Dramatic Poesie - John Dryden Bridge Course

 

Dramatic Poesie - John Dryden

 Bridge Course

Essay of Dramatic Poesie by John Dryden

This blog is in response to the Bridge Course - Essay of Dramatic Poesie by John Dryden assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir, Department of English MK Bhavnagar University. In this blog I am going to discuss my understanding of John Dryden's Essay of Dramatic Poesy and I will also deal with various aspects of it.

John Dryden:-

John Dryden is the greatest literary figure of the Restoration age. John Dryden was an English poet, literary critic, translator and playwright who was appointed " England's first poet laureate in the year 1668." In John Dryden's work we have an excellent reflection of both the good and the evil tendencies of the age in which he lived. He made excellent use of his opportunities and studied eagerly. He  became one of the best educated men of his age, especially in the classics. After william Shakespeare and Ben Jonson, he was the greatest playwright. Dryden - The poet is best known today as a 'satirist. '

  " Definition of play, according to John Dryden's Essay :-

 " A play ought to be a just and lively image of human nature, representing it's passions and humours and the changes of fortune to which it is subject, not for the delight but only for the instruction of mankind. "

Selected works :-

An Essay of Dramatick Poesie,1668.

The Indian Emperor (tragedy),1665.

Secret love or The Maiden Queen, 1667.

According to the definition, drama is an 'Image 'of 'human nature ' , and the image is 'just' and 'lively' .By using the word 'just Dryden seems to imply that literature imitates human actions. For Dryden, 'poetic imitation' is different from an exact. Servile copy of reality, for the imitation is not only 'just';It is also 'lively '.

Lisidieus expresses his views about drama as "a just and lively image of Human Nature". And then each character expresses his views about Drama and they compare French Drama and English Drama and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of French and English Drama. 

After Aristotle Here is a Person who is giving us a very well - firmed definition of Play. If we look at Dryden 's definition, through the Character of Lisideius he does not say that ; 

   " I am offering a definition, he says that I am offering a description." Although he is taking influence from Aristotle 's definition of tragedy. So subsequently he is actually carrying on the tradition. We can find that the definition broken up into three parts.

  1. ' Just and lively image of human nature '.

  2. 'Representing Passion and humours , and the change of Fortune to which it is Subject.' 

 3. ' For the delight and instruction of mankind.' 

In Dryden 's definition there is the Word 'Image ' he is really not bothered about the word but he thinks that Image is okay, if it is Just - Another important word in Dryden 's definition. But , Just image can also be a very drab kind of an image and that is why he inserted the Word - 'lively. ' So , it becomes ' Just and lively image of nature.' Aristotle 's definition of tragedy ended with the Word - ' Catharsis whereas Dryden seems to be ended his definition with delight and instruction of mankind. So we can say that both have the similar ideas in one or the other way.

Aristotle's Tragedy 

Definition of Tragedy

Definition of Tragedy is given by Aristotle. 

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and scientist .

At eighteen,he joined Plato’s Academy in Athens and remained there until the age of thirty-seven.

Serious

Tragedy relates the "Sad episodes "of life. The chief mood of tragedy is sadness. In this way tragedy reflects seriousness. 

Complete Action 

Next, Aristotle says that the action of tragedy must be complete.In other words, it should have a Beginning, Middle and End.

Magnitude 

Magnitude means size or length. According to Aristotle Tragedy should neither be too long nor too short. But it should be governed by aesthetic pleasure. 

Embellished of Language 

According to Aristotle, the language of tragedy is quite different from the language of the layman .

Catharsis 

The aim of tragedy, Aristotle writes, is to bring about a "Catharsis "of the spectators-to arouse in them sensations of pity and fear, and to purge them of these emotions so that they leave the theater feeling cleansed and uplifted, with a heightened understanding of the ways of gods and men. This Catharsis is brought about by witnessing some disastrous and moving change in the fortunes of the drama's protagonist. 

Formative elements of Tragedy 

Aristotle gives six parts of tragedy 

Plot 

Character 

Songs 

Diction 

Thought 

Spectacle 

Definition of Aristotle’s Tragedy 

        

   Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is a serious, complete and of a certain magnitude; in the language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play: in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear affecting the proper purgation- catharsis of these and similar emotions.”

Tragedy is the "Imitation of an action "(mimesis)According to "the law of probability or necessity."Aristotle indicates that the medium of tragedy is drama, not narrative;tragedy"shows" rather than "tells ". 

ELABORATING THE DEFINITION

        

      We can distribute the definition of play by Aristotle in parts. Each separating line of definition has its meaning in separation. The definition firstly focuses on the representation (imitation) of life, but life has no perfection, so the playwright has to be selective in representation. In the play, the playwright is representing a fragment of one's life’s fragment piece.

The debate goes on about the comparison between ancient writers and modern writers. They also discuss the importance of "Unity in French Drama".So far as the unities of Time, Place and Action are concerned French Drama was closer to classical notions of Drama. 

So, now I conclude, Aristotle says that tragedy is an imitation of an action . He believes that there is natural pleasure in imitation whereas Dryden defines play as just and lively image of human nature representing. It is passionate and humorous and the change of fortune to which it is subject for the devite and instructions of mankind .

 What would be your preference so far as poetic or prosaic dialogues are concerned in the play?

I prefer poetic dialogues rather than prosaic in the play. Poetic may be rhyme verse or blank verse also.

According to Neander:- Use of poetic makes the Language natural.

A ccording to Crites:- Rhyme helps the poet to control his fancy, but artistic control is the metter of judgementI .

Use of poetic language helps the judgement and makes it easier. Due to poetic, poet can perform "delight & pleasure" very well. Poetic language gives the path of an imagination. Interpretation of the poem can be different according to the various peoples. Each & every person can read the poem with a different way nd different aspects.So we can't says that interpretation of the poem is must be one.Blank verse is a Poetic Prose & it's only fit for comedy. It means we find Poetic Prose in comedy and through the use of poetic language ., audience must get an entertainment.So I prefer Poetic dialogues more than prosaic.

