I agree about the part of re-igniting our love for literature. For me it was getting back to writing once again. I read a lot, 3-4 books a week, but I had not written anything since 1984. I absolutely loved this class.
Best Literature class I’ve ever had
As the semester draws to a close, I look back at this class fondly. This has been the best literature class I’ve ever taken. With the exception of “The Maze Runner”, and “The Eyre Affair” I greatly enjoyed the selection of books we covered. Although I didn’t particularly care for those two books, it was good that I read them because I read a genre I would have never, ever bothered to read. At 47 years of age young adult fiction is not exactly my cup of tea.
I really like Prof. Mannan as a professor. I wish I had taken at least one other class with her. After having her as a professor, I feel like my Honors Critical Writing class I took 2 semesters ago was a waste of my time. I believe I have not only enjoyed this class, but I feel I have learned a lot more about English because of it. When it comes to conveying the material, and showing enthusiasm for it, Professor Manna did it an excellent job. My only regret is not be around to take her Shakespeare class. I would definitely sign up and take another class with her if I had the opportunity.
Monster “lite”
In the “Eyre Affair” there are several characters that speak about monsters or monstrous acts with an air of pride, which differs from how the term monster is approached in most of the other novels we’ve read this semester. I think the monstrous acts that are spoken of in this novel differ from the monstrous acts in other books we have read this semester simply based on what type of book this is. The other books, such as “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” “Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde,” “Frankenstein,” “The Fight Club,” and “The Maze Runner” all featured characters that were dark, and very sinister. To me, the characters in this book come across in an almost comical, sort of “light” way. They do not come across in a disturbing “dark” way.
There is no murder in the “Eyre Affair” that comes close to evil displayed by Dorian Gray when he murdered Basil. Or when Frankenstein had his bride, and other family killed by his creation. To me, a character like Acheron Hades came across almost like a bad character from a prepubescent story, not like something out of a story from an Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, or a Clive Barker. The monstrous acts in this book pale in comparison, and do not disturb me as some of the short stories from those three authors have affected me. Bottom line the monstrous characters in “The Eyre Affair” are not very monstrous at all. They are more like a bratty kid, than a juvenile delinquent.
Dorian & Wilde: Villains
Dorian is a villain plain, and simple. I do not believe he is a victim of any circumstance or nothing like that. Dorian was a young, good looking, self-centered, shallow man who would have fit in perfectly with today’s millennial generation. I feel almost like I am watching todays Dorians every time I click on yahoo news, or when I see the silly tabloid cover stories. Whether it is a Kanye West, Johnny Manziel, Kim Kardashian, or any other attention whore, I pretty much feel I am watching a picture of Dorian Gray.
I myself felt absolutely no sympathy for him. As they say there is no sympathy for the devil. When it was all said and done I felt like there was no other way that circus could have ended. In many ways, I felt like he received his just comeuppance.
I found the preface to be a rambling, almost stream of consciousness blabbering about his thoughts on his work. I don’t really buy his, “No artist desires to prove anything,” line. I think that is Wilde being disingenuous, or deceived at best. I also had to strongly disagree with his line which states, “there is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book.” It makes me wonder if he had ever ventured to read the work of the Marquis de Sade? Being as well educated, and well read I find it difficult to think he had not. I’m also assuming that as a hedonist, he would have been familiar with that work.
“It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors”
“It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors” that is the prompt for this week based on chapter one. The conversation between Basil, and Lord Henry about the painting of Dorian Gray does reveal or mirror quite a bit about both of the men. While the object of the painting is Dorian Gray their focus seems to be on their fixation with his beauty. Basil appears to be enthralled with his model. He is practically gushing when he states, “I really can’t exhibit it. I have put too much of myself into it.” With the homo erotic affection (lust?) that the characters seem to have for the Dorian it comes across like a double entendre.
Lord Henry reveals a bit of his own superficiality when he comments, “Your mysterious young friend, whose name you have never told me, but whose picture really fascinates me, never thinks. I feel quite sure of that. He is some brainless, beautiful creature.” He has yet to even meet Dorian in person and already he is passing judgment based on one portrait. Henry appears to be so pompous. His incessant blabbering reveals nothing other than the only reason his head is not a vacuum is because it is filled with hot air.
Basil on the other hand seems to have taken a good looking young man and portrayed him as his sodomite fantasy for his very own pleasure. Of course he gives the finished work to his model as a token of his pathetic overtures.
All in all I have not found much to like about this novel.
Blog Prompt #7: Nature…
The idea of creation is a central theme to the Shelley’s novel, “Frankenstein.” There are very many references or allusions to the Bible, and very man similarities to John Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” It is no surprise that in the Biblical account of human life began when Adam, the first man, was created in the Garden of Eden. Similarly when the Exodus occurred, it occurred with the backdrop of the wilderness, and mountains in the backdrop. Yet another example is the very temptation of Jesus Himself, which occurred in the wilderness as well. It seems only appropriate that many of the events, and important passages from “Frankenstein” occur in the setting of nature, and particularly with mountains.
