'Honor is love' in the novella Chronicle of a Death Foretold. Discuss.

Ques. 'Honor is love' in the novella Chronicle of a Death Foretold. Discuss.

Ans. 'Chronicle of a Death Foretold' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a pseudo-journalistic novella that discloses a range of social criticism through the brutal act of murder. The murder of a twenty-one-year-old aristocrat is a central action of the novella which shapes and informs the scene of 'Chronicle of a Death Foretold'. The author tries to manipulate the idea of a role model to depict the thematic concern of honor, for which the devilish murder was committed. 

The theme of honor is taken into consideration to deliver a strong message through the character of Angela Vicario and Bayardo San Roman. The theme critically blames the hypocritical thinking of the town, where men are taught to be men and women on the contrary are taught and raised to live according to the social restriction. The women must remain virgins until their marriage otherwise they will be seen down upon, as seen in the story. 

The strong statement marked by the narrator's mother: 'Honor is Love', can be seen prevalent throughout the story through various characters. For instance, the character of Bayardo San Roman was introduced by the narrator's mother. As she writes, "A very strange man has come. The strange man is called Bayardo San Roman, and everybody says he's enchanting, but I haven't seen him." Later on, the narrator revealed that Bayardo, "had already formalized his contract of love with Angela Vicario." On the other hand, Angela Vicario is the daughter of a goldsmith who is also the distant cousin of the narrator. After resisting her mother's thought that 'love can be learned' Angela Vicario and Bayardo San Roman tie a knot. Evidently, their relationship started with force. 

Through this scene, Marquez is highlighting the image of society in which love is forced upon and can be learned with time.  

Further, as the story progresses there was a revelation on the part of Angela that she has lost her honor before her wedding. The small act of losing virginity is seen as a terrible mistake around which the whole plot revolves. After, learning the fact, Bayardo returns Angela as if she is a damaged product. 

The Vicario family was deeply affected by the incident and wanted to regain its honor of Angela. Angela's twin brothers, Pablo and Pedro have high respect for their family's honor. So, they consider it their duty and gender role to retrieve her sister's honor for which they strive to uphold Santiago Nasar. According to the twins, their family's honor can only be redeemed by killing Santiago. Perhaps, Santiago Nasar became the ill-fated victim of the brutal murder. They think that they are working according to the order of society, which is not true, they are just taking honor as an excuse for the unjust act they will be committing. Even, the townspeople carry the same attitude on the matter. 

The tone of injustice suffuses throughout the novella. Honor is just taken as a sheet to conceal what's lying behind it. The sense of being honored by the whole community is what the characters in this novel appreciate. 

Every character, especially the Vicario family seems to value honor more than love. For example, Pura Vicario, Angela's mother puts honor above true family cherishing and love. Not only this, but the dumbfounded statement by Prudencia Cotes startles the audience as she says, 'I knew what they are up to... I didn't only agree, but I never would have married if he (Pablo) hadn't done what a man should do'. Thus, ultimately specifying the gender roles and encouraging the twins to knife Santiago. 

The townspeople regard the brutal murder at the hand of Pablo and Pedro as right. For them, knifing Santiago is perfect to avenge the robber of her sister's virginity. That's why they didn't think of warning Santiago beforehand. Even after, Santiago has been killed the townspeople considered Pablo and Pedro innocent as he protected the honor of her sister. Though Santiago has been seen molesting the cook's daughter and there was news in the town that he has taken the virginity of many young girls. But in the end, he was killed for an act that he might not have committed. And, 'the brothers Vicario had proved their status as men, and the seduced sister was in possession of her honor once more.'

In Chronicle of a Death Foretold, we have seen that values and honor are considered vital parts of the community. Honor shapes the identity of an individual in society. So, to keep Angela Vicario's social identity stain-free her twin brothers commit an act of harsh murder. In this act, they got support from the townspeople, who think the murder is efficacious and they judged the act 'as a matter of honor'. However, Marquez has gently put forward the concern regarding injustice prevailing in society. The shameful act of returning Angela because of a defect that she has lost her virginity before the wedding can be seen as an excuse. 