ThAct : History Puritan +Restoration Age

 Thinking Activity : Puritan and Restoration Age  of Literature 

This Blog is written in response to the Thinking Activity on The Puritan and The Restoration Period of Literature given by Dilip Barad sir at the Department of English, MKBU 

Puritan Age :

Puritan literature is a genre created by the Puritans, a religious movement which fought to remove the remnants of the Catholic Church from the Church of England. This led to conflict in England and to the founding of several colonies in the Americas, including settlements in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, and other parts of New England. The movement began in 1530 and lasted well into the 17th century.

Religion was the central tenet of Puritan life. The movement began as a way to reform the Church of England, and its practitioners believed in creating a covenant with God and being humble. Their communities were governed by religious doctrine, a concept which clashed with the emerging modernity of science and reason. For example, during the Salem Witch Trials, a famous Puritan and author named Cotton Mather urged the court to not simply accept hearsay as evidence for the charge of witchcraft and instead rely on hard evidence.

Puritan literature is the result of this movement and lifestyle. Much of it is in the form of letters and journals written by Puritans regarding their experiences. Puritan writing is primarily made up of sermons, poetry, and historical narratives, but Puritan writers created very little fiction. Much like their lifestyles, Puritans used simple, straightforward sentences when writing.In this age, writer of written age divided into groups like:-

Cavalier Poets

Transitional poets

Metaphysical poets

Spenserian Poets

Writers of the Puritan Age:-

Jonh Milton 

Anne Bradstreet

John Bunyan 

Richard Cashaw 

Edward Taylor 

 

John Milton:-

Poet, Historian (1608-c. 1674)

John Milton is best known for Paradise Lost, widely regarded as the greatest epic poem in English. Together with Paradise Regained, it formed his reputation as one of the greatest English writers. In his prose works he advocated the abolition of the Church of England. His influence extended through the English civil wars and also to the American and French revolutions.

Early Life & Education

John Milton was born in London on December 9, 1608 to John and Sara Milton. He had an older sister Anne, and a younger brother Christopher, and several siblings who died before reaching adulthood. As a child, John Milton attended St. Paul’s School, and in his lifetime he learned Latin, Greek, Italian, Hebrew, French, and Spanish. He attended Christ’s College, Cambridge, graduating in 1629 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and 1632 with a Master of Arts.

Poetry, Politics, and Personal Life

After Cambridge, Milton spent six years living with his family in Buckinghamshire and studying independently. In that time, he wrote “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity,” “On Shakespeare,” “L’Allegro,” “Il Penseroso,” and "Lycidas," an elegy in memory of a friend who drowned.

In 1638, John Milton went to Europe, where he probably met the astronomer Galileo, who was under house arrest at the time. He returned to England earlier than he had planned because of the impending civil war there.

Milton was a Puritan who believed in the authority of the Bible, and opposed religious institutions like the Church of England, and the monarchy, with which it was entwined. He wrote pamphlets on radical topics like freedom of the press, supported Oliver Cromwell in the English Civil War, and was probably present at the beheading of Charles I. Milton wrote official publications for Cromwell’s government.

It was during these years that Milton married for the first time. In 1642, when he was 34, he married 17-year-old Mary Powell. The two separated for several years, during which time Milton wrote The Divorce Tracts, a series of publications advocating for the availability of divorce. The couple reunited and had four children before Mary died in 1652. It was also in 1652 that Milton became totally blind. In 1656, he married Katherine Woodcock. She died in 1658.

Near the end of 1659, Milton went to prison because of his role in the fall of Charles I and the rise of the Commonwealth. He was released, probably due to the influence of powerful supporters. The monarchy was reestablished in 1660 with Charles II as king.

John Milton's Work:-

John Milton was a seventeenth century English poet whose works have greatly influenced the literary world. Milton wrote poetry and prose between 1632 and 1674, and is most famous for his epic poetry. Special Collections and Archives holds a variety of Milton's major works, including Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, L'Allegro, and Il Penseroso. 

Paradise Lost is one of the most recognized works in English literature. The first version, published in 1667, contained ten books. A later edition was published in 1674, which consisted of twelve books.Paradise Lost consists of more than 10,000 lines of verse. It tells the story of Adam and Eve, including their creation, inability to resist the temptations of Satan, and subsequent fall from grace. Special Collections and Archives holds several editions of Paradise Lost including one that was published in 1818. This edition was published by Benjamin Warner, a Quaker bookseller from Philadelphia. 

Another famous work by Milton is Paradise Regained, first published in 1671. Special Collections and Archives holds a 1790 edition titled, Paradise Regained. A poem in Four parts,by John Milton.This edition was published by William Young, a bookseller, printer, and publisher who had a printing business at his Philadelphia home. Milton's Paradise Regained is a philosophical dialogue between Satan and the Son of God. The Son of God strives for noble consciousness, an internal quality. Conversely, Satan believes that it is acceptable to pursue external values, such as power, wealth, and recognition.

 Allegro and ll Penseroso is another important work by Milton held in Special Collections and Archives. This edition was published 1855 in London by David Bogue. Myles Birket Foster, a famous illustrator, watercolor artist, and engraver in the nineteenth century, created the illustrations in this edition. His work depicts the interaction between day and night, one of Milton's primary themes in the work. Both L’Allegro and Il Penseroso consider the internal and external life of the poet through allegory.

Milton was in his twenties when he wrote L”Allegro and Il Penseroso, a young poet questioning what it meant to be an epic poet. As he matured, this early work had a major influence on his later writings. As he grew older, his poems became more complex and insightful. By the time he wrote Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained Milton was blind. Although he had lost his sight, he utilized what he called "divinest Melancholy" to compose his most powerful works.  

