Drawing Parallels (9)
Now that we've finished reading four texts, it's time to draw some parallels between either characters or plot elements (i.e. entities or events) of at least two different narratives. We've discussed some of these in class already. Anne Elliot and Odysseus (the various stages of a homeward journey). Anne Elliot and Penelope (the strong woman who holds things together). Weston's speech to Oyarsa and Elizabeth's diatribe about Mr. Elliot (the speech that needs translating and clarifying). The journeys of both Odysseus and Ransom (they come full circle, but the men are changed in various ways).
Now it's your turn. Discuss a new parallel from our texts, being sure to first give us the location of each (especially if it's a single unique scene). Then present a clear argument for why the two characters/events/dialogues/landscapes/etc. are, in fact, similar and comparable. NOTE: you must each write about a different parallel. You can use the same characters/scenes as a previous post if necessary, but you must draw out a new point of comparison and analysis. In other words, read previous posts carefully.
One of the most notice able parallels between “The Odyssey” and “Persuasion” is the behavior of the woman who have lost a person they loved. Penelope having lost Odysseus and Anne having lost Captain Wentworth, both had to endure and put-off the advances of suitors. Penelope had many suitors in her home all of them constantly waiting for her to choose one of them to marry. In order to stay loyal to Odysseus, Penelope had to persuade the suitors that she would eventually choose one. To do this she came up with her basket weaving scheme telling the suitors “go slowly, keen as you are to marry me, until I can finish off this web” (Book II, Line 106-07), so she would never have to choose one, and never give up her loyalty to her husband. While Penelope persuaded the suitors so she could hopefully be reunited with the one she loved, Anne had to avoid the persuasion of others in hopes she would one day reunite with Captain Wentworth. First she had to turn down Charles Musgrove, and then she had the more difficult task of not being persuaded to marry Mr. Elliot. Anne had everyone around her telling her how perfect she would be with Mr. Elliot. Lady Russell particularly tired to persuade her, saying, “I own that to be able to regard you as the future mistress of Kellynch, the future Lady Elliot”(129), basically telling her it was her destiny. Still she held out, she was in love with Captain Wentworth and was not willing to settle for any one but him. Both Penelope and Anne were separated from the one they loved for very long periods of time, and while one used her ability to persuade, and the other had to avoid being persuaded, they both knew whom they loved, and that was what lead them through all their actions.
ReplyDeleteThe parallel that I drew between The Odyssey and Persuasion was between the characters Mr. Elliot and Calypso. Both of these characters in both the books are selfish, deceiving, powerful, and greedy. Also, both of them are trying to keep the main characters (Anne and Odysseus) from their true loves for their own personal satisfaction and gain.
ReplyDeleteIn the scene in Persuasion where everyone is at Darymple’s dinner party and Anne is finally speaking with Wentworth, Mr. Elliot cuts in to talk her attention from Wentworth. Mr. Elliot’s company completely steals her away from what she truly wants which is to be with Fredrick. His way of deceiving her and others with his charm distracts her from what is important to her. This scene draws a parallel with The Odyssey when Odysseus is at Calypso’s and she distracts him from continuing his journal home to what is truly wants which is to be back home with his wife Penelope. Her beauty and charm set him off path, as well. Both of these story lines are so similar and both Calypso and Mr. Elliot and bumps in the road for the protagonists of these books.
Two characters that I see a parallel between are Anne and Esther. At first it seems that these two women are weak. Anne does not show a lot of strength in the first volume of Persuasion and often going along with whatever is being told to her. In the story of Esther, we see relatively the same thing, she is quiet, doesn’t say a lot, and often just goes along with what she is being told. These women are also similar because they both seem persuaded easily. Given the title of Persuasion, you see early on that Anne is persuaded to not be with the man she loves because they would have a hard time making a life together. Esther is persuaded to be with the King and then persuaded to save her people.
ReplyDeleteAs the two stories go on, the reader starts to see the strength of both women. Beginning on page 188 in Persuasion, we start to see that Anne is defending herself, through the sake of argument, and making it clear that she has never forgotten the feeling of losing Wentworth. Yet, she has stayed strong and made it through the last 8 years. In the story of Esther, we can see Esther planning dinners and get-together’s in order to save her people and herself from death.
Both Esther and Anne are strong women, who in similarity were underestimated and often looked over. Esther, in the respect that she was a woman and women could not possibly be smarter than men, showed that she could rise above and ultimately save all of her people. Anne, did not even have respect from her family, yet she remained strong and eventually let them go and decided to make herself happy.
In my opinion, Out of the Silent Planet (OSP) and The Odyssey are the two most related texts that we have read thus far. Similarities can be found in both the plot lines and in character profiles which creates a striking parallel between the two books.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, Odysseus and Ransom can be compared on many levels. Ransom is a very well educated man. He is a Philologist and a professor at Cambridge College (pg. 10). On page 20 of OSP, the narrator says that “he did not feel afraid, though he knew that he ought to be afraid” about Ransom. I believe that Ransom was unafraid because of his vast knowledge from his extensive education. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is a great soldier, very brave and well educated too. On page 79, line number 78, Odysseus is described as “Great Odysseus who excels all men in wisdom.” There in that line, the narrator is telling us directly that Odysseus is educated just like Ransom in OSP.
