Middlemarch

Midlemarch with feminist perspective ,

About writer

The novel Middlemarch is written by George Eliot. The actual name of George Eliot was Mary Ann Evans. She is well-known for her realism and serious discussion. She is most philosophical in all Victorian novelist. Oscar wild remarked in 1897 that " we found philosophy in fiction in her novel."

In the hand of George Eliot novel was not only vehicle for Entertainment but rather means of human predicament. This thing we can see in her book Middlemarch. The full title of the novel Middlemarch is Middlemarch; A study of provincial life. 

Middlemarch is name of town and that is why we found so many characters in the novel and every character has there own story though they connect with the story of Novel.

The main female character whose story we found are Dorothea Brooke and Rosamond. First we see Dorothea Brooke is an intelligent and independent young woman, who differs from the conventional woman of the Victorian Age.

She marries with artificial unintelligent old man Edward Casaubon. We found Dorothea's marriage with casaubon as mismatch. Casaubon " a sickly clergyman, old enough to be her father " ( 837) so this became an unconsummated union. She realize this very late after her marriage but as our so cold tradition she remain faithful to her husband but we also see her nature of rebel to society when she married to will Ladislaw. We can say that because she goes against the weal of her husband that if she marry to will she wont get property.

Dorothea's choice of marrying will acts as a defiance to Middlemarch. She her self remarked in novel after marrying will

" I don't mind about poverty. I hate my wealth we could live quite well on my fortune - it is too much seven hundred - a year- and I will learn what everything costs."

We found that she never marry for the same of money but first for the being part of intellectual society and second for the sake of love. Her second marriage is debatable because of whatever written will of Casaubon. But we found that she is more intelligent then the woman we found in Victorian society.

The second most important woman character of the novel is Rosamond Vincy. She come from a familiar with the comfortable lifestyle of middle class society. She marry with Teritus Lydgate, the new doctor of town. She marry with him in her fancy full thought that because he is doctor he will provide her upper calls things and will satisfy her material need. But when her fancy come to end she became unhappy.

But one thing Need to remark here is that she also reaming faithful to hurt husband though he is not able to satisfy her. She sacrifice her need because she is married.

Here we found short Romantic courtship lead to trouble, because both parties entertain unrealistic ideas of each other . They married without getting to know one another . Marriage based on compatibility work better. Moreover marriage in which woman have greater also work better, such as the marriage between Fred and mary. She tell him she will not Marry if he becomes a clergyman.

Two major life choices govern the narrative of Middlemarch. One is marriage and the other vocation.

We found both the woman remaining Faith full to her husband though they are not happy. Because of our society's mindset. Which don't allow woman to come out of this regid Traduction. On the other part Casaubon never trust her wife and thi may become the reason why Dorothea think of second marriage.

Cultural Interactions

Cultural Interaction

Rotary club of Bhavnagar

     I attended class of cultural interaction with Rotary club of Bhavnagar. Cultural interaction was with the Argentinian teacher of language and literature, Mariana Dominguez.  The students got khow a lot about Spanish language, literature as well as Spanish culture at large. Argentina was colony and therefore there was a discussion on the change in culture before and after colonization. At time when Spanish songs, particularly rap songs, are going worldwide popularity. Miss Mariana informed the students about how it affects the language in use. According to her the current trend in Spanish myths and classics.

Derrida and Deconstruction

Blog on'Derrida and Deconstruction ' task given by Sir

About him

Jacques Derrida was an Algerian-born French philosopher best known for developing a form of semiotic analysis known as deconstruction, which he discussed in numerous texts, and developed in the context of phenomenology. He is one of the major figures associated with post-structuralism and postmodern philosophy. 

