depth

The Sun Also Rises Allusions

This blog entry based on the theme of allusions in chapter 10 and 11 of ‘The Sun also Rises’, allowed me to do in depth online research to many of the references such as names or places used by Hemingway. This research was quite an eye opener as it gave me the opportunity to delve more deeply into the mind of Hemingway. When I first read these chapters, I simply read for the narrative to move the story along, I did not always recognize the references made or understand fully or at all the significance to the text. Re-reading these chapters once I had conducted the research, made me feel that I was reading these chapters for the first time. I now understand what the characters Jake and Bill were trying to convey to us, so it made for better analysis and gave me food for thought. It also brought home to me the historical era that the novel is set in as all the references were of actual and not fictional characters, time lines and historical events. It seemed to bring the novel to not just a piece of made up fiction but made the story seem so much more believable and real.

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/10/sun-also-rises-allusions.html

Interaction

Bitter Sweet Love

In my blog ‘Bitter Sweet Love’ the oxymoron in the title goes on to examine the character of Jacques who as a side line spectator acts as a foil for the underlying love story between the young lovers Orlando and Rosalind. This may be perhaps due to the fact that Jacques himself is nursing a broken heart and cannot be positive about this emotion that he feels is fake and transient and simply leads to heartbreak or fickle change of hearts. While I appreciated many of the comments and topic of discussion made by Gautam, I did not agree with his analysis that Jacques wants to be a court jester, like Touchstone reveals his lighter side. Yes, of course at first glance this seems to be correct but my analysis and interpretation is that Jacques wants to be a clown so he can officially now have a mask to hide his real feelings of melancholy. His clown like antics will hide the tears behind the laughter. He does not want people to like him, he does not crave popularity, he wants to hide himself from prying eyes and questions by putting the focus on others and not himself.

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/09/bitter-sweet-love.html

http://gautamkapur.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/jacques-the-antagonist/

Discussion

Frieeeeeeeeeeeeeenshipppppppp

The Friendship blog entry by Anuraag made for an interesting read and lead me to jump into the discussion. The aspects of analyzing the intricacies of the relationship between the two central characters Jake the protagonist and his side kick Robert Cohn make for lively debate and I hope that a further domino effect is created. Male friendship and bonding can be highly complex especially when they share the same love interest and egos are involved. This novel is all about male bonding (with the token female in the mix), it is about a journey of self discovery where dreams can be realized or broken in a heart beat.

http://abahl.hsblogs.aes.ac.in/2011/10/04/frieeeeeeeeeeeeendshipppppp-3/#comment-10

Xenoblogging

The Comment Primo

What Are You Talking About Hemingway?

I wanted to be the first to blog in such an interesting and tongue in cheek heading. After all as any English IB student worth their salt this proverbial question is asked of every poet, novelist or playwright we encounter.

Rohit’s blog

http://rohit617.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/what-are-you-talking-about-hemingway/

The Comment Grande

Clashing or Identical

Adrienne’s blog gave me room for thought and I wanted to expand on her valid comments and observations. Rather than just agree and repeat what she says I tried to take my blog to the next level. ( I neither wanted to clash or be identical!). I explored the characterizations of Jake and Cohn and tried to provide a remedy of what their failings are and how they could if we look at beyond the ending of the story can unfold further. Other than it us up to our imagination using the canvas of Hemingway to wonder, what happens next?

http://adrienne-hlenglish.blogspot.com/2011/10/clashing-or-identical.html

The Comment Informative

Antagonist

Becca brought up the valid point that Jacques acts as the antagonist in the play by being a pessimist and opposing love. I wanted to explore this idea in greater depth and expand on this reference. I analyzed Jacques character to expose the layers he is composed of and explored outside of this play, of how Shakespeare likes to often use characters to acts as a foil for any developing love story. I used the example of Romeo and Juliet to illustrate my point.

http://rrobbins.hsblogs.aes.ac.in/2011/09/07/antagonist/

Wild Card

Anna Hazare is India

I wanted to blog on how someone like Anna Hazare can affect the youth of India. After all none of us were born in the Ghandian era but I wanted to explore if this fascination and support has valid purpose or simply a fashnable fad that is popular to follow.

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2011/10/anna-hazare-is-india.html

Anna Hazare is India

How does the romanticizing of truth and values of a protest against an unethical government influence the youths’ perception and reaction?

Subject: Anna Hazare’s 3 Fold Protest against Indian Government

We all have grown up with the romantic images of Gandhi with his peaceful protests and hunger strikes against injustice and oppression, whether it be, through historical studies, movies or the media at large. Though we were not old enough to witness how he inspired a nation first hand these images stay in our minds and hearts. Today, with the onslaught of the Indian media coverage of the elderly activist dressed in wholesome white, protesting against the corruption in the Indian government we are reminded of these images, and feel we have a second chance to witness the Gandhi phenomenon first hand.

