Notes from Underground Part 1

Give three adjectives that can be inferred about the narrator from the reading.

From Notes from Underground, I can infer that the narrator is probably insecure, crazy, and his reality is skewed.  The narrator is more than likely insecure because in his style of writing he seems to majorly contradict himself, and he tries to justify his actions to others. On page 1307, he says, “I was a nasty official. I was rude and took pleasure in it.” Then on page 1308 to justify his actions he says, “I was lying about myself just now when I said that I was a nasty official. I lied out of spite. I was merely having some fun at the expense of both the petitioners and that officer.” Although, he doesn’t seem to really justify his actions I think he was trying to show others that he wasn’t being nasty to just be nasty he actually enjoyed doing it. I think this shows he’s insecure because throughout Part 1, he’s constantly trying to show others why he did the actions he did in the past.  I think this is similar to Rousseau’s Confessions except the narrator in Notes from Underground actually goes into the detail of his bad actions and then tries to justify them. Also, the narrator seems to me to be crazy. I feel like the whole time he goes on and on with these rants in this piece. I think the writings actually help him hold on to the little sanity that he has.  It says in the first part that he gets pleasure from being rude and inconsiderate to people. Most sane people don’t really get their kicks by treating people with little respect. I think so of this also helps from his reality to be skewed. In Part I, Chapter VI, the narrator talks about wishing he could be lazy and that he would respect himself more. He says, “…at least I’d possess one more or less positive trait of which I could be certain” (1316). People don’t really see being a “sluggard” as being a good thing. He just thinks its good because people would be able to actually identify him with something. He doesn’t realize that in reality if he was a “sluggard” and drank all the time he probably wouldn’t see everything as “beautiful and sublime.” He wouldn’t be a favorable person of society and he probably wouldn’t die happy either.  The narrator in Notes from Underground is portrayed as an insecure and crazy individual whose reality is somewhat skewed from the rest of society.

Is it ironic that in Chapter 6, the narrator would be proud of himself for being lazy?

I think it is very ironic that the speaker wants to be seen as lazy by saying, “Lord, how I’d respect myself then. I’d respect myself precisely because at least I’d be capable of being lazy” (1316).  This chapter stood out to me the most versus the others because I couldn’t imagine ever wanting to be lazy; I’m usually trying to run away from and to stop being lazy. Most people of the time period this was written in all the way up to today, try to do their best through hard work to get the things they want and to be accomplished.  This chapter just shows that the narrator is crazy because he explains that being called lazy is classified as being “positively identified.” He later says that he would be live and die peacefully cause if he was called lazy he would just drink and be fat and see everything as “beautiful and sublime.” Chapter 6 is very ironic because most people wouldn’t see laziness as something to think fondly of and try to be, instead people want to be seen as hard-working and to be accomplished.

Madame Bovary 3/The Episode of Kugelmass 1

Compare the characteristics of Emma from Madame Bovary and Kugelmass in The Kugelmass Episode

Both Emma Bovary and Kugelmass have similar characteristics and ideas about relationships, and their marriages. In the beginning of "The Kugelmass Episode," Kugelmass says "Daphne had promise. Who suspected she'd let herself go and swell up like a beach ball?" He thought this marriage would help him be happy unlike his last marriage did, but in reality, he just because unhappy again. Much like Kugelmass, Emma thought the same way. She thought her marriage with Charles would make her happier and would get her away from her father's residence. After their marriages had gotten past the "honeymoon phase" however, they soon realized they hated their marriage and wanted some spark, and romance in their relationships. On page 1112 in "Madame Bovary", the narrator explains, "But even as they [Charles and Emma Bovary] were brought closer together by the details of daily life, she was separated from him by a growing sense of inward detachment." After their initial wedding and life got routine, Emma began to realize she wasn't happy and didn't like Charles, much like Kugelmass. After his wife began to get fat, and the romance fizzled he wanted something more and wanted an affair. Both of these characters wanted the same ideals in a relationship. Kugelmass says to his analyst, "...I'm a hand who needs romance, i need softness, I need flirtation....and exchange coy glances over red wine and candlelight." Emma similarly wanted something that seemed like a fairytale. They wanted romance and something that wasn't ordinary. Then when they both get the affair that they wanted, their happiness ends up fading soon after it has begun.   After spending the weekend with Emma, their affair turns to an unhappy occasion. "I'm sneaking around town, and Emma and I have had it up to here with each other," is how Kugelmass was describing the situation to Persky. Their relationship seemed fine at first, but when the obstacles start to come they relationship suddenly goes South. This is similar to Emma and her affairs. Emma and Leon had their fling where they enjoyed spending time together, but wouldn't admit to their true feelings until they see each other again in Paris. Both Kugelmass and Emma have the same unrealistic ideals about relationships and remain unsatisfied with their lives.