There were many factors which led to Milton’s popularity during the eighteenth century:

(i) The eighteenth century was an age of classicism, and because Milton a wrote his epic, elegy and tragedy or the classical models, the classicists admired him and tried to imitate him.

(ii) His didacticism was in accord with the trends of the time.

(iii) The appeal of his poetry was primarily felt on account of the sublimity and fervour of his poetic imagination.

(iv) The undercurrent of romanticism in the middle of the century found a strong ally in his poetry and “Milton became more and more acclaimed as a champion of the inwardness and freedom of true poetry.”

(v) Milton’s poetic style was imitated and admired by every writer of verse in the eighteenth century— “he was a quarry of poetic phrases for everybody.”

(vi) Finally, his versification supplied a model to the poets who broke away from the classical tradition of the eighteenth century.

The poetry of the eighteenth century, both classical and romantic, was influenced by Milton. The poets of the classical school, including Pope, drew upon the treasury of poetical phrases, and it was the blank verse of Paradise Lost that served as a model for many of the longer poems of the eighteenth century. Among the blank verse poems may be mentioned Thompson’s Seasons, Young’s Night Thoughts, Warbon’s Pleasures of Melancholy, Akenside’s Pleasures of the Imagination and Cowper’s Task. All these poets took Milton as their model.

Among the nineteenth century poets Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron and Shelley were influenced by Milton. There is a Miltonic quality in Wordsworth’s exalted utterances in blank verse; here and there we catch in his poetry echoes of Miltonic poetry. The sonnets of Wordsworth are modelled on those of Milton. Wordsworth felt the influence of Milton’s character and art, while Byron and Shelley admired that aspect of his poetry which coincided with their revolutionary ideas. Keats was attracted to Milton for the richness of his poetic phrase. Tennyson paid a reverent tribute to Milton and called him “God-gifted organ voice of England”.

John Milton died in England in November 1674. There is a monument dedicated to him in Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey in London.    

Bridge Course - Wordsworth Preface

Bridge Course - Wordsworth Preface 

 Hello readers! Here I am going to write down an another blog on william wordsworth's preface to lyrical ballads. This blog is inspired by Dr. Dilip sir barad as a part of thinking activity. In this blog, I am sharing my understanding about this topic. I am answering to some allotted questions on the basis of my learning and knowledge. 

William Wordsworth:-

 

William Wordsworth, (born April 7, 1770, Cockermouth, Cumberland, England—died April 23, 1850, Rydal Mount, Westmorland), English poet whose Lyrical Ballads (1798), written with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped launch the English Romantic movement.Wordsworth's magnum opus is generally considered to be The Prelude, a semi-autobiographical poem of his early years that he revised and expanded a number of times. It was posthumously titled and published by his wife in the year of his death, before which it was generally known as "the poem to Coleridge".

Wordsworth was Poet Laureate from 1843 until his death from pleurisy on 23 April 1850.

Wordsworth's preface to lyrical ballads.

               Wordsworth explains that the first edition of Lyrical Ballads was published as a sort of experiment to test the public reception of poems that use “the real language of men in a state of vivid sensation.” The experiment was successful, better than Wordsworth was expecting, and many were pleased with the poems. Wordsworth acknowledges that his friend (Samuel Taylor Coleridge) supplied several poems in the collection, including Rime of the Ancient Mariner. He then relates that he and his friends wish to start a new type of poetry, poetry of the sort seen in Lyrical Ballads. Wordsworth notes that he was initially unwilling to write the preface as some sort of systemic defense of this new genre, because he doesn’t want to reason anyone into liking these poems. He also says the motives behind starting this new genre of poetry are too complex to fully articulate in so few words. Still, he has decided to furnish a preface: his poems are so different from the poems of his age that they require at least a brief explanation as to their conception.

1.What is the basic difference between the poetic creed of 'classicism and 'Romanticism '?

Classicism and Romanticism are artistic movements that have influenced the literature, visual art, music, and architecture of the Western world over many centuries. With its origins in the ancient Greek and Roman societies, Classicism defines beauty as that which demonstrates balance and order. Romanticism developed in the 18th century — partially as a reaction against the ideals of Classicism — and expresses beauty through imagination and powerful emotions. Although the characteristics of these movements are frequently at odds, both schools of thought continued to influence Western art into the 21st century.

The name "Classical" was given to the Greeks and Romans retroactively by Renaissance writers. Artists and thinkers of the Renaissance, which literally means "rebirth," saw themselves as the heirs of that world following the Middle Ages. Its ideals continued to exert strong influence into the Age of Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries.

In literature, Classicism values traditional forms and structures. According to legend, the Roman poet Virgil left orders for his masterpiece The Aeneid to be burned at his death, because a few of its lines were still metrically imperfect. This rather extreme example demonstrates the importance placed on excellence in formal execution. Such attention to detail can also be seen in the work of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri, whose Divine Comedy contains over 14,000 lines written in a strict rhyming pattern known as terza rima. Other characteristics of the movement include balance, order, and emotional restraint.

Romanticism may be a somewhat confusing term, since modern English speakers tend to associate the word "romance" with a particular variety of love. As an artistic movement, however, it celebrates all strong emotions, not just feelings of love. In addition to emotion, Romantic artists valued the search for beauty and meaning in all aspects of life. They saw imagination, rather than reason, as the route to truth.

The treatment of emotion is one of the primary ways in which Classicism and Romanticism differ. The Romantics placed a higher value on the expression of strong emotion than on technical perfection. Classicists did not shy away from describing emotionally charged scenes, but typically did so in a more distant manner. Romantics, however, were more likely to indulge in effusive emotional statements, as John Keats did in "Ode on a Grecian Urn": "More love! More happy, happy love!"

2.Why does Wordsworth say 'What is a poet'? rather than Who is the Poet?

 In his preface Wordsworth says 'What is poet? rather than Who is the poet. 