As far as plot lines go, the stories are very similar. The largest differences come with landscape and the amount of intricate details included in The Odyssey that aren’t available in OSP due to its much shorter length. One of the key similarities that can be found is that in both texts the main characters meet creatures that are unfamiliar to them. Ransom meets the Hross and Odysseus meets the Cyclops. When Ransom has his first encounter with the hross he isn’t very sure what to think and is actually kind of scared. On page 57 Ransom is then described as feeling curiosity towards the creature(s) and it is at this point he describes them as a rational creature. Although Odysseus never declares the Cyclops a rational creature, the reader knows the Cyclops is in fact such by the description given on page 218, line 245, which says, “The large flat rocks loaded with drying cheeses, the folds crowded with young lambs and kids, split into three groups – here the spring-born, here mid-yearlings, here the fresh sucklings off to the side – each sort of penned apart.” The fact that the Cyclops was crafting his own cheeses and was smart enough to separate each stage of his flock, shows that he too is a rational creature much like the hross in OSP.
While there are many other parallels that can be drawn from these two texts, I feel that the above mentioned are the most noteworthy and most commonly found throughout the stories.
One of the situational parallels that I have drawn from The Odyssey and Persuasion is an element of the storyline where the lead male character is drawn to and flirts with an attractive, younger girl. In Book 6 of Homer’s The Odyssey, the scene involves Odysseus, the lead male, waking up on the beach of the home of the Phaeacians where he immediately comes into contact with the beautiful young princess Nausicaa. He is taken aback by her “sense of wonder” (6.177) and goes on to flatter her with his suave gentlemanly nature. Even though the beautiful Nausicaa, who is smitten by this mortal “glistening in his glory” (6.262), would love nothing more than to marry Odysseus, he is not swayed from his course or from his longing to return home to his wife Penelope and his people in Ithaca. Similarly, in Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Captain Wentworth is initially attracted to and thought to be on course for engagement with the young and beautiful Louisa Musgrove; however, his feelings for her are found to be purely flirtatious. In fact, his heart has always been with Anne Elliot, and nothing will get in the way of his undying infatuation with her.
ReplyDeleteThese two situations, while different in brevity, are actually very similar in nearly every other aspect. First of all, both scenes involved young, attractive girls whose flirtatious, “junior-high” tendencies towards love are put on display when they interact with these handsome, almost picturesque versions of gentlemen. Furthermore, both Nausicaa and Louisa are enamored with the idea of marrying these men. In one case, Nausicaa yearns for Odysseus to stay, “if only a man like that were called my husband…pleased to stay forever” (6.270); in Persuasion, once her sister Henrietta moves on to Charles Hayter, Louisa considers herself all but engaged and in love with Wentworth (71-74). Additionally, these two scenarios portray the main female characters, Penelope in The Odyssey and Anne Elliot in Persuasion, as remaining ever faithful to the men they love, even when “existence or when hope is gone” (189). While Odysseus has been gone from Ithaca for more than 20 years, Penelope has remained ever faithful amid the many attempts by suitors to court her. Likewise, Anne’s love for Wentworth has never waned even though several other women have been smothering him and through the courting attempts of her cousin, Mr. Elliot. While these scenes are vastly different in terms of when and where they occur, they are distinctly similar in that they illuminate the strength and faithfulness that these two men, Odysseus and Captain Wentworth, feel in that even the most beautiful and enticing women cannot distract them from the one they truly love.
I think one unique parallel is the one between Anne and Ransom. They both seem to always be looking for roots. Anne wants to remain grounded in her own house with all of the prestige that was squandered away by her father and sister, and Ransom wants to remain grounded by finding his way back to earth where he was comfortable but Weston and Devine took away from him. They both seem to be tossed all around just by the circumstances that others put them in but feel compelled to continue anyway. Anne is sent to help Mary which she doesn’t necessarily want to do but she knows that going to tend to her sister is better than going to Bath at the moment. Similarly when Ransom goes to Meldilorn he is sent there at first but he goes there because he know not going would be worse for him. They also seem to have two main people “ruining” things for them, Anne with Elizabeth and Sir Walter, and Ransom with Weston and Divine. Sir Walter and Elizabeth are vain shallow people that are only after one thing, class, which seems to be the very thing they lack. And Weston and Divine are also shallow and after only one thing, money, and seems they cant get that either. Now even though these pairs are the main ones ruining the lives of our heroes they are not the only ones, Anne has Mary and Mr. Elliot that occasionally cause trouble, and Ransom has the scorn (at the beginning) and also the fear of not getting home. All of these similarities tie these two together along with lots of other small things that I haven’t mentioned. But I think that one of the best things these two have that connects them is their internal motivate to grow. They both start their stories as timid people who are walked all over, and are motivated by fear, but into the story they both grow and do amazing things, Anne asserts herself against her father to do things she wants, like go see Mrs. Smith, and eventually to marry the man who she truly loves. And Ransom makes the journey to Meldilorn, and convinces an alien race to set him free and back to earth a much braver man.
