My favorite chapter in Alice and Wonderland

My favorite chapter in Alice and Wonderland is the first chapter, because it contains the Jabberwocky poem. I am infatuated with this poem, because the image of the Jabberwocky has been imprinted into my brain since early childhood. I remember watching some version of Alice and Wonderland that I think my parents recorded on tv. Anyway, I loved the show - but I knew enough to hide behind the couch when the Jabberwocky came on. The image of the monster, inspired by John Tenniel's illustration I'm sure, scared the shit out of me. If I was unlucky enough to have the scene with the monster sneak up on me I would be tormented by vivid nightmares for a few days. What can be imprinted on a child brain is incredible. Now in this class, it is interesting to compare my initial conception of the Jabberwocky on the tv with the poem itself in context with Alice and Wonderland. It is an amazingly unique poem with an alarming combination of silly words and portmanteaus while maintaining a dark and mysterious feeling.

(Several words from this poem such as gallumphing a combination of galloping and triumphing and chortled a combination of chuckle and snort are still used in the English language today.)

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:

Long time the manxome foe he sought—

So rested he by the Tumtum tree,

And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead, and with its head

He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?

Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"

He chortled in his joy.'

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

References Humpty Dumpty in Popular Music

There are many variations on the theme of something breaking for good in contemporary pop music:
In ABBA's song "On and On and On", extra video verse:
Standing up is scary if you think you're gonna fallLike a Humpty Dumpty, 'fraid of falling off the wall
In Dolly Parton's 1980 song "Starting Over Again", a song about a divorce:
And all the king's horsesAnd all the king's menCouldn't put mommy and daddy back together again
Genesis, Squonk:
All the king's horses and all the king's menCould never put a smile on that face
Aimee Mann, Humpty Dumpty:
All the king's horses and all the king's menCouldn't put baby together again
Billy Joel, The great wall of china:
All the king's men and all the king's horsesCan't put you together the way you used to be
Two Gallants, Get Proud:
And Humpty Dumpty is climbing higher up the wall,and how he got there I just won't recall.
Further into the song...
And Humpty Dumpty told me not to tell you why,as if I even had reason to try!
Travis, The Humpty Dumpty Love Song:
All of the king's horses and all of the king's menCouldn't pull my heart back together again.
Ben Folds, Lovesick Diagnostician:
All the king's horsesAnd all the king's menCouldn't get back my girlfriend.
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (book)
All the king's horses and all the king's men...


(From Wikipedia)

Some thoughts on the importance of art

In many ways, the Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, is a commentary on some of the deepest omnipresent issues concerning human life. It may surprise some people that these issues are tackled through the medium of fantasy and children's literature, but it may be true that some issues are just too large for adult literature. When I picture these issues being discussed in adult literature I envision the opposite of Phillip Pullman's novels: a dry, overly intellectual, analysis of religion, environment, maturation of human beings, and so on. This type of writing definitely has its place and could be very stimulating for the correct audience in the correct situation, but as I see all too often as a student of science, this type of writing fails to be aesthetically pleasurable; it lacks art and beauty. Pullman, on the other hand, delves deep into the meaning of life, topics of religious corruption, violence, sex, coming of age, and the environment all the while capturing and focusing on the most beautiful aspects of life. It is just as Alice says, “what good is a book without pictures and conversations?”

Dialogue

Instead of thinking only logic
should be promoter of opinions,
perhaps we should be dialogic,
not treating others as dominions
to be convinced by us so we may conquer,
but act as an impartial witness
to thoughts for which our friends may hanker
with logic seeming to lack fitness.
Let us therefore embrace uncertainties
without attempting to impose solutions,
for we should not feel forced on days we seize
to move from their beginnings to conclusions.


gershon hepner:

