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[Mar. 24th, 2007|04:54 pm] |
What is unknown in the gothic is sometimes an unknown culture, an unknown past, an unknown character, or even an unknown ‘reality’, and often a combination of these things. Discuss the threat of the unknown in wuthering heights.
The overall threat of the unknown in Wuthering Heights concerns the unravelling of a narrative whereby characters are introduced before their past has been thoroughly explored. Lockwood’s initial discovery of Wuthering Heights and its inhabitants reveals very little in the way of an explanation concerning their dispositions. As the narrative unfolds the unknown element for readers is gradually removed, yet replacing it is a sense of foreboding at the characters lack of knowledge of their fate, and the reader’s subsequent frustration as the characters ‘unknowing’ leads to their inevitable demise at the triumph of Heathcliff. Although the narratives conclusion is rightfully concealed from readers, throughout the novel one questions whether the threat of Heathcliff will be overcome as the genuine mystery surrounding the outcome of the narrative is caused by the characters continually acting in ways which ensure the success of Heathcliff’s malicious aspirations.
The threat of the unknown is also interwoven throughout details of the narrative to contribute to an overall notion of malicious intentions. Heathcliff’s origins are rendered absent from both the characters and readers knowledge, lending plausibility to Ellen Dean’s ponderings as to whether he is some sort of demon and an added depth to the novels component of fear. There is also the threat of death and its unknown element is presented through the causes of several characters deaths as being contributed to mental weaknesses. As emotions are contained within ones own mind, neither readers nor fellow characters can completely grasp the deceased’s state of mind prior to their death, thus rendering the ‘unknown’ a threat upon their lives. |
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| Compare the representation of Renton and Lolita as consumers |
[Sep. 20th, 2006|01:15 pm] |
Both Renton and Lolita are represented as consumers, through their respective lifestyles consisting of drug addiction and teenage popular culture. Although both Renton and Lolita are clearly involved in a life of consumption, Lolita partakes in the lifestyle of consuming mass culture, albeit in a manner suitable for a teenage female, which Renton criticizes and abhors by choosing to participate in a lifestyle which rejects any notion of ‘normal’ consumption.
It is precisely the respective categorisation of Renton’s consumption of drugs as an illegal addiction, and Lolita’s consumption of mass culture as ‘normal’ and even encouraged by society, which demonstrates the similarities in the representation of Renton and Lolita as consumers. Society would consider Lolita’s consumption to be of an acceptable nature, especially within the context of American popular culture however through Humbert’s commentary on the subject, it can be seen that Lolita’s consumption could also be categorised as an unhealthy addiction.
Renton’s consumption of drugs is represented as vividly self-destructive and also as being of a detrimental effect to his peers, which corresponds with the dominant opinion on drug addiction, prevalent within contemporary society. If it were not for the representation of Lolita’s consumption through Humbert’s observations, one may assume her obsession with teenage mass culture is indeed typical of a teenage girl, and of no detriment to herself or others, therefore establishing her habit as socially acceptable.
Drug addiction is typically seen as more dangerous than addiction to products of mass culture because the consumption of drugs inhibits one from leading a ‘normal’ life consisting of financial security and raising a family. However, the representation of Lolita’s addiction to the consumption of popular culture demonstrates how such a habit can have detrimental effects upon ones intelligence, behaviour, intellectual capacity and ability to think for ones own self. Therefore, the representation of Renton and Lolita as consumers demonstrates the negative effects of their addiction to consumption, regardless of society's acceptance of their respective addictions. |
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| Inclusion of Lolita or Eminem into high school curricula |
[Sep. 4th, 2006|02:34 pm] |
Although both Lolita and Eminem would be subject to criticism upon inclusion into high school curricula, Eminem would undoubtedly attract intense criticism on the grounds that the artist and his music would be deemed not only unsuitable for teenagers to study, but also a futile component of the curricula as the content of Eminem’s music would be considered devoid of any educational value.
Even though both Lolita and Eminem deal with controversial topics which would no doubt be the basis of objection to their inclusion into high school curricula, Lolita is a literary work which typically suggests that it is somewhat more valuable in terms of educational merit. With Eminem being derived from popular culture, public opinion would see no point in high school students studying something which they consume on an everyday level, as the meaning behind Eminem’s music would be diluted by his infamy.
Lolita has the advantage of being significantly older and more intellectually respectable than Eminem’s music; therefore the controversial content of the text could perhaps be overlooked in favour of its academic repute. The novel is undeniably well written and encourages readers to consider themes other than paedophilia, such as consumerism which would perhaps deem Lolita a more relevant text than Eminem for inclusion into high school curricula.
Although Eminem’s music would be more familiar to high school students and perhaps more readily identified with than Nabokov’s Lolita, public opinion would determine that students’ enthusiasm for Eminem may override any educational benefit the music might offer. By studying a text such as Lolita, it would hardly be cause for concern that the content would impact negatively upon students, so much so that they would fail to appreciate the literary beauty of such a work. However the argument against Eminem is precisely centred on the effect his supposed destructive persona has upon influential youth. Therefore the public would hardly want to further expose students to Eminem, a ‘moral threat’ to contemporary youth culture. |
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