The Verses from Satan by Gabriel ...says Rushdie

“The Satanic Verses” by Salman Rushdie

This week the class began reading “The Satanic Verses” by Salman Rushdie.   We began talking about the controversy surrounding the book, the author, the title, and the two verses said to be given to Muhammad by Satan, inscribed in the Qu’ran, by the angel Gibreel.   Salman Rushdie because of the title, “The Satanic Verses” was sought after to be killed by Islamic followers, without even reading the book for any fact that may be contained.   For several years, Rushdie was in hiding for his life.   Some may say it’s just a book, but the followers of the Islamic faith believe it to be blasphemy.  This #1 New York Times Bestseller has a comment on the cover by Nadine Gordimer stating, “A staggering achievement, brilliantly enjoyable.”   I must say that this novel is quite entertaining (that which I have read so far).   The book is broken up into 9 chapters.   As you being to open the novel, you come up to an excerpt from Daniel Defoe’s novel “The History of the Devil” which begins stating, “Satan being thus confined to a vagabond, wandering, unsettled condition, is without any certain abode; for though he has, in consequence of his angelic nature, a kind of empire in the liquid waste or air, yet this is certainly part of his punishment, that he is… without any fixed place, or space, allowed him to rest the sole of his foot upon.”   If that does not peak your interest as to what is actually going to be revealed in this book, I don’t know what else would.   I was instantly drawn in.   After which, I read another caption, “Inextricably linked with the fatwa called against its author in the wake of the novel's publication, The Satanic Verses is, beyond that, a rich showcase for Salman Rushdie's comic sensibilities, cultural observations, and unparalleled mastery of language. The tale of an Indian film star and a Bombay expatriate,

Rushdie's masterpiece was deservedly honored with the Whitbread Prize. The story begins with a bang: the terrorist bombing of a London-bound jet in midflight. Two Indian actors of opposing sensibilities fall to earth, transformed into living symbols of what is angelic and evil. This is just the initial act in a magnificent odyssey that seamlessly merges the actual with the imagined. A book whose importance is eclipsed only by its quality, The Satanic Verses is a key work of our times.”

Ok now I must begin…… Part 1 The Angel Gibreel

The Art of Love or The Art of Manipulation

This week the class examined "The Art of Love" by Ovid.   Although it was quit funny, even hilarious, I felt uneasy by the responses  some of my younger classmates.    It was as if we condone manipulation as a from of art to which an end is "love".   Yes, there is compromise to maintain a healthy relationship. The way we see relationships and courting in the western hemisphere is different than the way people from other cultures view this intimate process.   The discussion of how different cultures believe in still asking the parents to date or marry was brought up.   The temperment of an individual plays a part in how aggressive one will pursue a relationship.   If a person is shy, one may not manipulate on a quest for love.   Everyone and everything is a teacher of either what to do or what not to do.   "The Art of Love", in it humor and art of writing, is claerly an example of what not to do if you really are seeking love.   I think of my instructor as the perfect example of temperment and humor for love to come to him, instead of manipulating your way into someone's heart.

To prey on the weak as animals seems like the western thought of obtaining a relationship.   Don't show the person how much you really care, in case it does'nt work out.   If my interputation of this poem is incorrect my apologies.   I enjoyed reading this poem and discussing the interputation of it in class.   But as I started to think of how the application of this form of manipulation is used in today society, I understand why families are breaking up so easily, pregnancy rate is so high, diseases are being spread at alarming rates, all of this passed through my mind and I began to be agitated by the TRUTH >

Eastern Hero v.s Western Hero

A Comparison / Contrast

            The hero is one of the most common of all archetypes that appear in literature, films, and other forms of popular culture.   Although, all cultures have some version of the hero, eastern and western heroes have specific characteristics that come from their culture and social norms of that particular hemisphere.   A hero is an individual that goes on a quest or adventure, in order to restore order or regain position in society, whether by fate or personal satisfaction.   A hero, often a distinguished individual, overcomes evil and gains a desired position or objective, through their skills.  In this comparison / contrast, some specific concepts and characteristics of the eastern hero, Arjuna of Bhagavad-Gita, and western hero, Archilles of the Iliad, will be examined through the four major conflicts of literature, man verses himself, man verses man, man verses society, and man verses nature.