According to Wordsworth " A poet is a man speaking to men, endowed with more lively sensibility, more enthusiasm and tenderness. Who has a greater knowledge of human nature and a more comprehensive soul, who rejoices more than other men in the spirit of life; habitually impelled to creative volition, passion and situation where he does not find them.

A poet not only has a more lively sensibility but also a more comprehensive soul and greater powers of imagination. He is also a man who has thought long and deep. He does not create on the spur of the moment, but contemplates and reflects in tranquillity till he passions anew and it is then that creation begins.

  

3.What is poetic diction ? Which sort of Poetic diction is suggested by Wordsworth in his preface?

The term diction refers to the kind of words, phrases, sentences, and sometimes figurative language that constitute any work of literature. When it comes to poetry writing, the question related to the diction always arises. The question of diction is considered as primary because the feelings of the poet must be easily conceived by the readers. The poets of all ages have used distinctive poetic diction.

He defines poetic diction as a language of common men. It is not the language of the poet as a class but the language of mankind. It is the simple expression of pure passions by men living close to nature. The poetic language is the natural language; therefore, it must be spontaneous and instinctive. The real poetic diction, in the view of Wordsworth, is the natural overflow of the feelings, therefore, it is immune to the deliberate decoration of the language.

Wordsworth also attributes the quality of giving pleasure to the natural poetic diction. It must not contain any vulgarity and disgusting elements. The poet must, through his language, elevate nature and human feelings.

4.What is Poetry?

Definition:-

poetry, literature that evokes a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience or a specific emotional response through language chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound, and rhythm.

  " Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings it takes origin from emotion recollected in tranquility. "

Wordsworth

Poetry is to teach moral lessons with a feeling of delight. It is to give instruction and delight by connecting people with the poet and his imagination.

5.What is poetry? Discuss ' Daffodils ' - " Wandered as a lonely cloud " With reference to wordsworth's poetic creed. 

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o’er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

The poem I wondered lonely as a cloud also know as Daffodils. The poem does describe the beauty and power of the flowers. Daffodils ultimately turns out to be a beautiful, dramatic lyric on the poets spiritual conversation in the company of nature. Daffodils based on a real life experience of the poet and his sister Dorothy helps him to write it. This poem was composed in 1807.

The poet narrates his experience when he used to wander as a cloud on the highest pick of hills and vales. During his wandering he happened to see a lot of yellow flowers which tall stems and long narrow leaves. They were Daffodils. There were spread around lake, beneath the trees. When he saw the Daffodils he feels like Daffodils are dancing with the breeze. It also shows that daffodils enriches the beauty of nature. Than Wordsworth compared daffodils with shining star. In a milky way there are thousands of stars like that there were large number of Daffodils. The Daffodils were becoming more and more beautiful and shining brightly with flashes of light. 

In last the poet says his personal experience. When he is alone lying in his sofa and having serious mood, suddenly he thinks of his past experience of looking Daffodils. This experience gives him a lot of pressure, bliss and happiness. He immediately forgets that he is alone and having serious mood. And that's how he tells us that only nature has that capacity to convert human being from unhappiness to highest bliss. 

Through this poem and brief introduction of the poem that what in this poem and how it came to existence clearly shows the poetic creed of Wordsworth. His belief that poetry must be with full of emotions and spontaneity. He described his highest emotions in this poem. 

An Allegory , assigned by Kavisha Ma'am

 An Allegory , assigned by Kavisha Ma'am

Religious fervour and A Tale of Tub

Thinking Activity Religious fervour and 'A Tale of Tub '

Hello readers, this blog is in response to the task assigned by Kavisha Ma'am, the department of English, MKBU. In this blog I am going to discuss the myth and science behind the festival "Shitala Satam".  blog is a part of our thinking activity. I am going to discuss about our Indian festival - "shitala satam" in this blog. 

 We have " A Tale of Tub" by Jonathan Swift in our syllabus. It is religious satire. So, Through this blog I am going to compare the festival - " Shitala satam" With " A Tale of tub, " On the basis of my understanding. 

Religion and science both are contradictory aspects of the world. But both are going side by side or parallel in the modern world. We all are moving forward to the new world. Science has become more powerful to deal with any situation. We all are using technological tools to work effectively. Despite of all these things we are having blind faith in not several but numerous beliefs. We are still following blind traditions which are not at all useful to us. I have found that in the society, people are following such traditions by fear as all the belief laid a kind of fear that if you will not do this you will be punished by the gods or goddesses for your disobedience. As a part of saving and proving their statements some people are even comparing those beliefs with the science, but only a few things or events can be viewed as having scientific insight. Otherwise all fail to prove that thing. So let's have discussion on the topic of Shitala Satam.

Shitla Satam:-

Shitla satam know as a Festival in India. Everyone celebrate shitla satam as a Diwali, Holi, Navratri and other festivals. Shitla satam or I can say this festival's Devi is Shitlamata. On the occasion women observe Vrat. The Katha of Vrat is given in Bhavishyottara Purana . The story is associated with the legend of Indraluma, the king of Hastinapur and his wife Pralima who had great faith in performing religious ceremonies. The whole story is about the Vrat and the outcome of it of the Daughter of Indraluma, Shubhankar. Click here to read the full story. Like this story, so many stories are woven around the deity. All these are about Chamatkar and there is no touch of science.

An Individual is Sovereign when he/she can govern his/her thoughts and emotions without being influenced by social or religious manipulations. Such an independent thought process is developed through reason and scientific temper. A progressive society ‘Enheartens citizens to break negative shackles of community’, hence encouraging positive discretion.

A society undergoes regression when it is being guided by assumptions of presumptuous people who fuel hate and discourage progressive reasoning. Restrictive parameters of a society hinder freedom, which in-turn affects progressive change.

