Language: The Key to Elegance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XGmCZnliYmg

Jane Austen narrates a typical love story, one that can be read in teen blogs and even a diary. Nevertheless, Pride and Prejudice is known for its language and style, convoking a high class atmosphere during 19th century England. Through the use of eloquent words and structure, readers are exposed to a world of finery and class. 

The cliche yet always romantic love confession strikes attention and acquires life, due to the detail and realism of words. 

For instance: “In such cases as this, it is, I believe the established mode to express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed, however unequally they may be returned. It is the natural that obligation should be felt, and if I could feel gratitude, I would now, thank you. But I cannot--I have never desired your good opinion, and you have certainty bestowed it most unwillingly.”

When read out loud this text might seem wordy, cluttered and unclear. Nonetheless, it is most concise and formally convoked. Elizabeth declares she is grateful, but is determined to turn this proposal down. Her argument though respectful, is full of power and emotion, unveiling the intensity in her tone. Having rejected such an immense proposal during these times, especially for prideful reasons, was seen as deranged behavior. However, Elizabeth and her strong character are defined by her language. Most importantly, it is safe to say that Darcy fell in love with her for this reason, he states this in this scene quite clearly. Her independent thought and rebellious impulses make this woman be the gorgeous black stallion, who will never be owned by man. Although her clothes might not say “lady,” her words do. (This idea is contradicted at the end of the story) 

Although Elizabeth is identified by her witty and vigorous mind, the use of language in general intends to upscale social conduct. Even in diurnally events, the English direct to one another in such a style that seems too ostentatious for the environment. Are they pretending to be something they’re not, or do they appreciate language and all its richness? Diction and the syntax studied today in poetry came from a culture that nourished it and embraced its beauty. The prior way to achieve elegance and class relied on the use of words. More than clothing, or homes, or skin color, language dictated the era of sophistication. 

Overly Absurd=Fiction

                Absurdity is defined as the quality or state of being, or acting ridicules or utterly unreasonable. We can find absurdity in existentialist novels such as “The Stranger,” or others like “Waiting For Godot.” However, when it comes to speaking of society, most ignore the extremely absurd characteristics it holds. The novel, “Pride and Prejudice,” by Jane Austen, is an exemplary piece of the preposterous social behaviors during the 18th century high class England. A marriage would be based on monetary status, blood purity and education. We are able to observe these absurd requites with Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship, as well as Lydia Bennet and George Wickham’s. 

                 Absurdity is also intertwined with randomness, in a novel like this one, absurdity are the things that come as a surprise, “the shockers.” Lydia, the youngest Bennet sister, about thirteen of age, run’s away with a Militia Officer named Wickham, who Darcy proclaims as dangerous and immature. When these two “love-birds,” run away, the whole family panics. The Bennet family is much too worried about their reputation (their daughter has run away with someone who is not her husband), rather than the safety of their youngest. Darcy, one who hinder’s his good soul and portrays himself egocentric, secretly marries the couple before the gossipy London becomes aware of the Bennet’s situation. Nonetheless, what makes this situation ridiculously unbearable is the behavior of Ms. Bennet, when the couple returns.

                Overly ecstatic of Lydia’s marriage, Ms. Bennet welcomes this new couple with extended arms. Apathetic of her daughter’s young age, she is prideful of this matrimonial and social “accomplishment.” How can reputation act as a stronger force than motherly love? It is definitely absurd that a thirteen year old runs away and marries a twenty-two year old, and the family’s reaction is gratification and fulfillment. 

