Tuesday, October 29, 2013
A Passage to India concerns the relationships between two very different cultures of India and Britain. Britain has moved to India to take power over the Indians who are "unable to rule themselves." However the story more pertains to the cultural experiences characters have that drive them towards what they really want from life, ultimately leading to happiness.
Aziz is an Indian doctor who has three kids but lost his wife a few years ago. He works for some of the British folk and struggles with finding joy in life; then he meets Mrs. Moore. Mrs. Moore and Aziz meet in a temple and realize they have many similarities. The similarities between cultures help create a common ground for them. Aziz teaches Mrs. Moore much about the indian life, and vise versa. As the novel develops, Mrs. Moore comes to the realization that God created everyone equal. She feels united, not only with people, but with the whole world. Without this cultural experience, she would not believe whole-heartedly in equality and discovers happiness in her new unity with the world. In return, Aziz develops a new perspective on British people. Instead of believing they are all snobby, he realizes that stereotypes cannot be placed upon a whole culture, because there will always be someone who defies it. Aziz overcomes his prejudice against the British and develops a friendship that will last his whole life. He develops happiness through his friendship. Contrarily, Mrs. Moore's son, Ronny, refuses to interact with the Indian culture. Instead of gaining a new cultural perspective, he maintains his negative outlook on the Indian culture. Ronny ends up losing his fiance and after sending his mother home after his rage in her new unity with the world, she dies. Ronny refused to give India a chance and instead got rejected from happiness.
As characters within A Passage to India accepted cultural experiences, they gained greater knowledge on the world and got closer to true happiness. Those who refused, however, had their happiness taken. The cultural experiences within the novel guided characters either away or towards happiness, depending on if they accepted the cultural differences of not.
Aziz is an Indian doctor who has three kids but lost his wife a few years ago. He works for some of the British folk and struggles with finding joy in life; then he meets Mrs. Moore. Mrs. Moore and Aziz meet in a temple and realize they have many similarities. The similarities between cultures help create a common ground for them. Aziz teaches Mrs. Moore much about the indian life, and vise versa. As the novel develops, Mrs. Moore comes to the realization that God created everyone equal. She feels united, not only with people, but with the whole world. Without this cultural experience, she would not believe whole-heartedly in equality and discovers happiness in her new unity with the world. In return, Aziz develops a new perspective on British people. Instead of believing they are all snobby, he realizes that stereotypes cannot be placed upon a whole culture, because there will always be someone who defies it. Aziz overcomes his prejudice against the British and develops a friendship that will last his whole life. He develops happiness through his friendship. Contrarily, Mrs. Moore's son, Ronny, refuses to interact with the Indian culture. Instead of gaining a new cultural perspective, he maintains his negative outlook on the Indian culture. Ronny ends up losing his fiance and after sending his mother home after his rage in her new unity with the world, she dies. Ronny refused to give India a chance and instead got rejected from happiness.
As characters within A Passage to India accepted cultural experiences, they gained greater knowledge on the world and got closer to true happiness. Those who refused, however, had their happiness taken. The cultural experiences within the novel guided characters either away or towards happiness, depending on if they accepted the cultural differences of not.
Mrs. Moors and Dr. Aziz chose happiness.
Ronny did not.
The Battle Between Power and Happiness
The royal highness King Henry IV prides in his power. A wedge is driven between King Henry and his son, Prince Harry, when the Prince places himself into a different "culture" within the kingdom, where he is happy. Instead of being a power-driven war-god like Hotspur, he is instead a thief, which is shameful to the King. As the play goes on, many of King Henry's followers turn against him because of his disloyalty, yet in the end it is his son who helps maintain family power over the kingdom. Furthermore, it is proven that choosing a happy environment for oneself is an advantage over attempting to place oneself in a powerful environment.
The happy environment seen in the play is when Prince Harry is with the robbers, thief's, and whores, a unique culture, at the bar. There are many laughs shared between the criminals and the Prince of Wales. While many perceive Prince Harry as an underachiever as a leader, he secretly has a plan to become powerful. Yet, he manages to give himself happiness along the way. Meanwhile, his father King Henry has many struggle, such as being unable to invade the crusades, worrying about his son, and maintaining a good control over his kingdom. Eventually, it is seen the King Henry is not respected because of his disloyalty to many of his followers and abuse of power. Prince Harry then becomes the more powerful and well-liked leader between the two. Each had very different approaches to their time of power. Henry faces a series of serious events and deceived many of his followers, while Harry enjoyed laughs, happiness, and drinks with the criminals in the kingdom. Prince Harry lived a happier life with a unique culture, the criminals, than his Dad lived. Harry's culture taught him to be a good leader, and that power is not the goal, but instead to better what you have power over. In fact, through out the whole play Harry is the only leader in the play who never says the word "power".
