Thinking Activity - Otherness in The Scarlet Letter

Hello Readers !

The Scarlet Letter, a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, not only narrates the tale of a rebellious woman, whom the society blames to  but also covers many branches of philosophy and thoughts, such as feminism, existentialism etc. 

Jean Paul Sartre has given the concept of otherness. In his play "No Exit" he has mentioned one dialogue that, "Hell is the other people".

Let's take an imaginary case of Stefan.

Stefan likes perfection in all the things. He thinks. . . My working desk should be perfect, because People (others) like everything neat and tidy. My boss will put me in a good-book! If I wear decent clothes I will be liked by everyone. . . (and the story goes endlessly)

You will see that how others are deeply involved in Stefan's thinking of perfection.

But, (Stefan thinks) Why am I doing this accountant's job? What did I do for myself? What if I don't do things in its normal ways. . . In fact what if I question 'What is normal?'. Is it a set of norms accepted by people and society at large ? Standards which set by others ? (gets annoyed with the idea of otherness and...) Who the hell are these others ? And I get answer, yes, others are hell.

Let's watch a video for better understanding of Sartre's quote, "Hell is the Other People."

to curb this at some level we have quotes like this...

Be you, the world will adjust.

These quotes takes us to individualistic approach of looking at the world. But its not the world which changes, its us who change in accordance of time. We make our advantageous creed to work and create facilities 

જયારે પણ ક્યાંક કોઈ સગવડતા ઉભી કરવામાં આવે છે ત્યારે ક્યાંક ને ક્યાંક કોઈ અગવડતા પણ સાથે પડછાયા ની જેમ ઉભી થતી હોય છે.

We want to write - we manufactured paper. We want to have flat surface for writing - we made tables, we want to sit near the table while writing - we made chair. We want to have fast transportation - we widened the roads. We want to be billionaire in the business of  All these at cost of losing the green covers,

When it comes to individual, the mind thinks differently.

Let's take an example of eating actions.

You want to eat an apple, how will you eat ?

This way ???

<<image>>

Or this way ???

<<image>>

Second example of otherness...

The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot - Thinking Activity

Hello Readers!

"The Waste Land" one of the greatest work of modern age is written by T. S. Eliot. This poem primarily focuses upon the absence or degradation of human values found in modern life. 1922 was the year in which the poem was published. It was the time when Western world was contented with much more materialistic lifestyle. The poem is dedicated to Ezra Pound. The poem's incidents are referred by the use of Indian and Greek mythology which symbolically retells the modern temperaments and culture. It also consists intertextuality and multifaceted view of the world. The way back, Eliot had described the absurdity of life and moral depreciation. But it is still relatable in many respects. Let us see, by answering some questions, how The Waste Land fits in terms of relevance of psychology and philosophy.

Two major themes :

Here are some questions to ponder upon and
1. What are your views on the following image after reading 'The Waste Land'? Do you think that Eliot is regressive as compared to Nietzsche's views? or Has Eliot achieved universality of thought by recalling mytho-historical answer to the contemporary malaise?

Ans: 

Friedrich Nietzsche didn't believe in the existence of God. He has famously written in his work Thus Spoke Zarathustra that God Is Dead. Moreover to that, he gave the idea of Ubermensch which is superman. The denial of God's existence and establishment of human as supreme above all is a progressive thought. In terms of Eliot's poem, one can see that poet is going backwards to find the solution of today's time. Eliot turns towards mythology, Buddhism, Christianity and Hindu wisdom and philosophy. It is true that Eliot is regressive as compared to Nietzsche's views, but he also succeeds in achieving the timelessness and universality of the poem. After reading all the references of the poem, one can say that Eliot has tried to bring out spirituality from myths and religions. But he doesn't move forward to develop that spiritual abilities in precedence of human life. One always finds an anchor to live life, be it a religion or spirituality. Nietzsche was trying to prove that human evolution is constantly developing and humans are going towards becoming divine power and master of all moralities. 

2. Prior to the speech, Gustaf Hellström of the Swedish Academy made these remarks:

What are your views regarding these comments? Is it true that giving free vent to the repressed 'primitive instinct' lead us to happy and satisfied life? or do you agree with Eliot's view that 'salvation of man lies in the preservation of the cultural tradition'?