ReplyDeleteOut of all of the novels we have read so far in this class, I believe that The Odyssey and Out of the Silent Planet are the two books that related the most. Both of the main characters, Odysseus and Ransom, were on a journey, which was hard for them to control where they went next. They both had to take their journey as things came to them considering how they were both out of their element and comfort zone. For example, Odysseus had to battle with the Gods and the various situations that they were throwing at him at random points of his journey home to Ithaca. Ransom had to deal with the issue of the unknown planet he was on and the various creatures that he kept encountering not knowing if they were good or bad towards his advancement home to earth.
ReplyDeleteThe two books also had an individual who was concerned with making sure the main character returned to where they were from. In The Odyssey, it was Telemachus who wanted to find his father and bring him home to Ithaca. In Out Of The Silent Planet, the Hyrossa, especially Hyoi, wanted to help Ransom return home to earth. They also prove to us that they are both men who can fend for themselves and are ready to take any challenge that comes their way. They are both tough, confident men, who try to do the right thing for other as well as doing what needs to be done in order for their journey’s to come to a happy end.
Two characters from the books that I think are similar are Ransom from Out of the Silent Planet and Anne from Persuasion. Both of these characters are looking for a place to be rooted, timid, and are forced to do things they don’t want to.
ReplyDeleteRansom starts off during the book taking a walking tour. He discusses how he doesn’t like all the industries and he seems to be searching for something. He then gets uprooted and taken on the spaceship to Malachondra. After some time there, he feels like he belongs more with the Hrossa on Malachondra then he felt on Earth. He finds his roots on Malachondra and then when he does go back to Earth, he is happy to be there. Anne starts off the book searching for roots. She has not felt like she has belonged somewhere since her mother died and for a few brief months with Wentworth. But now she is not appreciated. She then gets taken from her home, Kellynch Hall, and moved to Uppercross. At Uppercross , She begins to feel more like she belong and this continues in Lyme. Then when she moves to Bath, she carries that feeling with her. Both characters find a sense of being rooted throughout the book.
Both characters also do not speak their mind or stand up for themselves in the beginning of the books. Ransom thinks about what he should do in the beginning and that is what he usually does instead of what he wants to do. He goes to help Harry even though he does not want to and then he quietly yells at Weston and Devine instead of being strong and meaning what he said. This changes when Ransom is talking to the Oyarsa. He talks with authority and does not become intimidated by anyone. Anne lets herself be persuaded out of marrying Wentworth and several other things. She does not speak up for what she wants. Then after she gets to Bath, she does want she wants like visiting Mrs. Smith and she chooses Capitan Wentworth over Mr. Elliot. Both characters become more confident and begin stand up for themselves and what they want.
These two characters have common experiences throughout the book so this is why I think they are the most similar.
A parallel can be drawn between the events of temptation for both Penelope and Anne Elliot. In The Odyssey, Penelope is subject to courting behaviors by many of the suitors that have voluntarily taken up residence in her house. The suitors eat her food and use up all of the house resources while trying to convince Penelope that she should stop waiting for her obviously dead husband and marry one of them. A similar situation occurs between Anne Elliot and the ever-shady Mr. Elliot. Mr. Elliot appears out of nowhere and starts appearing daily at the Elliot home in Camden. He works quite diligently at his attempts to convince Anne to marry him. He acts far more forward, at least it seems, than the rest of the characters throughout Persuasion in his behavior to Anne.
ReplyDeleteIn both of these situations, the predominate female character of the novel is subject to the unwanted affections of some shady characters. Also, these shady characters find ways to invade the female character’s residence. The females show strength in their resilience to constant attentions from the unwanted suitors. Both females also maintain minor flirtations with the unwanted lovers while still remaining true to the one she truly desires. These parallels show that women have been written as powerful characters throughout literary history.
The return for resisting temptation is also presented in a similar manner to both Penelope and Anne Elliot. Odysseus returns home and valiantly slays the suitors before reuniting with his beloved Penelope. Mr. Wentworth pens a gallant letter to Anne and then has a spirited conversation with her on the street. In both instances, lovers are reunited after being apart for a long period of time and after a very forward sly act by the male lover. In both novels the unwanted suitor(s) are also thwarted. In the Odyssey the suitors all die in a bloodbath while Mr. Elliot concludes his appearance in Persuasion by running off with Mrs. Clay.
In the Odyssey, there was one breaking moment for me. That was when Penelope FINALLY found out that Odysseus was home There have been breaking moments so far in the other texts too. In Out of the Silent Planet, the breaking scene was when Ransom actually chose to go home. He had the choice of staying which I thought he would, but he left. In Esther, the turning point was when the King obeyed her and ignored his second in line ruler. Finally, in Persuasion, the turning point was when Anne realized that Wentworth was jealous!
ReplyDeleteIn each of these scenes, someone made a choice. And in most of them, it was a choice having to do with love/attraction. This is one way they are similar. All of these scenes surprised me even though many people think these were all “give away” scenes and everyone knew itd happen.