Without Harry's unique cultural experience, he would not have found happiness yet also discovered how to be a good leader. King Henry, instead, lived a life full of deceit and revenge and did not experience happiness. If King Henry had not been caught up in his strive for power, he may have had the opportunity to experience a different culture. This would have opened up the opportunity for him to discover his own happiness.
The happy environment seen in the play is when Prince Harry is with the robbers, thief's, and whores, a unique culture, at the bar. There are many laughs shared between the criminals and the Prince of Wales. While many perceive Prince Harry as an underachiever as a leader, he secretly has a plan to become powerful. Yet, he manages to give himself happiness along the way. Meanwhile, his father King Henry has many struggle, such as being unable to invade the crusades, worrying about his son, and maintaining a good control over his kingdom. Eventually, it is seen the King Henry is not respected because of his disloyalty to many of his followers and abuse of power. Prince Harry then becomes the more powerful and well-liked leader between the two. Each had very different approaches to their time of power. Henry faces a series of serious events and deceived many of his followers, while Harry enjoyed laughs, happiness, and drinks with the criminals in the kingdom. Prince Harry lived a happier life with a unique culture, the criminals, than his Dad lived. Harry's culture taught him to be a good leader, and that power is not the goal, but instead to better what you have power over. In fact, through out the whole play Harry is the only leader in the play who never says the word "power".
Without Harry's unique cultural experience, he would not have found happiness yet also discovered how to be a good leader. King Henry, instead, lived a life full of deceit and revenge and did not experience happiness. If King Henry had not been caught up in his strive for power, he may have had the opportunity to experience a different culture. This would have opened up the opportunity for him to discover his own happiness.
Prince Harry chose Happiness.
King Henry did not.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
The Misery of the Moor's
Within the isolated moor's of Northern England lay two pieces of property, cursed by it's own inhabiters. Wuthering Heights Thruscross Grange are filled with destruction of love and the invisibility of happiness. When a visitor stumbles across this dreary place, he soon gains a different perspective on happiness. Lockwood takes a visit to the two subcultures within Northern England. The dwellers at these settings, as Lockwood observes, are faced with many different opportunities within the novel to have a chance of happiness, yet instead the characters decide against happiness and instead choose other "necessities", such as reputation and money.
The first character to demonstrate this is Catherine Earnshaw. Growing up, Catherine was a carefree, independent young girl who did what she pleased. Her closest friend was a man named Heathcliff. Their personalities were almost identical and ideally they were perfect for each other. Catherine eventually moved into another house with another family, so they could teach her to become the proper lady. When she returned to Wuthering Heights some months later, her carefree personality had drastically changed. Instead, Catherine had more important concerns such as dressing well, acting proper, and exceeding the expectations those around her placed on her. In the course of time, Catherine decides to "love" Edgar, and forget about Heathcliff. Edgar could offer Catherine a great reputation and financial stability, all of which Heathcliff could not. Catherine claims that "it would degrade [her] to marry Heathcliff and therefore "he shall never know how [she] loves him" (86). Alternatively to potentially having a happier life with Heathcliff, Catherine decides to marry a man she does not love, all because of a reputation.
After Lockwood heard about the lives of the characters in the moor's, he realized how crazy their values and morals are. At the time of this realization, he decides to leave the moor's and go else where. Now that Lockwood has experienced these different sub cultures, he realizes that through Catherine's poor decision she ultimately ended up being miserable and dying. While Catherine did not choose happiness, Lockwood realizes the craziness of where he is staying and decides to leave, conclusively leading him to happiness in his future.
The first character to demonstrate this is Catherine Earnshaw. Growing up, Catherine was a carefree, independent young girl who did what she pleased. Her closest friend was a man named Heathcliff. Their personalities were almost identical and ideally they were perfect for each other. Catherine eventually moved into another house with another family, so they could teach her to become the proper lady. When she returned to Wuthering Heights some months later, her carefree personality had drastically changed. Instead, Catherine had more important concerns such as dressing well, acting proper, and exceeding the expectations those around her placed on her. In the course of time, Catherine decides to "love" Edgar, and forget about Heathcliff. Edgar could offer Catherine a great reputation and financial stability, all of which Heathcliff could not. Catherine claims that "it would degrade [her] to marry Heathcliff and therefore "he shall never know how [she] loves him" (86). Alternatively to potentially having a happier life with Heathcliff, Catherine decides to marry a man she does not love, all because of a reputation.
After Lockwood heard about the lives of the characters in the moor's, he realized how crazy their values and morals are. At the time of this realization, he decides to leave the moor's and go else where. Now that Lockwood has experienced these different sub cultures, he realizes that through Catherine's poor decision she ultimately ended up being miserable and dying. While Catherine did not choose happiness, Lockwood realizes the craziness of where he is staying and decides to leave, conclusively leading him to happiness in his future.
Catherine did not choose happiness.
