Marriage is a term defined simply by two individuals taking part in the act of love. To do so, they must conjoin together physically and internally in daily confrontations, whether it is negative or positive. Tasks brought about are not defined by gender, but by how the couple works in unison to work to completion. In the two poems “Valediction” and “Conjoined,” marriage is taken in to consideration upon to two different meanings. Couples ultimately decide how to define and enforce aspects upon his or her marriage. In Donne’s “Valediction,” the couple chooses to live through incessant happiness even through times of trial. This is their goal to strive towards their achievement in marriage. On the other hand, such as in Minty’s “Conjoined,” the couple can look upon their relationship as an eternity of servitude, and taking in satisfaction for themselves, not for the best of one another. In both Donne and Minty’s poems, the authors use symbolism, metaphors, and similies to provide complementary ideals on the institution of marriage.
Both poems symbolize their ideals by using tangible items to give the readers an overall understanding of their insight of love. For instance, Donne uses his perception of love by using a beautiful, yet valuable object such as gold. He states, “…a breach, but an expansion like gold to airy thinness beat.” Gold is a solid object that is usually looked upon as a “precious metal.” By choosing an element that is “solid” and virtually sturdy, it exhibits that marriage is a lifetime bondage that can endure any conflict that may be encountered. Whether coming across something effortless or challenging to overcome, both act in harmony to complete a given situation that stands strong between the two. The “precious metal” reveals that both are as of cherished and beloved metals that are respected upon each other highly. Furthermore, gold presents the idea of beauty and glory. For example, as it is bringing about the symbolism in gold in the poem it states, “Our two souls therefore, which are one, through I must go…” Souls of the human body are of distinctive value. Each individual containing not just one soul, but two because of their life partner, is an indication of the beauty of romance. Both souls come in unison to be loved and valued just as a piece of gold would be displayed. Marriage provides the couple with a gift, such as this insight on love, to make the relationship grow unconditionally and grow in a manner that is idolized. In contrast, Minty symbolizes marriage with more of a negative connotation, exhibiting the pessimistic views of marriage. With using symbolism of an onion or an onion’s “skin”, it, overall, gives of a bitter connotation. Onions naturally create tears when it is cut, although, if it is cut in the process of love and tears do not occur, it obviously means emotionally there is no attachment or love being obtained. It is like a constant battle to fight for what the other wants, while the other half of the onions follows wherever the other goes, even without agreement. It gives off the impression that marriage is a hopeless institution. Furthermore, the skin of the onion is used to symbolize marriage as inescapable in a negative way. The skin holds the two together, not their emotions. This is ultimately unnatural. The two halves symbolize a husband and a wife, although, the onion is the marriage, not the individuals.
Donne considers marriage as the ultimate reward of love and affection, and even makes a married couple in the poem seem rather unreal in regards to their marriage. The marriage is seen as to almost perfection, which draws attention to a high outlook to their marriage. These seem to outcast other marriages and belittle others that are not near their positive standards. For instance, Donne employs the metaphor, “So let us melt, and make no noise, no tear-floods, nor sigh-tempest move, twere profanation of our joys to tell the laity of our love.” Both individuals “melt” and become as one solid soul. In this quote, Donne explains that the love obtained is to the point of almost perfect, that it is above regular marriages an individual one usually comes across. One could never experience what this couple has done with love in their marriage. The comprehension level of the love could not even be understood. In contrast, Minty gives the perception that marriage is forced upon people and that all must experience it. He uses the simile, “An accident, like the two-headed calf rooted in one body, fighting to suck at its mother’s teats…” This can be viewed as monstrous, and ultimately unnatural. “Calf” is also a term for a baby, which illustrates it is still in youth. This reveals immaturity. Therefore, Minty believes a young stage of life and is almost brought upon as a necessity. It is, overall, a forced situation.
All in all, marriage is common to all individuals. Marriage is defined how the couple perceives it; both if they join in unison and work together or if they struggle to accept they must join together and compromise with one another. Happiness is an act that is decided by the couple. Therefore, if marriage is a lifetime commitment, it is the couple’s decision to decide if they are ultimately content or not.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Marriage
Marriage is a term defined simply by two individuals taking part in the act of love. To do so, they must conjoin together physically and internally in daily confrontations, whether it is negative or positive. Tasks brought about are not defined by gender, but by how the couple works in unison to work to completion. In the two poems “Valediction” and “Conjoined,” marriage is taken in to consideration upon to two different meanings. Couples ultimately decide how to define and enforce aspects upon his or her marriage. In Donne’s “Valediction,” the couple chooses to live through incessant happiness even through times of trial. This is their goal to strive towards their achievement in marriage. On the other hand, such as in Minty’s “Conjoined,” the couple can look upon their relationship as an eternity of servitude, and taking in satisfaction for themselves, not for the best of one another. In both Donne and Minty’s poems, the authors use symbolism, metaphors, and similies to provide complementary ideals on the institution of marriage.
