:: socratic seminars part o n e .

#1 JOAN DIDION'S ESSAY, ON SELF-RESPECT 

Self Respect can be defined as dignity. It is the attribute of being worthy of high regard or value. Possessing self-respect allows an individual to be confident and courageous. Respecting yourself is key factor in order to lead your life in accordance to your moral ethics.

In Joan Didion’s essay, On Self Respect, there are various topics discussed and explored. Although the style of her essay is very abstract and there is no proper form present, I enjoy reading her free structure as it adds an essence of individuality.

Taken from the essay, there are three major factors that significantly relate to the overall tone, which are honesty, integrity and discipline. It is clearly obvious that the majority of the work by the writer is taken from her life experience. The main obstacle that Didion faced as a young adult has greatly influenced and impacted her overall thought on self-respect. This obstacle was the acceptance into the Phi Beta Kappa society, which, I later researched to discover, is an academic honor society advocating excellence in liberal arts and sciences. From not being elected, her failure drastically discouraged her and turned her hopes away, “I lost the conviction that lights would always turn green for me….lost a certain touching faith.” From this life changing moment, her perspective vastly altered and led her to later on believe that self-respect is of great importance.

On a side note, I don’t seem to fully understand the point of the narrative about the Indians. Does this play of great importance and relate to the overall theme?

In conclusion, I believe the final statement of the essay is a strong fact that provokes meaningful thought for the reader and in a sense leaves the reader wanting more. “Without it, one eventually discovers the final turn of the screw: one runs away to find oneself, and finds no one at home?"

Unknown Vocabulary ::   

·      Marvel

·      Phi Beta Kappa

·      Ambiguous

·      Platitudes

·      Phenobarbital

·      Interminable

·      Adultery

·      Donnee

·      Liaison

·      Coaxed

·      Intrinsic

Questions to Ponder ::

1.     Define self-respect, what does it mean to you as an individual?

2.     What do you think Didion meant by her concluding statement, without it, one eventually discovers the final turn of the screw: one runs away to find oneself, and finds no one at home?

3.     How does the story of the Indians, relate to the overall theme of self-respect?

:: response on another blogg ..

http://janedeline.blogspot.com/2010/09/jane-eyre-blog-response-ch21-27.html#comments

:: reader response ..chapters 21-27

1.   2.  Create a character analysis of Rochester that either supports or denies him as a Byronic Hero.

Rochester is truly a very fascinating character, although I believe he is not a typical found love interest that you would find in an ordinary romantic novel. However in the gothic atmosphere of this narrative, his alluring personality in fact enthralls the reader to believe that his Byronic nature plays of great importance to his overall role.

What precisely defines a Byronic hero... a melancholy (meaning long lasting sadness), & rebellious young man who is distressed by a terrible deed he committed in the past.

Just by comprehending the above definition, I realized that Rochester possesses the traits of a Byronic hero. “Rochester has a terrible secret-a remnant from his past that could threaten any hope of happiness with his only love,” his past carries a grave and dark secret which only increases the complexity of the novel.

The biggest factor to his secret is the existence of his mad wife, Bertha Mason, “to burn people in their beds at night, to stab them, to bite their flesh from their bones, and so on,” Chapter 27, Page 306. Bertha, who he had married purely for looks and unfortunate circumstances with his family, led Rochester to misery and as a result influenced him to become the man he was present day.

He is distressed for numerous reasons such as…

• ·      “I now hate the recollection of the time I passed with Celine, Giacinta, and Clara,” Chapter 27, Page 317
• ·      “My father and my brother Rowland knew all this; but they thought only of the thirty thousand pounds, and joined in the plot against me,” Chapter 27, Page 311
• ·      “Bertha Mason, the true daughter of an infamous mother, dragged me through all the hideous and degrading agonies which must attend a man bound to a wife at once intemperate and unchaste,” Chapter 27, Page 311

The troubled past of Mr. Rochester has greatly influenced his role as a flawed hero. The mystery and imperfection of his character is what makes him stand out, “Jane! Will you hear reason? (He stooped and approached his lips to my ear) because if you won’t, I’ll try violence.” Chapter 27, Page 307.

The complexity of Mr. Rochester’s character portrays the image of a Byronic Hero. 

1.     3. Examine Jane’s love for Rochester. Has it had a negative or positive impact on her life and her character? 

Jane Eyre, is a story of a spirited young lady’s fight for her independence and respect in a society where she has continuously faced hardships and been an out cast to civilization. This tale, which has created an unforgettable romance between Jane, with her strong nature, & Rochester, with his enchanting appeal, and led to a powerful bond, has shaped the overall impact of passion in her life.

To sum up Jane’s affection for Mr. Rochester, I would have to say that she has highly valued three key factors, which are; Honesty, Self-Respect & Hope. Jane longs for true love and for Mr. Rochester, however when she is faced with the difficult task of acceptance she does not cave in. Instead she chooses her path of dignity. In regards to Jane, love is not blind.

Although at this point in the story, Jane has fled Thornfield, and the circumstances are not looking optimistic, I personally believe that her love for Rochester has played a positive impact on her life and overall character. Through her encounters and display of affection, Jane has awakened as a new being, “I looked at my face in the glass, and felt it was no longer plain: there was hope in its aspect, and life in its color,” Chapter 24, Page 261. 

I believe that the image relates to the quote “I looked at my face in the glass, and felt it was no longer plain: there was hope in its aspect, and life in its color,” Chapter 24, Page 261.  Whenever I look at this image I really feel that it symbolizes the key aspect that love is not blind, but in regards to Jane her love for Rochester was uncontrollable. 