Compare Emma and Leon’s relationship before he moved to Paris? Why do you think it changed?

Before Leon moved to Paris I would describe Emma and Leon’s relationship kind of awkward. They hit it off as soon as they met each other. Emma and Leon had many common interests like reading, their personalities, and their problems with small town life. I felt like they both wanted to start a relationship, but neither ever made the move to start the relationship. I think Leon was scared about the repercussions of his actions if he would have continued the affair with Emma. As Leon was saying goodbye before he left for Paris, they both awkwardly shook each other’s hand. Then after, Emma realized that she loved him, but it was too late. After seeing Emma again three years later, Leon’s passion for her “revived” (1227).  The book later said that Leon was no longer shy because of the company he had been around while in Paris and was very confident. Although Emma tries to resist at first like in her previous affairs, she still gives in eventually to the affair. Their “relationship” was much like anyone would want in a relationship, except the whole she being married issue. They were very passionate for each other, and seemed to think they belonged together. After visiting each other in a hotel several times a week, they were “completely lost in their possession of each other that they thought of themselves as being in their own home, destined to live there for the rest of their days, eternal young husband and eternal young wife” (1248). It goes on to say that they call the hotel room, “our room,” “our carpet,” and “our chairs” (1248).  They genuinely seemed to be so wrapped up in each other that without the rest of the story they would seem like any other happy couple. The different between the two different encounters is that Leon was less shy. He wasn’t scared of Charles, and Emma continued to do her normal wifely duties while still getting romantic with Leon. Leon and Emma decided to take it farther this time because they were both more experienced than their first time.

Emma had too high of expectations for marriage and was never satisfied with her relationships because of it. Do you think Charles had any expectations for marriage? If not, is that why is kept himself blinded from the true events that were going on in his marriage?

Charles had been taken care of his whole life. His mother took care of him as a child and even as a student trying to get through medical school. She pushed him to go to medical school, and that’s what he did. He did exactly what his mother told him to do, when she wanted him to do it. This is much like how Charles’s first marriage went also. She had enough control over him to say, “…it was his wife who ruled: in front of company he had to say certain things and not others, he had to dress the way she wanted, obey her…” (1094). His first wife acted just like his mother had done. I think after that marriage failed, he needed something different and was tired of being controlled and having to be submissive. He was always told what to do and didn’t really have to do anything. I believe that is one reason he loved Emma so much because she didn’t constantly tell him what to do and control him. I don’t think Charles had any expectations about marriage because of his relationships with his mother and first wife. Charles really had no idea what to do he was told what to do his whole life. Emma wanted a Prince Charming, and a love like a fairytale. I think Charles truly wanted his marriage to work because he didn’t want to get controlled by other people and that he truly loved her. Charles always made excuses for her and always tried to justify her actions. After Rodolphe wrote her the letter saying he didn’t want to be with her, she was physically ill for weeks and he didn’t think anything of it. Also when he ran into the piano teacher, and he didn’t know Emma’s name, Charles brushed it off as, “or else maybe there’s more than one Mademoiselle Lempereur in Rouen who teaches piano” (1251). I feel like Charles constantly made excuses for Emma because he loved her and wanted their relationship to last. Even after Emma’s death, and reading the letters between her and Roldolphe he still initially thought their relationship was only platonic. He eventually realized the number of her affairs and then that led to his death.  I don’t think Charles had any expectations for marriage because anything was better than his last one. So he was blinded because he had never had a truly “good” marriage, so he assumed that his and Emma’s marriage was amazing, when truly it was atrocious. 