Both poems symbolize their ideals by using tangible items to give the readers an overall understanding of their insight of love. For instance, Donne uses his perception of love by using a beautiful, yet valuable object such as gold. He states, “…a breach, but an expansion like gold to airy thinness beat.” Gold is a solid object that is usually looked upon as a “precious metal.” By choosing an element that is “solid” and virtually sturdy, it exhibits that marriage is a lifetime bondage that can endure any conflict that may be encountered. Whether coming across something effortless or challenging to overcome, both act in harmony to complete a given situation that stands strong between the two. The “precious metal” reveals that both are as of cherished and beloved metals that are respected upon each other highly. Furthermore, gold presents the idea of beauty and glory. For example, as it is bringing about the symbolism in gold in the poem it states, “Our two souls therefore, which are one, through I must go…” Souls of the human body are of distinctive value. Each individual containing not just one soul, but two because of their life partner, is an indication of the beauty of romance. Both souls come in unison to be loved and valued just as a piece of gold would be displayed. Marriage provides the couple with a gift, such as this insight on love, to make the relationship grow unconditionally and grow in a manner that is idolized. In contrast, Minty symbolizes marriage with more of a negative connotation, exhibiting the pessimistic views of marriage. With using symbolism of an onion or an onion’s “skin”, it, overall, gives of a bitter connotation. Onions naturally create tears when it is cut, although, if it is cut in the process of love and tears do not occur, it obviously means emotionally there is no attachment or love being obtained. It is like a constant battle to fight for what the other wants, while the other half of the onions follows wherever the other goes, even without agreement. It gives off the impression that marriage is a hopeless institution. Furthermore, the skin of the onion is used to symbolize marriage as inescapable in a negative way. The skin holds the two together, not their emotions. This is ultimately unnatural. The two halves symbolize a husband and a wife, although, the onion is the marriage, not the individuals.
Donne considers marriage as the ultimate reward of love and affection, and even makes a married couple in the poem seem rather unreal in regards to their marriage. The marriage is seen as to almost perfection, which draws attention to a high outlook to their marriage. These seem to outcast other marriages and belittle others that are not near their positive standards. For instance, Donne employs the metaphor, “So let us melt, and make no noise, no tear-floods, nor sigh-tempest move, twere profanation of our joys to tell the laity of our love.” Both individuals “melt” and become as one solid soul. In this quote, Donne explains that the love obtained is to the point of almost perfect, that it is above regular marriages an individual one usually comes across. One could never experience what this couple has done with love in their marriage. The comprehension level of the love could not even be understood. In contrast, Minty gives the perception that marriage is forced upon people and that all must experience it. He uses the simile, “An accident, like the two-headed calf rooted in one body, fighting to suck at its mother’s teats…” This can be viewed as monstrous, and ultimately unnatural. “Calf” is also a term for a baby, which illustrates it is still in youth. This reveals immaturity. Therefore, Minty believes a young stage of life and is almost brought upon as a necessity. It is, overall, a forced situation.
All in all, marriage is common to all individuals. Marriage is defined how the couple perceives it; both if they join in unison and work together or if they struggle to accept they must join together and compromise with one another. Happiness is an act that is decided by the couple. Therefore, if marriage is a lifetime commitment, it is the couple’s decision to decide if they are ultimately content or not.
