Introduction
Welcome to the course blog! We will use this space to discuss the readings and generate material for your papers and the comprehensive exam.
In order for you to post comments I need to add you to the blog roster. You should have received an email from blogger.com inviting you to be a member of this blog. All you need to do is click on the link in the email and I will take care of the rest.
Here is your first blog assignment: Given the tenets of liberal humanism as laid out in Beginning Theory and the example on pp. 31-2 of how such an approach might make sense of Poe's short story "The Oval Portrait," how would you go about writing a liberal humanist critique of Heart of Darkness? In your response, you might want to summarize briefly what liberal humanism is, state what aspects of the story you might focus on, and consider how you might begin to tie together an essay. Are any of the definitions in the Abrams glossary helpful? While these topics are recommended, don't feel constrained to them if your response is otherwise.
Obviously, only the first chapter of Heart of Darkness has been assigned so far but you should feel free to read futher or even finish the novella if you wish. Try to write two or three focused paragraphs that also respond a little bit to one of your classmates. If you have any questions or need clarification, go ahead and post them here or send me an email (the address is on the syllabus).
If inclined, you can also find to the right the links to the two optional readings from T.S. Eliot and F.R. Leavis.
Welcome to the course blog! We will use this space to discuss the readings and generate material for your papers and the comprehensive exam.
In order for you to post comments I need to add you to the blog roster. You should have received an email from blogger.com inviting you to be a member of this blog. All you need to do is click on the link in the email and I will take care of the rest.
Here is your first blog assignment: Given the tenets of liberal humanism as laid out in Beginning Theory and the example on pp. 31-2 of how such an approach might make sense of Poe's short story "The Oval Portrait," how would you go about writing a liberal humanist critique of Heart of Darkness? In your response, you might want to summarize briefly what liberal humanism is, state what aspects of the story you might focus on, and consider how you might begin to tie together an essay. Are any of the definitions in the Abrams glossary helpful? While these topics are recommended, don't feel constrained to them if your response is otherwise.
Obviously, only the first chapter of Heart of Darkness has been assigned so far but you should feel free to read futher or even finish the novella if you wish. Try to write two or three focused paragraphs that also respond a little bit to one of your classmates. If you have any questions or need clarification, go ahead and post them here or send me an email (the address is on the syllabus).
If inclined, you can also find to the right the links to the two optional readings from T.S. Eliot and F.R. Leavis.
posted by Jeff at
8:01 PM
5 Comments:
Thanks, Donna Marie, but I don't need the usernames after all. So for anyone who hasn't sent theirs yet, there's no need. Sorry for the mixup.
By
Jeff, at 7/18/2006 9:59 AM
Well, I guess I'll get the ball rolling...
According to Peter Barry and M.H. Abrams, liberal humanism describes an approach to criticism that closely examines a text for themes, ideas and beliefs that are universal to the human condition. A liberal humanist criticism would focus on the ideas behind a book, and less on characters, plot, and imagery. That is, unless these aspects of the work in some way related to the messages that the critic was examining.
Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" actually lends itself quite well to this approach and this is evident even in the first chapter. In fact, looking for opinions and ideas in the first chapter of "Heart of Darkness" is like looking for a computer at Brooklyn College--they are everywhere. Conrad's protagonist and pseudo-narrator, Marlow, pontificates regularly on such subjects as reputation, greed and civility. In fact, one could argue that Marlow is often rambling, just as a tired sailor might while recounting his adventures to a captive audience.
That said, a true liberal humanist would look past Marlow (an unreliable narrator whose words are clouded by perspective, experience and time) and try to deduce what messages Conrad is trying to convey. Rather than focus on Marlow's words, he or she would examine his actions. For instance, Marlow does feel sympathy for the starving, sick natives. After all, he does share his biscuit with one. Yet, when an African is being savagely beaten, Marlow does not lift a finger to help him. One one hand, this could be a sign that Conrad cares little for the Africans, and does not view them as true human beings. On the other hand, the fact that Conrad even mentions the beatings could be an attempt to illustrate the cruelty of the white settlers and tradesmen. Marlow is not portrayed as an extraordinary man. Maybe Conrad fells it would take someone more heroic to stand up for the Africans? Is advocating for the rights and safety of the oppressed the duty of only the heroic? Questions like these are more likely to interest humanists than Marlow's endless ramblings.
