Class Notes for October 3, 2002
Continuation of discussion on
Steinbeck's “Chrysanthemums”:
-
Eliza is left standing in
the driveway under the illusion that there is brightness to the sky. The “sunshine” is used metaphorically to
show how before she felt blocked in by the lack of light, but now in the sunshine she
feels a bit of freedom.
-
As the tinker rode off with
her flowers, Eliza felt that a little part of her had ridden off, too.
-
After a violent shower by
Eliza, she has an odd exchange with Henry. He
simply tries to tell her she looks nice, but she jumps on his use of
“different.” The true difference in
that she is strong and happy.
-
Eliza through this
experience finds her identity and self-worth by re-evaluating her personality.
-
It is only when she begins
to question who she is that she realizes that maybe she could be something more.
-
Henry is not an evil
character, but a simple farmer who is helpless (and ignorant) to the social needs of his
wife. However, he is alert to the fact that
things are going on with Eliza.
-
In the second column, first
full paragraph down on page 970, there is a dialogue between Henry and Eliza. Many issues and thoughts are presented in this
excerpt:
o
“Is pain such a common
thing?” (Steve) Perhaps she is relating the fight to the possible
everyday occurrences that come with freedom.
o
“She identifies with the
person being beat up.” (Sophia)
o
At least briefly, she may be
experiencing rage at the way she has been exploited, emotionally violated by the tinker,
and (at least briefly) she may imagine achieving a kind of vicarious revenge by watching a
male get beaten to a pulp in the boxing ring. Eliza seems to be experiencing the
stages of grief--though in record time and not in the conventional order.
o
By the end of the scene, she
realizes she will have to go back to the way things were and she will have to be content
by shrinking back inside herself. Eliza
discovered a new life force, yet within the same day it is squashed. This crushing defeat creates a sad vision of her
for the last line of the story
The S
Sioux Tale: “What’s This?
My Balls for Your Dinner?”:
-
In many cultures of
oppressed people, native tales have a reoccurring trickster character.
-
In this tale, particularly,
the woman got back at the men who held them down. These
men were oafish characters who bossed their women around.
By the woman using her intelligence, she was able to get what she wanted. She used adversity to her advantage.
Discussion
on Webster's The Duchess of Malfi:
-
The group of three siblings
is a reflection of Lear.
-
Characters:
o
Ferdinand: disturbing, creepy, incestuous, jealous, hot
o
Cardinal: slow, cold, persistent anger, Machiavellian (ambitious, the ends
justify the means), manipulative
o
Duchess: evolving, dynamic character
o
Bosola: shady, trickster character (has good speeches),
contradicts himself, “The crushed idealist is the most cynical.” [See The Cynic's Sanctuary.]
o
Delio: Antonio’s friend and informant
o
Antonio: Duchess’ second husband and servant, rabble
o
Julia: Cardinal’s mistress, foil to Duchess
o
Cariola: Duchess’ attendant, devoted
-
The wooing scene is
comical. It makes fun and plays on the idea of
switched roles of wooing. This action is
played off in a light mood, thus adding a humorous aspect to the situation.
-
There is a lot of hiding
and looking on in this play. Also, absurdities
are apparent: example- “The Ultimate Woo.” Parallelism
is seen between scenes and words within the play. Some
words that are recurrent: diamonds, pearls,
(rotten) fruit, animals (in reference to Bosola and Ferdinand), echo, stars, “Wheel
of Fortune,” light.
-
This [revenge] play is a
totally different type of tragedy compared to Shakespeare’s later tragedies. Also, The Duchess of Malfi was considered one of
the best non-Shakespearean plays of its time.
-
The idea of mortification: (based on the root word “mortality”) has
religious connotations and was one’s being brought to a state (of mind, soul) to
achieve grace.
-
At the end of the play only
Delio and Antonio’s son remain alive. All
of the other main characters are dead. |
