Beggar's Opera-Ending

As I read the play, I was expecting Macheath to die. Not only did he have multiple women hating him and loving him at the same time (a problem that honestly death makes an easy solution for-just saying) but he was already in prison sentenced to die. He did technically have money which associated him with the higher class audience that the beggar refers to, but when he said "it is difficult to determine whether the fine gentlemen imitate the gentlemen of the road or the gentlemen of the road the fine gentlemen" I missed the whole part when people were trying to imitate fine gentlemen. The beggar was making a point that both groups are very similar only the gentlemen of the road are looked down upon. I think Hogarth made the two rather indiscernible in the play to further illustrate the unfair treatment of the lower class and to make fun of the aristocracy. I still think Macheath could have and should have died. There would have been resolution that way instead of "ok well I guess I'll take Polly" and no one else says anything else. For the sake of the plot I call it a cop-out, but for the sake of the commentary that Hogarth is giving it's quite brilliant.

The Anti-Hero

After reading Alexander Pope's "The Rape of the Lock," I found it interesting that in the first few paragraphs there were already a few instances that resemble this idea of a mock-epic. The second verse-paragraph encapsulates Pope’s subversion of the epic genre. In lines 11-12 Pope juxtaposes grand emotions with unheroic character-types, specifically “little men” and women: “In tasks so bold can little men engage, / And in soft bosoms dwells such mighty rage.” The irony of pairing epic characteristics with lowly human characters contributes to Pope’s mock-heroic style. In addition, the “mighty rage” of women evokes the rage of Achilles at the outset of The Iliad, this foreshadows the comic gender-reversal that characterizes the rest of the poem. Rather than distinguish the subjects of the poem as in a traditional epic, Pope uses the mock-heroic genre to elevate and ridicule his subjects simultaneously, creating a satire that scolds society for its misplaced values and emphasis on insignificant matters.I also found it interesting that there were similarities between this work and The Duchess of Malfi in regards to gender reversal. Did anyone else catch this similarity?

Women... Oh Lordy!!

I have been continually interested in the concepts of women we have read about in class from wiles to authority. But throughout our entire class women have always played such a significant role in the literature we have read. I respect and admire the conclusion Cherise drew from Viola and the Duchess, concluding that one was braver than the other. I completely agree! The most heartache Viola endured was the assumed loss of her brother whereas the Duchess was tortured and was given the hand of her deceased husband (gross!!). I think it is also interesting the women we have looked back on and the roles they played in society, queens, witches, prostitutes, noble women, and aristocratic wannabes. The diverse range of women we have come across and then reading some of the satire authors who constantly bickered on the subject is just overall fascinating!! I believe it is ironic that we as a society have such drastic extremes in describing and discussing women and yet such seemingly natural conversations of men. When talking of men, their roles were just that the role. But when a woman was seduced a man who was not her husband so many conversations sputtered forth. I know I'm rambling (it's what I do, I ramble) but the topic of women seems to just occur much more often that conversations of men. In that I believe there is a type of authority awarded to women in the ability to demand conversations. If it was ever possible I wish I could just travel back in time and watch Jonathan Swift, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and Alexander Pope debate the topic of women. I can imagine 'ol Pope hunchback sitting down while he flailed his arms as Jonathan Swift was spit on by Lady Mary Wortley Montague and Anne Ingram. Oh Lord, what have you created?!?

Sylphs and Superficiality

In Alexander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock, Belinda is protected by “fifty chosen Sylphs”(Canto 2. 117). These Sylphs are like little fairies, sent to be her personal guardians. This sounds like an excellent idea in theory, having little invisible protectors. Not having to worry about the dangers of the world seems pretty ideal. Unfortunately, the Sylphs don’t do their job very well, as a precious lock of Belinda’s hair is taken by a creepy guy later in the play. Did these assigned Sylphs fail their task? No!

In reality, the Sylphs’ responsibility was to take good care of Belinda “fair looks”. There are spirits assigned to her hair, face, and even her petticoats. They were only protecting her aesthetics, not her safety or wellness. In this way, Pope makes it seem like women are all about beauty and that there is nothing else of value to them. Not once is Belinda’s mind mentioned or even her personality, only her beauty. The fact that Belinda gets so upset about a little lock of hair helps concrete the idea of women’s superficiality. This belief is shared by a great number of writers of the period, as evidenced by the women presentation on Wednesday. So, in conclusion, it’s really not that great to have Sylphs standing guard, especially if they are only concerned with your looks.

Viola vs. Duchess of Malfi

With all the presentations on the inferiority of women in literature lately, I thought it would be interesting to revisit our earlier readings and do a comparison of two female characters many would describe as courageous, the Duchess of Malfi and Viola from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Although both women went through their share of hardships, they are by no means equal in terms of bravery.

Even though Viola seemed like she was a brave female, she was nothing compared to the Duchess of Malfi. Viola didn’t suffer because of her title. Instead, she hid from it, adorning a disguise. The Duchess did suffer. In fact, she is “exposed unto the worst of torture, pain, and fear” (2.3.55). Despite her torture, the Duchess of Malfi still declared her title saying, “I am Duchess of Malfi still” (4.2.125). Viola only admitted her true identity as a woman when she was reunited with her brother, Sebastian. She only revealed herself when she knew she was safe. Viola was not that courageous of a female character. The Duchess of Malfi was never safe and she died for her title, Viola just had to wear a fake mustache.

Class in "A Description of a City Shower"

After reading A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift in high school I know that he is a very sarcastic author.  So when reading this poem I was on the alert to see what kind of social commentary he could be making.  In "A Description of a City Shower" many different levels of society are mentioned.  There are workers, whore, politicians and the upper-class.  Swift mentions what the rain interrupts each person from doing.  Brisk Susan has to take her linens off the rope (line 17), whereas the people who have money to eat must simply find someplace closer (line 7).  The commentary Swift is making is that although the rain interrupts everyone, some people have more at stake.  The lower-class must stop their work whereas those with money just need to find a place to get out of the rain like a coffeehouse (line 12).  Swift is pointing out that even though everyone suffers through the inconvenience of rain it is still not all that equal.

However, I think at the end of the poem Swift makes an interesting point.  The rain, like a flood washes away the grime of the city, the WHOLE city. So it takes with it "filth of all hues ad odors" (line 55). I think the point is this: even though there are distinctions in class, everyone has their crap.  Upper-class contribute to the muck of the city just as much as the lower. Their food and pets are all part of this hodge podge (line 61-62).  So, at the base, humans are similar even if they pretend otherwise with their free-time.
-Molly Hakso

Women!

The presentation we had on women was very interesting to research. All of the authors we talked about were connected in some way: Mary Leapor was an ardent admirer of Pope and Swift; Swift and Pope were very good friends; Lady Montagu hated Swift, etc. Even more interesting were the debates/responses that they wrote back and forth to each other. My favorite example of this was Lady Mary Montagu's response to Johnathan Swift's poem "The Reasons that Induced Dr. Swift to Write a Poem Called "The Lady's Dressing Room." Even the title of her response is hilarious, because we really don't exactly know why he wrote it, and Montagu's explanation sounds plausible. Swift's poem was very detailed in the disgusting nature of women, saying that their make-up and powdered wigs were a mere facade to hide their atrocities. Mantagu's response suggests that Swift only wrote the poem due to his sexual dysfunction with a prostitute.His anger at not getting his money back is why he writes a scathing poem about her dressing room. This leaves the reader amused, with a picture of Swift as an inept and foolish man.