Honor and love should be tantamount, in every situation. But, if we look into the matter then honor was placed above love. Love has not been given much importance because 'The pursuit of love is falconry' and for sure, 'love can be learned', according to the characters in the novella. However, Angela's action somehow was capable of testing everyone else's thoughts on honor. Each character in 'Chronicle of a Death Foretold', didn't try to avoid the unjust act but encouraged it by supporting the twins. 

Discuss the Good Person of Szechwan as an example of the Brechtian Theatre

Ques: Discuss the Good Person of Szechwan as an example of the Brechtian Theatre. 

Ans. The Good Person of Szechwan is a popular play by Bertolt Brecht written at the times when Nazism was at its peak in Germany. Through the depiction of Shen Teh’s life, the writer unpacks the universal themes of hunger, poverty, and misery. To create a conscious society, Brecht smartly deploys the technique of epic theatre and challenges the traditions of bourgeois theatre. Brecht has an interest in unifying past events with the art form, so he used the concept of epic theatricality in the play.

The term ‘Epic Theatre’ was coined by Erwin Piscator, which aimed to bring the “contemporary issue” of the time to light. The Good Person of Szechwan is similar to this, as it gives us a message about the capitalist system and through the play, Brecht wants to evoke the power of thinking in the minds of the audience. According to Bertolt Brecht, the epic theatre was above other forms of theatre as epic plays are usually didactic. 

The story begins with the prologue in which gods are looking for at least one good person in Szechwan and they even found one. The young woman, Shen Teh who by profession is a prostitute fits their description of a good person. But Shen Teh is torn between greed, hunger, goodness, love, money, power, and the needs of her neighbors and friends. In order to survive in this unjust world, Shen Teh creates her double as a cousin, Shui Ta who takes over and manages her business.

Thus, by involving the greedy and needy character of Wang, Yang Sun, and other neighbors and friends, Brecht wanted to take the issue of the lower class. The injustice amongst the lower class is the main issue Brecht wanted to take into consideration. In a way, he wants the audience to question the capitalist nature of society. 

The issue of class distinction is directly or indirectly is been referred to as capitalism. And surviving in this capitalist nature is just not easy, especially for the good people. In a society where everyone knows how to take and not give anything in return will certainly harm good people like Shen Teh. The feature of no suspense or thrill in the play is kept till the end because somehow the audience was aware that Shen Teh's goodness will harm her. 

The element of epic theatricality has a prolonged impact till the end of the play. Though the dramatic progression in the play is been interrupted by various addition, that of verses, songs, and conversational dialogues with the audience to let the audience think about the issue with their minds open. These songs work as a tool for breaking the illusions of an audience such as “Song of the smoke”, which is introduced in the play for entertainment purposes only but it successfully brings the audience back to reality. 

The way Brecht has loosely connected different scenes to avoid any sought illusions keeps the play confined to the norms and tradition of epic theatre. With the help of this technique, he tries to create a distance between the audience and the play, the audience can easily gain critical insight into it. Though, Brecht had a very different notion about theatre from that of conventional views. According to him, the play should be based on a familiar incidence, the subject of which is taken from past events, by employing such techniques Brecht challenges the notion of Aristotelian theatre. 

 

Brecht denies serving the audience a neat, densely crafted resolution at the end and thus, the theatricality of epic theatre is sustained till the end of the play. The play has no proper ending or closure, Brecht radically breaks downs the ‘Golden myth of how Shen Teh’s love for Sun Yang be fulfilled and how will Shen Teh pursues to retain her natural kindness. Thus, this is how Brecht puts an end to the play and sown a seed of question in the minds of the audience as to what step Shen Teh should take to live a happy and satisfying life. 

Brecht wrote Good Person of Szechwan in a form in which the mode of literature and past events are served to reveal the oppressive norms which use vested interest. Brecht said that in the play he uses “certain techniques that are old and as new as the war itself.” Thus, epic theatre becomes an individual input to cultivate the judgment about the socially transformative actions that we need to take in life. However, epic theatre is also considered an educational experience.  

Victorian poetry keeping in mind Victorian society. [analyse Victorian poetry]

Ques. Victorian poetry keeping in mind Victorian society. 

