Brit. Lit. quotes for 24 Apr 08

Robert Browning

Caliban upon Setebos lines 172-173

“Who made them weak, meant weakness He might vex.

Had He meant other, while His hand was in,”

First of all I love this poem. What a great experiment to attempt to play God. Anyways, these lines made me wonder if he was saying that if man or any animal has physical weaknesses, than that is what “God” intended therefore that animal is weak. Since humans are meant to be weak, than have we, if you subscribe to God making us, than we have done more than what God intended therefore we are dammed for stepping outside of our boundaries of nature? Who knows? Who cares, eh?

Christina Rossetti

Goblin Market lines 5-9

“Apples and quinces,

Lemons and oranges,

Plump unpecked cherries,

Melons and rasberries,

Bloom-down-cheeked peaches,”

I like how this gives us a glimpse into the world of victorian eating and splendor, mixed with the temptation of something sweet…the sweet virginity.

Christina Rossetti

Goblin Market lines 187-188

“They lay down in theiri curtained bed,

Like two blossoms on one stem,”

Is this lesbian eroticism? A lot of people in this century seem to think that this is a very erotic poem. It was in the introduction for sure. It’s kind of funny. How many lesbian sisters were there back in those days? Was this the author’s aim? I think sleeping together must be taken into context for the time. Brothers and sisters slept in the same bed a lot, especially when poverty was concerned. It’s not very different today either. I think the sisters here are only about sixteen or seventeen anyways. Why is a mature innocent relationship so far fetched? Maybe it is our culture’s love for eroticism that makes the poem appeal to those senses?????

Christina Rossetti

Goblin Market line 562

“For there is no friend like a sister”

So what is the moral of the story? Cleary it can’t just be about this one line here near the end of the poem, I mean, would she have to invent this kind of story to tell that moral? Or, would she? Is it about virginity and the enticement of it? –We will never know what authors mean by their poetry. Our interpretations reflect us and our time just as the author is reflected through his poetry.

Oscar Wilde

Preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray

“Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault.

Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”

I just like this quote. I’m not really sure I can pin it down as to why though, haha. Oscar Wilde was so full of intellegent things to say. Even if one doesn’t agree, you have to respect that kind of thinking a little bit. Hell why not? It’s not like he’s the president or anything.

Oscar Wilde

The Importance of Being Earnest

“Algernon: Why is it that at a bachelor’s establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne? I ask merely for information.

Lane: I attribute it to the superior qualilty of the wine, sir. I have often observed that in married households the champagne is rarely of a first-rate brand.”

This made me laugh out loud here. This is berly at the end of the first page of the play. Algernon and Lane here go into a question/answer about marrage, and it is a great introduction of the character of Algernon. It is a funny style throughout the entire play, and I love how it plays on so many human textures.

Oscar Wilde

The Importance of Being Earnest

“Algernon: I really don’t see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If I ever get married, I’ll certainly try to forget the fact.”

This is on the second page. Foreshadowing I suppose, but it is just another of the many hilarious comments to come. Brilliant!

Oscar Wilde

The Importance of Being Earnest

“Lady Bracknell:…Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone….”

Beautiful! Again, he’s full of witty comments through his characters. I think his characters helped him grow and examine life too. Of course he had his agendas, but naturally they came to life on the pages and took on personalities and opinions of their own.

Oscar Wilde

The Importance of Being Earnest

“Algernon: All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his.”

Oh man I could go on with these kind of quotes. These are all from act one. These are profound. I would love to see this performed, or act in it. I’ll put in another one next I suppose…now I feel like reading this play all over again, or better yet, finding more by Oscar.

Oscar Wilde

The Importance of Being Earnest, Act 2

“Miss Prism: We must not be premature in our judgements.”

Ahhh…if only the world practiced this. I think that is what Oscar is hoping for. Probably he is a bit sick of being judged prematurely. I know for sure it happens a lot in every country, including England. I witnessed it myself many times there. I’ve witnessed it many times myself here. I think that is the most tragic, and probably gets us into the most trouble. Yet, we still do it. Why?