Ans : As it is known that Sigmund Freud was knows as the founder of psychoanalysis, a study of human behavior, psyche and personality. He established many new observations on human behavior and its connection with basic instincts. Freud emphasized on four basic instincts found in almost all animals including humans, which are Hunger, Sleep, Fear and Reproduction (sexual instincts). One can never be free from these four instincts. If one tries to control or repress those four instincts one may develop mental illness or disease. The cycle of life is based on this four instincts.

While doing the autobiographical reading of the poem, one finds the connection of T. S. Eliot's life and one can think that his life events were metaphorically depicted in The Waste Land. Eliot's thought is quite convincing that 'salvation of man lies in the preservation of the cultural tradition'. But one should also give way to the basic instincts to live happy and satisfied life.

3) Write about allusions to the Indian thoughts in 'The Waste Land'. (Where, How and Why are the Indian thoughts referred?)

Ans: There are three religious thoughts conveyed poetically in The Waste Land. Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism. The reference of the fire sermon comes from Buddhism, fifth part of the poem 'What the Thunder Said' refers to Hindu scripture Brihadaranyak Upanishad. In this Upanishad, Chapter five,  Second Brahmana (The entire Upanishad is lectured by several brahmins) it is written that Prajapati, the creator injuncted a message in form of thunder, a heavenly sound coming from sky, often referred as supernatural calling of divine. Thunder makes a sound 'Da' three times. This sound is interpreted in different ways by Deva, the celestial beings, Manava, the human beings and Danava, the demons. Here in reference of the poem the celestial's interpretation is taken by Eliot.

The reason why Indian thoughts are referred is, these three words Datta, Dayadhvam and Damyata describe the way of life and its the solution of almost all of human sorrow.

First Da - Datta means be a giver. Donate at least a little part from what you have.

Second Da - Dayadhvam means have compassion, sympathize to others.

Third Da - Damyata means have self control.

All these words lead us to live a spiritually balanced life. In the modern age, Western civilization was prosperous enough in terms of material matters. England and European countries were considered as center of the world. But people were lacking human values. As mentioned above that sexual perversion and spiritual degradation was major drawback of society. T S Eliot finds a solution of this drawbacks in Hindu philosophy and in Upanishadik thoughts.

Thank You!

References:

https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-brihadaranyaka-upanishad/d/doc122189.html

https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/brdup/brhad_V-01.html#Second

https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2014/10/presentations-on-ts-eliots-waste-land.html

Modernist Poems - Identifying Modernist Metaphors

Hello Readers!

Have you ever observed a retro wall clock which has pendulum ? Yes, it keeps on swinging from left to right, right to left. Each oscillation occur with precision and sharpness. We have heard that history repeats itself. Events which are recorded in past is echoed somewhere sometimes in current time also. Modernist literature and the events which are recorded in it, is evidently repeating themselves. Poetry and verse find such voice in the modern age. Here we shall bring out the modernist metaphors from selected poems.

https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2016/06/modernist-poems-activity-identify_25.html

(1) The Embankment by T. E. Hulme

Once, in finesse of fiddles found I ecstasy,
In a flash of gold heels on the hard pavement.
Now see I
That warmth’s the very stuff of poesy.
Oh, God, make small
The old star-eaten blanket of the sky,
That I may fold it round me and in comfort lie.

Star-eaten blanket, gold heels, hard pavement are some of the modern metaphors. It can be said that machination and industries had impoverished the laymen. The voice is heard from some deprived and needy person who wishes to have blanket to wrap up it's body. Hard pavement can also be seen as footpath in which every class of people, rich, poor, working people walk and find their way to somewhere.

(2) Darkness by Joseph Campbell

Darkness.
I stop to watch a star shine in the boghole –
A star no longer, but a silver ribbon of light.
I look at it, and pass on.

Darkness and boghole can be seen as modern metaphor in this poem. The speaker might be watching a reflection of a star in the surface of a boghole.

(3) Image by Edward Storer

Forsaken lovers,
Burning to a chaste white moon,
Upon strange pyres of loneliness and drought.

Metaphors: pyre of loneliness, drought

(4) In a Station of the Metro by Ezra Pound

The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
Petals on a wet, black bough.

Faces in the crowd, petals, black bough can be the modern metaphors.

