jueves, 26 de febrero de 2009
100 Years of Solitude...and 100 years of reading
Last night I finally finished 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I feel safe stating that it is definitely one of my favorite books, and I would recommend it. Although it is very difficult to summarize, know that it is an amazing work, filled with some of the most vivid and captivating storytelling I have encountered. It is a beautiful tale about a family and their happenings down generations, with fantastical and unimaginable twists throughout. It is available translated, but if you believe you can read it in Spanish, or that you will be able to, I suggest you do.
sábado, 21 de febrero de 2009
Sonnet 55 Commentary
Shakespeare's purpose, as seen in his sonnet, is to express poetry's immortality. Shakespeare utilizes mild irony, powerful allusion, and his own audience to achieve his intent. His short work carries a deep truth.
Throughout history, expensive and lavish monuments have been erected to honor monarchs and leaders. Shakespeare valued his work above these, " Not marble, nor the gilded monuments/Of princes, shall outlive this pow'rful rhyme," (1-2).
Shakespeare acknowledges an ironic truth; his and other authors' works, constructed with simple ink and paper, can long outlive the mentioned, extravagant structures. It shows that whereas the stone tributes will forever remain costly to rebuild, poetry and writing can easily be recopied, and therefore be .
The playwright states that his work will be able to survive through even the strongest of opposition. Shakespeare shows his audience with his allusion to the god of war: "Nor Mars his sword...shall burn/the living record of your memory, "(7-8).
The Roman pantheon is very commonly alluded to in various types of work to make powerful statements. Here, Shakespeare tell his audience that his piece will prevail even in the face of Mars-through wars and through destruction.
Ultimately, Shakespeare engages his audience and uses them as living proof of his claim. "You live in this[poem], and dwell in lover's eyes," (14). This line, which partakes in the concluding couplet, show that because the audience[lover's eyes] is still reading this work, what Shakespeare declares is true; whereas his audience has not seen various fallen monuments, and numerous wars have past, his work perseveres.
Shakespeare exhibits poetry's, if not all of writing, immense power and endurance. He is not egotistical in his work by declaring its durability, only truthful. Shakespeare seems to have been aware of his talent, and foresaw its timeless nature.
Throughout history, expensive and lavish monuments have been erected to honor monarchs and leaders. Shakespeare valued his work above these, " Not marble, nor the gilded monuments/Of princes, shall outlive this pow'rful rhyme," (1-2).
Shakespeare acknowledges an ironic truth; his and other authors' works, constructed with simple ink and paper, can long outlive the mentioned, extravagant structures. It shows that whereas the stone tributes will forever remain costly to rebuild, poetry and writing can easily be recopied, and therefore be .
The playwright states that his work will be able to survive through even the strongest of opposition. Shakespeare shows his audience with his allusion to the god of war: "Nor Mars his sword...shall burn/the living record of your memory, "(7-8).
The Roman pantheon is very commonly alluded to in various types of work to make powerful statements. Here, Shakespeare tell his audience that his piece will prevail even in the face of Mars-through wars and through destruction.
Ultimately, Shakespeare engages his audience and uses them as living proof of his claim. "You live in this[poem], and dwell in lover's eyes," (14). This line, which partakes in the concluding couplet, show that because the audience[lover's eyes] is still reading this work, what Shakespeare declares is true; whereas his audience has not seen various fallen monuments, and numerous wars have past, his work perseveres.
Shakespeare exhibits poetry's, if not all of writing, immense power and endurance. He is not egotistical in his work by declaring its durability, only truthful. Shakespeare seems to have been aware of his talent, and foresaw its timeless nature.
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