The term Deconstruction is very hard to define. As Derrida himself denies to define this term by saying that all other terms we use in philosophy or literary criticism even deconstruction can not be once and finally define. Deconstruction is not destructive activity, but it is an inquiry into the foundation of everything. Deconstruction is not totally negative term. By it does not mean to destructive activity or breaking down anything. He says that “Deconstruction is not destructive activity but an inquiry into the foundations, causes of intellectual system. The concept of Decentering the Centre becomes important. Derrida trying to prove that one word lead us to another word rather than towards the meaning of word. It never allows to come at the centre of meaning. We just assume that we understand the thing but in actual it never happens, it is always postponed. Derrida also discussed about binary opposition.It differentiate the meaning of one from the other in terms of one lacking something.

As we know that Beti bachao, Beti padhao is a campaign of the Government of India. The main aims of it to generate awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services intended for girls. This formula is said to save the girls.And basically it is about to give equality to girl child. But nowadays when rapping cases on girls are happening, then what we mean by Beti bachao?  As Derrida mentioned that one should read any event or text with another perspective. That's why from this slogan, the another perspective can be deconstructed that, save the girl from the rapist. The main aim by beti padhavo is to educate girls and spread awareness among the girls about education. And equally it promotes women's empowerment in order to improve the women status in country. But when the rape cases are happening, then what we mean by beti padhao?  It can be deconstructed that, as girls should be trained in education, same way they should be trained in the defense and equally make them able for their own defense. 

Structuralism and literary criticism

Blog on 'Structuralism and literary criticism ' task given by Sir

About him

Gérard Genette was a French literary theorist, associated in particular with the structuralist movement and such figures as Roland Barthes and Claude Lévi-Strauss, from whom he adapted the concept of bricolage.

Structuralism

Structuralism is the offshoot of certain developments in linguistics and anthropology. Saussure's mode of the synchronic study of language was an attempt to formulate the grammar of a language from a study of language was an attempt to formulate the grammar of a language from a study of parole. Using the Saussurian linguistic model, Claude Levi Strauss examined the  customs and conventions of some cultures with a view of arriving at the grammar of those cultures.

The best work in structuralist poetics has been done in the field of narrative. A literary critic applying a structuralist literary theory might say that authors of West side story did not write really anything new because their work has the same structure as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Gerard Genette is a French literary theorist associated in particular with the Structuralist's movement and such figures as Roland Barthes and Claude Levi Strauss, from whom he adapted the concept of bricolage. Here, I apply his five concept which he used in Narrative Discourse: An essay in method:

1) Order

2) Frequency

3) Duration

4) Voice

5) Mood

1) Order

Story arrangements like simple a murder occurs event -1 then the circumstances of the murder are revealed to a detective event -2 and finally the murder is caught event -3. Generally Savdhan India Tv serial following these type of Chronological.

2) Frequency

The separation between an event and its narration allows several possibilities. 

An event can be occured once and be narrated once.

An event can be ocuured once and be narrated many times. For example: serial Tarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chasmah. In this serial the event was happened once but narrated many times.

3) Duration

There are the two main elements of duration.

First is ten years passed but a short narrative time it mean they narrated in few seconds. For examplel; 

Tv serial 'Sath Nibhana Sathiya' and 'Bedai". In these serials narrated many times left few years.

5) Mood 

Genette said narrative mood is dependent on the distance and perspective of the narrator, and like music, narrative mood has predominant patterns. It is related to voice.

The Archetype of literature by Northrop Frye

The Archetype of literature by Northrop Frye blog task given by Sir

About him

Herman Northrop Frye CC FRSC was a Canadian literary critic and literary theorist, considered one of the most influential of the 20th century. Frye gained international fame with his first book, Fearful Symmetry, which led to the reinterpretation of the poetry of William Blake. 

1.What is Archetypal Criticism? What does the archetypal critic do?

In literary criticism the term archetype denotes recurrent designs,pattern of action,character-type,themes and images which are identifiable in a wide variety of works of literature,as well as in myths,dreams and even social rituals. The archetypal critic tries to find this pattern,symbols and myths in present literary work.