(5) The Pool by Hilda Doolittle

Are you alive?
I touch you.
You quiver like a sea-fish.
I cover you with my net.
What are you—banded one?

Sea-fish, net, banded are metaphors.

(6) Insouciance Richard Aldington

In and out of the dreary trenches,
Trudging cheerily under the stars,
I make for myself little poems
Delicate as a flock of doves.

They fly away like white-winged doves.

Metaphors: trenches, white winged doves

(7) Morning at the Window by T. S. Eliot

They are rattling breakfast plates in basement kitchens,
And along the trampled edges of the street
I am aware of the damp souls of housemaids
Sprouting despondently at area gates.

The brown waves of fog toss up to me
Twisted faces from the bottom of the street,
And tear from a passer-by with muddy skirts
An aimless smile that hovers in the air
And vanishes along the level of the roofs.

Metaphors : damp souls, faces, aimless smile, 

(8) The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens

Metaphors: wheel, chickens

(9) Anecdote of the Jar by Wallace Stevens

I placed a jar in Tennessee,
And round it was, upon a hill.
It made the slovenly wilderness
Surround that hill.

The wilderness rose up to it,
And sprawled around, no longer wild.
The jar was round upon the ground
And tall and of a port in air.

It took dominion everywhere.
The jar was gray and bare.
It did not give of bird or bush,
Like nothing else in Tennessee.

Metaphors: jar, wilderness

(10) l(a by E. E. Cummings

l(a

le
af
fa

ll

s)
one
l

iness

l(a leaf falls)oneliness.  This is very short and one line poem. Still it tells two major metaphors such as loneliness and fall. Here loneliness can be seen as lack of empathy. In modern scenario it is seen that relations are full of plasticity. Human touch is now losing the ground and machines are found everywhere. Perhaps the metaphor of fall might be regarding the fall of humanity. Oneliness is indicating something about individuality. In a way, the tone of poem seems tragic.

Thank You!

Study of Frames in Charles Chaplin's "Modern Times" and "The Great Dictator"

Hello Readers!

Here we shall ponder upon some of the frames of two movies, Modern Times and The Great Dictator. Charlie Chaplin was considered as polymath in the earliest years of film industry. While studying modernist literature, one can certainly go through these two films. Because some works of art are timeless. Because they fit in almost every arena of time and scenario. 

Frames from "Modern Times"

An early blog post written on Modern Times. Click Here.

The significance of clock and it's hands. The second hand moves faster, which represents working class of society. Minutes hand can be seen as middle class society. And hour hand moves slower, so it can be said that rich class, aristocrats tend to have moving slowly with arrogance, engaging in leisure activities such as hunting animals and organizing kitty parties. Because of richness, they govern many areas of society and they can create new norms and regulations which restrict the other lower class of people.

Factories and mills were being equipped with new inventions of technology and machines were occupying the human jobs. Due to this unemployment, many people were roaming like sheep without direction. One term is used for one such generation: Lost generation. A word can be used for those people: Sheeple. 

Gigantic machines and littleness of humans. In a way, this frame is depicting the dangerousness and domination of machines and submissiveness of human capacity.

As mentioned above, mill and factory owners, land owners had nothing to do with much of the hardworking jobs. So they indulge in such leisure activities such as solving jigsaw puzzle and reading newspaper. One more thing can be seen here which is education. Educated people use the resources around them and make more money from brain power. The factory owner is playing puzzle game which is a mindful activity just like playing chess. This difference of mental activity done by rich class aristocrats and physical activity and hardwork done by lower class or poor people makes big social gap between the two classes.

We can consider this frame by looking at the sentence, "Big Brother is Watching You." This sentence from the novel 1984 by George Orwell is evident in today's highly pressurized surveillance of today's bureaucracy. This surveillance system can be seen as dictatorial ruling in society. Half naked, muscled man recieving orders from suited and booted official. This scene makes one think that mind power is greater than muscles power. Moreover, one can say that money power is more greater. But from liberal view point one can always question that by risking privacy, how one can work freely ?

This is a representation of leisure activity done by working class people. Because of lack of food, they turn to the toxic addiction such as smoking and they feel relaxed for a while from work. But Big Brother is Watching the layman.

