We discussed in class why these novels have lost appeal to our generation. After thinking about this I think it’s the fact many of us have lost the ability to imagine. As I said in class the scenery description in Man of Feeling on page 64 as well as the third paragraph on page 90, are all to trigger ones imagination. Describing setting and scene in detail raises the chance of a reader recognizing something that pertains to them and so they build a picture around that. The description of the painting must have been one many readers would have known so for them they already can picture the scene more effectivly. unlike us since these days with our world moving in such speed that even sleep is becoming a chore, we don’t have time to imagine, we use other people and television to imagine for us. the serenity of sitting in the shade with the breeze hitting your face and the scent of spring in your soul is lost to our genertaion. I doubt it is easy for most of us to set up the Scene of page 90, which goes into detail of the sick man laying in a dirty bed and a woman supporting him. Mackenzie goes into great detail describing the women as an angel and how she smelled as well as that there was a tear on her cheek. From this we could build in our head a picture of a woman who we too thought to look like an angel, this is the beauty of these novels, the fact that such skill was required to entice a reader to read so many pages is amazing and lost to us. Like we said in a previous class one has to place themselves in the time of the novel to truly appreciate their words. just look at our generation and the exploration many authors are doing with literature. all this to create a new way to grasp the reader to pick up a book, just look as Crying of Lot 49, Hood and other modern day novels.
I leave you with a question, do you still imagine the words when you read?
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3 comments:
Beautiful comment Eddie and extremely insightful. I think you hit on some very important ideas: it requires patience and effort to envision a scene that is being described in words; books can help us do that better; by imagining a scene we make it more personal to us, which gives it a far deeper impact--our imagination makes us part of the book, makes its concerns ours. Your description of sitting in the shade and feeling the breeze strongly reminds me of some of the effects in Mysteries of the Udolpho--I look forward to hearing what you think of that novel!
I would have to really agree with you. I think what you are saying makes so much sense. I guess I would have to say the same about Harry Potter. Many people may not really like the book becasue they honestly can't really imagine and be in that world and find it difficult to really just sit and relax and enjoy the book. The same thing could be said about any book that isn't as realitic as we would like.
I loved reading your comment. While this particular book did not move me in this way, the experience of immersing yourself while reading is one of the best things about opening the cover of a new novel. Being transported in time, place and sensibility is something that makes reading one of my first and foremost methods of relaxation and de-stressing. It has been, for me, a way to recapture the ability to stay in the moment, which, as you point out, is becoming a lost skill. It is very hard for me to find a book that I cannot lose myself in, and this was one of those rare books. It has been great reading the comments of those who were able to find those qualities in this book. I always learn when I look at something through someone else’s eyes. It my not change my mind, but it always opens my mind. Thanks for your comment.
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