Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Flash to the Future: Question from 2000
Many works of literature not readily identified with the mystery or detective story genre nonetheless involve the investigation of a mystery. In these works, the solution to the mystery may be less important than the knowledge gained in the process of its investigation. Choose a novel or play in which one or more of the characters confront a mystery. Then write an essay in which you identify the mystery and explain how the investigation illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.
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I would use Song of Solomon.
ReplyDeleteThe mystery is Milkman's family history, and his entire journey throughout the story is his work as a detective to uncover the truth. While he does not ultimately "solve" this mystery, through his quest he finds knowledge, maturity, and an acceptance of his identity.
I completely agree with Martha. Milkman's physical journey is relatively unimportant: he uncovers the names of his great grandparents, figures out why a gulch is named Ryna, and makes sense of a local nursery rhyme. However in the process of this journey, he advances from an adolescent thirty-something-year-old to a more social, altruistic adult. Effectively, his decision to pursue the mystery of his family is a decision to become his own man. This speaks to two predominate themes within the text, the first being a want for one's own identity (clearly illustrated by the repetition of male names) and the second being a want for freedom (motif of flying). The final scene where he jumps of Solomon's Peak is really the culmination of these themes in that he accepts his identity as a member of his family and achieves the autonomy and freedom he has been searching for.
DeleteI agree with Rachel's points about the two themes in the book. Though the theme of discovering one's true identity is a major aspect component of the mystery that Song of Solomon embodies, I do not think the theme of flying is too relevant to this prompt. I'm not too sure it can properly be incorporated into the essay as a major point. Inthe other hand, focusing on MIlkman's thirst for his own identity helps to categorize the book as a mystery.
DeleteI would write about Othello. While the plot of Othello could be classified as a mystery or Shakespearian spy story, the play is, at heart, a tragedy. The play is an exploration of the dark side of human nature and, more specifically, the tendency for humans to deceive one another. Iago, the antagonist, is also perpetrator of the mystery (ie: the handkerchief incident, his "stirring of the pot" by manipulating both Othello and Roderigo, etc.). While none of the characters in Othello confront a mystery directly, they are all implicated in one as a result of Iago's elaborate scheme. The end result of his devilish plans (everyone dies... most importantly, innocent characters - Desdemona in particular - are casualties of Iago's plot to get rid of Othello) demonstrates the flaws of human nature, one of the play's key themes.
ReplyDeleteOn a separate note, I also agree with Martha that Song of Solomon is an ideal fit for this prompt. Maybe in the conclusion of the essay it would make sense to bring up the Pilate vs. First Corinthians comparison - that while First Corinthians received a formal education, she is completely clueless in comparison to Pilate who has educated herself just by living - through her journey through life. This forces the reader to question which type of education is more valuable... it's a tangential point but possibly one that's conclusion-worthy.
I think Heart of Darkness would fit this prompt. The mystery being investigated is who Kurtz is. Marlow approaches the truth of Kurtz as he delves deeper into the jungle, and as he does so, he learns more about the darkness. When he eventually reaches the inner station, the reality of Kurtz is not what Marlow expected. He is instead, the epitome of the darkness. By reaching an unsatisfactory conclusion to the mystery of Kurtz, Marlow learns more about the darkness.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I would also use Heart of Darkness. The entire story has an air of mystery. From the serpentine river enchanting Marlow, to the doctor hinting that Africa drives people insane, we are constantly wondering how the journey into Africa will affcet Marlow, and us. The descriptions are very beautiful but all create an aura of ambiguity, further embellshing the mysterious nature of the novel. Then we are yanked into the story and its confusion as marlow becomes obsessed with Mr. Kurtz, and the narrative becomes faster. The overall mystery of Afric,its haunting wildness, never leaves the text and the reader. But the shroud is lifted from Kurtz's mysterious nature and we meet him, and see that like all men he dies. However, in his place a new mystery is created from his last utterance, "the horror, the horror", leaving Marlow, and us wondering the meaning behind those hanting words. And this pondering lets Marlow attain the knowledge about himself and life. He understands how his travel into Africa was infact a travel into the darkest depths of his psyche. He fought every obstacle good and bad( shirked all the moral calls, and defeated all barbaric ones) hindering him from reaching self-awareness. He finds the knowledge at the centre- enlightenment in the darkness. The transient nature of life, the immediacy to realizee knowledge about oneself- all become clear to him. Thus, this knowledgeable one is described as a Bhuddha at the end of the story.
DeleteI would use Jane Eyre. In Jane's journey to find out what is hiding in the attic she really discovers who she is as a person. While the mystery of Bertha Mason is unraveling themes of truth and religion emerge. Jane is introduced to three different types of truth and religion when she is introduced to three different character. Mr. Rochester, St. John, and Helen Burns each offer a different view of truth and religion and in that each offer a different identity for Jane to chose. The real mystery in the novel evolves form the mystery of who Bertha Mason is to the mystery of who is Jane Eyre.
ReplyDeleteThe entire premise of Heart of Darkness is mystery. The continent of Africa is shrouded in mystery, as are the motives of the natives and their actions. Kurtz is a much talked about but elusive and mystifying character. Marlow is hellbent on finding out who he really is, and is disappointed when he actually does. However, on his quest for knowledge he discovers the inner truth of the human condition.
