Sylvia Plath’s Aspirations for the Beyond

Plath’s poetry is worldwide celebrated for their diversity in meaning. Though apparently they deal with common day to day issues their implications are different. It is the reader who can discover variations in multiple meaning. The very common themes are death, love, motherhood/womanhood, domestic issues etc. but through these common feminine themes Plath always seeks to go beyond the common material world. She wishes to achieve something impossible; she has the strong desire to achieve something. Now, let’s discover what she wants to achieve through the common themes.

In the poem “CUT” Plath deals with domestic issue with a cut in finger while cutting onion. Though the wound is very common and should give her pain this common pain reminds her of the pain within her heart. She remembers the disasters of World War and bloodshed. It is as if she is being castrated through the cutting of the finger, it reminds her of her existential crisis. From a simple cut in the finger she goes beyond the domestic world and tries to feel the pain in her heart which identifies with the wound in her dissatisfactory family life.

“Lady Lazarus” also deals with the death of a lady but the allusions are Christian in nature. The power of woman is shown here. Plath wishes to born again after her death only to eat men like air. It is magical like to die and born with a new flesh and blood. She says-

“Dying is an art and I do it exceptionally well.”

Plath implies here the making of poetry as if it is an idea which comes to her mind again it vanishes. But this can again comes to her mind and she can write it. It is because through poetry only Plath can express her distress against men. The reference to Medusa reminds us that. So, we can say that through the bodily death Plath says about the death and birth of art. She tries to achieve this impossible art.

“Metaphor” is another wonderful poem where Plath portrays a pregnant woman. The comparisons are sour but under the comparison the poet implies the process of making poetry within the mind of the poet. It is as if there is no getting rid of the pain of poetry but the pain of pregnancy ended with the birth of the baby after nine month. She says-

“I have eaten a bag of green apples

Boarded the train and there is no getting off”.

The poems “Colossus” and “Full Fathom Five” her love towards her father reflects her love towards the God of poetry.

Therefore it can be concluded that through the general issues Plath actually wants to go beyond. It is her strong desire to achieve the poetic genius. It is because she has a lifelong dissatisfaction of her poetic genius.

Idea of Colonialism in Cesaire’s Discourse on Colonialism and Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart can be explored from the perspective of Césaire’s “Discourse on Colonialism” to identify the interaction between the whites and the Igbo people with negative and positive consequences. Césaire portrays the effects of colonialism and capitalism on both the colonizer and the colonized, revealing the hypocrisy implicit in the Western notion of “civilization”. Césaire points out that the relationship between the colonizers and the colonized gave rise to Nazism and that this link reveals the barbarian nature of the European colonial enterprises that existed before the rise of Hitler.

Césaire explains that no one colonizes innocently, and claims that a nation which colonizes, and a civilization which justifies colonization, is already a sick civilization. Césaire defines the relationship between the colonizer and the colonized as one based on “forced labor, intimidation, pressure, the police, taxation, theft, rape, compulsory crops, contempt, mistrust, arrogance, self-complacency, swinishness, brainless elites, degraded masses.”

In the point of civilization Things Fall Apart has walked a long because the first part of the novel has shown the systematic Ibo society. The purpose is served here because the culture of Igbo people, their religion, rituals, economy and social relationship of a pre colonial society is much better than the colonial period. Césaire claims that the European civilization is disguised to dominate is proved in Things Fall Apart. Achebe shows how the colonizers colonize the mind of the colonized. Colonization itself creates savagery in the mind of the colonizers.

According to Césaire, before colonialism, indigenous cultures were both “ante-capitalist” and “anti-capitalist”. They were “democratic”, “cooperative”, and “fraternal”, with no traces of capitalism and colonization. Their economies and their food crops were destroyed, and their lives changed forever. Césaire takes a stand against civilization promoted by the Europeans and explains his defense of the non-European civilizations.  Achebe describes the history of Igbo; he does so by describing both the perfections and imperfections In Things Fall Apart the Ibo people always tried to follow rituals before the coming of the colonizers. They have respect for the senior and their ancestors. In the writing of Things of their culture and traditions that made them different from Western cultures. For example, their beliefs in the power of ancestral gods, the sacrifice of young boys, the killing of twins and the oppression of women to name a few. In the novel, the reader is also made aware of the arrival of white missionaries in Umuofia as well as the reactions of Igbo to their arrival. Although the arrival of the missionaries had some benefits to Igbo, there were also a number of challenges that faced the future of Igbo. The fact that Césaire wants to emphasize is that these societies were not primitive. Even though they functioned at a high level of sophistication and complexity, they were described as primitive. Césaire paints a picture of these societies as they really were.