               The theme of love is portrayed as one that is both absurd and superficial. The search for this sentimental force lies in the commandments dictated by social institutions. However, Elizabeth and Darcy’s love is intended to act as the pariah’s of an elite group. Their contrasting personalities apply a certain irony to the novel. Nevertheless, the one thing that is absurd is the way in which they fall in love. Discussions, arguments, upheavals and the tension between these two characters make it impossible for them to be lovers. In addition, Lady Catherine de Bourge’s role is quite laughable. This snobbish old woman manipulates her niece’s marriages in order to keep the family name clean. When this lady find’s out of Elizabeth and Darcy’s unusual relationship, Elizabeth is interrogated raucously. Despite this unconventional event (Catherine appearing late at night, aggrandizing the gravity of the problem), it is absurd how Elizabeth defends herself by kicking out this lady from her home. It is also absurd how after this shameful mayhem, Darcy was able to come after Elizabeth with no hesitation. Through Austen's words:  "He spoke well, but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority—of its being a degradation—of the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit," we are able to see how this conceptual social idol, turned into a non-categorized human being.  

          Would this love story be plausible during these times? Society was described as a rigid circle, one who “dusted away” those who didn’t follow its norms. Mr. Darcy, who is highly praised by the people around him would have been dishonored when marrying Elizabeth. It is absurd how the story ends as the typical “happy every after.” What happens next? Did Jane Austen intend to narrate the utopian-mythical world, in which love overcomes money?  

Fools or Hanging by a Thread?

Claudius and Gertrude (from Shakespeare's "Hamelt"), Tom and Daisy Buchanan (from "The Great Gatsby"), Mersault and Marie Cardona (from "The Stranger") and finally, Charlotte and Mr. Collins (from "Pride and Prejudice") are all relationships characterized as self-absorbed and superficial. It seems rather a stereotypical factor that sweet, naive and obedient ladies are always constrained to marry arrogant and distasteful men. This pattern is drawn intelligibly in Jane Austen’s, “Pride and Prejudice.” Charlotte, only a secondary character, a secondary friend, is intended to comply with the remains of the unwanted bachelors. 

 The title exemplifies and defines the trauma of the novel. Although it is no “Hamlet drama,” it is meant to be portrayed as a greater spectacle. During the late 18th century, wealthy aristocratic Englanders were recognized as predominant beings, one’s who curbed every whit in their social norms. By acquiring a snobbish composure, they conveyed pride, this led this minor group of people to be even more powerful than the kings. High class citizens, although many didn’t have political control over others, had a vaster force within them: they obstructed the mentality and behaviors of the English citizens. However, these social elites didn’t only manipulate the commoners, but a whole race. This race was called: women. 

Charlotte is not like Elizabeth, one who is personified as an absolute idealistic woman of the time. Charlotte although also adheres to all of the social requisites of the ladies, confines to a group of women who have no individual mind; these women who have lost their essence and sanity can be categorized as pleasers. Charlotte, although a particularly educated woman, one who grew up in a high ranked society, does not posses the capital to marry a man like Mr. Bingley. For this reason, she accepts the hand in marriage to a man turned down by her best friend, Elizabeth. 

How does a woman’s pride regress when having to hew to “left overs?” Charlottes self esteem must have gone into a rut, one filled with unpleasing thoughts about her self worth. She was educated, she was witty, and kind and friendly. Charlotte was simply unlucky, she was doomed to marry a sardonic man who represented the pretentiousness and boastful rich community. Women of less means and social stature were cursed to a life pact with a man’s who’s revalues revolve around materialism and conventional customs. Probably, Charlotte will always remorse her destiny, however will lead her daughters into the same deploring life she did. We can even see this in contemporary household values. Poor relationships between the children and one of their parents are usually past on to generations. 

Women have acquired bravery throughout the years. However, like many of the novels mentioned previously, women have stood by a man who’s been criticized and declared cruel and inhumane. Women’s independent thought has been imprisoned, and it is up to people like Jane, Lady Macbeth and Juliet to stand up and show social critiques like Shakespeare that women aren’t fools. Are women capable of remaining spinsters and becoming outcasts in return for their pride? Charlotte is not one of them, this is why she is a minor personage. 

Procrastination: A Breath

Procrastination: for some a tentative venom, for others the highlight to their day. Nonetheless, to me procrastination has been a life saver; it has been the remedy to my spirit, it has been the vacation to my life. After being an academically competitive maniac for several years, I realized how my obsessive studying became the destroyer to my uniqueness and identity. Dull and meaningless routines stifled my willpower and strength of value. Only through the unproductive acts of: watching tv, talking to my mother or hanging out with a friend, have I learned to find myself once again. 