Both poems symbolize their ideals by using tangible items to give the readers an overall understanding of their insight of love. For instance, Donne uses his perception of love by using a beautiful, yet valuable object such as gold. He states, “…a breach, but an expansion like gold to airy thinness beat.” Gold is a solid object that is usually looked upon as a “precious metal.” By choosing an element that is “solid” and virtually sturdy, it exhibits that marriage is a lifetime bondage that can endure any conflict that may be encountered. Whether coming across something effortless or challenging to overcome, both act in harmony to complete a given situation that stands strong between the two. The “precious metal” reveals that both are as of cherished and beloved metals that are respected upon each other highly. Furthermore, gold presents the idea of beauty and glory. For example, as it is bringing about the symbolism in gold in the poem it states, “Our two souls therefore, which are one, through I must go…” Souls of the human body are of distinctive value. Each individual containing not just one soul, but two because of their life partner, is an indication of the beauty of romance. Both souls come in unison to be loved and valued just as a piece of gold would be displayed. Marriage provides the couple with a gift, such as this insight on love, to make the relationship grow unconditionally and grow in a manner that is idolized. In contrast, Minty symbolizes marriage with more of a negative connotation, exhibiting the pessimistic views of marriage. With using symbolism of an onion or an onion’s “skin”, it, overall, gives of a bitter connotation. Onions naturally create tears when it is cut, although, if it is cut in the process of love and tears do not occur, it obviously means emotionally there is no attachment or love being obtained. It is like a constant battle to fight for what the other wants, while the other half of the onions follows wherever the other goes, even without agreement. It gives off the impression that marriage is a hopeless institution. Furthermore, the skin of the onion is used to symbolize marriage as inescapable in a negative way. The skin holds the two together, not their emotions. This is ultimately unnatural. The two halves symbolize a husband and a wife, although, the onion is the marriage, not the individuals.
Donne considers marriage as the ultimate reward of love and affection, and even makes a married couple in the poem seem rather unreal in regards to their marriage. The marriage is seen as to almost perfection, which draws attention to a high outlook to their marriage. These seem to outcast other marriages and belittle others that are not near their positive standards. For instance, Donne employs the metaphor, “So let us melt, and make no noise, no tear-floods, nor sigh-tempest move, twere profanation of our joys to tell the laity of our love.” Both individuals “melt” and become as one solid soul. In this quote, Donne explains that the love obtained is to the point of almost perfect, that it is above regular marriages an individual one usually comes across. One could never experience what this couple has done with love in their marriage. The comprehension level of the love could not even be understood. In contrast, Minty gives the perception that marriage is forced upon people and that all must experience it. He uses the simile, “An accident, like the two-headed calf rooted in one body, fighting to suck at its mother’s teats…” This can be viewed as monstrous, and ultimately unnatural. “Calf” is also a term for a baby, which illustrates it is still in youth. This reveals immaturity. Therefore, Minty believes a young stage of life and is almost brought upon as a necessity. It is, overall, a forced situation.
All in all, marriage is common to all individuals. Marriage is defined how the couple perceives it; both if they join in unison and work together or if they struggle to accept they must join together and compromise with one another. Happiness is an act that is decided by the couple. Therefore, if marriage is a lifetime commitment, it is the couple’s decision to decide if they are ultimately content or not.
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Things They Carried
Sooo I usually look at other people’s blogs to get some ideas to write about…so I will take a swing =)
It seems that the purpose of the article was to convey that O’brien’s stories compare in extreme similar ways through the incidents and characters he write about. It seems that usually the surroundings of an environment always affect the character’s reactions to make certain decisions. Depending how others look upon a certain character appears to give the impression on how they will take in consideration a certain outcome to fix it. It might not be for the better in their mind, but for the better in society’s.
I also like the point he makes on “truth” in the article, “the act of remembering and telling.” He points out that people should use and deal with them philosophically and morally. People can define them but not put them into action in his stories. Such as in, “The Things They Carried,” the soldiers are so worried about what their loved ones and friends will think that they base their decisions off of what would please the viewers, rather than doing what is right.
I agree with the way the writer of the article criticizes the book because of the statements he points out. The auther says, “Ironically, in attempting to challenge the concept of an autonomous subject, O'Brien writes a text that is obsessed with self, that details the uncertain effects of an unreal war upon an unknowable self but fails to examine its all too real effects upon the Vietnamese.” This idea has been changed because things change over time. It may be true at one point, but the thought of this is different upon many readers. Instead of focusing on knowable reality, he tends to go off into idolizing the unknowable self and dragging away from the actual effects of war.
It seems that the purpose of the article was to convey that O’brien’s stories compare in extreme similar ways through the incidents and characters he write about. It seems that usually the surroundings of an environment always affect the character’s reactions to make certain decisions. Depending how others look upon a certain character appears to give the impression on how they will take in consideration a certain outcome to fix it. It might not be for the better in their mind, but for the better in society’s.
I also like the point he makes on “truth” in the article, “the act of remembering and telling.” He points out that people should use and deal with them philosophically and morally. People can define them but not put them into action in his stories. Such as in, “The Things They Carried,” the soldiers are so worried about what their loved ones and friends will think that they base their decisions off of what would please the viewers, rather than doing what is right.