In each text, there was a feeling of connection. Penelope was connected with Odysseus through her heart, even though she didn’t know if he was alive. Ransom had a connection with all of the foreign creatures. King Xeres felt he had a connection with Esther, and finally Anne and Wentworth had a connection all along. These connections were made long before the text had to come out and tell the audience. The readers could just pick up on their connections through text clues and evidence.
My favorite similarity of the texts is that they were all written a long time ago. I know this is obvious, but I wouldn’t usually pick out an older story but now I’m glad I did. These stories have many other similarities, but this one impacted me because I learned a great deal from each ancient story!
While there are parallels between many of the characters in all of the books we have read for class, I think that Anne and Esther are the most similar. They prove to be alike in their strengths as characters and how they are persuaded in each story.
ReplyDeleteBoth characters demonstrate the quality of growth over time in their stories. In Persuasion, we see Anne as a timid woman that does not voice her opinion and is persuaded to do what her family members believe she should. The narrator states early volume one that “her word had no weight; her convenience was always to give way; - she was only Anne,” (12). This proves that she begins as a weak character, just as Esther is portrayed in the beginning of the book of Esther. She was thrown into this “beauty pageant” that King Xerxes had to find another wife.
Both also prove to be easily persuaded as to what to do. Anne is persuaded by both her family and Mrs. Russell to not marry Captain Wentworth since he was a “nobody.” Esther is persuaded through her uncle Mordecai to become queen, and then to save her people (the Jews) from harm.
As both story lines progress, the strengths of both characters do as well. Anne begins defending herself and her opinions, which allow her to not be easily persuaded when it comes to the man she loves. For example, while talking to Captain Harville, Anne says, “All the privilege I claim for my own sex is that of loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone,” (189). Esther also becomes stronger through her book by approaching the King without being summoned to. She then says to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, O King, and if it please the king, give me life, and give my people their lives,” (7.3). Her strength to save her people shows that she has also grown from the beginning of the story.
Both Anne and Esther grow immensely in each of their stories. Anne finally shows Captain Wentworth through her words to Captain Harville that she still loves him and cannot be dissuaded from marrying him. Esther rises above what many think of the Jews and becomes queen. Then she also saves her people from destruction. Clearly their journeys of growth as characters are extremely similar and should not be overlooked.
Just as Anne is coming into her own in Persuasion, Athena is doing the same in The Odyssey. The parallel between these two women is a strong connection that is worthy of elaboration. In short, both women are heavily influence by their fathers, but later learn how to stand up for themselves and engage in acts they deem important, albeit not necessarily condoned or preferred by their family.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of The Odyssey, Athena initiates a conversation about Odysseus with Zeus but first waits for Zeus to insert his opinion of the matter and grant his approval before she makes clear what her intentions are for Odysseus. Athena still is in question when she says, “If now it really pleases the blissful gods that wise Odysseus shall return—home at last. . .” (Homer 1:98-99). Athena does not want to offend her father or any other god simply to do what she wishes. Although her heart lies with the fate of Odysseus, she doesn’t act until she has her father’s blessing.
Anne’s tale mirrors Athena’s because she is also heavily influenced by her father, but to the opposite effect. While Athena is allowed to place herself into Odysseus’ life, Anne is persuaded by her family to not marry Captain Wentworth, which is what she yearned to do. The social pressures Sir Elliot places upon him and his family overshadow Anne’s love for Wentworth, all so that their name forever remains unmarred. When he is made known of their attachment to each other, he finds it ”a very degrading alliance” for he sees every connection with his family solely as an image reflected upon him and the imposing Elliot name (Austen 27).
However, both Athena and Anne learn that permission and persuasion is unnecessary and they learn to act independently of their friends and family; Athena influences lives and coordinates battles while Anne spends time with a Mrs. Smith (of all names!) and marries her one true love, Captain Wentworth. Their development as women hinges upon their courage to act of their own conscience and follow their hearts.
I found that the most significant character parallel is that between Mary and Westin. Mary is a dramatic, naive, and ignorant character, just as Westin is.
ReplyDeleteThroughout persuasion we see Mary think of only herself and what will benefit her most. Her own son gets injured and instead of trying to console him we see her whine and complain that she cant go to the dinner party. She wants everyones sympathy and more or less tests people to see if they will fall for her act and feel sorry for her giving her the attention that she craves. I dont think that people honestly like Mary but they go along with her antics to make her be quiet and make her feel good about herself.
In Out of the Silent Planet we see the same character in Westin. Westin thinks of only himself and what will benefit him as he takes Ransom to Malacandria. Westin takes Ransom there thinking he will get some kind of "prize". I dont think that he is thinking of anyone else because I feel like he is even a little, I guess you could say abusive, towards Devine. There are times where Devine is pushed aside and disregarded as Westin digs not only himself but Devine as well in a bigger hole. We see this most apparent as Westin is talking to the Oyarsa. Westin is talking circles and making a fool of himself and Divine has to be there to not only satisfy Westin's wants but also to save them from being completely overthrown.
Both Mary and Westin are not necessarily well-liked characters. They both find themselves in difficult situations and try to talk themselves out of it or justify themselves. However, within the process they only make fools of themselves.
