In Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the main character displays an undermining attitude towards women. This only makes sense when understanding the historical context of the late 1800`s. The complete purpose of women's lives at the time was shaped by men. It consisted on finding a husband, reproducing, and serving them unconditionally. Marlow's sexist attitude is no different from any other man`s from the time. He assigns women inferior characteristics but is however blinded to the fact that women do have power.
"Then – would you believe it? – I tried the women. I, Charlie Marlow, set the women to work – to get a job... I had an aunt... She wrote: 'It will be delightful. I am ready to do anything, anything for you." (pg 71) Marlow is in a way ashamed of getting a job through a woman. Men at the time were responsible for absolutely everything concerning the work area, including finding a job. If he, as a man is supposed to have that area under control as well as being independent, why then does he seek for her help? She is his aunt and there should be no shame in family help. Perhaps this is due to his personal lack of a "home/familiar environment . This happened because being a seaman leads to a solitary life with. Marlow has no close relationships with anyone, much less with a women and therefore feels threatened by such a sympathetic gesture.
Marlow judges women as being "out of touch with truth" by believing that "they live in a world of their own". (pg 76) He characterizes them as dreamy and unrealistic, not necessarily in a good way. This demonstrates how much Marlow does not take women seriously. As a result he is automatically pushing their status down by feeling superior. For the most, this social degradation would have seem normal. This is not the case. This woman he is degrading is not only a blood relative of his but she knows powerful people. It is this second part exactly that really matters. Knowing the right people can get you to a better place. As dishonorable as this situation might be for Marlow, it benefits him.
Women like Marlow`s aunt get bonus points for having contacts instead of being completely overlooked by men. They are still in the end only used , nothing more and nothing less. For the society of the 1890`s women were just convenient utensils. The more convinient the better the social acceptance. Marlow as an isolated and masculine personality treats women like his aunt for his own benefit.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Irony- “Great Nations of Europe” by Randy Newman
Ironic Examples:
"He [Columbus] shook hands with some Indians and soon they all were dead."
Shaking hands is a greeting and respectful tradition, it can sometimes represent truce. Columbus' shake meant the opposite, murder to be exact. When first learning about Columbus and this gesture, the normal expectation is a friendly follow-up. However, you immediately realize the irony when learning that the indians die.
"He [Balboa] met some friendly Indians whom the Church told him were gay, so he had them torn apart by dogs on religious grounds they say the great nations of Europe were quite holy in their way."
Religious grounds are expected to be holy (saintly and moral) and that I know of, murder on religious grounds is disrespectful and plainly wrong. The song is mocking the nations' religious morality as well as the definition of holy by claiming that the nations were "holy in their way".
"... the possibility that some bug from out of Africa might come for you and me
destroying everything in its path..."
Based on the great number of death caused by European brought diseases, it would be unexpected to have another disease via vectors affect the dominating and supposedly great nation.
"The great nations of Europe comin through."
The song depicts continually the harm caused by these nations. There is nothing great about these nations exterminating different cultures.
Not Ironic Examples:
"Some bones hidden in a canyon some paintings in a cave
they're no use tryin to save them, there's nothin left to save."
The left overs as mentioned are only witness to the natives' existence. It is true nevertheless that they are useless because like I mentioned before they are only witness, not the real thing. It hits the realistic point of their extermination directly.
"Now they're gone, they're gone, they're really gone. Yo never seen anyone so gone."
Like the previous example, it crudely states their wipe-out. By "really" they mean absolutely gone and none are left.
"Hide your wives and daughter; hide the groceries too."
This statement exemplifies the fear and magnitude created by the conquistadores' raiding of villages. They were inhumane and it only seems logical to hide your loved ones from these monsters.
"He [Columbus] shook hands with some Indians and soon they all were dead."
Shaking hands is a greeting and respectful tradition, it can sometimes represent truce. Columbus' shake meant the opposite, murder to be exact. When first learning about Columbus and this gesture, the normal expectation is a friendly follow-up. However, you immediately realize the irony when learning that the indians die.
"He [Balboa] met some friendly Indians whom the Church told him were gay, so he had them torn apart by dogs on religious grounds they say the great nations of Europe were quite holy in their way."
Religious grounds are expected to be holy (saintly and moral) and that I know of, murder on religious grounds is disrespectful and plainly wrong. The song is mocking the nations' religious morality as well as the definition of holy by claiming that the nations were "holy in their way".
"... the possibility that some bug from out of Africa might come for you and me
destroying everything in its path..."
Based on the great number of death caused by European brought diseases, it would be unexpected to have another disease via vectors affect the dominating and supposedly great nation.
"The great nations of Europe comin through."
The song depicts continually the harm caused by these nations. There is nothing great about these nations exterminating different cultures.
Not Ironic Examples:
"Some bones hidden in a canyon some paintings in a cave
they're no use tryin to save them, there's nothin left to save."