Likewise, in the novel we see nature serving as a backdrop to the key events. We see locations such as Chamounix where the family retreats after William’s death, and Montanvert where Victor goes to in order to ponder his guilt over the monstrosity he has created, and unleashed on the world, and which has wreaked havoc on not only the world, but his very own family. It only appropriate that much like Shelley is paying tribute (or perhaps thieving?!) from Milton and “Paradise Lost,” and making allusions to the Biblical account of creation that she would use nature as the backdrop to many of the most important passages from her story of creation.
Sherlock Holmes
I think since Edgar Allan Poe first came up with his “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” featuring detective C. August Dupin, which inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write about the character Sherlock Holmes, people have been fascinated by detective & crime novels. There are numerous movie adaptations featuring a roster of different actors that have played Sherlock Holmes. Most recently we had a few successful movies featuring Robert Downey Jr (personally not my favorite at all). Apart from actual adaptations of Sherlock himself there have been numerous movies and TV hit shows featuring detective work. Some of them very successful such as CSI, NCIS, and Criminal Minds. There is something about such a whodunit that inspires us to want to watch and be like Sherlock Holmes and try to figure out which character committed the crime. It is just in our nature to want to figure things out; especially a murder.
One of the most different TV shows, although not original since it borrows heavily from Sherlock Holmes, was the TV show House. It was a medical drama, not a crime mystery type of show, but the similarities are astounding. For example the characters has a sidekick like Watson, Dr. James Wilson. Change two letters in the last name and voila! The address for Gregory House is 221B Baker Street. Sound familiar? The same as Holmes address. House is addicted to Vicodin not cocaine. In the pilot to the TV show the patient has the last name Adler, just like in the story we read, “A Scandal in Bohemia.” But to top it off, the character figures out the medical mysteries in much the same way as Holmes does. Although the show is a medical drama, the idea and premise is pretty much the same as Sherlock Holmes. I wound not be surprised to see that type of application (thievery some might say!) in other future TV shows.
The curiosity in all of us drives us to want to know what we don’t know. It also drives us to the morbid, and things don’t get much more morbid than murder and deceit. It is for this reason that these type of shows, and the Holmes series will continue to endure for many decades, or perhaps centuries to come.
Blog Prompt #5
The character of Thomas, and his evolution from being a victim, a frustrated newcomer with no answers, to being daring leader willing to sacrifice his life for others he had barely met, to finally becoming a Messianic type figure was to some degree the whole thrust of the story line. While some of the other characters in the storyline are expendable, Thomas is definitely not one.
The storyline revolves around this flawed and confused character regardless of his flaws and frailties.
Thomas goes from being confused, to having an inkling that he knows something which he can’t quite remember. He also goes from having a short fuse with the lack of information the others in the Glad are not giving him, to being a more calculated, and decisive character who is willing to do something other than just sit around and let time slip away. Perhaps his previous knowledge of WICKED propels him to do something even though he can’t put together why. He has a sense of foreboding that drives him to action rather than mere acceptance of the situation they find themselves in the glade.
Dashner uses this flawed, but willing character to base his storyline around, and entrusts him with carrying the weight of the plot almost entirely on him.
Banishment in the Glade
The banishment of Ben in the Glade showed the relentless pursuit of survival through implementation of their judicial system system. Although they had set up a very stripped down and basic set of laws for their governance, they had instituted a stringent policy of adherence that they felt they must not deviate from regardless of the severity of the outcome. There was no bias, favoritism, or immunity for anyone. The purpose was to ensure their survival in the midst of the austerity of the Glade.
The idea of banishment doesn’t seem so bad in itself, however the actuality of the banishment is that it was in essence a death sentence on the person who violated their law. There was no leniency, or mercy on the person responsible for violating their law. Once judgment was passed that person had no course for appeal. This could potentially make the inhabitants (citizens!?) of the Glade appear to be monstrous in their customs. However, it could also be viewed as being merciful to them in that the corporal punishment when executed without delay, or without bias would serve as an extremely strong deterrent to any other inhabitants even remotely contemplating running amok and violating their law. As a supporter of capital punishment I would strongly agree with them in this particular practice.
Blog Prompt #3: My man Utterson
The character Gabriel John Utterson is a character that represents good in the novella. He was a not only the attorney for Dr. Jekyll, but was a childhood friend of his. Throughout the story he is shown to be quite tolerant of Dr. Jekyll, and at times appears to be very forgiving of him, even when Dr. Jekyll is not forthcoming about his situation. Even though Utterson appears to be a very curious fellow, and even perhaps too curious, to the point of seemingly overly interested in the failures, or misfortunes of others.
In spite of these faults, when the chips are down and it appears his friend Jekyll is in deep trouble, perhaps even murdered, he is there for him. He is not only there, he is relentless in his quest to get answers, and to find out exactly what has happened to his friend; for the better, or for the worse. In addition, as his position as the attorney who wrote the will for Jekyll he was able to separate his own personal disapproval for the decision, as well as his dislike for Edward Hyde. Throughout the whole story he seems to be a rock of a friend which definitely makes for a good man.
chamberofhorrorssite 