I find that Out of the Silent Planet and Persuasion have similar interests with characters. The plots of the books are completely different and irrelevant. I found that Ransom out of C.S. Lewis’ novel and Anne out of Austen’s book. They both have to find what they are looking for to make happiness happen. A lot of things come into action for these.
ReplyDeleteRansom has Weston and Devine to follow then loses them. He finds the hross (Hyoi) to make adventure. When Ransom is told to go to Oyarsa, he does what he can to obey the species on Malacandra. Ransom has determination. He doesn’t really need to try to please others, Ransom’s personality just comes naturally.
Anne finds herself in some struggles with relationships. She is very light hearted and does what others ask of her and has little complaints. Anne has a hard time finding happiness; however, she does a good job pleasing other people. Lady Russell persuades Anne not to marry Captain Wentworth , she “knows” that won’t find her happiness. Then being the only left in Uppercross because all of the family members have left, that finds her to be lonely, until she gets to Bath. Bath is the place where she seeks jealousy and wants people for herself. With other people persuading her to be a part of the house, it is determination that she now finds her happiness.
The two characters that I thought parallel each other the most are Weston and Mr. Elliot. Both men are self-centered and greedy. Weston wants to keep the human race alive on another planet at all costs, whereas Mr. Elliot will do anything possible to be heir to Sir Walter. Even though both men are greedy and self-centered for different reasons, they nonetheless share these traits. Throughout both novels, the reader is not made fully aware of these characters' true personality until the end.
ReplyDeleteThroughout Out of the Silent Planet, the reader is aware that Weston is up to something but we are unsure what exactly. There are hints that leave us guessing, such as the conversation between Devine and Weston that Ransom overhears (21). We also see instances where Weston appears to be selfish and greedy. Weston and Ransom have a conversation on the space ship and Weston tells him, "You cannot be so small-minded as to think that the rights or the life of an individual or of a million individuals are of the slightest importance in comparison to this" (29). Everything comes full circle for the reader, and we become aware of Weston's purpose of traveling to Malacandra, during his speech to the Oyarsa. He explains that it is his "right" to bring man to Malacandra to maintain the future of the human race (136).
Mr. Elliot, in Persuasion, is also a mysterious character much like Weston. He suddenly appears in Lyme and again in Bath, but as the reader we are unsure why. We become curious about him and his character like Anne is the more she gets to know him. Anne explains that she does not trust him because he is not open, therefore he must be hiding something. We are not made fully aware of his true character until Mrs. Smith explains him to Anne in chapter 9. She says "Mr. Elliot is a man without heart or conscience...who thinks only of himself...He has no feelings for others...Oh! he is black at heart, hollow and black!" (160). And we realize just how greedy he is when Mrs. Smith tells Anne, "He cannot bear the idea of not being Sir William" (166).
The parallel between two of our texts which struck me was the comparison of Anne Elliot to Odysseus. However, the parallel I noticed was not that which was discussed in class-- the comparison of their "homeward" journeys; rather, I noticed that both Odysseus and Anne are disguised, hidden from the other characters for much of the text.
ReplyDeleteOdysseus disguises himself in order to protect himself so he can cleanse his home of suitors upon his arrival. Athena tells him, "to no one--no man, no woman, not a soul-- reveal that you are the wanderer home at last" (13.351-351). He also hides his identity in order to discover who is loyal to him; "[he was] keen to test the swineherd" (14.521). In the end, he reveals his identity to those who are loyal, and is finally home.
Anne disguises her true feelings from Wentworth; "Now they were as strangers; nay, worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted. It was a perpetual estrangement" (55). In addition, she hides her emotion from others around her, "rejoic[ing] ... over the conviction ... of the past being known to [Lady Russell, Sir Walter and Elizabeth] only among her connexions" (30). Both of these allow her to maintain propriety and to protect herself from the pain of rejection. When her emotions are finally revealed to Wentworth, Anne finds her home.
While the exact reasons for their disguises are different, for both of them, hiding their identity (both physical and emotional) acts as a means of personal protection. Revealing their true selves eventually leads them each to their rightful home.
Similarities that I saw between two of the reading we did this semester were from The Odyssey and Out of the Silent Planet. The characters that I saw had things in common (in character and in situational scenes) were Ransom and Telemachus. Even though Ransom might be a little (ok maybe a lot) older than Telemachus, they both show courage in the face of perilous situations and accomplish an ultimate goal in the end of the story (at least how I see it). Another similarity was in the journey made from home and experiencing knew things along the way (and both protagonists return home in the end).
ReplyDeleteTelemachus sets out on a long and dangerous quest to find his father and then stop the suitors from scavenging the entirety of what is his home. Ransom, after encountering a struggle in Devine and Weston’s estate, finds himself floating in the empty vacuum of space thousands of miles off the face of the earth and fighting to stay alive once on the surface of Malachandra. Both characters, even when faced with life-threatening situations, handle themselves well enough to escape in one piece.
Back to both characters, Ransom and Telemachus are both well mannered and use assertion when necessary. When we read about Ransom witnessing the quarrel between the little boy and Weston, Ransom can’t help but try to break up the struggle, but all he could muster up was a kind warning and no real physicality (all bark, no bite). Likewise, Telemachus tries to convince the suitors to leave his home with kind, but stinging words, but has no effect. He then is forced to use brute force along with his father and loyal servants and slaughter them as punishment.