I agree with the way the writer of the article criticizes the book because of the statements he points out. The auther says, “Ironically, in attempting to challenge the concept of an autonomous subject, O'Brien writes a text that is obsessed with self, that details the uncertain effects of an unreal war upon an unknowable self but fails to examine its all too real effects upon the Vietnamese.” This idea has been changed because things change over time. It may be true at one point, but the thought of this is different upon many readers. Instead of focusing on knowable reality, he tends to go off into idolizing the unknowable self and dragging away from the actual effects of war.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The Things They Carried
The idea of love and war is ironic in the story. One of the themes that seems to burst out to me is the fear of being shamed before one’s friends/loved ones. It seems to be a strong, yet motivating factor in war. Such an example is when he is unsure to flee to war. He is not unsure because of the dedication and work effort that will have to be put forth, but because of what his family and community will think of him if he does not fight. This idea can be a conflict between the misinterpreted expectations of a certain group of people that are significant to O’Brien and that he is unsure regarding an appropriate path of achievement.
This idea also takes part in the soldiers heading to Vietnam. In social acceptance being a major conflict between the soldiers leads them to be prone to more dangerous actions. The hardships of war, the young age of the soldiers, and the uneasiness of Vietnam create a rather insecure psychological misunderstandings that strengthen the actions of fighting ultimately. This ultimately misguided because of rather inescapable incentive for heading to war.
Other ideas of themes might include physical and emotional states of the characters. Physical flaws always tie into the emotional ones; same was vice versa. They carry fear and care too much of his or her reputation instead of just automatically doing things because it is right. It is ironic how people who survive live in guilt.
Mmm….that is about all the ideas I can think of. I am not sure if it made sense or not but I hope so =)
This idea also takes part in the soldiers heading to Vietnam. In social acceptance being a major conflict between the soldiers leads them to be prone to more dangerous actions. The hardships of war, the young age of the soldiers, and the uneasiness of Vietnam create a rather insecure psychological misunderstandings that strengthen the actions of fighting ultimately. This ultimately misguided because of rather inescapable incentive for heading to war.
Other ideas of themes might include physical and emotional states of the characters. Physical flaws always tie into the emotional ones; same was vice versa. They carry fear and care too much of his or her reputation instead of just automatically doing things because it is right. It is ironic how people who survive live in guilt.
Mmm….that is about all the ideas I can think of. I am not sure if it made sense or not but I hope so =)
Monday, January 25, 2010
Postmodernism
Postmodernism has been very challenging and difficult for me to understand this past semester because of its complexities in its terms. It is described as being hard to define, "because it is a concept that appears in a wide variety of disciplines or areas of study, including art, architecture, music, film, communications, technology, etc.," according to a website colorado.education.org. In this being described, it is just like its own discourse. We have been hearing this term "discourse it seems like all throughout this past semester. Not only through Postmodernism, but through the stories we read as well. Through 1984, Brave New World , and Cat's Cradle it all carries similar characteristics in coming to opinions in the society's nature or the science involved in the environment. People almost become as one discourse in the society because brainwashing becomes a powerful aspect that seems to eliminate one's own mind.
Although I give this definition, Postmodernism may have infinite meanings to a variety of different people. Although, it is supposed to be what a society separates from “normal”, For existence, something so normal to us now, is simply just black and white in our eyes. Although, if we see something abnormal we all view it to be distant from society, Ironically, if the qualities of something abnormal must occur for Postmonderism to be existence, the majority of people in that society must take the idea of acceptamce into consideration on one widespread thought. This ultimately contradicts itself.
This means that if the society starts to be technologically advanced and attempts to evolve to a higher technical standard, people must agree to the new ideas for his or her discourse to be similar in nature. Change occurs each day, and it is up to each person to accept it or not.
Although I give this definition, Postmodernism may have infinite meanings to a variety of different people. Although, it is supposed to be what a society separates from “normal”, For existence, something so normal to us now, is simply just black and white in our eyes. Although, if we see something abnormal we all view it to be distant from society, Ironically, if the qualities of something abnormal must occur for Postmonderism to be existence, the majority of people in that society must take the idea of acceptamce into consideration on one widespread thought. This ultimately contradicts itself.
This means that if the society starts to be technologically advanced and attempts to evolve to a higher technical standard, people must agree to the new ideas for his or her discourse to be similar in nature. Change occurs each day, and it is up to each person to accept it or not.
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