When a community cannot encourage egalitarian aspects it creates distrust among individuals which later affects the perspective of an individual hence sliding his thoughts towards negative parameters.Some negative aspects which affect an individual’s perspective are:Politics: which are operated by favouritism and uses unreasonable tactics such as caste, religious and cultural divisions.

Women: who are treated unequally and when their personal choices are guided by the needs of men among ‘society’!Media: media houses create chaos in the mind of citizens through manipulative approaches. They have turned themselves into political mouthpieces by playing the narrowest social role which ignores core issues.Education acts as a tool to fetch a job rather than creating insight for an individual to be independent of regressive influences.Judicial processes which are delayed when lacunae of the judiciary are exploited by people in power. Which in-turn dents trust over the judicial system.Educated scholars/specialists are least preferred for social opinions as they endure the least respect thus being preceded by entertainers (movie stars).Rampant corruption practices due to unmindful policymakers.Where resources are wasted over futile appeasement practices rather than developing hospital or educational infrastructures which lack basic amenities as well as research facilities.When the above negative trends are observed individuals lose motivation towards progression in an unjust society. The fact that people are insouciant and justify these negative aspects without questioning is a disheartening attribute of society. These tendencies of society affect the psyche of a person who contributes towards an ideal social order.

Likewise, a hardworking administrator loses his zeal when his policy implementation proves unsustainable after his transfer from the post, or punitive actions for intervening in political malpractices, these will hinder his enthusiasm towards progress and make him act neutral or regressive after witnessing shrewd and corrupt officials gaining better benefits.Additionally, an individual’s approach towards equality among humans is affected when his progress is fettered by religious and caste-based (race, class) partisanship, where he experiences setbacks and observes people gaining benefits through favouritism and introspects his progressive thoughts which eventually revert and discourage balanced approach of others too.

Besides, administrators or powerful people are at advantage and gain benefits over commoners, which drives people towards a hierarchical race to gain power which ruins an inclusive structure of society. It is a paradox as core values of any constitution or religious scripture emphasise equality!Human potential and creativity are severely affected in a regressive society; it not only hinders individual progress, but it impedes the nation's growth as a whole.Humans are the only species who are equipped with a conscience that can evolve positively or deter with each experience they come across in their lives.

Religious and political societies should work combinedly towards the progress of humanity, as these both are the impediments for human freedom.

The first type of progressivism has its philosophical underpinnings in 18th Century, Enlightenment-era thought. It believes that politics is a battle of ideas. It further believes that through the use of reason and the exchange of ideas, human society will tend to improve itself through scientific and technological innovation. Hence, it believes in progress, and for this reason lays claim to the term “progressive”. Because of its belief and optimism in the faculties of human reason, I refer to this philosophy as rational progressivism.

Rational progressivism tends to be trusting, within reason, of status quo political and economic institutions — generally including the institution of capitalism. It tends to trust these institutions because it believes they are a manifestation of progress made by previous generations. However, unlike conservatism, it also sees these institutions as continuing works in progress, subject to inefficiencies because of distorted or poorly-designed incentives, poorly-informed or misinformed participants, and competition from ‘irrational’ worldviews like religion. It also recognizes that certain persons who stand to benefit from preserving the status quo, particularly elected officials but also corporations, may seek to block this progress to protect their own interests. The project of rational progressivism, then, is to propagate good ideas and to convert them, through a wide and aggressive array of democratic means, into public policy

The second type of progressivism is what I call radical progressivism. It represents, indeed, a much more radical and comprehensive critique of the status quo, which it tends to see as intrinsically corrupt. Its philosophical tradition originates in 19th Century thought — and specifically, owes a great deal to the Marxist critique of capitalism and the Marxist theory of social change. It also finds inspiration in both the radical movement of the 1960s and the labour and social movements of late 19th and early 20th centuries (from which it borrows the label “progressive”).

Radical progressivism is more clearly distinguishable from “conventional” liberalism and would generally be associated with the “far left” — although on a handful of issues such as free trade, it may find common cause with the “radical” right. Radical progressivism embraces the tradition of populism and frequently adopts a discourse of the virtuous commoner organising against the corrupt elite. It is much more willing to make normative claims than rational progressivism, and tends to view conservatism as immoral and contemporary American liberalism as amoral (at best). Its project is not reform but transformation.

Rational progressives sometimes regard radical progressives as impractical, self-righteous, shrill, demagogic, naïve and/or anti-intellectual. Radical progressives, in turn, regard rational progressives as impure, corrupt (or corruptible), selfish, complacent, elitist, and too quick to compromise.

Try to connect your understanding and interpretation of such religious practices with Swift's work. 

Jonathan Swift was born in Dublin, Ireland, on November 30, 1667. The son of an English lawyer, he grew up there in the care of his uncle before attending Trinity College at the age of fourteen, where he stayed for seven years, graduating in 1688. In that year, he became the secretary for Sir William Temple, an English politician and member of the Whig party. In 1694, he took religious orders in the Church of Ireland and then spent a year as a country parson. He then spent further time in the service of Temple before returning to Ireland to become the chaplain of the Earl of Berkeley. Meanwhile, he had begun to write satires on the political and religious corruption surrounding him, working on A Tale of a Tub, which supports the position of the Anglican Church against its critics on the left and the right, and The Battle of the Books, which argues for the supremacy of the classics against modern thought and literature. He also wrote a number of political pamphlets in favour of the Whig party. In 1709 he went to London to campaign for the Irish church but was unsuccessful. After some conflicts with the Whig party, mostly because of Swift’s strong allegiance to the church, he became a member of the more conservative Tory party in 1710.