Madame Bovary 2

Describe the relationship of Roldophe and Emma. What stages do they go through? How do they act at the various stages?


I think Roldophe and Emma have a typical affair type relationship. The first stage is their infatuation with each other and their immediate attraction. On page 1165, it explains that after seeing Emma, Roldophe thought to himself, "Lovely teeth, black eyes, a dainty foot....How did such a clodhopper ever get hold of her?" Later he thinks to himself that he will have her and starts devising a plan to figure out how he can make her his lover. Next they met during the day of the Agricultural Show. They walked through town and then as the show started they went up to the "council chamber" on the second floor. Roldophe confessed his true feelings for Emma, she tried to resist, but she eventually gave in to her same feelings. Soon after, Roldophe didn't contact her for a period of time so she would long for him. Although this made Emma cold at first, she warmed up to him and they seemed to be like two love-stricken teenagers. Roldophe continually told Emma how much he cared for her, and sometimes Emma admitted her feelings for him and other times she seemed uninterested in him. As Roldophe and Emma went horseback riding, the closeness she felt with him made her feel uncomfortable, but after she returned home she realized how she like having a lover, the narrator saying she acted as though, "she were beginning a second puberty" (1183). This comes to the next stage their affair came to. Their passion levels were extreme as Emma would sneak to him home in the wee hours of the morning, not really worrying about getting caught. Roldophe was very passionate about Emma, just as she with him. Then, near the end of Chapter X comes the downslide to their affair. Emma just like she did with Charles and Leon found flaws with Roldophe. "She would have liked him to be more serious -- or even more dramatic sometimes.." (1189). Also, Roldophe didn't like the fact that Emma seemed to want to be in a relationship because she was coming to sentimental and only stayed with her for her beauty. I think Roldophe really just wanted to have an affair without any true love feelings attached, and Emma was looking for a lover.

Madame Bovary I

                During his early years, Charles Bovary is presented in Chapter I as a obedient, submissive, and shy individual. Throughout chapter 1, Charles listened to his mother and did everything she told him to. He started out in the lower school at 15, and then his mother, “took him out of the lycee entirely and sent him to study medicine, confident that he could get his baccalaureate degree anyway” (1092). He did what his mother told him to do, he left school and studied medicine. I think Charles thought it would be easier to just obey his mother and do what she wanted him to do. Charles’ obedience and his mother’s domineering attitude made him a very submissive person in his marriage.  On page 1094 Flaubert describes Charles’ first wife’s control over him by saying, “…it was his wife who ruled: in front of company he had to say certain things and not others, he had to eat fish on Friday, dress the way she wanted, obey her when she ordered him to dun nonpaying patients.” Charles is being controlled in his first marriage just like his mother planned his life out for him. Because of his obedience to his mother, Charles didn’t know anything different and became a submissive lover in relationships. Finally, another characteristic is Charles Bovary’s shyness. When Charles enters the classroom and his classmates are laughing at him and he is unable to speak up and even tell the teacher his name shows his shyness (1089). On page 1091 it explains that Charles really never had to lift a finger as a child he was, “pampered like a prince.” Charles never really had to ask for anything or do anything for himself, his mother and father did everything for him. Charles Bovary’s obedience, submissiveness, and shyness were all common during his early years because of his mother’s controlling qualities.

Confessions

How do Rousseau’s life experiences and inner conflicts illustrate at least three dominant value of his period?