2.What is Frye trying prove by giving an analogy of ' Physics to Nature' and 'Criticism to Literature'?

Northrop Frye has given a very unique idea of Archetypal Criticism by comparing the human emotions or human characteristics with the cycle of seasons.

Spring

The Spring season represents the Comedy. As the genre of comedy is characterized by the birth of hero,revival and resurrection. Spring also symbolizes the defeat of winter and darkness.

Summer

The season of summer indicates the Romance because summer is the culmination of life in the seasonal calendar, and the romance genre culminates with some sort of triumph,usually marriage.

 Autumn

The Autumn season signify the genre of Tragedy. As the Autumn is the dying stage of the seasonal calendar. That's why the Autumn is parallels to the genre of tragedy, because the genre of tragedy is known for the fall or demise of the protagonist.

 Winter

 The season of winter denotes the satire genre because of its darkness. It is a disillusioned   and mocking form of the three other genres.It is noted for its darkness,dissolution,the return  of chaos and the defeat of heroic figure.

3.Share your views of Criticism as an organised body of knowledge. Mention relation of literature with history and philosophy.

Literature is the central division of the Humanities, flanked on one side by history and on the other side by philosophy.Here we can say that history and philosophy are twin pillars of literature.History represents the what was happen in past. Basically history is about past events and actions. While Philosophy is about morality and ethics of life.literature . Frye has used the word centrifugal which means to go away from literature and find background to understand literature.So for the batter understanding of the literature reader have to refer framework of history and philosophy for the understanding of ethics.

4.Briefly explain inductive method with illustration of Shakespeare's Hamlet's Grave Digger's scene.

Inductive method is journey which leads from specific to general.As we read some specific literary work and comes to a general conclusion,in this way we extend from specific outcome to general outcome.The best example of this method is grave digging scene from Hamlet, it is a specific scene and from that scene we come to some general conclusion. In that scene there were two grave diggers and they seemed in  quite in harmony with their work.They were talking with one another and singing a song during the time of grave digging.They were also mocking on dead Ophelia and commented that whether she allowed to buried or not. Here we can see that they have no grief for deadly one.It was their work and that's why they were habituated with it. It became their general work so they have  no emotion for dead one.

5.Briefly explain deductive method with reference to an analogy to Music, Painting, rhythm and pattern. Give examples of the outcome of deductive method.

Deductive method is a journey from general to specific.Music and rhythm both are the form of art. Music is a form of art which moves in time and painting is a form of art which moves in space.Music is rhythm and painting is pattern. In a music we can understand the rhythm of it while in painting we can understand the pattern of it.Rhythm is a narrative form,while pattern is simultaneous mental grasp of verbal structure and it has meaning and significance.It provides a mental visual. By listening some of the music we can't get everything, but  by looking at painting we can get idea of it's pattern.      

I. A. Richard's figurative language

Blog task on Figurative language give by Sir.

I. A. Richard
Ivor Armstrong Richards, known as I. A. Richards, was an English educator, literary critic, and rhetorician whose work contributed to the foundations of the New Criticism, a formalist movement in literary criticism. 

four kinds of meaning

1. Sense is what is said, or the 'items' referred to by a writer.
2. Feeling refers to emotions, emotional attitudes, will, desire, pleasure, displeasure and the rest. When we say something we have a feeling about it, "an attitude towards it, some special direction, bias or accentuation of interest towards it, some personal flavour or coloring of feelings, these nuances of interest.
3.  Tone is the writer’s attitude to his readers or audience. The use of language is determined by the writer’s ‘recognition’ of his relation to his readers.
4. Intention is the writer’s aim, which may be conscious or unconscious. It refers to the effect that he tries to produce. This purpose modifies the expression. It controls the emphasis, shapes the arrangement, or draws attention to something of importance.
5.     His practical approach gave new path to literary criticism.