            The first major conflict, man verses himself, deals with one’s own challenge with one’s self that may conflict with achieving the desired position or objective.   The eastern hero, Arjuna, in his quest for enlightenment, which is achieved through the dissolution of the soul, attained by means of renunciation, selfless service, and meditation, is constrained due to his compassion, grief, and misunderstanding of the concept of detachment, which is the letting go of one’s body cravings, temptations, and aversions of freedom.   Arjuna, through the guidance of Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, the Preserver responsible for maintaining the cycle of dharma and karma in the world, realizes that enlightenment can bring him in union and obtain the faith necessary for the yogic path.   With this awakening, Arjuna overcomes his conflict with himself and is about to seize his objective.    For the western hero, Achilles, bloodlust, wrath, pride, and rage distract his ability to act with nobility and integrity.   Unlike Arjuna, Achilles yearns to live a long and easy life, but he is willing to sacrifice everything so that his name will be remembered.   What western heroes most long for is a reputation for excellence and honor; this guarantees meaning and value to one’s life.   To die old and unsung would is a disgrace, thus compels Achilles to be ruled by his senses.   By analyzing the first major conflict, man verses himself, the comparison /contrast of the eastern and western heroes, Arjuna and Achilles, infers that the eastern hero battles with himself to separate himself from his emotions, while the westernhero embraces and is dominated by his emotions.

            The second major conflict, man verses man, looks at the challenge that one has with another person.   The eastern hero, Arjuna, is a great warrior, who is in conflict with the teachings of Krishna.   When Arjuna refuses to follow, Krishna reveals himself as his most powerful form.   The respect Arjuna has for the knowledge gained by Krishna that learning to act in accordance with the Divine, not as the result and in service to one’s own ego, which is destructive illusions, reconciles the conflict; Arjuna completes the purpose of his cycle, which is to work off his karma.   Achilles, the western hero, is a great warrior and is the mightiest in the Achaean army, thrives off of conflict with others.   When King Agamemnon awards and abducts Achilles’ war prize woman, Briseis, he refuses to continue to fight for the king and the Trojan army is inflicted with heavy personal damage.   Conflict continues when Hector slaughters Patroclus, Achilles’ friend (or lover) and ignites Achilles’ rage and pursuit of the death of Hector.   After killing Hector, Achilles ties the body of Hector to his chariot and drags the dead corpse through the dirt and sand for days.   In the comparison / contrast of eastern and western heroes, Arjuna and Achilles, the second major conflict, man verses man, reveals the eastern hero strives to resolve conflict between himself and another person, while the western hero proliferates to conflicts between himself and another person.     The third major conflict, man verses society, is the concept of conflict between the person and many others.   When Arjuna is face with fighting his family, which he believes is a crime to which will breakdown society and causing all men to go to hell.   Thinking that he is fighting over a kingdom to which he is not the rightful heir, Krishna tells Arjuna it is his duty to fight the Kauravas for his kingdom, thus correcting the balance of good and evil.   Arjuna understands and proceeds with his duty.   The western hero, Achilles, has been guilty of numerous murders, rape, and sacrilege.   Achilles tries to dodge the draft through transvestitism.  He abandons his comrades and sits on the sideline while they are being murdered.  As a result, Patroclus was killed.   The assay of the comparison / contrast of the eastern and western heroes, Arjuna and Achilles, in the third major conflict, man verses society, proclaims the eastern hero compiles with authority, duty, and order of society, while the western hero pursues his own authority, duty, and order of society.