ReplyDeleteI would write about The Power and the Glory, with the mystery being the location of the Whiskey Priest. The Lieutenant's search for answers in this mystery is symbolic of a search for faith, as well as an examination of human values and morality. One aspect of the mystery in the novel that illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole is how the reader is constantly aware of where the priest is, despite the fact that the lieutenant spends most of the book searching for him. This clearly demonstrates how search for the priest is far more significant than his eventual capture. One point that I would discuss about the significance of the search for the priest would be how the reader is forced to evaluate the treatment of others through the preconceived ideas held by the priest and the lieutenant about one another.
ReplyDeleteI, too, would use The Power and the Glory; however I would instead use the mystery of faith within the novel that the WP tries to understand throughout his journey. In several scenes, even though he is a priest, he questions the role of god and the whole idea of believing in something that does not tangibly exist. We see this in his discussion with the people in the jail cell where he argues with the pious women over the correct form of faith. Also there is the scene at the end of the novel where he questions god referencing the biblical story where Jesus tells his disciples that with true faith God will move mountains for them. This constant questioning of faith throughout the novel is why the novel is seen as a strong religious text. In questioning the mystery of faith the reader is made to question it as well which lends to the overall meaning of the book that faith is not blindly following but being able to question as the priest does and still believe as we see in the end of the novel
DeleteI'm pretty surprised that no one has chosen One Hundred Years of Solitude yet. The mystery of Melquiades's scroll pretty much dominates the entire novel. It isn't the focus 100% of the time, but there is this continuous quest to translate this scroll, as it is introduced in the very beginning of the novel, and only ultimately translated in the final pages. The knowledge that the quest for the scroll ultimately gives is obviously the story that we as readers have just finished reading. It is from this scroll that many of the fundamental thematic ideas of the novel arise. In a sense, it is the solving of this mystery that gives the novel all of its meaning.
ReplyDeleteI would write about One Hundred Years of Solitude where the mystery is the meaning of the parchments MelquÃades wrote and left for the family. The investigation parallels the family's realization (Ursula's observation that everything was repeating itself) and the reader's realization that the only way to escape the cycle of violence and horror is through examination and reading of literature, illuminating the meta-narrative aspect of the text as well as the overall theme of the immortality of words.
ReplyDeleteRegretting that I used Siddhartha last night, I really feel obligated to do so again... (Especially because of the use of the word "illuminated" in the question) The book is about one - perhaps we can include Govinda - man's quest to find Enlightenment, the ultimate meaning of life. Each event on his eventual path to his Enlightenment ends up leading him to the right answer, and even when he is living the opposite life to that of Enlightenment when he goes the way of the Samsara Siddhartha is closer to Enlightenment then than when he was at the beginning of his quest. Fortunately for Siddy, his failures culminate in a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts, and he is Enlightened while the reader, feeling he/she experienced this journey with him, is left un-Enlightened. The spark we are lacking is the individuality and uniqueness of each particular experience.
ReplyDeleteI would use Siddhartha. In this case, the mystery is enlightenment, which Sid seeks out in two ways. In the first, he attempts to rid himself of all craving, by being an ascetic. He becomes frustrated when he cannot achieve enlightenment in this way, and plunges himself into a life of carnal indulgence. After realizing this does not work either, he finally finds enlightenment in a river, as a ferryman. The entirety of "Siddhartha" follows Sid through his search for enlightenment, and contrasts his search with that of Govinda. While Siddhartha is constantly questioning and switching in the novel, Govinda blindly follows the ascetic way of life. When Siddhartha reaches enlightenment before Govina, we can see the message of the novel as a whole: that enlightenment can only be achieved by relying upon ourselves, and not the teachings and dogmas of others. We can see this through the two attempts that Sid makes. In his first ascetic attempt, he becomes disillusioned with the teachings of Gotama. He then takes on Kamala as a teacher, who also fails to bring him enlightenment. He then takes on Vasudeva as a teacher. But Vasudeva does not attempt to directly teach him englightenment. Instead, he teaches Sid how to look to the river for spiritual peace. Thus, Sid's experience throughout the book can be described as open-minded, various, questioning, and self-guiding. This approach to enligtenment contrasts with Govinda's, which is more myopic and unquestioning.
ReplyDeleteThus, the investigation to mystery is the main message of "Siddhartha". Hesse says that the approach to enlightenment is best taken in a way similar to Sid's.
My problem with using Sid for this prompt is that there is no real mystery in the book, other than exploring the unknown - which is not really much of a mystery in the piece, when compared to something like HoD.
ReplyDeleteI would use HoD. In the African Congo, Marlow encounters the entire African Jungle, and the jungle and the environment in HoD is treated as a character than just a setting. Marlow's journey plot wise is uneventful, so uneventful Marlow needs to create suspense and add breaks into the narration. However, the aspect of mystery and the knowledge gained from the mystery is much more. Marlow begins to question the ideas of people's humanity and his own values. This leads him to perhaps achieve his nirvana/Buddha state that he is described in.