Through reading multiple works about the creation of Earth from the perspectives of Ovid, Lucretius, Genesis, Metamorphosis, and Paradise Lost; I’ve seen themes and connections that are acquainted with A.O. Scott and Stephen Greenblatt’s views. In the works of Scott and Greenblatt, they state their arguments on how to form self, whether it’s from their surroundings or from their hobbies. While these new readings were not specifically sculpted around the learning of self, they all contain similar traits to define your self. For example, the laws sculpted by our authority and the balance of society, which Greenblatt explained the laws are created in the image of authority which involuntarily makes who we are. I was appalled by finding this connection in Lucretius when he stated the universe being created on laws. I never wondered how the sun, earth, and moon never collide, but it’s the law that the underside confides by. This theme continued to Genesis when man and the heavens had to confide and rely on God. There was a continuous theme throughout that stated the laws created by an authority that is followed by humans, Earth, and the gods. If this law is broken then the alien is introduced as the alien or evil. This is a reference from Greenblatt’s alien being a distorted image of authority known as chaos, satan, or imbalance. Not only was this shown in Paradise Lost but it also became a large factor of showing the themes of patriarchy and social hierarchy. In Paradise Lost and Genesis there is a negative connotation put on women. As stated in both texts, women were originally created from men, but women are seen to bring on sin and chaos. Also, the authority is alway man and never presented as a woman. Women weren’t even acknowledged to be able to have females until book III. There was also a continuous cycle of stating who was the highest power. In both of these writings, it’s God, in Ovid it’s gods. In all of these stories, humans are at the bottom of the power chain. This made me curious if literature was the reasoning of us believing there’s always a higher power. Is it also the reason for our belief in good and evil? The biggest “oh” moment that I had during the reading over the break, was Book 3 of Paradise Lost because it helped me understand Greenblatt’s method of alien vs. authority in the real world. Following the serpent, which was satan, created punishment from God to Adam and Eve. These are a lot of my interlacing thoughts, but hopefully, when we go over the readings together in class I’ll have a better understanding.
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AuthorI am a prospering rose that awaits the journey that life holds. I embrace the knowledge the world gives me because every second counts. Archives
November 2019
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