Friday, November 20, 2009
Tale of Two Cities and Gullivers Travels #4
For Ceci and Carla: Choose a quotation from the section you are reading, post the quotation and discuss its relevance in two ways, either: historical-political references, the power of the language (imagery or poetic devices etc.), in terms of the ideals of Romanticism or the era, the quotation's symbolic meaning, its purpose such as a flashback or foreshadowing or character development. If you have another area you think is relevant, use that as a heading and go for it! Your fourth reflection is due on Wednesday, November 25.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Gulliver's next destination in "Gulliver's Travels" is in Laputa. From what I can see in this section, Swift is criticizing theories and abstract thought,(the best way I can put it). The Laputan citizens, for instance, solved e phenomenon with modern philosophy and astronomy. For instance, when describing the tools and high technology used by the Laputans: "the place is stored with a variety of sextants, quadrants, telescopes, astrolabs, and other astrological instruments" (Swift 184). This is just one of the many instances in which he describes the importance and heavy use of "new" ideas and ways of thinking. Later, throughout the chapter(s)he is exposed and taken to the Grand Academy of Lagado, which is like the main school of thought, where new ideas and theories were developed. Something I found really interesting was the experiments that the people did in the Academy, like extracting sunbeams from cucumbers, and I remember doing a project for AP World History in 10th grade, and in fact, this same experiement or idea was proposed by scientists in the Royal Society in London (or something like that). I found it so fascinating that Swift took a real life proposal and put it into his book to satirize it.
As he travels through these islands, he witnesses things such as modern history being corrected in Glubbdubdrib. These islanders I think mainly describe Swifts concern about the limitations and dangers of absrtact thought and knowledge. Also, I think he is criticizing the human mind during htis time-that everyone was so addicted and so obsessed with abstract knowledge that they were oblivious to one another.In the book, the people needed "flappers" (197) to alert them to speak or to listen - because they themselves, without the help of the flappers-couldn't see or recognize other people and their concerns.
Its funny, because when I thought about the time frame in which this was written-the concern just jumped up right at me- there was an ongoing scientific and idea movement-the Enlightenment. It is really interesting to see and understand truly how people of the time reacted to these society. Also, it is amazing to see the parallels that Swift draws back to life during that era-especially since he lived during a time where so much was going on.
Tale of Two Cities, Ch. 6-12 (Maybe?)
It is in these chapters where Dickens’s social commentary is most evident (so far). The character of Monseigneur the Marquis takes a more central role, and it is through him that all the particular traits of the French aristocracy in Dickens’s time are personified. The Marquis is self-absorbed and completely convinced of the lower classes’ uselessness, so much so that when his coach runs over a little girl and causes her to die, not because of the girl’s recklessness, but because of that of the driver’s, he simply replies, ¨It is extraordinary to me that you people cannot take care of yourselves and your children¨ (Dickens 111). He then threw a gold coin to the floor and rode away, exemplifying the treatment of the poor by the rich that eventually led to the French Revolution.
The dialogue between Monseigneur and his nephew, Charles, is also particularly enlightening, as it brings to light the fact that France is changing, and, according to the Marquis, ¨changing for the worse¨ (Dickens 123). As I have said, the Marquis represents the aristocratic mentality, the backward thought that was desperately trying to hang on to a forward-moving country. This elitist mentality is starkly contrasted by that of young Charles, who is ashamed of his family’s standing with the people, and can sense the desperate need for change. While the Marquis believes that ¨repression is the only lasting philosophy¨, his nephew vehemently declares that they ¨have done wrong, and are reaping the fruits of wrong¨ (Dickens 124). Here Dickens describes the conflict of the old and the new, the opposing political and social views which, as history now tells us, led to a tremendous internal struggle in France.
It is amazing how Dickens can insert his own commentary without breaking stride in his story. It is also amazing how, regardless of how shallow they may seem, his characters are always so much more than people. They, like Monseigneur the Marquis, are representations of an era.
Post a Comment