ANS. Victorian poetry refers to the poetry written during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901) in England. 

The Victorian era was considered to be the period of radical social change, there was a shift from the Romantic age to the Victorian age, and there were poets who continued the themes of the previous era (romantic era) such as religious skepticism and valorization of the poets. But Victorian poets created their distinguished identity by remarkably shifting their interest from imagination to originality because poets of this era didn’t like to romanticize. Thus, Victorian poetry is divided into two groups: Pre-Raphaelite poetry and High Victorian poetry. 

According to Prince Albert, this period is considered to be “the period of most wonderful transition”. Romantic poets admired and adored nature but the Victorian believed in putting a more realistic view on nature and a less idealistic angle. Victorian poets subdued the past and displayed an interest in the medieval literature of England. One of the favorite themes of Victorian poets was the writing about the chivalric and heroic deeds of knights. 

The appearance of female poets is also the reason for the remembrance of the Victorian era. Before this age, poetry was highly male-dominated. A few notable poets of this era including women were Robert browning, Thomas hardy, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Alfred Tennyson, Elizabeth browning, Christina Rossetti, and The Bronte sisters were famous poets of this age. 

The literature of the Victorian era was evidence of the changes in science. The poets of this age wanted to describe the whole natural world. 

The victorian period was examined as a link between romanticism and modernism. Most of the writing of this period was the reaction to swiftly changing notions of science, morality, and society. Victorian poets contradicted romantic literature. 

Victorian poetry was influenced by sentimentality and sensory elements. Poets often uses imagery and perception to convey the scenes of struggles between religion and science, and ideas about nature and romance which travels directly into the mind and heart of people of the Victorian age. 

Lord Alfred Tennyson painted most of his work according to the characteristic of the Victorian era. Tennyson held the title of ‘Poet Laureate’ for more than forty years, he exemplified poetry of the Victorian age with the use of dramatic, lyrical monologue. He wrote most of his during the second half of the 19th century. 

Through his poem, “The Lady of Shalott” Tennyson reflects the true scenario of the Victorian age where women were confined and restricted. In the 19th century, women were expected to devote all of their time to household chores. They were supposed to uphold moral values and promote harmony within the family. Women on the same hand are considered to be the sign of purity and passiveness, and they lived a life of cloistered women. Also, throughout the poem, the silent lady is namelessly identified by her place on the contrary, ‘Bold’ Sir Lancelot is free to engage with public realms. 

Ulysses by Alfred Tennyson is a dramatic monologue in which the speaker Ulysses describes his current domestic situation. In the poem, the hero Ulysses shows little regard for his wife according to him, it is difficult to stay in one place with his old wife, giving rewards and punishments to unknown people who lived in his kingdom. Throughout the poem the sense of male superiority is visible.

In the poem “The Defense of Lucknow” by Alfred Tennyson, women were given helpless roles in the background while in the front men were fighting for their honor, saving them from enemies. The poet painted the character of women as fragile possessions, hiding their identity and bravery. In the whole poem, women’s courage is shown only when they were taking care of their wounded husbands and looking after their needs. 

In the Victorian era, there was a limited role for women and there were strict rules about sexuality. Women were portrayed as weak, oppressed, and innocent with no sexual desires. On the other hand, men were considered to be strong and bold. But later, in Victorian times there was a great transition in the scenario.

‘Goblin market’ by Christina Rossetti is one of her famous poems. Two most important interpretations can be taken out of the poem: the religious and repressed sexual desire of women. There is a presence of Christian allegory, as the goblin men are compared with Satan and their fruit to sin. Also, the sexual desire of a sister is greater than the warning of a sister. Rossetti through her poem represents the transition of women into adulthood as wives and mothers in Victorian society. 

Even the couple, Elizabeth Browning and Robert Browning directed their love affair in the form of verse and produced romantic, passionate, and tender poems. 

