Does the sermon scene in Tristram Shandy show the characters bored or interested?
"[Certainly, Trim, quoth my father, interrupting him, you give that sentence a very improper accent; for you curl up your nose, man, and read it with such a sneering tone, as if the Parson was going to abuse the Apostle" (Sterne 88).
"The common talk of men must relate to facts in which the talkers have,
or think they have, an interest; and where such facts cannot be known, the
pleasures of society will be merely sensual" (Johnson, Idler No.7).
I'm unsure if the characters in the sermon scene are bored or interested in the sermon. Tristram's father interrupts Trim after only one sentence to interject his opinion on the sermon. Each character, in turn, does this throughout the whole scene. These seems to be evidence of the "common talk [...] which the talkers have [...] an interest." They interrupt frequently to argue the theology of the points being made or how the church carriers out its business. There are several instances of the characters hobby-horses coming out in their discussion. Toby and Trim compare certain passages to battles and battlements, Dr. Slop wakes up from his nap when physicians are mentioned, and Tristram's father continues his many peculiar opinions. In this quote the father is chastising Trim for reading the passage in a way he thinks improper.
The characters are talking about things they have interest in and knowledge of facts about them. This gives the appearance that they are interested in the sermon. However, the frequent interruptions could point to that they rather talk about what is on their minds than continue to hear the sermon. Their boredom in hearing the sermon could be satisfied by the "sensual" act of talking. Their talking could be purposed to have a more interesting conversation then what the sermon is presenting.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Are Attention and Distraction Inseparable?
What does distraction look like in Tristram Shandy and the picture by Hogarth?
"I find it necessary to consult every one a little in his turn; and therefore must beg pardon for going on a little further in the same way: For which cause, right glad I am, that I have begun the history of myself in the way I have done; and that I am able to go on tracing every thing in it" (Sterne 4).
The picture "Gin Lane" by Hogarth
We see a duality of attraction and distraction early on in Tristram Shandy's narrative of his life. He pays close attention to every detail to the point that he gets distracted from the narrative of his life by describing everyone that played a part somehow in his birth. He believes it is necessary to write this way because he can't help but follow the meanderings of his mind on each subject like the parson, midwife, the marriage document, etc.
Gin Lane shows distraction in a different light. The lady sitting on the stairs is so occupied by the thing her hands that she is unaware of the child falling over the railing. Again we see an example of distraction caused by attention being focused on something other than what the person is distracted from.
Are attention and distraction inseparable?
"I find it necessary to consult every one a little in his turn; and therefore must beg pardon for going on a little further in the same way: For which cause, right glad I am, that I have begun the history of myself in the way I have done; and that I am able to go on tracing every thing in it" (Sterne 4).
The picture "Gin Lane" by Hogarth
We see a duality of attraction and distraction early on in Tristram Shandy's narrative of his life. He pays close attention to every detail to the point that he gets distracted from the narrative of his life by describing everyone that played a part somehow in his birth. He believes it is necessary to write this way because he can't help but follow the meanderings of his mind on each subject like the parson, midwife, the marriage document, etc.
Gin Lane shows distraction in a different light. The lady sitting on the stairs is so occupied by the thing her hands that she is unaware of the child falling over the railing. Again we see an example of distraction caused by attention being focused on something other than what the person is distracted from.
Are attention and distraction inseparable?
Monday, October 7, 2013
Arabella's Personification of a Letter
Why does Arabella personify the letter from Sir George?
"And thou, too indiscreet and unwary Friend, whose Folds contain the Acknowlegement of his Crime! What will it advantage thee or him, if, torn by my resenting Hand, I make thee suffer, for the Part thou bearest in thy Master's Fault; and teach him, by thy Fate, how little Kindness he has to expect from me!" (Lennox 173)
"Poor Tobin, who latterly fell blind, did not regret it so much for the weightier kinds of reading — the Paradise Lost, or. Comus, he could have read to him; but he missed the pleasure of skimming over with his own eye a magazine, or a light pamphlet" (Lamb 13).
I found it interesting that Arabella takes her anger at Sir George's "criminal" advances out on the physical letter. She is transfixed by written word. Clearly she sees life through the lens of the romantic stories she loves. Her frustration is rooted in her conflicting desires to either read the letter or banish it from her sight and punish Sir George by returning it to him. She is unable to punish Sir George so she desires to use the letter as a kind of simulacrum. She struggles between following her emotions and the precedents set for her by the romantic heroines. This is also starting to play our in her relationship with Glanville. She is allowing him more freedoms than may be precedent so that she does not lose his love by either his death or vexation. However, she still tries to control him as the heroines controlled their suitors.