 The fourth and final major conflict, man verses nature, examines the conflict between the person and nature (or something non-human).   Both Arjuna and Achilles understand that being a warrior is their fate, a sacrifice of their own lives for duty unto the Gods, society,

           

 and themselves.    Both heroes are aided by the Gods to protect and honor.  The eastern hero embraces mortality, its spiritual cycle of birth and death, and karmic consequences.   The western hero is immobilized with his mortality and the limitations one has to accomplish something within that lifespan.   Considering the conflict, man verses nature, in the comparison / contrast of eastern and western heroes, Arjuna and Achilles, the synopsis is that the eastern hero takes possession of his mortality to enrich life, while the western hero confronts mortality as if to search for the meaning of life within death.

 

The hero, glorified, respected, and feared, is universal in literature, films, and even life.   Their quest for resolution, change, and honor is the center and pivotal at the same time.   Through observing their fight to protect, strive for excellence, and sacrificial fate from the Gods, the eastern and western heroes palpitate to different rhythms and concepts.   In a comparison / contrast of the eastern hero, Arjuna, and the western hero, Achilles, through the four major conflicts, man verses himself, man verses man, man verses society, and man verses nature, it is inferred that the eastern hero battles himself to separate himself from his emotions, strives to resolve conflicts between himself and another person, complies with authority, duty and order of society, and takes possession of his mortality to enrich his life, while the western hero embraces and is dominated by his emotions, advances to conflicts between himself and another person, pursues his own authority, duty, and order of society, and confronts mortality searching for the meaning of life within death.

Honored Marc: The Matrix

Honored Marc: The Matrix:  China  The week ended with the round-up of "Salvage the Bones" by Jesmyn Ward.   A book which captured the experience of a rural...

The Matrix

China





The week ended with the round-up of "Salvage the Bones" by Jesmyn Ward.   A book which captured the experience of a rural family, before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina, over the course of 12 days. This literary composition had all the ideographic of a typical poor country family, early sexual activity, drug usage, dog fighting, egg hunting, death, deceit, and unity.   The one thing that truely magnetized me was the bonding of the children.   The father was a drunk, preoccupied with everything but the well-being of his family.  The mother, surrendering her child and her life, was absent, but left a lifetime of memories.  The children were submerged with life on life terms and united through the storm of adult situations.   I was impressed with Ms. Ward's writing style.  The reader could feel, smell, taste, hear, and see the experience, line for line.  Each character played such an important put of the development of this story.  One could either judge the character because one could not relate to that experience or one would empathize having experienced or know of someone else's experience.   When a child is not educated about the emotional exposure of sex, so-called falling in love, pregnancy, and hormone development, there is no telling what may come of that child's life.  For Esch, the daughter, being sexually active at the age of 13, is not uncommon in the state of Mississippi.  I was engrossed with her love affair with Manny.  I can remember being so in love at that age, so I thought, or even loving someone for which you cannot have, how common is that for humans of all ages.   Even when we know better,as we age, emotions are very powerful.   But I was just as hurt when Esch realized that the person she thought she loved, the father of her baby, didn't love her back. Big Henry said it best, "this baby got plenty of daddies".   It takes a village to raise a child.   The unity that Ward unveiled in "Salavage the Bones"exemplifies rural family life.   Jesmyn tells about motherhood through the mother, the matriarch of the family, Mother Lizbeth, the grandmother, China, the dog, and Esch, the mother-to-be.   She also exposes the role of the male with many illustrations of the diversity, from Papa Joesph on down to Junior.   I am truly appreciative to have read this book.  And ever more glad that I brought it, to remain in my possession for eternity.  Thanks Doc. 

Esch





Good Times

"We on our backs staring at the stars above,

Talking about what we going to be when we grow up,

I said what you wanna be? She said, "Alive.""

-Outkast, "Da Art of Storytellin' (Part 1)." AQUEMINI