Comments for El Blog de Twanda

Comment on End-Game by Christopher Conway

Christopher Conway — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 21:12:39 +0000

I’m pleased with the polished quality of your blog posts. Keep up the excellent work.

Comment on Frederic: Idealism vs. Realism by Christopher Conway

Christopher Conway — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 21:11:41 +0000

Your what if questions are very well taken. I’m glad you got into this novel so much. Good job.

Comment on Pedro Páramo by Catherine

Catherine — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 20:16:35 +0000

I agree with your comment that the feudal aspect of village life definitely lead to migration into the cities. And perhaps there is also some irony in that, as well, since in the cities there are also patriarchal figures in the government who have almost the same iron grip on the populace, or at least on the people who migrate there and end up being unskilled labor in factories, etc., where they are effectively changing on despotic ruler for another.

Comment on End-Game by Catherine

Catherine — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 20:11:46 +0000

I agree that routine is a key factor in making any sense of the play: since their existence is meaningless from every other point of view they mention, routine becomes a form of survival. Which perhaps leads to the thought,”But what for?” thus taking us back to square one. Isn’t Beckett frustrating at times?!

Comment on Frederic: Idealism vs. Realism by Catherine

Catherine — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 06:33:06 +0000

I agree with you that Frederic would have destroyed the ‘pedestal’ image he had of Mme. Arnoux if he had slept with her. But I also think Flaubert wanted to show up Frederic for the shallow character he was. He clearly lost interest when he saw how she had aged because his idyllic image of her was of a permanently youthful beauty. Frederic was a cad, and survived on his silly little castles in the air of a perfect world that does not exist. And yes, Louise would have been a good choice. But… that would have given a semblance of a happy ending, and Flaubert would never have approved, right?

Comment on Sab: Sublime Love by Catherine

Catherine — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 20:00:44 +0000

I was convinced, while reading Sab, that Carlota would at some point realize how much she meant to Sab while he was still alive. But I suppose, perhaps in the spirit of tragic romanticism (am I way off track here? —probably!), she does not have any idea until reading his letter to Teresa. That may have been part of Avellaneda’s intent, in any case, to emphasize the fact that we often come to our senses about a situation when it is a lost cause.

Comment on Candide’s Journey to Maturity by Catherine

Catherine — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 19:53:45 +0000

When push came to shove, Candide ultimately went the way of common sense, even if underneath he was still questioning the theories of Pangloss. I think he tried to keep those thoughts alive as long as it was actually feasible, but after experiencing both the horrors of European life and the utopia of El Dorado, he came up with the compromise that Volataire was perhaps pointing out: find something sensible that gives you a purpose in life, and little by little you will be able to cultivate a garden that is a relatively good place to live, even if it is not the Garden of Eden. The “Experience and observation” that you point out, are, I believe the essential questions here. Good thought-provoking post.

Comment on Candide’s Journey to Maturity by Lyn

Lyn — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 16:58:12 +0000

I agree that Candide did in the end form and recognize his own beliefs. Pangloss’ theory was contradicated again and again, and it seemed that he had to taught the same lesson repeatly until it was a situation that left him little choice. Candide did a lot of questioning, but it was interesting that he seemed to want to reinforce what he was taught and was reluctant to change it. And today we have a tendancy to stick with what’s easier and more confortable. Without evaluating and really thinking about it, a lot of people just repeat what they have heard. I agree with first comment that few people seem to question why they believe what they do. Thank you. That was a good post.

Comment on Candide’s Journey to Maturity by J.D.

J.D. — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 01:34:47 +0000

I would counter that those of us who are thinking adults do look at what our parents taught us and also our experiences and then make our own decisions/ beliefs that may or may not be different. However, I see a lot of people who just believe XYZ because “that is the way it has always been” or simply that is all they have known, so thats what they believe. I guess my growing up in rural West Virginia, I have witnessed such backwardness and non-thinking in the lives of so many people. It takes me about 2 weeks when I visit there to want to run screaming away as far as I can. Even in 2007, there are too many non-thinkers who are just plain idiots when it comes to using their brain to come up with why they believe what they do.

Comment on ¡HOLA! by Briones

Briones — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 04:55:14 +0000

Hey,
I enjoyed reading your blog. I hope to that I can meet you soon.