According to Césaire as the colonized people are mentally biased by the colonial ideology they started hating their own culture and the culture clash begins. Mental colonization teaches them to hate Ibo’s own past. They lack freedom because they think that they have no glorious past as the Westerners have. Religious rituals are such a thing that being is established through rituals. Along with the villagers Okonkwo’ s son Nowye also joins with the colonizers and receives a new name Isac. As Okonkwo had nothing to belong he loses his sense of belongingness and finally commits suicide.

In the question of civilization, Césaire focus the western perspective of civilizing the Barbarian. It is “the white men’s burden”. In fact, it seems that Igbo are more civilised than the missionaries themselves. In their traditional courts, for example, if two parties are at conflict with each other both parties are given the chance to tell their story before a ruling is taken as opposed to the case of the British courts. When the villagers commit any form of crime they are imprisoned without first being questioned whereas Igbo courts question those at conflict before a ruling is taken. For example, Okonkwo beats up his youngest wife during the Week of Peace for petty reasons and although wife beating is allowed in Igbo culture, she is given the chance to take the matter before the courts. Okonkwo is not found guilty for beating his wife but for doing so during the Week of Peace where acts of violence are not allowed.

Derek Walcott’s ambivalence Towards Colonizers Culture in his Poems

Hamlet's Soliloquy: The Best literary technique To Reveal the Inner Thoughts

Hamlet's soliloquy overloads us with all kinds of literary techniques. We see the use of similes and metaphors, all the way to allusions. In Hamlet's distress over recent events he metaphorically says that the world is "an unwedded garden" meaning that things are out of control and do not make sense to him. He is upset over his father's death and quickly contrasts the new King to his father stating: "Hyperion to a satyr." He is not only comparing them as though they have nothing in common, but alluding to ancient mythology. Later, Hamlet compares these two characters again using a simile when recalling his mother marrying his uncle after his father's death. Hamlet says disgustedly "my father's brother, but no more like my father that I to Hercules." Hamlet is very effectively exclaiming the great difference between his father and his uncle, the new King. His disdain for the circumstances are shown thought each of these techniques. All of these techniques from his soliloquy into an art where we can understand Hamlet's true thoughts and feelings.

Several literary techniques are used throughout Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. The first literary technique Shakespeare uses is allusion, which is a reference to another literary work. In Act I, Scene I, Horatio is attempting to speak to the ghost of Hamlet’s father. He says, “If there be any good thing to be done, that may to thee do ease and grace to me, Speak to me!” When Horatio says this, a cock crows. This is alluding to the instance in the Bible when Jesus tells Peter that he will deny him three times before the cock crows. “Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice” (Matthew 26:34 KJV). Shakespeare also alludes to another one of his works in Act III, Scene II. When talking to one of the actors who is to perform in his “special” play for his parents, he asks “What did you enact?” He replies by saying, “I did enact Julius Caesar. I was killed i’ the capitol; Brutus killed me” Shakespeare also uses foreshadowing to hint as to what will happen later on in the play. A good example of this is found in Act I, Scene I. While talking to Ophelia, Hamlet says, “I say, we will have no more marriages. Those that are married already, all but one, shall live. The rest shall keep as they are.” This statement made by Hamlet implies that he is going to kill someone who is married. From reading Hamlet we know that this person is his uncle/step-father. We also know that Hamlet intends to spare his mother’s life, but still hurt her with words.

In the play Hamlet, Prince of Demark you have to use the formalist perspective so you can look deeper into the text to understand what it actually means. You have to do this especially in the soliloquy of Hamlet. For example in Hamlets "To be, or not to be" soliloquy you must look closer at the text see what he is really saying. The soliloquy starts off with the famous "To be, or not to be: that is the question: quote and continues on by saying "whether it is nobler to suffer or take arms against a sea of troubles". Through this text Hamlet is simply saying should I suffer or fight my troubles. Hamlet goes on to says "To die, to sleep, no more; and by a sleep to say we end the heart-ache". What he means by this is that if he dies he won't have to deal with pain anymore and that he would welcome death. Hamlet continues on this thought of death and says "To die, to sleep, to sleep! perchance to dream, ay, there's the rub". Here he realizes that if death is like sleeping then he could dream about horrible things and would have to dream forever. This type of language is used throughout the whole story and by reading the text a few times you can find the true meaning.