“Fra Lippo Lippi” by Robert browning is one of his dramatic monologues, the character in the poem is lively despite all the restrictions Lippi remains cheerful throughout the poem. Through this poem, Browning tries to emphasize the fact that Lippi was the first painter of that time who broke the traditional norms. Not only this Lippi was the first naturalist and realist, representing his paintings by selecting contemporary scenes. These paintings reflect Browning’s position in poetry in the nineteenth century. Browning relates the idea of painting with the idea of how poetry should be, realistic and natural, not imaginative. 

The poem “My Last Duchess” is considered to be Robert Browning’s perfect example of developing a character. He was involved in deep research into the aspect of a renaissance. “My Last Duchess” was written in the Victorian era when women were more like slaves than real humans who were capable of loving. Through the poem, Robert Browning tries to represent the real-life scenario in Victorian times of male and their supremacy, showing their upper hand in age. 

In his poem ‘The Last Ride Together’, Robert Browning focuses on the wishes of the man who wants to have the last ride together with his beloved, and this journey is passionate. The poem epitomized Browning’s principle philosophies- “life is always greater than art and love is the best thing life can bring”. 

Back in the Victorian time people often used to ride horses and riding horses together is seen as a romantic and appropriate thing for lovers. The poem was a love poem showing the philosophical revelation of the poet on love and life. 

In the Victorian era, there was an increase in literacy rate which led to the influence of literature which became more prevalent in society as the number of readers increased. About half of adult males were literate till 1837. Thus, it led to reason an increase in publishing. The period was also marked by a tremendous increase in economic growth, technological discoveries, and industrialization. 

“Poetry lies at the center of literary experience because it is the form that most asserts the specificity of literature”- Jonathan Culler.

Through poetry, poets started to experiment with different techniques including long narratives and story-telling in their poems. It was a way of expressing the real-life situation as well as themselves through poetry. 

The Little Prince as a part of children’s literature

Ques. Will you consider 'The Little Prince' as a part of children’s literature? Elucidate.

Ans. The Little Prince by the modern classic French writer Antoine De Saint Exupery narrates the allegorical tale of a narrator who lands up in a desert where he accidentally meets a tiny man- named Little Prince. This small, lovely creature is like a child who is eager to know everything going around. Through the depiction of the little prince, the author tries to explore and represent the thinking of a child and their perspective about adults. 

The beautiful tale is said to be a part of children’s literature as it fulfills most of the features of children’s fiction. In this story, Antoine De Saint-Exupery applied his creative ways to depict the world from a child’s point of view with a hidden meaning and multilayered message for adults.

The Little Prince is an autobiographical narration in which the author reveals his experience with grown-ups. He creates a story in a way that is loved by both children as well as adults. It is an exercise to look back into the past events of childhood for adults and retreat from the past and not only this but to understand the critical view of a child about grown-ups. At the beginning of the story, the narrator points out the rudeness of grown-ups, who ridiculed him for his drawing of a boa constrictor and ask him to learn something which will make him intellectually wise. The author touches on the idea of fantasy as a protective layer to extend the reach among children as well as among adults. 

With the story, the author tries to bring forward two different spheres that are - a sphere of innocence and childhood which is represented with the help of a tiny creature, and another sphere of adulthood which is more or less concerned about money, figures, and much more materialistic things. The story begins with a pilot, whose plane crashed in Sahara where he meets a young kid, Little Prince. The narrator himself is a representation of an adult as he does not pay much attention to the Little Prince, and keeps on mending his airplane. Later, as this curious kid keeps on talking through which the narrator gets to know about his journey to other planets. 

The Prince went on an expedition to various planets, where he encounters many adults like a geographer, king, conceited man, lamplighter, and businessman. As the prince came to know about adults he exclaims that, “only the children know what they are looking for.” These adults serve as symbolism to adults in the real world, who are concerned with figures, money, ownership, and vices ruled out by greed, responsibilities, and pride. 

Even though, the tale is said to be a part of children’s fiction still it deals with various concerns which are far from the understanding of a child. On the last planet, which is earth the young prince meets a fox who in a way tries to turn a young prince into an adult as he said, “People have forgotten this truth”, further he added “but you mustn’t forget it. You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your rose.” Through this statement, the idea of responsibility is brought to light. The sense of responsibility is accompanied by love and the little prince has to cherish this love to save his Rose. 