The Youth of India Protests for Anna's Campaign at India Gate, New Delhi
Newton Law’s state that for every action there is a reaction. So in that spirit when we see someone our grandfathers age fasting in peaceful protest we react. But as the youth of today, set up all night candle light vigils, and inundate facebook and twitter to garner support and wear the outdated and not fashion trendy hat as a symbolic gesture of our support, I wonder how much is based on factual knowledge and deductive reasoning, or how much is an emotive response.? The youth tend to love a herd mentality. They will gladly support the latest fashion trend to be cool and be part of the hot and happening crowd. So facebook gladly lends itself by its nature to likes and signing of petitions by way of the domino effect. Everyone jumps on to the bandwagon of support to show unity and groupism. In fact the youth will support any cause whether it be save the tiger, or decrease the legal age of drinking without any real claim or association, to prove they are citizens with a social conscience. Often though, they appear to enjoy rebelling against authority, as they are suppressed by parents, laws, teachers and alike and therefore indulge in the freedom that these protests allow them. In pursuit of removing their shackles they become rebels without a cause.

While the issues that Hazare holds and his values and belief system are very real, I wonder at the depth of knowledge of his young supporters who spend more time watching MTV than politics. Perhaps the youth without experience, or concrete evidence are showing an emotional response to the facts presented to them. This may be based on their trivial experiences such as having to bribe a policeman who caught them speeding. Are they protesting indirectly that they were forced to bribe themselves out of a stick situation, not realizing that revenge is unjustified as they were breaking the law? I am sure a college poll would show that not many protestors have a real grasp or handle of the political issues at hand and at best have amassed a general gist through the media whether it be print or electronic. This romanticizing by the media is further exasperated when popular cine stars suddenly come out of wood work in support little belying the fact their movie is up for release and they could do with the free publicity.

Another aspect is cultural response and ethical values. In India the youth are taught to respect their elders and Hazare, represents everyone’s Uncle or grandfather who should be revered and whose word is god.

In actual fact the youth need to research and study the facts acquire knowledge and see the pros and cons and then offer support based on real knowledge, explanation and interpretation. Any protest against real injustice and oppression is justified and a single voice needs to set an example. But there are lessons to be learnt and one of these important lessons is: love may be blind but support should never be.

Joseph , Bijoy . "The Hindu : Opinion / Open Page : Anna Hazare: the role model for the youth." The Hindu . N.p., 28 Aug. 2011. Web. 28 Aug. 2011. .

Route March

The poem is about soldiers marching through hills and vales towards active battle, and more than likely to their death. The narrator rather than being solemn and mourning their death is asking the young gallant soldiers to rejoice. After all over and over he explains to them that they are give giving up their lives for a noble cause. The sacrifice they are making will allow others to enjoy their freedom and they should be joyous at the reward that God will bestow them in heaven.

This overall theme is expressed by 3 main literary devices: imagery, allusion and sound.

Firstly in imagery death is not described as a horrific, painful or bloody gruesome process but is akin to the peace of mind and gentleness of sleep. This enforces a positive image which is not normally associated to the end of ones life. " So be glad when you are sleeping" and " So you may be glad through sleeping". The imagery conjures up comfort and rest that soldiers are usually deprived of. Further, the imagery of Earth, hills and nature again bring up the imagery of soothing nature which belies the reality of the noise and violence of the battle field." Earth that blossomed" and " From the hills and valleys earth" " Earth that was blossomed and was glad". A lot of the imagery is obviously false and given simply to motivate and encourage the young, scared and weary young soldiers.

Secondly allusions are used both of a Greek mythology and biblical theme. Jesus Christ and Barabbas give us religious Christian allusions. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice to die on the cross to save the sins of the world while Pontius Pilate allowed the crowd to set Barabbas free. Here some soldiers in a roulette wheel game of chance may give the ultimate sacrifice of their life or live to fight the next battle." both were found the same day" again shows that fate good or bad will be decided today itself for the soldiers. " Neath the cross that Christ had" shows that all the soldiers have their own cross to bear and drag across the field in the same way Christ dragged his cross to the hill to be crucified. Also, the poet mentions Socrates who in Greek historical reference was tried and convicted as was Jesus and was forced to endure death by drinking the poison hemlock just as the soldiers have been put on trial and given the verdict of death by battle.