Unfortunately for Swift, the Tory government fell out of power in 1714 and Swift, despite his fame for his writings, fell out of favour. Swift, who had been hoping to be assigned a position in the Church of England, instead returned to Dublin. During his brief time in England, Swift had become friends with writers such as Alexander Pope, and during a meeting of their literary club, the Martinus Scriblerus Club, they decided to write satires of modern learning. The “third voyage” described in his best-known work, Gulliver’s Travels, is assembled from the work Swift did during this time. However, the final work was not completed until 1726, and the narrative of the third voyage was actually the last one completed. After his return to Ireland, Swift became a staunch supporter of the Irish against English attempts to weaken their economy and political power, writing pamphlets such as the satirical A Modest Proposal, in which he suggests that the Irish problems of famine and overpopulation could be easily solved by having the babies of poor Irish subjects sold as delicacies to feed the rich.

Swift's Ireland was a country that had been effectively controlled by England for nearly 500 years. The Stuarts had established a Protestant governing aristocracy amidst the country's relatively poor Catholic population. Denied union with England in 1707 (when Scotland was granted it), Ireland continued to suffer under English trade restrictions and found the authority of its own Parliament in Dublin severely limited. Swift, though born a member of Ireland's colonial ruling class, came to be known as one of the greatest of Irish patriots. He, however, considered himself more English than Irish, and his loyalty to Ireland was often ambivalent in spite of his staunch support for certain Irish causes. The complicated nature of his own relationship with England may have left him particularly sympathetic to the injustices and exploitation Ireland suffered at the hands of its more powerful neighbour.

Although Swift's disgust with the state of the nation continued to increase, A Modest Proposal was the last of his essays about Ireland. Swift wrote mostly poetry in the later years of his life, and he died in 1745.

Jonathan Swift Novels

A Tale of a Tub

Published 1704

Gulliver’s Travels

Published 1726

A Modest Proposal

Published 1729

Jonathan Swift Essay Collections

“An Argument Against Abolishing Christianity”

Published 1712

  

Life of Pie

 Hello readers! Here, I am going to write down an another blog on ' Life of pi ' - Film Screening, which was organized by Department of English. This blog is inspired by Yesha Ma'am. In this particular blog I am going to share my views upon this movie. 

Introduction:-

Life of Pi is a 2012 adventure-drama film directed and produced by Ang Lee and written by David Magee. It is Based on Yann Martel's 2001 novel of the same name. The storyline revolves around two survivors of a shipwreck. One is a sixteen-year-old Indian boy named Pi Patel. He survives 227 days after a shipwreck while stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger which raises questions about the nature of reality and how it is perceived and told.

           The main message in "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel is that life can and will be difficult. However, people must persevere by any means necessary. Being adaptive and having faith in yourself and a higher power can help a person achieve any obstacle in their path.

The storyline revolves around two survivors of a shipwreck. One is a sixteen year old Indian boy named pi patel and the other is a Ferocious Bengal tiger named Richard Parker that are on a lifeboat stranded in the Pacific Ocean for 227 days. 

   We can understand that this story is all about a true survival. How sometimes our survival becomes so much difficult but, still we have to cross all the obstacles which came in our path and we have to survive. 

The Movie cast:-

Pi Patel - Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan and Gautam Belur, Ayush Tandon

Write - Rafe Spall

Gita patel - Tabu

Ravi Patel - Vibish Sivakumar, Aryan Khan

Santosh Patel - Adil Hussain

   Movie starts with the natural scenario. It included Indian architecture animals and Indian music as well.The movie Life of Pi focuses on the character of Pi, the full name was Piscine Patel from inspiration of the Russian swimming pool , but changes his name to Pi.

   Movie focuses on him from his Childhood as he was a curious child and started exploring different religions and believing in them. His father, a zoo keeper, was a strict person who did not believe in god and his mother who was a faithful believer of Hinduism. However his faith is put in question when his family sinks in the ocean (his mother, father and brother dies in it) with a large ship and Pi survives with some Zoo animals. 

     Significance of the Name Pi:-

 The name of Pi has significance within it. In the beginning during discussion of the name of Pi Patel, Pi Patel reveals the secret behind his name. In Paris, there is a pool named Piscine Molitor, which has very clean water. Uncle of Pi Patel, whom Pi Patel calls Mamaji , is a great swimmer. One day Mamaji said pi's Father is that "Of all the pools in the world the most beautiful is a public pool in Paris." Before the birth of Pi, Mamaji said to his father that "If you want your son to have a clean soul, you must take him to swim in Piscine Molitor." His father took it too seriously and named him Piscine Molitor Patel. But this name Piscine becomes problematic for him as his classmates address him as 'Pissing'. But later on he himself chooses his name as Pi, π which is a concept of maths and lets others know about the significance of his name also.

Significance Tiger:-

Richard Parker is the Bengal tiger that symbolizes God or faith through love and fear, and also survival. He symbolizes being an imaginary friend as well. However, it can also be argued that Richard Parker symbolizes that he and Pi are one in the same.

What is the difference between Spirituality and religion? What is the significance of doubt in it? 

  A majority of us often use the words - 'Religion ' & ' Spirituality ' interchangeably. But, they both are entirely Seperate concepts that we need to understand. 

 'Religion is belief in Someone else's experience. ' 

' Spirituality is having your Own Experience. ' 

 As we all know that there is very thin line and Slight difference between these two. It is never ending debate. Because, every one has their own thinking & own views upon this matter. We can understand that the concept of religion and spirituality is very well presented in life of pi movie. 

  Pi patel serves as the main character for Life of pi, and could be called a spiritually curious person. In a way, we can say that Life of pie is all about :- a young man's Journey to find his Spiritual center, helped along by a shipwreck and a tiger named Richard Parker.

My Views on Movie:-

The movie Life of Pi is a great movie with its cinematography and the VFX that is the highlight of the movie. The story and the symbolism used in it is also very good. It's a good adventure movie along with the representation of allegorical references of god and religion and faith. The end of the story and the narrative of the second story that Pi tells to officers of Ship company gives an idea of an original survival story that could have been presented by the makers but the motives of makers were to demonstrate the faith in god and religion and spirituality that the movie delivers pretty well.

