Paper #3 (Grievance)

Nefi Navarro

Prof. Brady

English 102

April 18, 2011

Grievance: The Pathway to Acceptance

            Psychologists have determined over the years of studying the human mind that, grief is a process that occurs in the life of every person in many ways. Studies have shown that five stages of grief are present in the life of a person who becomes impacted by a loss. Whether or not this loss is a death or a breakup of a romantic relationship, the stages are still very similar. While a person is in grief they may feel denial, anger, bargaining, depression or acceptance. The theme of grief is evidently presented in the poems “Stop all the Clocks, cut off the telephone” by W.H. Auden, “The Leaving” by Colin Jarratt and the song, “Missing You” by The Black Eyed Peas.

            In the poem “Stop all the Clocks, cut off the telephone” by W.H. Auden, the speaker has suffered a loss which had clearly affected him and proves that everyone goes through stages of grief. In this poem the speaker speaks about a person who is very valuable in their life. “He was my North, my South, my East and my West” (Auden Line 9). The symbol of a compass is used to express a sense of direction which was lost when the person passed away.  “I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong…/ for nothing now can ever come to any good” (Auden line 12 & 16). The person has proven that they have given up stating nothing will be better without the other. The speaker has realized that they will no longer be with the loved one and becomes depressed. Depression can strike in many different ways, sometimes it may last for a short period of time or it may last years. However, this speaker becomes depressed which is the tone of the poem and also is one of the stages of grief. Auden writes this poem clearly showing that the speaker is impacted by the loss, and is suffering the stage of depression on the road to acceptance. Like W.H. Auden, Colin Jarratt writes a poem about grief and the effects of losing someone special in life.

Heroic Tragedy

Heroic tragedies have been one of the discussions went over class that really struck my mind. I agree completely with many of the arguments stated with in the play Antigone. In regards to the conflict between Antigone and Creon a major contributor would defiantly be the fact that Antigone is a female rather than a male. Within the story we all know that Antigone is a leader of what she believes in, the morality and that, she values family greater than the written laws. Being bonded with such great leadership skills not a follower affected the way Creon felt towards her. Antigone would beyond anything assure that her brother would be buried properly, even if it cost her her life. She also wouldn’t deny it either but what struck out to Creon was the fact that this strong willing person was a female. As Creon states in line 577 “When I am alive no woman shall rule”. Creon already states that he has a conflict with having a female at power and he simply is just scared for a women leader. Later on in the play as Creon specks with his son Haemon whom is supposed to be marrying Antigone, he states “We cannot give victory to a woman. If we must accept defeat let it be by a man;” (Lines 729-730). Again the evidence that Creons major concerns is that Antigone is a female. This ongoing battle of the sexes is what thrives Creons to assure that Antigone even though his niece is enforced with the laws she broke. 

            In the play with the Sentry’s initially tell Creon that a man not a female had buried Polyneices, the Sentry was a bit concerned by the fact that a female had done such a thing. One of the major conflicts between Antigone and Creon is not only that Antigone went against the written laws but that a female had the guts to do what no man was supposed to do.  Fearlessness for her actions even though it will cost her her life was what made Antigone a strong leader figure within this Heroic Tragedy.

Post Modernism

An intresting topic I learn over the course of this semeter was the ideas of Post Modernism. We live in a Post Modern world which really connects to things we learned in class. The abilities of the human to create a fantasy, based on a single statement is what Post Modernism is all about. The ideas of Post Modernism  are quite complex in how they relate to the human conditions as seen through the characters in the short story Interpreter of Maladies by Lahiri. The human capacity with all its complexities truly does prove this theory of Post Modernism. In the short story Mr. Kapasi a tour guide, and a Doctor's interpreter, besides not having the most greatest marriage meet a Indian-American family who are in India to explore the country.  The idea of Post Modernism wraps around the character of Mr. Kapasi and his illusion of Mrs. Das. The wife seems to be having trouble in her relationship with her family in regards to communication. From the beginning of the story the relationship between the husband and wife were very unfortunate. While in the car the husband and wife hardly spoke. When a daughter of the couple showed and interest  to interact with her mother, Mrs. Das rudely dismissed her by stating "Leave me alone"(Lahiri).

            In the story Mrs. Das demonstrates and interested in Mr. Kapasi's job. This triggered a illusion of Mr. Kapasi that went  far beyond what any one can imagine. Mr. Kapasi began to fall into this world of make belief that involved Mrs. Das.  When the conversation of Mr. Kapasi's other job begins Mrs. Das said, "But so romantic"(Laniri). Mr. Kapasi proves the theory of post modernism as he allows this interest towards his life lead him to believe of a happily ever after story with a married female. The man allows this illusion to get to the point that he becomes restless to  have the chance to spend more time in private with Mrs. Das. Post Modernism is clearly presented in the way Mr. Kapasi interpretations allow him to imagine beyond what the human can see.