In Enlightenment and Romanticism literature the themes of new and old, individualism, and nature were stressed throughout many of the works. These themes were also exemplified throughout the Confessions. In the Confessions the theme of new and old is quite evident throughout the text. This piece of literature was Rousseau reflecting on his past, his memorable stories, lessons, and the people he encountered. In Book IV on page 673, Rousseau asks, “Why is it that, having found so many good people in my youth, I find so few in my later years?” He also later says, “…. the class in which I am obliged to look for them now, is no longer the same as that in which I found them” (673). This is an example of Rousseau comparing his new aged self, and quest to find genuine, honest people to his past.  Much like others in the Enlightenment, Rousseau also put much importance into that of the individual. He thought highly of himself and that of his intellect. He explains in the first two paragraphs of Book I that, "I am not made like any of those I have seen; I venture to believe that I am not made like any of those who are in existence. If I am not better, at least I am different" (664). In this quote and in these two paragraphs he wants to emphasize that he is his own person and different from everyone. Also, writing an autobiography, telling readers his story, memories, faults, and unique qualities shows that he stressed himself as an individual and to not conform. Finally, Jean-Jacques Rousseau expresses an importance on nature throughout Confessions. He consistently and constantly mentioned his travels to parks, lakes, the countryside, Paris, and other places. Nature seems more to Rousseau than something to look at it; it seems to be an inspiration. On page 672, he says, "I wanted to sate myself with the sight of this beautiful lake, which is there seen in its greatest extent." He goes on to say that seeing things from afar didn't make him want to act on things. Also in Book III he says, "I have never been able to produce anything, pen in hand...it is during my walk, in the midst of rocks and forests, at night in my bed" (671). This shows that he doesn't get his inspiration form his intellect alone, nature truly gets his mind going and lets his ideas flow. In the Confessions, much like others of the Enlightenment Age, Rousseau was able to use the themes of new and old, individualism, and nature in his literary work.

What were the benefits of writing Confessions for Rousseau?

In Confessions, Jean-Jeaques Rousseau's autobiography, he reflected on his past and the person he was, and his present life and the person who is has became. Through this he was able to elaborate his memories from his childhood and the feelings he connected with him. Although he admitted his faults, he described himself as a someone who was unlike anyone else and beloved by many. I believe Rousseau's reaped many benefits from writing his autobiography. He was able to fully reflect and delve into his life as a whole. Since he had to have the inspiration to write, as seen when he said that he produced most of his writing by walking in nature versus in front of a desk, Rousseau was able to think critically about much of his life and the meaning behind each of his actions in depth and how they have shaped him into the current man that was writing. Rousseau was able to be at peace with his decisions and show how his actions and qualities made him unlike the rest of the people of his time, and describe the person he was by his childhood, and adult life. By writing Confessions, Rousseau was able to evaluate his life, and show the world how he was a unique, honest individual.

The Rape of the Lock

What are some of the images that recur through the poem, and what significance do they have?  


One image that appears throughout the poem is the image of beauty. Pope seems to mock the people's  obsession with beauty. On page 496, Pope says, "Fair nymphs and well-dressed youths around her shone, / But every eye was fixed on her alone." This quote demonstrates just how beautiful Belinda truly was and how it was of importance to this society. Most of the individuals in the poem seem to rely too much on their appearance and not enough on their morals. Without the image of beauty, the poem would have not plot because if Belinda did not care about her appearance then she would have not cared about a missing lock of hair. With the image of beauty throughout "The Rape of the Lock" Pope tries to discourage people from acting obsessive over beauty. Another image that appears throughout "The Rape of the Lock" is the sun. I believe the sun is an image that is recurring because it helps represent Belinda's beauty and to signal different points of the day. In the second canto Pope says, "Bright as the sun, her eyes the gazers strike, And, like the sun, they shine on all alike" (497). This imagery about Belinda's eyes and appearance help the reader picture just how beautiful Belinda really is. The sun is also represented immediately in the poem through this line, "Sol, through white curtains shot a timorous ray," (493). This demonstrates the start of the day and the actual plot.  Also in Canto II, it says "The sun first rises o'er the purple main.." (496). This too, is a use that helps continue the plot and help keep track of what time of day this is taking place in. Another image that recurs throughout "The Rape of the Lock" is that of the sylphs. The sylphs are used in "The Rape of the Lock" just as the Gods and Goddesses are used in Greek epics. They can intervene in the actual people's lives and try to influence the events that happen to them. The sylphs try to protect Belinda from the "dread event" that Ariel knew was going to happen to Belinda (496). The sylphs help bring this poem into a more of an epic style of writing much like the Odyssey and the Illiad without the serious tone. These recurring images help the reader fully grasp what important to the individuals in the poem and help provide a better picture of the plot.

What are some of the ironies in this poem?  What theme or message do they support?


