I do not think I have ever enjoyed hearing a poem as much as I enjoyed listening to Mr. Coon read “Maybe Dat's Yowr Pwoblem Too” I thought it was witty, creative, imaginative and engaging, however; I do not agree with the notion that someone can not “buin der suit”.
What I struggle with in this poem are the lines where Spiderman does not follow his dream. While I agree that there are things people can not change, like their family, or their height, the majority of our life is in our control. I am and always have been a believer in the idea that for the most part, if you want to change and you have the right tools you can!
Spiderman explains that he wishes he could become a racecar driver to make his heart beat at a different rate. He complains about the monotonous routine of catching color t.v. slobs and delivering them to the police. So why then, why does he continue doing what makes him unhappy? The poem does not provide an answer and maybe that’s part of its goal, to make readers examine their lives and look at what it is that prevents them from doing what makes them happy.
I don’t want this blog entry to sound preachy nor do I want it to sound like some how I’ve figured this whole thing out, because I have not! I also do not intend to suggest that changing is something remotely simple. In fact, really rewiring your personal hardware is probably the most difficult thing for a person to do in life.
I can empathize with Spiderman’s situation. There was a point during junior year where I realized that my appearance, my “suit” not only did not match who I was but it was taking over who I was. A point where my suit was a burden emotionally and physically. I looked longingly at other suits that would make my heart beat at a different rate. The suit that I had had become too heavy for me, too tight. It was constricting and it didn’t fit. Because of it I couldn’t do the things that I really loved, like dance. My suit had become painful.
I have learned that yes, you can burn your suit. I took mine and burned it. There are many things I want to change about myself and I am intent on changing them! I don’t expect that tomorrow I will wake up a different person or that even in a year I will have morphed. Changing is in many cases a process.
Have you ever heard someone say that they had “found themselves”. Well one of my most favorite quotes is the following.
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
- (unkown)
What I love about this quote is that it reminds me that there isn’t a mold for me that I have to go discover but rather I can be what ever I want to be. There is something wonderfully liberating, and exciting about this possibility.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Accused of folly by a fool!
What I have found most interesting about this play, or at least what has bothered me because I felt that the topic hasn’t been explored enough, is the comparisons being made between Creon and Antigone.
On line 527 the Leader explains that Antigone “hasn’t learned to bend before adversity”, similarly Haemon simply yet sternly warns Creon “Bend or break.” line 800, when urging his father not to punish Antigone.
Both Creon and Antigone defy their trusted confidants who tell them not to go through with their actions. For Creon it is Tiresias and for Antigone it is Ismene.
In lines 523 – 524 Antigone even proclaims “I’ve been accused of folly by a fool”.
This brings me to my point. Both Creon and Antigone are “fools”. Creon leads unwisely and in accordance with his own personal tyrannical agenda instead of in the interest of Thebes. Antigone risks her life just to burry Polynices.
After reading this play I couldn’t help but notice the strange similarities between its two opposing characters. I wonder if the point of the story is to show that foolishness can be disguised.
Almost all readers of Antigone are quick to determine who is right. Who is acting foolishly? Antigone or Creon? But maybe this isn’t the appropriate response.
Perhaps Sophocles is saying foolishness is in they eye of the beholder. For readers who find Antigone brave and admirable, Creon is the foolish one. But for those who think it ridiculous to risk your life just to burry a brother, Antigone becomes the fool. Sophocles plays with the notion of foolery. Suggesting that, like many things in life, society dictates what is foolish, however in this case the society is pretty divided.
Why then, does Antigone die and Creon live? I have no idea! Just kidding!!!
I believe if readers judge Antigone to be a hero and not a fool her death can be viewed as martyrdom. However, Antigone and Creon are both example of the consequences of foolishness. In Antigone’s case her foolishness leads to her death, and in Creon’s case Sophocles points out that though you may not personally be affected, those close to you can be.
Another point to consider may be the contrast between foolishness in the hands of the powerful and those not in power.
Have you ever heard the quote “poor people are crazy, and rich people are eccentric.” Well now you have! Basically people’s behavior is viewed differently depending upon the power they yield. In the case of Antigone, while Creon’s foolishness does result in the death of his family, he is not personally affected as compared to the less powerful Antigone, who kills herself at the end of the story.
On line 527 the Leader explains that Antigone “hasn’t learned to bend before adversity”, similarly Haemon simply yet sternly warns Creon “Bend or break.” line 800, when urging his father not to punish Antigone.
Both Creon and Antigone defy their trusted confidants who tell them not to go through with their actions. For Creon it is Tiresias and for Antigone it is Ismene.
In lines 523 – 524 Antigone even proclaims “I’ve been accused of folly by a fool”.
This brings me to my point. Both Creon and Antigone are “fools”. Creon leads unwisely and in accordance with his own personal tyrannical agenda instead of in the interest of Thebes. Antigone risks her life just to burry Polynices.
After reading this play I couldn’t help but notice the strange similarities between its two opposing characters. I wonder if the point of the story is to show that foolishness can be disguised.
Almost all readers of Antigone are quick to determine who is right. Who is acting foolishly? Antigone or Creon? But maybe this isn’t the appropriate response.
Perhaps Sophocles is saying foolishness is in they eye of the beholder. For readers who find Antigone brave and admirable, Creon is the foolish one. But for those who think it ridiculous to risk your life just to burry a brother, Antigone becomes the fool. Sophocles plays with the notion of foolery. Suggesting that, like many things in life, society dictates what is foolish, however in this case the society is pretty divided.
Why then, does Antigone die and Creon live? I have no idea! Just kidding!!!
I believe if readers judge Antigone to be a hero and not a fool her death can be viewed as martyrdom. However, Antigone and Creon are both example of the consequences of foolishness. In Antigone’s case her foolishness leads to her death, and in Creon’s case Sophocles points out that though you may not personally be affected, those close to you can be.
Another point to consider may be the contrast between foolishness in the hands of the powerful and those not in power.
Have you ever heard the quote “poor people are crazy, and rich people are eccentric.” Well now you have! Basically people’s behavior is viewed differently depending upon the power they yield. In the case of Antigone, while Creon’s foolishness does result in the death of his family, he is not personally affected as compared to the less powerful Antigone, who kills herself at the end of the story.
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