The Lamb quote shows a contrast with how a simple pamphlet can bring pleasure to a reader. Sir George's letter envokes scorn and malice from Arabella but pamphlets proved joy for the reader Tobin. I'm not quite sure how to further connect the two works. The Lamb piece did represent how entranced people can be with various styles of books and writing.
"And thou, too indiscreet and unwary Friend, whose Folds contain the Acknowlegement of his Crime! What will it advantage thee or him, if, torn by my resenting Hand, I make thee suffer, for the Part thou bearest in thy Master's Fault; and teach him, by thy Fate, how little Kindness he has to expect from me!" (Lennox 173)
"Poor Tobin, who latterly fell blind, did not regret it so much for the weightier kinds of reading — the Paradise Lost, or. Comus, he could have read to him; but he missed the pleasure of skimming over with his own eye a magazine, or a light pamphlet" (Lamb 13).
I found it interesting that Arabella takes her anger at Sir George's "criminal" advances out on the physical letter. She is transfixed by written word. Clearly she sees life through the lens of the romantic stories she loves. Her frustration is rooted in her conflicting desires to either read the letter or banish it from her sight and punish Sir George by returning it to him. She is unable to punish Sir George so she desires to use the letter as a kind of simulacrum. She struggles between following her emotions and the precedents set for her by the romantic heroines. This is also starting to play our in her relationship with Glanville. She is allowing him more freedoms than may be precedent so that she does not lose his love by either his death or vexation. However, she still tries to control him as the heroines controlled their suitors.
The Lamb quote shows a contrast with how a simple pamphlet can bring pleasure to a reader. Sir George's letter envokes scorn and malice from Arabella but pamphlets proved joy for the reader Tobin. I'm not quite sure how to further connect the two works. The Lamb piece did represent how entranced people can be with various styles of books and writing.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Miss Betsy as a Monomaniac
Does Betsy care about Trueworth at the end of volume 2 or is just only worried about her reputation and what diversions she will have to find without him?
"if Mr. Trueworth had desisted his visits, it was only because he was convinced she desired not the continuance of them. [...] she spoke [these words] with no other intent than to clear herself of the imputation of having been forsaken; -- a thing she looked upon as the worst blemish that could be cast upon her reputation." (Haywood 323)
"they possess the sharp ability to split reality into differentiated fragments, each to be endowed with a specific function. Parceling, appropriating, and controlling are some of the tell-tale signs of their condition. [...] Under their alleged ordinariness is concealed a love-hate relationship with permanence, a less than noble need to dominate." (Van Zuylen 10)
Miss Betsy rarely takes the time to consider how her own actions affect the people around her. She deflects the blame for her split with Trueworth completely onto him. She continues to believe that he wasn't special to her and that he left because he recognized that. She couldn't possibly admit that it was her own faults (or apparent faults) that caused him to leave.
Like the Monomaniac that Van Zuylen talks about, Betsy compartmentalizes Mr. Thoughtless into a past diversion of little meaning to her. In order to avoid the shame of being "forsaken" she separates him from any emotional attachment she may have had for him. She makes him out to have been a mere suitor in the long list of lovers she has entertained. To further mend the situation she begins to entertain Mr. Munden and then Sir Frederick.
Betsy desires control and others to dote on her in order to provide her self-worth. She separates her actions from the actions of others passing all the blame on to them so that she can continue in her state of "innocents". Through this process she maintains her "control" and "dominance" of her social life.
"if Mr. Trueworth had desisted his visits, it was only because he was convinced she desired not the continuance of them. [...] she spoke [these words] with no other intent than to clear herself of the imputation of having been forsaken; -- a thing she looked upon as the worst blemish that could be cast upon her reputation." (Haywood 323)
"they possess the sharp ability to split reality into differentiated fragments, each to be endowed with a specific function. Parceling, appropriating, and controlling are some of the tell-tale signs of their condition. [...] Under their alleged ordinariness is concealed a love-hate relationship with permanence, a less than noble need to dominate." (Van Zuylen 10)
Miss Betsy rarely takes the time to consider how her own actions affect the people around her. She deflects the blame for her split with Trueworth completely onto him. She continues to believe that he wasn't special to her and that he left because he recognized that. She couldn't possibly admit that it was her own faults (or apparent faults) that caused him to leave.
Like the Monomaniac that Van Zuylen talks about, Betsy compartmentalizes Mr. Thoughtless into a past diversion of little meaning to her. In order to avoid the shame of being "forsaken" she separates him from any emotional attachment she may have had for him. She makes him out to have been a mere suitor in the long list of lovers she has entertained. To further mend the situation she begins to entertain Mr. Munden and then Sir Frederick.
Betsy desires control and others to dote on her in order to provide her self-worth. She separates her actions from the actions of others passing all the blame on to them so that she can continue in her state of "innocents". Through this process she maintains her "control" and "dominance" of her social life.
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