Lockwood did.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Prophecies and Transient Happiness
While Oedipus is not a book filled with joyful and pleasant
moments, the book can still tell a lot about happiness in a culture. In Ancient
Greece, prophets were of utmost importance to the society. Everything they said was taken in complete
seriousness and the prophets were not doubted. Therefore, when a grim prophecy
was told, they would take it to heart. In Oedipus, a prophet told his parents,
King Laius and Queen Jocasta, a terrifying prophecy and reacted immediately.
Instead of thinking about whether this decision of giving up their child would
make them happy or not, they attempted to change the destiny of their future.
King Laius and Queen Jocasta did not choose happiness in this situation.
Another example within Oedipus in regard to happiness is about the variability of happiness. Oedipus was a powerful king who had a beautiful wife and a lot of hopes for his kingdom. Before he even realized what was happening, he lost it all. His wife killed herself, he discovered he was the one who murdered the king, and also learned the king and queen were his parents. The chorus sums up Oedipus’ life by stating, “Now, in what a sea of troubles sunk and overwhelmed he lies! Therefore wait to see life’s ending ere thou count one mortal blest; Wait till free from pain and sorrow he has gained his final rest” (pg 101-2). This quote explains that despite how happy and pleasant his life was, it changed so quickly. People cannot assume that the rest of their life will be happy; they need to realize there will be hardships. Oedipus took action after discovering the truth of his life and made a choice of honor, to blind himself and remove himself as king, which, for the kingdom, was a choice of happiness. Even though Oedipus had a lot of struggles, he ended up creating a sense of happiness within his kingdom.
Another example within Oedipus in regard to happiness is about the variability of happiness. Oedipus was a powerful king who had a beautiful wife and a lot of hopes for his kingdom. Before he even realized what was happening, he lost it all. His wife killed herself, he discovered he was the one who murdered the king, and also learned the king and queen were his parents. The chorus sums up Oedipus’ life by stating, “Now, in what a sea of troubles sunk and overwhelmed he lies! Therefore wait to see life’s ending ere thou count one mortal blest; Wait till free from pain and sorrow he has gained his final rest” (pg 101-2). This quote explains that despite how happy and pleasant his life was, it changed so quickly. People cannot assume that the rest of their life will be happy; they need to realize there will be hardships. Oedipus took action after discovering the truth of his life and made a choice of honor, to blind himself and remove himself as king, which, for the kingdom, was a choice of happiness. Even though Oedipus had a lot of struggles, he ended up creating a sense of happiness within his kingdom.
Happiness was his choice.
Why the Question?
A tear streamed down Edison's face as I threw my suitcase into the bus, squeezing it into a spot so it would not fall as we made our drive back to Belize city. Edison was begging us not to leave, pleading with everything he had in him. As the tears began to come harder, I knew this would not be an easy goodbye. The ten year old boy was about to watch the people who cared for him the past week drive out of his life, until we would return next year. I grabbed Edison's hand and guided him over to the wooden table under the giant tree in the middle of the schoolyard. Just as I was about to say my final goodbye, Edison began to speak.
"Lauren, I know you think of our lifestyle as a giant struggle, and sometimes it is. But in my life, I have experienced so many moments of pure happiness. This week that you all have been here, has allowed me to have a smile on my face the whole time. Even when I would go home to sleep, no matter what was happening at home I knew I had you guys to look forward to the next day. And when you leave, I will still always find something to look forward too, but it will just take more searching. Happiness is a choice and while you guys see our lives as miserable and unbearable, some of us chose to deal with it and be happy while others choose to fall into the misery of the poor conditions."
He continued by thanking us for all that we had done for Forest Home Methodist School and said goodbye. Immediately as I dragged myself onto the bus, I whipped out my journal and wrote down what he said, in awe of the mature words that had just come from this ten year olds mouth. My idea on happiness would forever be changed from what Edison had told me, and I knew that I would never forget.
"Lauren, I know you think of our lifestyle as a giant struggle, and sometimes it is. But in my life, I have experienced so many moments of pure happiness. This week that you all have been here, has allowed me to have a smile on my face the whole time. Even when I would go home to sleep, no matter what was happening at home I knew I had you guys to look forward to the next day. And when you leave, I will still always find something to look forward too, but it will just take more searching. Happiness is a choice and while you guys see our lives as miserable and unbearable, some of us chose to deal with it and be happy while others choose to fall into the misery of the poor conditions."
He continued by thanking us for all that we had done for Forest Home Methodist School and said goodbye. Immediately as I dragged myself onto the bus, I whipped out my journal and wrote down what he said, in awe of the mature words that had just come from this ten year olds mouth. My idea on happiness would forever be changed from what Edison had told me, and I knew that I would never forget.
Happiness is a Choice.
I turned my head one last time to get a glimpse of Edison off in the distance, waving goodbye.
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