The idea of Keats

After my blog entry from last night, I was reading further into the novel and found a fascinating passage, considering what I discussed in my previous entry. I mentioned my suspicion concerning the role of “willing suspension of disbelief” in the solidification of the daemon's form. I have a feeling that I will keep finding evidence for this connection, especially since I'm looking for it, but this passage particularly struck me. “...Capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason.” This dialogue occurs when Dr. Malone quotes Keats while explaining the process one must undergo in order to visualize dust. Of course, Lyra is already familiar with this process from her use of the alethiometer. But it clearly demonstrates a connection between dust and the “willing suspension of disbelief” This, in turn, is connected to the accumulation of dust as one ages, and this may be further connected to the solidification of the daemon's form. As I read on I may come to some differing conclusions, but it is an interesting topic to ponder. Here is the letter in which Keats discusses his theory of negative capability:

I had not a dispute but a disquisition with Dilke, on various subjects; several things dovetailed in my mind, & at once it struck me, what quality went to form a Man of Achievement especially in literature & which Shakespeare possessed so enormously - I mean Negative Capability, that is when man is capable of being in uncertainties, Mysteries, doubts without any irritable reaching after fact & reason.
-John Keats

The Daemon, as it is

Reading Phillip Pulman's His Dark Materials has spurred in me a lot of contemplation concerning the nature of the daemon. My first reaction, when first introduced to the idea, was that the daemon served as an embodiment of the unconscious. This first reaction has since been solidified upon further reading of the novel.

On page 143 there is a passage where Lyra conveys the misery of having your daemon separated from you: “It was such a strange tormenting feeling when your daemon was pulling at the link between you; part physical pain deep in the chest, part intense sadness and love.” This inherent interconnectedness between human and daemon demonstrated in this passage seems consistent as a symbol for the unconscious. Humans are connected to their unconscious in an intimate way. The unconscious influences your every move. But, you are also disconnected from your unconscious. It is part of you, but the vast majority of the time you are unaware of its influence on you. It is this separation, between a being and his or her unconscious, that I think Pullman was trying to convey by embodying the unconscious within another being. Creating a powerful connection – a connection that partly decides the identity of the human, while simultaneously emphasizing the separation by embodying the unconscious within a being unique to the human.

Shortly after the passage cited above, there is a description of Pantalaimon – Lyra's daemon – guiding Lyra toward Iorek Byrnison as he runs away: “She did run, though, and Pantalaimon flew up as a seagull to watch where the bear went and called down to tell her where to follow.” This bear, essential to Lyra in her mission north, is found only with the help of Lyra's daemon. However unaware of our unconscious we remain, it is constantly guiding us in our decisions and life. I think this serves as another parallel between the daemon and unconscious.

In Monday's class, we discussed the reason for the solidification of the daemon's form as the human makes the transition from childhood to adulthood. Some ideas were thrown around, and it was said that this was maybe due to a sexual maturation, an accumulation of experiences, or falling in love with the opposite sex. Granted, I have not finished the novel, but I was unsatisfied with these suggestions. I envisioned the change occurring as a consequence of losing the “willing suspension of disbelief.” As humans grow, there is a transition where we become more skeptical of the world. It is much harder to suspend our disbelief, much less willingly. I think that it is this transition responsible for the daemon's figure, and considering how prevalent this theme is within children's literature, it seems like a plausible suggestion...more on this later.

Cinderella's appended moral

The beauty of a woman is a rare treasure.
To admire it is always a pleasure.
What they call real grace
Is priceless, but beauty will still win every race.

That’s what the fairy in this tale
Taught Cinderella without fail,
She could use her beauty to become the queen
Flashing glass slippers, looking sexy and lean

Beauty: that gift is worth more than a dress
It’ll win a man’s heart; and empty his wallet in the process.
Although grace is a gift that the fairies confer,
Beauty is still the trait we all prefer.

Sure…it’s a benefit
To show real courage and have some wit.
But none of this will help you out,
If you don’t let yourself shine and gad about.
So before you’re born, make sure and pray
That beauty in you will find its way.