This is how I saw Telemachus and Ransom as being similar in their respective tales.
I find that there are a lot of parallel between the characters from all the books that we have read so far. The most significant parallel to me is between Lady Russell from Persuasion and Goddess Athena from The Odyssey. There are a lot of similarities in term of characteristic between these two characters. Even if we do not pay a lot of attention to these two characters while reading the books, we must notice that these two characters are very caring and they are always there to help others.
ReplyDeleteAthena always helped Odysseus whenever he is in need. When Odysseus arrived in Phaeacia, and meet Princess Nausicaa, Athena helped Odysseus to look better and more handsome so that he can attracts the princess attention. “Zeus’s daughter Athena made him taller to all eyes, his build more massive now, and down from his brow she ran his curls like thick hyacinth clusters full of blooms” (book 6.253-256). Lady Russell also help Sir Walter Elliot to take care of his three daughters after his wife, Lady Elliot died.
Athena has a lot of love towards Odysseus and find him more special compared to other human. She is always there for him. She also guides him home after all his struggles. “So up from the haven now Odysseus climbed a rugged path through timber along high ground- Athena had shown the way- to reach to reach the swineherd’s place” (book 14. 1-3). In volume 1 chapter 1 of Persuasion, it is mentioned Lady Russell favor Anne Elliot more than her other sisters. “To Lady Russell, indeed, she was a most dear and highly valued god-daughter, favorite and friend. Lady Russell loved them all; but it was only in Anne that she could fancy the mother to revive again” (11). Lady Russell also tried to help Anne in choosing a husband that suits her most. Lady Russell persuaded Anne not to marry beneath her social class when she wanted to marry Captain Frederick Wentworth.
I can’t help but feel a correlation between the ideals and ways of the suitors in The Odyssey and the people of Earth in Out of The Silent Planet. They seem to represent the same thing in the scheme of what the author is trying to get across. Both are without a true leader, the suitors have no king since Odysseus has been gone to war for nearly 20 years and the people of Earth have no true ‘Oyarsa’ as the one that ruled them has fallen. Although the method for which they ‘lost’ their rulers is different, which is not the comparison I am making, the way that each responds is similar.
ReplyDeleteEach party, upon knowing that they have no leader, forsakes the virtues that once made their civilizations great. The suitors stop following the proper etiquette for guests in the household as they devour all of Odysseus’s food and drink. Instead they sit “carving away at the wealth, affronting the loyal wife” (Book 18, Line 165) of Odysseus. In the same way, the people of Earth have stopped following the virtues of “pity and straight dealing and shame and the like” (137).
They too may not have to wait long for their true leader to come back and seek ‘revenge’. Just as Odysseus comes back to slay the suitors and exact his punishment for their ‘sins’, ‘Oyarsa’ also mentions that Earth could be in for a change. He says that the time we are in “has long been prophesied as a year of stirrings and high changes and the siege of Thulcandra may be near its end.” (142) It is this time that the rulers of planets will enforce their punishment on the people of Earth for their shortcomings, just as Odysseus handled the suitors.
For me, the Odyssey and Persuasion have a similar theme between Telemechus and Anne Elliot. This theme, or idea, is that of growing up. Both of them go through a dramatic change from the first time we are introduced to their character, to the end of the story. For Telemechus, he goes from being silently angry and unable to do anything about the suitors to helping his father slaughter them. Anne goes from being this quiet, easily influenced girl to the mature and strong woman that determines her own choices about life. But there are more parallels on this topic between these two characters.
ReplyDeleteTelemechus is shown as a strong and wise boy, but unsure of himself and where he should be going with life. When we first meet him, he is described as being “obsessed with grief” over his father’s late return (1.133). Through Athena’s actions, he gains a little bit of a backbone, and the entire second book is him confronting the elders and people of Ithaca about their foolish ways. As the story progresses, we see him gaining more and more assurance of his position and how he should act. A part of the story that gives him the most assurance is in Book 16 when he and Odysseus finally meet and plan there attack on the suitors. This gives Telemechus the courage he needs and allows him to finally grow up and become the man that everyone - Athena, Penelope, Odysseus, etc., - see him to be. The climax, or sealing, of this is when he goes and helps his father to slaughter all of the suitors, and does so without any second guessing of himself.
Anne is a little bit different. We see her as already “grown up” in the sense that she is 28 and seems to be very mature. However, we can still see how she lacks in various areas that are needed to demonstrate that she is in fact and adult. One of the main ways is the idea throughout the book of how easily it is for people to persuade her to do things, even when she does not want to do them. One example that comes readily to mind is that of the walk, found in chapter 10 in book 1. It seems to me that she really did not want to go walking with everyone, especially when the men joined in, but she could not refuse the invitation and was persuaded to join them. Another example of her being easily influenced is the obvious one of her breaking off the engagement with Captain Wentworth. However, towards the end of the book, we see her doing as she wants instead of following what everyone else wishes for her to do. She states that she will visit Mrs. Smith instead of going to the party with her distant and unknown cousins, and ends up doing as she wished. She determines to marry Wentworth, and ends up persuading her father and Lady Russell that it is a good idea. Thus, we see her growing into an adult that is independent and able to think for herself.