Humans are lubricant oil for machines. This is one of the significant frame in the film. Industrialization and machinations of factories left humans as nut and bolts of machine. For technology, humans are nothing but spare parts. Monotonous job of fitting the bolts on assembly line suggest the mundanity of humans.

Overload of work can make one mad. In order to increase the production in factory, the owner commands to increase the speed of assembly line. This can be seen as today's context that when one has too much load of work, one does overtime in duty in job, and it results in insomnia and imbalance in social relations.

Protest and agitation by working class people to get liberty. Here Charlie is holding a red flag which is of communist party which is represented as protesting for the rights of workers. This also connects with Marxism.

Unemployment and joblessness leads people to do bad activities such as smuggling of nose powder and marijuana, cocaine, weed etc. Such narcotic drugs are costlier so, addictive people find ways to smuggle them. It is also a short cut to earn massive amount of money in short time.

Frames from "The Great Dictator"

Big sized weapons, which are still relevant to the modern times. The more weapons a nation has, the more powerful it becomes. The greatness of a country is nowadays measured by it's powerful weapons. 

The power structure flows from upwards to downwards. This is how the orders are passed from high power authority to lowest of the servants. The "obedient" which has nothing to do but accepting the order and servitude. The current political power also works the same way. In government bodies, different circulars are conveyed and the working offices have to abide by the new rules.

In order to gain favors and acceptance, politicians tend to touch the soft corners of public which is children. Such political stunts are still relevant in today's time. Politicians knows the mass psychology and also know how to win people's heart. In order to collect vote majority they follow such practices. The face of Hynkel shows the hypocrisy of politics.

The value of other officials is very low in the eye higher authority. Any agitation or protest may result in permanent detaining or transfer. In current time we can see that honest officials don't stay at one headquarter for long time, because they don't accept bribes and favors but they work honestly. One honest officer is not liked by the group of corrupt officials. One good mango cannot survive longer in the group of other waste mangoes. Either the good mango has to be put on other basket or it has to get wasted among other mangoes.

Dictators are majorly in self-love. They give orders to prepare statues and portraits of themselves so that their identity remains recorded in the history. People come under the influence of the gigantic lifestyle of power people and start making temples of them instead of questioning them.

People in power enjoy the leisure activities and make their schedule as busy as possible so that they can create an impact on the public and make public think that our leader is doing many activities at a time and still has some time to think about us - public.

The barber shop is also considered as the discussion corner of various political events. Barbers also take keen interest in discussing politics with their customers.

Some officials are so close to the power people that they encourage them to make some decisions which are harmful to the society and world. In this frame, Garbage is provoking Hynkel to have more wars and pacts with other nations and encourages Hynkel to become a great dictator of the world.

The dream sequence begins after Garbage's dialogue. Hynkel's hunger for power is highlighted in this frame. He plays with the balloon which is printed as world map. He dreams to be the great dictator of the world.

When one plays too much with fragile things, they get destroyed. The balloon of world map is burst which is a significant symbol that excessive hunger for power leads towards the destruction of the world.

The reading of the word Liberty is ironically highlighted in this frame, the replacement of Hynkel with barber fits aptly into this scene as barber is climbing the stairs instead of Hynkel. In the dictatorial government, only laymen and working class people can best explain the value of liberty.

The double role of Charlie Chaplin makes significant mark in the film. People think that Hynkel is making a speech but it is barber who is giving a remarkable note on liberty and equality. All have equal rights to live peaceful life and earn good wages. No discrimination should take place where all humans are treated equally. Overuse of technology and machines can lead a nations to war and destruction. Humans become a small spare part of machines and become senseless and robotic. This can dehumanize the entire society and then entire world.

Such is the timelessness of Charlie Chaplin's work. It is still relevant to the current time and applicable in many aspects of life.

Thank You!

Virtual Teacher's Day Celebration 2020

Hello Readers!

Thank You for watching the teacher's day video.

Click Here to open the quiz link.

https://forms.gle/YsrpjCqeXuP8nVJw9

If you want to watch it again, here is the video.

 

Sample photo of auto-generated certificate

Data of Viewers from YouTube and Facebook, How many appeared in online test

Viewers		How many appeared in the test
Facebook	YouTube
279	87	20

In order to preserve this online teaching experience few Facebook posts are embedded here.

Post 1

 

Post 2

Thank You!