The third device used is sound. The rhythmic tone of the poem parallels the marching sounds of the soldiers feet. The rhythm repetitive tone and references to song are all used to motivate soldiers as they march in unison and energise them to victory. This sound is maintained throughout the poem and adds to give the poem not sadness but merriment, joy and gladdened hearts." tramp of feet and lilt of song", " energies men, " On marching men on to the gates of death with song" and, "Wherfore, men marching on the road to death sing" to name a few references to sound.

The poem shows that a person's time on this earth is limited and simply a transition to the real everlasting after life. It is far more noble and productive to have a short but meaningful life than a long but meaningless one.

The Sun Also Rises Allusions

The Sun Also Rises Chapter 11 – 12 Allusions Explored

Basques

The Basques a local ethnic group of people who are a little rough are discussed in the text as they must seem so different to the British and American travelers with their finer culture, education and high class ways. And yet they are likeable to the travelers as they seem such a care free group of people not bound by the shackles of modern society like the expatriate travelers. They act as an allusion of the freedom and care free joviality they are hoping to find on their journey of discovery. “These Basques are swell people.” (110)

Basques Intorudction. “Countries and Their Cultures. Advameg. Inc, 2011.Web.09 Oct 2011. .

Ronceveaux

Jake points out to the town of Ronceveaux high up on the mountains where the Basques had held a famous battle to defeat Roland. This may well be an allusion by Hemingway to signify the battles and conflict they are facing in their lives and they aspiring to be like the Basques want to defeat their own personal conflict or their version of Roland by undertaking this adventurous fishing trip and vacation. The height of the mountain and the severe cold adds to the allusion that victory will not be easy but a painful steep climb and a challenge in their lives.

Hickman, Kennedy. "Battle of Roncevaux Pass - Charlemagne at Roncevaux Pass ." Military History - Warfare through the Ages - Battles and Conflicts - Weapons of War - Military Leaders in History. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011. http://militaryhistory.about.com>.

Fratellini

The song that Bill sings about irony and pity are explained by him to Jake in comparison of the two Fratellini brothers who were much admired for their circus acts in the 1900’s Paris. In the same way Bill uses this allusion of the circus act and irony and pity as two unlikely partners you would not imagine to be talked about in the same breath. But their unusual and juxtaposed meanings brings delight like a circus act you marvel at. BIill reluctant to get out for bed for an early morning fishing expedition begs Jake to show irony and pity and start setting up worms for the both of them, for the common good so that Bill can get some extra sleep and breakfast in leisure. He obviously feels it would be ironic for Jake to feel pity for Bill.

"Fratellini family - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia."Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011. .

Primo de Rivera

Over breakfast Bill eggs on Jake to make any ironical remarks to the waitress who brings in the jam. He uses the reference of Primo de Rivera as an example he could use to make an ironical remark, who was a lawyer who campaigned for his father’s political policies and promoted Spain to become a Fascist state. This acts as an allusion as while the group are trying for freedom Bill wants to provoke the waitress on a controversial topic of a man who did not have their Western ideals about democracy. Bill may be telling Jake that he is a dictator in the way he behaves. He takes a dig at him and insults him for being an expatriate a traitor who does not want to live in his own country.
"Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera : Biography." Spartacus Educational. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011. .
Dred Scott

The black slave in America who was not allowed to sue for his freedom and lost his infamous case, as the court decided that Africans cannot become US citizens. This is used by Bill as an allusion that Jake is a foreigner, slave to the whims of being an expatriate but will never be accepted as a citizen or local of Paris or Europe. He explains that he is fond of Jake but could not tell him in New York as it was unacceptable and would seem gay but here in Spain he has the courage to reveal his feelings of friendship. Jake and the others are desperately trying to find out who they are on this journey and want to no longer be slaves of their own mind.

"Dred Scott." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011. .

Anti Saloon League

The characters are desperate for their freedom and that involves the freedom to drink to drown their sorrows. The Anti Saloon League was against the freedom of slaves such as Dred Scott (did not become ironically scott free), and lobbied for prohibition which banned alcohol. Forces are working against Jake to deny him of his own rights and freedom. “sex explains it all,” (121) could refer to his impotency getting in the way of him having his true love Brett.

"Anti-Saloon League - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011. .

AEW Mason

The book that Jake reads by the author AEW Mason as he takes a break from fishing is about a man who climbs the Alps and is frozen for 24 years but his lady love waits for him. This acts as an allusion that Jake in the bitter cold of this high up fishing village is sexually frozen (impotent) and wistfully hopes that Brett will wait years for him until they find a cure to free him from his vegetative state.