Both of these stories have this theme of maturing, or growing up. Both show it through the change of the character from the beginning of the novel to the end. Both show a character that in the end is strong, independent, and able to take care of whatever life may throw at them.
I posted this earlier but it didnt show up! Here it is again :)
ReplyDeleteThe two characters I would like to parallel are Odysseus from The Odyssey and Anne Elliot from Persuasion. Both protagonists are clever, witty, and have respect for social graces. However it is their desire for love that drives their narratives. Anne longs for Captain Wentworth while Odysseus strives to be with Penelope.
First I would like to analyze Odysseus and his constant affection for Penelope even though he is apart from her for nearly the entire story. We are initially introduced to Odysseus when he is on Calypso’s island and is crying out of lament for his circumstances. But after Calypso is chastised by the gods she assists in his departure. This is not without her of course remarking on Odysseus’ silly desire to be with his mortal wife. But his response to this is “I long –I pine, all my days- to travel home and see the dawn of my return” (5. 240-241). This is what pushes Odysseus to continue on his journey and not give into the easy life with immortal goddesses. He loves Penelope and strives to be back with her even after his extremely long absence and journey.
In Persuasion with Anne she is driven by her desire and love for Captain Wentworth. Initially we find out that she had denied his proposal of marriage several years before the novel takes place but it is her reaction to the Crofts moving into their home that initiates the plot. After hearing of Wentworth’s relatives moving in she becomes flushed and says “A few months more, and he, perhaps, may be walking here” in chapter three. Which obviously shows she still loves him and creates a drive in the narrative. For Anne she longs to be with Wentworth again and has even denied other men because of it.
Both characters move their narratives forward with their desire for love and that is what makes Anne and Odysseus the perfect parallels.
Two characters I found remarkably similar would be King Xerxes and Sir Walter. Throughout both of their respective tales, they are shown to be foolish and require advice from others, whether they believe they do or not.
ReplyDeleteWhile Haman causes the problems within Esther, it is because of Xerxes lack of attention and possible stupidity that his kingdom escalates to a point where the Jews are going to be eradicated. When Haman gets Xerxes permission to do so, Xerxes does not even inquire further as to what Haman is getting into. His foolishness blinds him to what is going on in his own kingdom. A king is supposed to be the (nearly) all-powerful figure and he lets his kingdom and the happenings within escape him.
Sir Walter is in a very similar situation. His “kingdom” is Kellynch Hall (obviously a smaller scale than Xerxes’). After his wife dies, Sir Walter and Elizabeth spend their money with no one to advise against it, and eventually the Elliotts must leave their home in order to acquire some more capital. The lack of attention arises here as well. Sir Walter is supposed to be the man of the house and in charge of everything, and he lets his financial situation move him and his family from their home.
In each respective book, the two are saved by much more intelligent beings than themselves. Sir Walter finally listens to Mr. Shepherd and Lady Russel while Xerxes is snapped back into reality by Esther and Mordecai. In either case, I would not want to be in a situation which is controlled by either of those two.
I would like to say Captain Wentworth and Penelope are similar. They both had to endure losing the ones they loved abruptly, not knowing if they would ever get to be with them again. Although the circumstances of the disappearance of the person they loved were different, the grief and sadness they felt were the same. Penelope never moved on to another suitor and Wentworth never rid his heart of Anne. Penelope had 20 years of not seeing Odysseus and she could have easily had another husband, but her love for Odysseus was so strong that she waited until he returned because she knew deep down he would. Captain Wentworth, even though wronged by Anne, could not get rid of his love for her because it was so special to him. Both of their situations become better because they eventually get to be with their loved ones once again.
ReplyDeleteI think that Anne and Telemachus are both misunderstood. The entire time in Persuasion, Anne is being described as helpful, smart, and even beautiful, while others around her (especially her family) see her in an opposite light, and sometimes walk all over her. In The Odyssey, people of Ithaca do not understand why Telemachus has not done anything about the suitors, and see him as a comparison to Odysseus. Really, Telemachus is still a young man, sometimes even acting boyish, and does not understand his grown up responsibilities. He still needs guidance though many things in his life and is not at all independent and strong like Odysseus.
There are many different comparisons between the novels we wrote and it would be easy to draw a comparison from the huge work that is the odyssey or even the novel From Out of the Silent Planet, but if I were to make a comparison between characters I would have to compare Anne from Persuasion and Ester from The Book of Ester. These two are superficially very easily compared in a number of ways i.e. they are both female protagonists who by the end of their respective works have achieved what they want, but they are alike in another major way that really ties these two novels together.