Using the formalist perspective we can further understand the true meaning behind the deep meaning of Shakespeare work. In Act 1, scene iv Marcellus tells Horatio that “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” He means to say that the ghost is symbolism for a bad omen for Denmark and on a larger scale, the connection between the moral authority of the king and the health of the state as a whole. Even Marcellus, a simple officer, knows Denmark is corrupted. This vice is connected to the sin created by no other than King Claudius. My dear friend David Hasselhoff (Quinton) makes the point of the cock crowing when Horatio tells the ghost of Hamlet’s father to talk to him. I would like to expound by saying that Horatio gets an answer. When the cock crew then this means that he was betrayed. Not only betrayed but betrayed by someone close to him and this is referring to King Claudius. This symbolism makes the reader draw the conclusion that the ghost was trying to tell them the truth about his death.

During the play, we see so many different types of literary techniques. Hamlet and many other cast members use metaphor, allusion, antagonist, asides, diction, and simile. In term of the antagonist, I feel that in a way the ghost acts as Hamlet’s antagonist. If it were not for Hamlet’s encounter with the ghost of his father, then Hamlet you not be doing the things he is doing. He would not have planned the huge scheme of revenge. He wouldn’t be acting crazy to confuse the people around him. He also would be upset with his duncle. In the terms of diction the play Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Shakespeare uses wonderful yet crazy diction. No one fully understands Shakespeare’s diction use, yet it is astonishing how much it complements the play. You also see Shakespeare use many metaphors and similes. He compares many things to things you would not imagine. Like Rachel said, “Hyperion to a satyr.” Or as Horatio says, “it started like a guilty thing upon a fearful summons.” Shakespeare used many metaphors and similes to make the diction even more remarkable then most would do. Shakespeare also used a lot of asides or soliloquy to emphases the words and mood of the play. Shakespeare also used some allusions in Hamlet. He referred to Julius more than once. He also referred to the Trojan War. Where the Greeks hide in the wooden horse and attach the Trojans. Without looking at the formalist perspective you would not see the deeper meaning found in Hamlet, Prince of Demark.

The formalist perspective is one of the best perspectives to use in the play Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. It helps a person find the hidden meanings through out the play in multiple ways, which allow a person to truly understand the play completely. Such way is like when Ophelia goes crazy after her father is murdered and Hamlet is sent away. She sings songs to the Queen and King of Denmark that at first glance are just songs. When looked at between the lines; however, the two songs she sings are of her father and Hamlet. The song about Hamlet talks not only about Hamlet but of her secret pregnancy with Hamlet’s child. This is also mentioned before Ophelia goes crazy and Polonius, Ophelia’s father, is still alive, and Hamlet is just begging to act crazy. Hamlet mentions something to Polonius about not letting his daughter out because she might be or get pregnant. Such lines and places in the play like this at first seem to be nothing at all. However, if looked at between the lines then another completely different meaning is sent across. The formalist perspective allows people to view the play in this way, getting hidden meanings in it while figuring out the plot.

As we look at just the text we can analyze how Hamlet is feeling, as we have said before that hamlet is only faking his craziness, but can snap out of it when needed, when acting crazy he rambles and when talking to his friends he speaks more in poetry, calm and laid back in his tone while being aggressive and hasty when “mad”. His metaphors and similes give a simpler saying, but with more meaning “here is your husband, like a mildewed ear” and Rosencrantz “to be demanded of a sponge”. Soon after he speaks daggers, but uses none while speaking to his mother saying “you are the queen, your husband’s brother’s wife”. In Hamlets days he stole all his plots to make his work stand apart from all others it is his literary techniques and ways of arranging the words on paper.

In Hamlet there are many different types of formalist perspectives but while reading think Shakespeare really focuses on tone in Hamlet. Hamlet states “he is going to come at his mom with words like daggers” and in doing that Hamlet is changing his tone from upset and disappointed to harming and hurtful while talking to his mother. During this scene Hamlet uses great word choice saying how disgusted his is with his mother and uncle for the acts of wrong that they have done. Hamlet is easily able to slip in and out of his role as being known as a crazy man which also adds to Shakespeare’s great use of perspectives.

While reading Hamlet, the formalist perspective is an important one. This is because of how much the text and literary techniques are used. One of the obvious instances is when Hamlet and Horatio talk before the play that Hamlet wrote is performed. For most of the entire story Hamlet speaks regularly, however when he addresses Horatio, he turns back to iambic pentameter, which shows us a few different things. One is that what he is saying to Horatio is important, indicated by the change in speech. Another is that the reader is shown the close relationship that Hamlet and Horatio share, for he only talks in iambic pentameter to Horatio.