Significance of Island:-

Island is a place where has lives and give everyone source for living and peaceful. Well, that's true and here in this novel that also we can see but there is also a surprise for Pi and Parker in this Island. This Island is carnivorous one. If we read the novel carefully we will know that this kind of tree always addicted to swallow what living on its land and it's always funny and suspicious at the same time that if it is carnivorous Island how there were so many animals living on that Island. There are so many opinions about the significance of the Island in the novel like Island signifies Life that how First and form outer side it seems so beautiful and easy but as we know more and deeply it consumes ourselves. It also symbolises spiritual journey of the Pi throughout the novel. At first it seems perfect place to stay, Pi find food for eating and place sleep but when he find that a tooth in the tree he realises that it is a carnivorous tree. 

What is the difference between Spirituality and religion? What is the significance of doubt in it? 

Spirituality is something that’s often debated and commonly misunderstood. Many people confuse spirituality with religion and so bring pre existing beliefs about the impact of religion to discussions about spirituality. Though all religious emphasis spirituality as being as important part of faith, it is possible to be 'spiritual 'without necessarily being a part of an organised religious community.

Spirituality and religion can be hard to tell apart but there are some pretty defined difference between the two.

Religion is a specific set of organised beliefs and practices, usually shared by community or group.Spirituality is more of an individual practice and has to do with having asense of peace and purpose. It also relates to the process of developingbeliefs around the meaning of life and connection with others.One way that might help you to understand the relationship betweenspirituality and religion is imagine a game of football. The rules, referees, other players, and field markings help guide you as you play the game in a similar way that religion might guide you to find your spirituality.Kicking the ball around a park, without having to play on the field or with all the rules and regulations, can also give you fulfilment and fun and stillexpresses the essence of the game, similar to spirituality in life.

People may identify as being any combination of religious and spiritual,but to be religious does not automatically make you spiritual.

Conclusion:-

The ending part of the movie is very much emotional. Because In the last one can see that Richard Parker vanishing, disappearing from the life of pi & Lost somewhere in the forest. 

Pride & Prejudice

 Thinking Activity 

This blog is in response to the Thinking activity of the novel Pride and Prejudice assigned by Yesha ma'am.

Pride and Prejudice:-

Pride & Prejudice was written by British author Jane Austen and published in 1813. The main character is Elizabeth Bennett and the story follows Elizabeth and her family as they deal with issues such as marriage, social class, and misunderstandings. The Bennett family consists of Elizabeth, her mother, her father, and her four unmarried sisters. The Bennett family is of the landed gentry, they have money but are not insanely rich. The novel is also a love story between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, although they initially dislike each other when they meet. They get off on the wrong foot, Elizabeth’s pride keeps her from seeing Mr. Darcy as anything except the negative first impression she initially had of him. While Mr. Darcy’s prejudice towards Elizabeth’s lower social class blinds him to her many good qualities. Other plotlines include Mr. Bingley (mr. Darcy’s good friend) wanting to marry Elizabeth’s older sister Jane, but encountering obstacles because of differences in social class and her younThe book has family, friendship, and an unconventional love story. This is probably Austen’s most famous novel and is considered to be a classic.

  

Jane Austen:-

Born:-16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique, and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her use of biting irony, along with her realism and social commentary, have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.Austen gained far more status after her death, and her six full-length novels have rarely been out of print. A significant transition in her posthumous reputation occurred in 1833, when her novels were republished in Richard Bentley's Standard Novels series, illustrated by Ferdinand Pickering, and sold as a set. They gradually gained wider acclaim and popular readership. In 1869, fifty-two years after her death, her nephew's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced a compelling version of her writing career and supposedly uneventful life to an eager audience.

Austen has inspired a large number of critical essays and literary anthologies. Her novels have inspired many films, from 1940's Pride and Prejudice to more recent productions like Sense and Sensibility (1995) and Love & Friendship (2016).

1.Which version of the novel is more appealing? Novel or Film? Why?

The movie has other differences than just the dialogue. In the movie, Elizabeth keeps secrets from her family and grows apart from her older sister Jane. This is different from the book, while Elizabeth does become frustrated with events related to her family, she never keeps secrets from them.Generally, I prefer a book before a movie. Because books develop our imagination, they are much more detailed than films. books have deeper thoughts while the movie has shallowness in them because, of lack of time. But in the pride and prejudice, I prefer the movie. The original novel 'pride and prejudice' by jane Austen is quite lengthy. while the movie, pride and prejudice directed by Joe Wright; is based upon the novel - pride and prejudice. personally, the version of 2005 is more appealing to me as it has the most amazing cinematography and the choice of perfect characters. this movie is giving me the vibe of the romantic era.                                                                                                                                                                         

2. Character Of Elizabeth Bennett. 

Elizabeth Bennet is the much-beloved heroine of Jane Austen's 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth is funny, intelligent, kind-hearted, and brave. She stands out because, unlike what was typical for romantic heroines of the day, her focus is not solely on marriage. Instead, Elizabeth has her own desires.Elizabeth's relationship with Mr. Darcy, the hero of the story, is often regarded as one of the most compelling romances in all of literature. Both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are complex characters with distinct flaws who grow and change throughout the novel.Elizabeth Bennet, also known as "Lizzy" to her loved ones, is around twenty years old during the novel. She is considered attractive, with her eyes as a standout feature; however, she is not considered as classically beautiful as her eldest sister, Jane.

The second of five daughters, Elizabeth is part of the middle class of England. Known as the landed gentry, they are not part of the aristocracy with titles and power; however, they are not impoverished. They live on an estate named Longbourn, where people pay to work the land, thereby financially providing for the Bennets.Elizabeth takes pride in her individuality. She knows who she is and what she wants in life and in a partner. She enjoys bantering with friends and family but makes sure to keep it polite. She is described as having "a mixture of sweetness and archness... which made it difficult for her to affront anybody." She teases Mr. Darcy and finds it amusing when he turns down her invitation to dance: she has a self-aware sense of humor and enjoys making her friends laugh.