--Matthew Fisher
Mattfisher@hotmail.com
By
Matt Fisher, at 7/19/2006 1:48 PM
Wow, a thumbnail sketch of liberal humanism is a real challenge. Kudos to Matt for breaking the ice!As Matt said, liberal humanism is specifically concerned with universality of theme, idea and belief, but drawing on Barry specifically, it would seem additionally that the overarching concerns of liberal humanism would be the moral edification of readers and literature which illustrates it's subject matter in a sincere and natural manner. The transcendence of time and place are also significant, as well as the edifying intent of literature in the reinforcement and "propagation of humane values." (Barry;19) Additionally, the demonstrative as opposed to rhetorical emphasis, the showing and not telling aspect, is also of particular importance, mostly because we hear it all the time.
As I said, I'm finding the quick definition challenging. In regard to Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" there is a wealth of ideas in the first thirty pages which fall within the parameters if the liberal humanist ideal. It's hard at this late date to exclude issues of theory such as post-colonialism, feminism, and psychology when looking at this book, and I have to work to stay focused on the text alone. So let me include that stand alone feature of liberal humanism which examines the work free of context.
That said, Conrad calls into question the "principles" which drive the endeavor, the nature of civilization, and the power of nature in opposition to the power of men. I think that a prevailing message of the first chapter is that men, in the absence of the familiar constraints of modern society are left to their own devices to make sense of the world that confronts them, and that "human nature" and the nobility of that nature are fragile at best and questionable certainly. As an extension of this, the idea of racial superiority is rightfully questioned and illustrated by the desperation and anxiety prevalent among the invading force. So, I guess that if I was going to write an essay with liberal humanism as the basis in regard to this work, I would probably start along those lines. I also think that Conrad is amasterful storyteller, and find him to have a very strong organic quality.
Robert Damon
By
Robert Damon, at 7/19/2006 5:43 PM
To coin a phrase from Elsky's Shakespeare class, liberal humanism argues that great literature is a "system of cosmic themes." Read in isolation from history and context, great literature distinguishes itself from not-so-great literature strictly on the merit of the text itself and its ability to express the universal, unchanging human condition. It is this universality which lends great literature its timeless quality.
Although the focus in liberal humanism is on universal themes, structure and language, evident in close reading, can be used to evidence the theme. For example, in Heart of Darkness one theme that stands out is man's secret inner dark self. The constant appearance of dark colors and dark imagery throughout the novel can be seen as evident of this theme. Another tenet of liberal humanism is the "silent" showing of something, rather than merely explaining it. To use another example from Heart of Darkness, in illustrating the theme that work and responsibilty are all that keep man civilized, Conrad uses the depiction of the savage cannibal feeding wood to the steam engine.
I really liked how Saara summed up Conrad's themes, particularly the "fear of the unknown." I feel like this really hits it on the head, while some other classmates' analyses tended to throw it into the category of racial tensions. Although questions of racial superiority can seem universal to human nature, phrasing it in that way seems to be giving it too much of a political agenda, which goes against the tenets of liberal humanism.
By
Niela, at 7/19/2006 10:45 PM
In response to Daniela while I agree that there is a political dimension to the concept of racial superiority, in regard to this work I don't think that it's consideration as a theme violates the "tenets of liberal humanism" because it is a question that arises directly from the text, in Conrad's depiction of the "pilgrims" in contrast with the "natives", and in statements such as "weaning those ignorant millions of their horrid ways." There is a deliberate contrast of the so-called "civilized" with the "savage" that begs the question on a moral level.
By
Robert Damon, at 7/20/2006 7:55 AM
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