One of the more important literary techniques used is foreshadowing. There are two major cases throughout the play that support this. The first is when Hamlet meets the ghost of his father. The ghost tells Hamlet that he should kill Claudius and also confront his mother. This foreshadows the course of action that Hamlet may take in seek of revenge on his uncle, and also how he will address his mother. The second instance is the play that Hamlet writes. Here, the reader is shown that Hamlet is devising a plan to take his revenge.

From the soliloquies of the play, we can see that there are many types of speech used; like metaphors, similes, etc. One specific type of writing I would like to focus on is the metaphors that Shakespeare uses. Just like what rhowfly mentioned a couple of big metaphor on page 196. First I would like to look at line 135 from Act 1 Scene 2 “’Tis an unweeded garden That grows to seed.” From this metaphor we can tell that Hamlet is not very fond of the situation at hand between his mother and his uncle, especially being married right after his fathers’ death. Usually plants grow upward, not downward so this also allows for us to think of what Hamlet is saying. We can understand it as the kingdom, coming from a great place with Hamlet’s father being the king and now going to dire conditions with Claudius being the king. With this another great metaphor comes into play at line 140 “Hyperion to a satyr”. From this Hamlet is comparing his father to a Hyperion or a Sun God, and Claudius to an ugly creature. From Hamlets metaphors we are able to see how much Hamlet truly dislikes his uncle, and how much he loved his father. Hamlet is truly a mastermind with words and thoughts, and by looking at what/how he expresses his feelings we can understand his true brilliance.

he Formalist perspective truly gives insight in the true actions occurring in “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare. By Hamlet’s word choice in the first conversation with the king in act 1 we can clearly see the distain that is already beginning to brew because of his uncle taking power and even more, taking Hamlet’s mother to be his wife. “A little more than kin, and less than kind” (Act 1 Scene 2). In this statement you can see the words show the deeper meaning of the saying. When Hamlet says this it is showing us as readers/listeners that Hamlet really resents his uncle and he is not really pleased that they are even Family. To him it was bad enough that Claudius was his Uncle now when Claudius says, “But, now my cousin Hamlet, and my son” (Act 1 Scene 2). It is too much for Hamlet to take and through the Formalist we are able to grasp that Hamlet distains this and wishes that he could remove himself from the situation that he has been placed in. Through the Formalist perspective you can see deeper meaning in ordinary lines, such as this seemingly normal replay in act two: scene two, when he says, “Not so, my lord; I am too much in the sun” (Act 2 Scene 2). At first glance all we see is a slanted comment back at the king almost in self defense but if you read the words closer in a formalist perspective, you are able to see the message Shakespeare was trying to convey. This is, that Hamlet understands at least portions of what has happened while the rest of the castle is in the clouds on what has really happened and what Claudius is doing. As you can see the formalist perspective can really help your understanding grow and give you the tools to unlock the mysteries of Shakespeare.

Shakespeare’s arrangement of Old English, writing techniques, references to native characteristics of England, and the poetics of his writing support and promote the essentials of “Hamlet,” the heart and art of it. Throughout “Hamlet” many of the characters are referenced as other beings. Old Hamlet is likened to a Hyperion, or sun god and King Claudius is likened unto a satyr. Both comparisons are eye opening to the fact that Denmark’s leadership was superb, but now is that of a despicable creature. This also likens our understanding of how Hamlet views his father with respect and his uncle with contempt. Shakespeare also utilizes allusion to add flavor to his script. Twice Shakespeare alludes: first in Act I a cock crows following Horatio’s monologue with the ghost which is an allusion of Jesus telling Peter (one disciple of twelve) he will deny him three times before the cock crows; the second is multilayer-ed because several times there is references to the play of Julius Caesar, another renowned play of Shakespeare.

Allusions and metaphors, however, are not the only literary techniques Shakespeare masters. Descriptions of the characters are detailed, yet there is strong correlation with Denmark’s hierarchy and Norway’s. Both are Uncle ruled and the supposed son to inherit the thrown is in the background scheming, but Hamlet is of revenge for his father and young Fortinbras plans to regain territory that Denmark captured. This plight to invade Denmark assists Hamlet in his plan to eradicate his uncle from power.

This just skims the surface that a formalist would reveal, since the entire play is filled with literary techniques that makes “Hamlet” not just any other play.