William Jennings Bryan

As they eat their lunch Bill makes a quip of the old proverbial saying about whether the chicken or egg comes first. He boldly states that they should eat their egg first and even Bryan would know that. Bryan in fact died yesterday states Jake so in tribute Bill mockingly in his memory and honor changes his mind and rhetorically states that the chicken should be eaten first and then the egg. Bryan was an American politician but was thought of as the ‘Great Commoner ‘, and this is a sarcastic comment to act as an allusion that Bill and Jake are highly bred and not commoners and know the etiquettes of eating their lunch.
"American Experience | Monkey Trial | People & Events." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011.
Mencken

Bill went to school with Mencken the writer who criticized American life and culture and acts as a tongue in chief reference to Bill making fun of religion as he wants to pray and drink and to what society tells you can do or not do. Mencken was controversial and sided with the Germans in the war and acts as an allusion for the way Bill is behaving over lunch, controversial and a character to be ridiculed.

H. L. Mencken - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011. .

Frankie Fritsch

Bill denies that Frankie Fritsch went to the Holy Cross and insists that this baseball player could not be associated with him but instead attended Fordham University. This acts as an allusion that Bill sees himself as a highly intellectual person who could not associate with sport people known more for their brawn than their brain. Fritsch also came from the Bronx which was in society the wrong side of New York to live in.

"Frankie Frisch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011. .

Bishop Manning

Jake explains that he went to Loyola school with Bishop Manning who was a hard living man and hard drinker musician who lived out of juke joints and bars which acts as an allusion to the lifestyle Jake leads. Bishop eventually mended his ways and found religion which may act as a foreshadow of the future of Jake. Bill who is drunk likes and is jealous of Jakes school story and tries to steal it as his own but fails. Bill may be secretly envious of the life Jake leads.

"Bishop Manning Discography."HOME. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011.

The Sun Sets on Unrequited Love

While on the surface Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises is story about a group of motley disillusioned American and British expatriates, living an aimless hedonistic lifestyle in post war Europe in the 1920’s. The novel follows them as they travel from the gaiety of Paris to Spain on a fishing and bull fighting trip. However, behind the initial façade is a central theme of a love story of unrequited love and betrayal between Jake and Brett. The novel revolves around these two characters and their inter- twined relationships with others they come across.

Brett and Jake love each other but cannot be together as there is one thing pulling them apart. Jake is impotent due to a war injury. Jake almost seems to be on the outside looking in as he haplessly accepts his situation and suffers the silent torture of Brett having affairs under his nose. Brett on the other hand is almost callous in her dealings with men whether it be, her two husbands that she did not love, her affair with Cohn and Pedro and her fiancé Mike. In fact Cohn remarks that she is Circe the sorceress in the Odyssey, who turned men into swine. She teases Jake and flaunts other men in front of Jake and offers stolen kisses but broken promises. However realizing her failings and agreeing her torment over lost love must be payment for her sins she says, “When I think of the hell I’ve put chaps through. I’m paying for it all now “Jake is desperately unhappy and spends much of his time, drowning his sorrows in alcohol, as if to numb the pain of reality. The character of Georgette almost seems to act as a foil for Jakes own personality as she too is unhappy in Paris but does not leave,” Isn’t anywhere else,” (23). When her sarcastically remarks she looks happy she uses the oxymoron “Happy, hell” to describe her state of mind which mirrors his. After all he is happy to see or be close to Brett but it is also hell for him. And when he refuses Georgettes’ physical touch due to sickness of the war, she rhetorically states in a matter of fact way, “ Everybody’s sick. I’m sick too”. Jake while being psychologically disturbed from the war is also battling his sickness of the heart. The writing style that Jake narrates the events are choppy, simple and non descriptive which reflects his characterization of the bitter outsider.

In a conversation between Brett and Jake, he remarks flippantly that his injury is meant to be funny and casually remarks, “Its very funny. And it’s a lot of fun too to be in love,” (35) This is the actual opposite of what he really feels, but Brett disagrees and states, “I think its hell on earth.” The repetition of hell in the novel , “I don’t want to go through that hell again, (34) acts as a symbol of their unhappiness and conjures up religious connotations that they are both paying for their sins by divine retribution.

It is interesting that the title of the novel may act as a metaphor to signify a sexual connotation that only Jake alone is suffering in his impotency and is a bitter sexual reference to his ailment. But it may also serve a dual purpose as a metaphor of hope that while there is unhappiness in their lives, as in the sun setting there is also hope and a new beginning to look forward to. After all, The Sun Also Rises

As You Like It Comic!

Rosalind as Ganymede preaches to her love interest, Orlando, that the concept of love is frivolous and self serving, and has no tangible purpose in life.