This children’s work is certainly fulfilling all the features of children's fiction but on the same hand, it can be seen as an insight to adults about their narrow-mindedness who are preoccupied with responsibility, wealth, and duty. The narrator’s drawing of a boa constrictor and various other drawings which are included in the story tries to keep the audience, especially the innocent children engaged till the end of the tale. The way the narrator draws and the adults mock his drawing shows the open-mindedness of a child who is trying to explore the world but the adults are stopping him to do so. 

In the story, the author often compares not only the thinking of grown-ups with children but also their imagination. Despite, being children's fiction the story is a representation of the life of adults and their changing behavior as they grow up. It depicts human nature and its tendency towards life. 

The wonderfully woven tale of a young man takes into consideration the concept of children’s literature but at times it serves as a realization for adults. The story can be seen as a “children’s fable for adults” as it tries to cultivate the children among all the adults. However, through its didactic tone, the story teaches us to be responsible for things we 'tame' and that we should sometimes listen to what our heart says, "The important things in life you cannot see with your eyes, only with your heart."

Fusion of history and myth as well as personal and political in Yeats' poetry

Ques. Discuss the fusion of history and myth as well as personal and political in Yeats' poetry concerning any poems?

Ans. William Butler Yeats is the one of the finest and greatest 20th-century poet recognized for his remarkable work. Almost all of his poetry is known throughout the world for the symbolism, imagery, mythological perspective, and political background blending history with it. 

Yeats belonged to the Anglo-Irish minority, the community which is responsible for controlling the political, cultural, social, and economic life in Ireland. He was inspired by romantic poets namely - John Keats, William Blake, and Percy Bysshe Shelley. He follows these posts in his public role. 

Most of Yeats' poetry is said to use symbols from ordinary life and sought of familiar traditions which are used by the public in general. If we take on the example of poems such as 'No Second Troy' and 'The Second Coming' then it is evident the way these perspectives are blended. 

'No Second Troy' is addressed to the tall, beautiful, socially prominent typing woman, Maud Gonne. He met her in London but seen in 1903 she got married to John Macbride therefore, rejecting the love of Yeats. In the poem, Yeats uses Hellenism to give a contrast between the modern world of Ireland and the classical world of Greek antiquity, personal and political passions along with these Celtic legends and mythological figures are also used in the poem. 

The criticism of Maud Gonne by Yeats is partly based on her rejection of him as well as on the political role she gained. The poem begins with a rhetorical question: "Why skills I blame her that she filled my days with misery?" He asks how she will be blamed for the agony and pain from which he suffers. Suddenly, he encloses the political perspective of the poem by saying "she taught ignorant man most violent ways". Her beauty has been compared to that of Helen of Troy. Just like Helen led to the fall of the Trojan civilization, Maud Gonne through her beauty led Irish beauty astray and she taught them to practice extremist forms to win freedom. Both these women's destruction took place also it leads to the destruction of many men.

Just like 'No Second Troy' the poem 'The Second Coming' uses political, mythical, and symbolism. 'The Second Coming' uses the Christian myth based on the bloodshed and widespread murder in Ireland. The poem uses the philosophical system which is created by Yeats and is available in his 'A Vision'. 

The poem talks about the cyclical creation and destruction of Christian doctrine. In history, there were two phases - the dominant phase and the emergent face. Yeats has already explained in 'A Vision' that after the age of peace goodness, science, truth, and necessity comes an age of evil, fiction, bloodshed, and war. When Christ was born he brings in goodness and love into the world. Thus, Yeats Christ is an antithesis and antithetical self of the Roman and classical world of Alexander. 

But the Greek age where Helen was born was the age of destruction. The poem says, "mere Anarchy is let loose", anarchy here refers to the political disorder and collapse of an old tradition. Yeats was writing the poem at the time of the first world war when an instrument of destruction such as the atomic bomb was formed. According to Yeats, after 2000 years that is the Great dear there will be no second coming of Christ. Therefore, the title is ironic. 

William Butler Yeats in all his poems from first to last tries to transform the local concern of his poems by blending the mythical, historical, political, and personal perspectives brought together.