With boggled eyes, my friends would simply stare at me, incompetent of the thought: "Iv'e ever procrastinated."  My mind was permanently set to work when ever I had free time. My obsessive search for concentration would lead me to exceed to high levels of intolerance towards others. I was convinced that by enslaving myself to homework, it would eventually pay off at night, where I would go to sleep: thoughtless. During the day, I was emotionally tense and full of anguish. Competition was my "best friend," I would strive for only the best and nothing less. Everyday I would push myself more, and although my ego was satisfied my spiritual mind and body weren't. 

 About  a year ago, while being in an elevator with my older brother (a very bright and studious man),said: "Steph, I feel like a zombie." After taking a few seconds to absorb this information, I realized that I had deprived myself of my humanly senses. I no longer thought about my surroundings, or pondered about my emotions, but I had become "delusional," and functioned as a robot. My days were identical, my thoughts never changed, my attitude was numb and most of all my life had become a meaningless routine. Anxiety and stress were driving my life into a borehole. 

After several life changes, I recuperated myself: a spirited and lively person. My values and dreams came back to me, this all is due to procrastination. Taking time to myself, and enjoying all of life's opportunities, although discouraged my study habits, made me happier. The BBC News Article: "Why do we procrastinate so much? " dictates: "Procrastinators are less wealthy, less healthy and less happy than those who don't delay." although I believe some procrastination is healthy, when taking to extremes everything becomes detrimental. Moderation is the key, relaxing and "doing nothing" for a while may increase your positive attitude and work quality. Taking time to myself helped me realize my aspirations. 

One of the best lessons my mother taught me was: "If you die and go to heaven, and G-d asks you what you accomplished, you won't be able to answer: I wrote a novel, I earned fifty million dollars, I won an Oscar, etc...the only thing that will matter at that point would be how you changed the world positively and how you grew as a person." Procrastination although may be a "time waister," is the the pause you take to breath in a chaotic society. 

Undecided, Unpredictable, and Always a Mystery

What makes an actor a great actor? What is the cause of an emotional reaction towards a movie or play?According to This American Life (Act V-of Hamlet), the rejoinder is based on the quality and realism in the projection. In other words, only if the movie/play is justifiably convincing, or authentic will it provoke both an impact on the actor and audience. In the Missouri State Penitentiary a play of Hamlet was held by the prisoners. At first, I thought these nonprofessionals would have preformed abysmally, for they lacked experience in the theater performance  nonetheless they showed the contrary when having listened to them. It is outstanding how only by listening to people act one can actually judge their acting potential and quality. The inmates learn that the nature of drama has the potential to act as a mirror on the soul as they reflect on their crimes and begin to understand how the actor completes the meaning of the characters in Hamlet.

    Personal experience is a primary factor for portraying a specific emotion. When an actor reflects his/her feelings on stage, the words Shakespeare once wanted to come to life, do. Many of the actors in this prison were actual avengers. Principally, the actor of Hamlet was a "real-life" murderer. It is said by the director, that it came to a point where it was almost believable. Having actors who've experienced what they're acting, created a thin line between reality and fiction; it was almost indistinguishable. This is what you call professional acting. Like Agnes, the director said: "A good actor has to open himself up...." However, one can never expect the same methodology or style, for in every actors lies a distinct personality and experience.

By interpreting a character and defining its persona, actors expand the number of interpretations the audience might experience. At the beginning of the podcast, the interviewers demonstrated a worldwide outlook of Hamlet's most famous line: "To be or not to be–...." From New York, to Europe to South America, until the Missouri State Prison, it was evident: there can be other interpretations of Hamlet. The manner in which Hamlet is conveyed depends on the experiences that influence an actor's perception and thought.  However, the audience is influenced by the mood and tone in which the actor embodies the fictional character, therefore actors presume a powerful role when acting. Although the disposition of an actor is the essence to personifying and bringing to life words on paper, it is a biased way to represent a story like Hamlet's. The truth behind Hamlet will always remain undecided. 