His practical approach gave new path to literary criticism. In his methodology, a lot of importance is given to the words. He believed that poet writes to communicate and language is the means of that communication. Language is made of words and words carry four kinds of meaning: Sense, Feelings, Tone and Intention.

    According to I.A.Richards language can be used in two ways, scientific use of language and the emotive one. Language of poetry is purely emotive, in its original primitive state. This language affects feelings. Hence we must avoid intuitive and over literal reading of poems. Words in poetry have an emotive value, and the figurative language used by poets conveys those emotions effectively andforcefully.

T. S Eliot's Tradition and individual talent

'Tradition and individual talent '

Blog task given by Sir 

T. S Eliot 

         Thomas Stearns Eliot, OM, "one of the twentieth century's major poets" was also an essayist, publisher, playwright, and literary and social critic.

1.How would you like to explain Eliot's concept of Tradition? Do you agree with it?

                             

 Yes, I agree with Eliot's concept of tradition.Eliot takes the tradition in a positive way as well as in a larger sense. He also points out that following the tradition is not only slavish imitation. The countries and nations try to preserve their tradition as heritage which is essential part of their culture and also handed down from generation to generation. Here one should not merely imitate the tradition but one has to add something new or creative in it and must write with the history in his bones.Tradition is not inherited but it must be acquired with great labor. So we can say that he put emphasizes on mingling the past and present with historical sense.

2.

1. What do you understand by Historical Sense? (Use these quotes to explain your understanding)
• "The historical sense involves a perception, not only of the pastness of the past, but of its presence"
• This historical sense, which is a sense of the timeless as well as of the temporal and of the timeless and of the temporal together, is what makes a writer traditional. 

   Which means that It involves perception of the presence of the past not only its pastness. It is not only to know about historical fact but mainly its about that in which way people were living in the past and how that past is presented in the contemporary time. Further he says that...

This historical sense, which is a sense of the timeless as well as of the temporal and of the timeless and of the temporal together, is what makes a writer traditional. 

Which means that with the help of historical sense a writer can create the work which has timeless and temporal both toghther.

4. Explain: "Some can absorb knowledge, the more tardy must sweat for it. Shakespeare acquired more essential history from Plutarch than most men could from the whole British Museum".

Here in this quotation Eliot talks about the greatness of Shakespeare. This was a kind of satirical quote. Shakespeare was not highly educated man than even he had a great historical sense. While on the other hand there are many people who even after a much reading not able to create anything.He gained much knowledge only by reading Plutarch's life.He was a great creative writer who very well.Here Shakespeare became an exceptional. 

5.Explain: "Honest criticism and sensitive appreciation is directed not upon the poet but upon the poetry"

Here in this quote T.S.Eliot talks about the honest criticism. For the fair judgement critic's main concern should be the work of art not an artist. If the main concern of the critic is related with an artist than he/she can not able to judge the work fairly. At the same time critic have to remain free from all the preconceived ideas of an artist.

6. How would you like to explain Eliot's theory of depersonalization? You can explain with the help of chemical reaction in presence of catalyst agent, Platinum.

Eliot explains the theory of depersonalization with the help of science which makes it quite interesting as well as easy to understand. He describes the process of making sulfuric acid. The Sulfuric acid is made from sulfur dioxide and water,but entire process can't take place in the absence of Platinum. In this process Platinum is essential element. In the same way the man who suffers and the man who creates both should different. Poet's emotion is necessary to create poetry but it should not reflect in the work.

7.Explain: " Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality."

This quote also explains the idea of depersonalization. Whenever poet creates work of an art at that time he should remain detach or aloof from his emotions and feelings.Eliot further says that poetry is not for showing poet's own feelings or emotions but it is about escape from that emotion and personality. 

8.Write two points on which one can write critique on 'T.S. Eliot as a critic'.

   As per my understanding one can write critique on following two points...

   1. Theory of depersonalization

   2.Eliot's concept of tradition