However, Elizabeth's self-awareness is more limited than it initially appears. She is not aware of the factors shaping her own perspective and her prejudices coloring said perspective. Elizabeth's struggle to understand others' points of view (namely, Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Darcy) also stems from her individuality. However, seeing Charlotte's happiness with her state in life and several revelations about Mr. Darcy help Elizabeth realize the value of empathy.

Elizabeth displays great common sense and intuitiveness; the latter she prides herself on to her own folly. Although Elizabeth would like to marry for love, she is wise enough not to pursue Mr. Wickham because he cannot provide for her, and physical attraction does not guarantee marital happiness.

As for her intuitiveness, she is able to recognize the emotions of others and understand unspoken opinions. However, Lizzy misunderstands critical moments, which lead her to assume Mr. Darcy is a bad person based on his rudeness. On the other hand, Elizabeth also assumes Mr. Wickham is a good person because he has impeccable manners and appears upfront and honest with her. Hence, she believes him when he tells her Mr. Darcy ruined his life, when in reality, Mr. Darcy was only protecting his teenage sister. This leads to Lizzy's lament:

"I, who have prided myself on my discernment! I, who have valued myself on my abilities! ... Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind! But vanity, not love, has been my folly... from the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven reason away, where either were concerned. Till this moment I never knew myself."

In this quote, Lizzy realizes that her own "vanity," or pride, and her prejudice prevented her from seeing the truth. Her pride meant that she did not question her initial judgment of Mr. Darcy's and Mr. Wickham's characters. These initial judgments were based on her assessment of their respective manners: the socially awkward, blunt Mr. Darcy acted rudely, while the affable Mr. Wickham charmed her.

3.Character of Mr. Darcy.

In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Fitzwilliam Darcy is a wealthy English aristocrat and the owner of Pemberley, a country estate. He inherited Pemberley, ''ten thousand a-year,'' and other wealth from his father, who passed numerous years prior. At the beginning of the novel, Darcy is staying with his close friend, Mr. Bingley, who is ''letting'' or renting Netherfield Park.

Mr. Darcy is a wealthy young gentleman. Gradually he becomes attracted to her and later attempts to court her while simultaneously struggling against his continued feelings of superiority. Darcy disapproves when his friend Bingley, develops a serious attachment to Elizabeth's elder sister Jane, and persuades Bingley that Jane does not return his feelings (which Darcy honestly but wrongfully believes). He later explains this seeming hypocrisy by asserting "I was kinder to [Bingley] than to myself". Although he doesn't realise it, Mr. Wickham's tale of how Darcy mistreated him and Elizabeth's later discovery of Darcy's interference in Bingley and Jane's budding relationship, along with Elizabeth's previous observations of Darcy's arrogance, conceit, and selfish disdain of the feelings of others, has caused her to dislike him intensely.Eventually, Mr. Darcy declares his love for Elizabeth and asks for her hand. He reminds her of the large gap in their social status. Elizabeth is offended and vehemently refuses him, expressing her reasons for disliking him, including her knowledge of his interference with Jane and Bingley and the account she received from Mr. Wickham of Darcy's alleged unfair treatment toward him. Insulted by Darcy's arrogant retorts, Elizabeth says that his proposal prevented her from feeling concerns for him she "might have felt had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner". Darcy departs in anger and mortification and the next morning, writes and hand delivers a letter to Elizabeth in which he defends his wounded honour, reveals the motives for his interference in Jane and Bingley's relationship, and gives a full account of his dealings with Wickham, who had attempted to seduce and elope with Darcy's younger sister, Georgiana, the previous summer.

4.Contemporary time and society depicted in the novel Pride and Prejudice.

The story of Pride and Prejudice is set during the start of the 19th century. We can see the deeply woven social element of contemporary society by the author Jane Austine. 

Theme of marriage and land ownership is connected to the love stories in the novel. We can see the beneficials of the marriage and alliance and inheritance of the wealth and properties. Novel also reflects the class system and standards of the contemporary time. The strong point of the novel is to describe the position of women in society.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

5.If you were the director or the screenplay writer of the movie what sort of changes would you make in the movie?

I will make the character of Mrs. Bennet more reasonable as a mother than as a matchmaker. And I will give a little more space to the plot of elopement of lydia and wickham because that situation goes unnoticed in the movie. 

6.Who would be your choice of actors to play characters?

Every actor in this movie, justified their role. even though if I have to change the character then the following will be my choice:    

Elizabeth: Kiara Advani

Mr. Darcy: Hrithik Roshan

Jane: Disha Patani

Mr. Bingley: Varun Dhawan 

Wickham: Ranvir Singh 

Mr. Collins: Nawazuddin Siddiqui 

7.Write a note on the scene which you liked most in the movie.

The scene which I liked the most is when Elizabeth confess her feelings for Mr. Darcy in front of her father. That finally she understands Mr.Darcy and realises that she was in love with him all along. She was just being suburb and and was blinded by her pride that she does not see the good side of Mr. Darcy.

8.Compare the narrative strategy of the novel and movie.

The movie has other differences than just the dialogue. In the movie, Elizabeth keeps secrets from her family and grows apart from her older sister Jane. This is different from the book, while Elizabeth does become frustrated with events related to her family, she never keeps secrets from them. She also confides in her sister after difficult events, they never grow apart. The movie also portrays Mr. Bennett as a warmer, more sympathetic father than he is in the book. His role in the family misfortunes, caused by him spending money on the wrong things, is downplayed. His relationship with his wife is much more loving in the movie. However, the movie also makes the Bennetts look poorer than they were in the book. Elizabeth also comes across as much more bold and impatient in the movie, she never yells at her parents in the book.