Failure to Launch

          "Shall I, or Shall I not?" These are words that most people repeat everyday. At times we find ourselves skeptical, scruple and cowardly of the decisions we must take. Must this be a product of insecurity? Do we constantly stay in our comfort zone, afraid of failure, afraid of being judged, and most of all, afraid of letting ourselves down? Hamlet alike the character in Prufrock's poem: "The Love Song," suffer from a "failure to launch." These two men are dreamers, they plan, they prepare, but none of their schemes seem to unravel. Both revenge and love are two passionate ambitions, so powerful, so compelling, they are almost impossible to accomplish. But, these two men speak with wisdom, with pride and explicitness, unfortunately, their words are larger than their actions.

Hamlet is determined and will seek his father's revenge throughout the book. He will kill his uncle Claudius, and retain his rightful kingdom. Nonetheless, his imagination is wilder than his actual demeanor. After every attempt to kill his uncle and every plot to prove his guiltiness, Hamlet is simply stuck. Hamlet always waited for the perfect moment to attack, where he would silently press a dagger through his enemies chest, or poison him in a joyous occasion, but these moments were scarce and nearly extinct. With words like:


                   -" Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, tripping on the tongue."
                       (Act. 3. Sc. 2)

                  -"To be or not to be, that is the question–
                     Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
                     The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune."

 Hamlet exposes a lack of certainty as well as the deficiency to take action. Will he kill himself? Will he ever kill Claudius? Does he love Ophelia? Does he consider himself insane or not? He constantly frustrates his readers. This prince is just a fraud.

Like Hamlet, we find ourselves feeling the exact way on Prufrock's "loving character." He is too a fantasist, one that imagines:
                       "...restless nights in one-night cheep hotels
                         And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:
                         Streets that follow like a tedious argument."

                       "I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each." 

         However, suddenly this character transforms into a pessimist. From inspiriting the reader with wishful thinking, (finding love in every corner,becoming obsessed with love, etc...) he comes to speak about procrastination (tea, marmalade, swimming with the mermaids) and the faults that have come to delay his plans. This man seems to have a pattern. He goes from optimistic to pessimistic all throughout the poem. At the end, he simply says: "Should I say: 'That is not what I meant at all; that is not it, at all?" Unquestionably, this brings the receptors to react with agony, which might be the same emotion of the character.

      Hamlet and this foolish old man have parallel conceptions and issues; they imagine happiness, reflect their worth (Talking about Michelangelo), speak of their obsession and invasion of thought (yellow smoke and fog), procrastinate and delay everything (tea and perfect murder) and finally hope not to regret their actions.

At the end both are attacked with irony. After so much planning, worrying and negativeness, they are:

"...lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown." 

After all the "swimming," both Hamlet and the man in love drown in their own misery and desperation. Both face the ancient Mesopotamian law: "An eye for an eye." One got killed with his own target, and the other destroyed his own love.

Distasteful Media

                Why do people create negative stereotypes? Why are people more aware of the flaws of a country than its actual attributes? This is due to the media who generally casts news filled with terror and darkness. Chimamanda doesn't only arise the question of why the media only exposes negative content, but how they are unaware of the impressions they are leaving behind. Through T.V, Colombia has been portrayed as a country full of violence, drugs and corruption. For instance, Sofia Vergara's performance in "Modern Family," as Gloria has drawn American and world wide viewers into believing Colombians are characterized as sexually driven and ignorant villagers. Also, the recent "Pablo Escobar" series, although may be historically valuable, does not leave fanatics with a healthy impression of the Colombia of today. Why is the audience more intrigued on dark matters? Do people relate themselves more with this kind of material? How is the public preference degrading our image as Colombians? 

         Like the Nigerian stereotypical 'uncivilized reputation,' Colombia's reality is nonexistent to many.