One example of irony in this poem is Belinda's guard Ariel. On page 495 Ariel says, "Of these am I, who thy protection claim,/ A watchful sprite, and Ariel is my name." After introducing himself as her guard who will protect her, he proceeds to tell her about a terrible event that may happen to her. Belinda just seems to brush it off and not paying any attention to these details. I think this example of irony helps support the message that people will do whatever they want to do, even if someone tells them its a bad idea, or something bad is going to happen. The people still do what they want because they don't believe anything is going to happen to them and that they will be okay. Another example of irony Clarissa's role in the scissors. I find it ironic that Clarissa gives Baron the scissors to chop off a lock of Belinda's hair and then gives a speech at the end about morals. Even though, the way Belinda reacted only supported Clarissa's speech about people caring too much about appearance, it is still usually against people's morals to commit acts that will make people be hurt. I believe this situation helps promote the idea that many people will do just about anything to get their idea heard and their point across. Finally, a third ironic situation is the card game situation. In the Third Canto, Pope explains the card game of trickery just like Homer and many other ancient poets wrote about battles in epics. The language Pope used and the way he worded the "battle" between Belinda, Baron, and the other players and their cards helps make the card game seem more like a battle. This example of irony helps the poem seem more like an ancient epic.  The first and the second examples of irony contribute to the overall themes of the poem, while the last examples helps demonstrate the style of Pope's poem.

Phaedra 2

What are the universal struggles/motifs that make "Phaedra" timeless?


Phaedra has many motifs that make it a beloved piece of work that many people still read and respect today. The obvious two motifs would be the conflict between reason and passion, and selfishness. The reason modern people enjoy this reading is because these motifs are have been and I believe always will be as long as there is humans. Ever since she laid eyes on Hippolytus, she said she has loved him. Phaedra knows that she cannot love him or she will be either exiled from the Troezen or killed. She only tells Hippolytus because she thinks she will be able to tell him without any repercussions from Theseus. This situation was basically a "Should I follow my mind or my heart?" situations that many people, especially teenagers, face today. People today face these situations between passion, love and reason; they always want to make the right decision, but don't know which to follow. Another major motif is selfishness. All the characters seemed to promote and display selfishness. Theseus seemed to be selfish by obviously going away for so long leaving his child and wife all alone. Also in the introduction it says that Theseus was known for "...womanizing (he leaves a trail of women behind him wherever he goes)" (362). This further displays Theseus' selfishness toward his family. Phaedra is the character that shows the main display of selfishness. She had no care who her actions affected other than herself. In Act V, Scene I Phaedra blames her shortcomings and selfishness on Oenone and has her taken away. Phaedra knew what she was saying and doing to Hippolytus as she tried to convince the King he came on to her. Also, Phaedra also shows her selfishness as she tells Oenone about her jealousy over Aricia and Hippolytus. Selfishness and the conflict between reason and passion are all going to be problems humans will have to face in life. Phaedra is timeless because almost anyone can identify with these motifs.


How is Phaedra's and Theseus' relationship different than that of Orgon's and Elmire's in Tartuffe?


In Phaedra, Theseus immediately believed his wife over his son about Hippolytus coming on to Phaedra, despite his son's pleas and appeals. Theseus stood by his wife until she was on her deathbed and finally admitted she was wrong and was the one who came onto Hippolytus. Also in Phaedra, Theseus seemed to deeply care for Phaedra despite his "heroic womanizing" (362). He truly stood by her and seemed to believe almost everything she said. In Tartuffe, this was a completely different situation. Orgon didn't really trust his wife and her unwanted assumptions about Tartuffe. He thought she and his own son were lying about Tartuffe coming on to Elmire. He didn't even care when Dorine was talking about how sick Elmire was; Orton kept asking about how Tartuffe was doing. Another difference between their two relationships is that in Phaedra, Phaedra seems to be the selfish one and in Tartuffe, Orgon seems to be the selfish one when it comes to their relationship. Phaedra only wanted what was best for her and one can assume that she couldn't wait till Theseus was presumed dead, so she could tell Hippolytus how she really felt about him. Orgon, on the other hand, was very selfish to his wife and disregarded many of the things she had to say about Tartuffe and his actions. Theseus' and Phaedra's relationship was more trustful than Orgon's and Elmire's and also the roles of the selfish partner were switched.