:: response to another blogg..

http://ayshaenglish20.blogspot.com/

:: reader response..chapter 11-21

Though Jane Eyre is not a gothic novel, it contains gothic elements especially when Jane is at Thornfield. Discuss these elements and the effect they have on both Jane’s development as a character and the novel as a whole.

Gothic Fiction is its own sinister genre of literature combining elements of romance and horror. Although Jane Eyre is not a gothic novel, as stated above, the tale includes many elements of gothic fiction such as darkness, madness & secrets. These elements used in the novel create vibrant suspense and drama, always leaving the reader in anticipation. From the mysterious eerie laugh belonging to Grace “and is she possessed with a devil?” (chapter 15, page 151) to the supernatural red-room containing the ghost of the late Mr. Reed “any sign of violent grief might waken a preternatural voice”, (chapter 2, page 16) this novel has incorporated dreadfully dark and complex themes.

In regards to the gothic elements, the main focus and the primary complication is Mr. Rochester. Even though he is very passionate and attentive, and also the key to Jane’s romance, Mr. Rochester hides a terrible secret. Any trace from his past could threaten his happiness and any future relationship.

Due to the recent events taking place at Thornfield, I feel that Jane has become quite accustomed to the traditions; however, her life could be in severe danger. She may have grown and developed as a character, especially now that she has a new life and new responsibilities, but by falling in love and being entranced by her new affection her emotional and even physical state could be at risk.

As the novel begins to progress and advance, there are many new and unforeseen twists occurring. Overall, these dark elements are adding an increasing amount of essence to the story. 

Discuss the role of art in Jane’s life with specific reference to the text, especially in her artwork.

Art plays an essential role in Jane’s life. To her, art is an escape that truly gives her a reason to live for. In reference to the text the reader finds that Miss. Eyre is truly talented in the course of art, “it is as fine a picture as any Miss Reed’s drawing-master could paint, let alone the young ladies themselves,” (Chapter 10, pg 93).

In chapter 13, Mr. Rochester is greatly immersed in Jane’s art portfolio. It is on page 127 when she goes into detail about describing her various pictures. ‘I must premise as they are nothing wonderful…As I saw them with the spiritual eye, before I attempted to embody them, they were striking; but my hand would not second my fancy, and in each case it had wrought out but a pale portrait of the thing I had conceived,” (chapter 13, page 127) I find this excerpt very inspiring, due to the fact that I admire how Jane is so humble about her own artwork.

Jane tends to work on her art when she is living in the moment “The subjects had, indeed, risen vividly on my mind” (chapter 13, page 127) and is very focused, “I was absorbed, sir: yes, and I was happy” (chapter 13, page 128). 

The reason I have chosen this image is to portray the fact that Jane fancies to sometimes live in her artwork. Jane’s artwork many times reflects happiness that she wished would occur in her daily life and she longs to impress Mr. Rochester and prove to him her capabilities. I truly believe that this impassioned pictured is masked with many uncovered secrets and possibilities. 

:: poem analysis, mini essay...how the choice of your reading displays social commentary

“But passion sometimes would prevail,” these are the words of Robert Browning from his poem Porphyria’s Lover, which was first published in 1836. This particular poem is one of Browning’s earliest and most controversial pieces. In this literary work, the speaker is visited by an admirer, Porphyria, who has gone against the rules of society to be with her lover and reveal her “heart’s endeavor” for him. Society during the Victorian Age prohibited imprudent modesty, however, Porphyria made a decision to risk her social standings in order to visit her beloved and prove to him that passion is an uncontrollable power. Throughout the poem, the author has figuratively displayed the behavior of an individual who is deeply in love and what actions they have taken despite the fact that their social reputation could be at risk.

The Victorian Age was a society controlled by strict codes of conduct, however, even with these restrictions authors and artists strategized to express notorious affairs that took place. In relation to the poem, the whole scenario that occurs completely demoralizes society’s values of the time. The behavior of Porphyria can be labeled as inappropriate due to the fact that she is risking her status in society.  “Porphyria worshipped me, surprised,” this excerpt states the affection of Porphyria for the speaker, and gives readers the idea of her immodesty especially in regard to the era. Victorian literature was known for combining romance and emotion, but this exhilarating poem exaggerates the story of a man who is obsessed with Porphyria. Overall, the poem portrays the victory of one man despite the rules of society.

Women were taught to replicate fragile delicate flowers incapable of making their own decisions and ensuring that they had proper morals and values. Whether married or single, all Victorian Women were presumed to be weak and helpless. This was just the way of society during this time period. The morals and values of women in the Victorian era vastly differ from those that society upholds today. Due to the various moral behaviors that were strictly allowed in civilization many problems aroused to the limitation of manners and how an individual can think, act or what they can stand for.  In the poem, it is clearly depicted that Porphyria is going against the rules of her time era in order to satisfy her desires.

 

Prudence in regards to the men and women of the Victorian age was a key aspect of social standard, however, this poem relates to a more imprudent structure. During the Victorian age, if a woman took a lover it was essential to not make it public. If it did become public knowledge, the woman would be segregated from society and practically banished, but on the other hand, this would not affect the social life of the man. The speaker, being conceited and vain yearns for Porphyria’s affection for all eternity. This instigates his decision of strangling her, resulting in a crime of passion.

As a Victorian writer of the 19^th century, Robert Browning explored the uncontrollable power of passion in the poem, Porphyria’s Lover, and displayed immodest behavior of those who are obsessed. This controversial piece of literature displays affection that is lacking humility to social standings of the era. It portrays the strict civilization of the Victorian age and the “dissever” between men and women. By exposing this tendentious topic to readers, Browning has opened the hearts and minds proving that passion can be a source of immorality.