Today we went over Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 in class. We came up with many different interpretations of how the poems made us feel/think, but they can all pretty much be divided into 2 different views: The optimistic/Romantic view and the pessimistic/I hate love poetry group. Now since this is my post I am only going to share my feelings on the matter and not bother showing the pros and cons of each side (that's bogus writing stuff). I definitely am in the first group of Romantics and optimists (surprising I know, who would think I would be optimistic). The general consensus of the angry unhappy people was that the poem, which focuses on the power of love, is just one giant, overused cliche. I have to agree with that. First of all is cliches are cliches it is because people use them a lot, and they would not use the cliches if they didn't have some sort of importance, influence, or special meaning in their lives. I would have to say that love is a cliche, but not a cliche in bad way.
The poem gave me a very happy feeling. It was a very romantic and optimistic view on the power of love and all that true love can overcome. I feel like today, in a world where we focus mostly on the negative aspects of life (I am guilty here), it is important to almost force yourself into thinking/reading/seeing positive things. Part of the reason why a lot of people felt that this was an overdone cheese fest, I think, was because, as a generation, we have been bred into a lot of negativity and that is what we have come to known in our everyday lives. Many people may feel that this is incorrect, but if you spend the day listening to all the negative things you say, even the small statements, you would find that you complain quite a bit. It is not like I am trying to pull a "holier then thou" attitude because I am as guilty as anyone of being negative (as you can see from my previous blogs)
In the end, I think that reading the sonnet and the reactions that we had to it as a smaller representation of a much larger and more looming problem that we as humans have today.
Furnace Spring Texas
7 years ago
3 comments:
Well to start off, I think it is obvious I am in the "I hate love poetry group", as far as this poem goes, though in reality, I have been known at intervals to enjoy romantic verse. That aside, I find, especially in that poem, people have too much a romanticized view on life. In that, instead of believing it is necessary to force one's self into thinking about "happy thoughts"...perhaps it is better to stay in the world and deal with the problems facing the global community today instead of putting them in the back of our minds hoping they disappear. I'm not trying to be the dark cloud of impending despondency, but I do believe that love, in the way Shakespeare pens it, is an unrealistic view of life and leads to unrealistic expectations. Call me jaded, it wouldn't be the first time I've heard someone say that...
I don't think we should ignore the problems that are facing the world. In no way do I think that would help anything. I am just feeling that people today completely SURROUND themselves with negativity. I am a perfect example of this. I am constantly complaining about this or that, and none of these things are problems that are important to anyone but me. It is this kind of constant complaining that I feel is the problem. It is us making "mountains of of molehills" in order to _________ (I'm not sure yet. The reason is different for everyone). That was all I was saying. The funny thing is that when I started the post I had no intention of going where I went with it. I guess it is one of the weird ways blogging makes our minds work...
Well, EM, first off I am glad we both found it in us to blog about Lit today. Congrats. Secondly, I think the world would be a hundred times better if people all fell into the first group you mentioned( the romantics maybe?) I for one am a strong believer in loving and being open to love. If everyone were to put up walls against love, or bully love no one could survive. One can't just think about themselves. "Give love a chance". I found this sonnet to be refreshing.
-Riz
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