The left overs as mentioned are only witness to the natives' existence. It is true nevertheless that they are useless because like I mentioned before they are only witness, not the real thing. It hits the realistic point of their extermination directly.
"Now they're gone, they're gone, they're really gone. Yo never seen anyone so gone."
Like the previous example, it crudely states their wipe-out. By "really" they mean absolutely gone and none are left.
"Hide your wives and daughter; hide the groceries too."
This statement exemplifies the fear and magnitude created by the conquistadores' raiding of villages. They were inhumane and it only seems logical to hide your loved ones from these monsters.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Machinery of Terror
Human's biggest fears are those induced by their own creations. By these creations I'm referring to lifeless machines, not biological ones. They tend to be unconditionally loyal to their purpose because of their lack of empathy. Chief Bromden in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest feels constantly threatened by the presence of this machine. His paranoia however changes after the meeting on Friday when McMurphy gets things going his way. The Chief's paranoia depends on McMurphy's confidence and dominance; the more confidence the less paranoia and vice versa.
When things in the ward had changed and where running as McMurphy wanted them, Chief Bromden and the others where released to a certain degree from the oppressiveness of the Combine. "I figured the fog machine had broke down in the walls when they turned it up too high for that meeting on Friday; so now they weren't able to circulate fog and gas and foul up the way things looked." (pg. 140) To McMurphy, the change in the ward was a demonstration of a positive possibility of change in himself. This opened a door for a new way of thought an lifestyle breaking the monotony. The change produced in him, is the closest to happiness he has ever been now that he is more in touch with himself. Consequently, the fog machine that used to be his escape was no longer needed because the Chief was actually ok with reality.
"... I woke up... the dorm was full of smoke, wires in the walls... but this one night after the big meeting, I woke up and the dorm was clean and silent..." (pg 141) Bromden was not just happier in the day, but he was finally getting peace of sleep. This simple alteration in his perspective is extremely significant. Night and sleep is a very personal and relieving moment for humans. Being at ease in this intimate moment reflects the newly achieved harmony in his mind. Before he felt the threat of machines by the wires and hided by putting his head under the pillow. Now he was calm and gave him" a sudden yen to get up and do something".
The tranquility in the ward was interrupted by McMurphy's talk with the lifeguard. After McMurphy's refusal to continue with his dominance, the machine was back on just like the fear in the Chief. "Whatever it was went wrong with the haywire in the mechanism, they've just about got it fixed again" (pg 155) In the x-ray room, when the tenssion about McMurphy's commitment peaks the x-ray machine takes life by "hissing and spitting at McMurphy"(pg 166) displaying the return of the old regime.
Nevertheless, each individual machine is part of a big and powerfull one. "It's the whole Combine, the nation-wide Combine that's the really big force, and the nurse is just a high ranking official for them" (pg 164). The machine, the routine, the personnel is al related because just like a machine every small part matters for the functioning of the whole.
When things in the ward had changed and where running as McMurphy wanted them, Chief Bromden and the others where released to a certain degree from the oppressiveness of the Combine. "I figured the fog machine had broke down in the walls when they turned it up too high for that meeting on Friday; so now they weren't able to circulate fog and gas and foul up the way things looked." (pg. 140) To McMurphy, the change in the ward was a demonstration of a positive possibility of change in himself. This opened a door for a new way of thought an lifestyle breaking the monotony. The change produced in him, is the closest to happiness he has ever been now that he is more in touch with himself. Consequently, the fog machine that used to be his escape was no longer needed because the Chief was actually ok with reality.
"... I woke up... the dorm was full of smoke, wires in the walls... but this one night after the big meeting, I woke up and the dorm was clean and silent..." (pg 141) Bromden was not just happier in the day, but he was finally getting peace of sleep. This simple alteration in his perspective is extremely significant. Night and sleep is a very personal and relieving moment for humans. Being at ease in this intimate moment reflects the newly achieved harmony in his mind. Before he felt the threat of machines by the wires and hided by putting his head under the pillow. Now he was calm and gave him" a sudden yen to get up and do something".
The tranquility in the ward was interrupted by McMurphy's talk with the lifeguard. After McMurphy's refusal to continue with his dominance, the machine was back on just like the fear in the Chief. "Whatever it was went wrong with the haywire in the mechanism, they've just about got it fixed again" (pg 155) In the x-ray room, when the tenssion about McMurphy's commitment peaks the x-ray machine takes life by "hissing and spitting at McMurphy"(pg 166) displaying the return of the old regime.
Nevertheless, each individual machine is part of a big and powerfull one. "It's the whole Combine, the nation-wide Combine that's the really big force, and the nurse is just a high ranking official for them" (pg 164). The machine, the routine, the personnel is al related because just like a machine every small part matters for the functioning of the whole.
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