ReplyDeleteThe other way that they are similar is that they are female characters who, because of social norms, cannot by themselves become more powerful or influential than the men in their lives. Because of this they both find ways around men who are for lack of a better term naïve and uninformed. For Anne this is Sir Walter Elliot and for Ester this is her King Xerxes. Ester in her novel has a more straight-up approach to manipulating her husband. She throughout the novel places pieces in order to accomplish her final goal by asking the king for different favors and acting as if the king is her one and only. In persuasion however Anne has to go about it in a more subtle manner with Sir Walter Elliott. This can be exemplified in the latter part of the book when she has to “go along” with his ideas and subtly oppose them as in her not wanting to marry Mr. Elliot so she suggests that Elizabeth would be better for her, and in the end she reveals how evil he actually, which she found out by way of having external sources help with the information that would protect the family.
I found parallels between the gods in The Odyssey and the god-like creatures in Out of the Silent Planet. Athena, Poseidon, Calypso, Circe, Ino, Heremes, and Zeus were all Gods who played a very important role in The Odyssey. Like the Odyssean gods, Maleldil, Oyarsa, and eldil were significant characters in Out of the Silent Planet as well. Both sets of characters contributed greatly to the books in a few ways. The largest parallel I found, however, was the use of their power in order to succeed in reaching their personal goals. Both sets of gods were guides for the main characters when they were in foreign places. Oyarssa used creatures like Augray and the eldil to steer Ransom in the right direction, “He [Ransom] was preparing himself to sleep again when a high-pitched voice close beside him said, “Oyarsa sends for you.” …and he recognized that there was an eldil in the room”(117). The eldil were always around acting like little invisible messengers for Oyarssa, while Athena was the guiding light for Telemacus. She told him exactly what to do, “ But you, I urge you, think how to drive these suitors from your halls….For I have some good advice, if only you will accept it…sail in quest of news of your long-lost father.” After giving Telemachus that advice, he follows it and Athena continues to guide him on his journey until he and his father are reunited.
ReplyDeleteI think from the four texts that were read I found a similarity between four different characters, though it is little. In many stories authors like to make a character who is, on a general basis, “good” and “bad.” Other than the general “good” and “bad” characters they can have many others with much more complicated personalities. One personality I like in characters is their sense of greed. Now greed doesn’t have to mean only money, it could mean power or attention too. The characters that I found the similarities with “greed” are Odysseus (Odyssey), Weston (OTSP), Haman (Esther), and Mary (Persuasion).
ReplyDeleteTo be honest it was hard to think of similarities between two characters in any of the four we read but when I found greed I laughed pretty hard (That’s just me). Anyways to start is our brave and shining Odysseus from the Odyssey. His act of greed came from the Cyclops island where his “genius self” thought it was ok to walk into someone’s home and eat their food then demand a “guest gift” since Polyphemus had totally invited them in for a fun time (Oh yeah they had a fun time… idiot…). Odysseus’ act of greed was a simple case of wanting something “material” such as a guest gift when he did not deserve it one bit. Another act of greed over a “material” object is from the “out of the way world” story of Out of the Silent Planet (The more I think about this story it makes me realize that I really like it!!) with our greedy friend Devine. Devine’s reason for going to Malacandria was nothing similar to Weston’s. While Weston wanted to find another place for the humans to migrate on to keep the human species going Devine wanted to collect Malacandrian gold. I’m surprised that Weston would let a greedy fool like Devine, who doesn’t care for his intentions of keeping humanity alive, go with him to Malacandria, but as noted Devine had “material” greed like Odysseus. Now for the last two stories they had charactes that showed different kinds of greed. From the story Esther the character Haman was a person who wanted power and death of Jewish people. As obvious as it is I’ll say it anyways, there is no “material” greed with Haman. I mean there was a time when the king asked what would he want for someone how wasn’t recognized for his good act of kindness, but I’m not looking at that! (Get over it! It’s my blog, I’ll type up what I want! Don’t get mad at me Crystal D=) So anyways Haman didn’t have anything tangible in his possession but the existence of others to be erased. Last but not least is the “second chance of love” story we know as Persuasion. This character was everyone’s favorite (especially you, Crystal! =D) who is known as MARY!!! *wooo!* *Party sounds* *Balloons falling from the stadium ceiling after winning the million dollar prize* Yes Mary was quite the greedy character. You could see that there were many times where she didn’t want to do things, like take of her son when he is sick or go home and let Anne take care of Louisa. How I saw it overall was that Mary was greedy for attention. Even though she didn’t want to do something like go on a walk if she wasn’t invited then all hell broke loose. Going to socials than take care of her sick child, need help calming down after Louisa idiotically jumps and smashes her head, or just because she is sick in bed and can’t anything at all. So the girl’s act of greed was that she wanted attention, and not just a little bit either.
Even though greed is not specific and I compared them all with having it, I think mentioning all “bad” greed gives it a little more specificity. Everyone has something they want whether it be money, power, or attention, it just depends on how they show it and how they achieve in getting it. Anne and Wentworth got to be together in the end and it’s what they both wanted and how they got to it wasn’t bad. Mordecai wanted Esther to be happy and Odysseus wanted to return home. Again everyone has something they want it just depends how they go about getting it.
P.S. Crystal (and anyone else who read my blog) I hope you enjoyed that one of a kind special blog! =D
ReplyDeleteP.S.S. I wanted to put the "P.S." in the other post but I ACTUALLY HIT THE QUOTA FOR CHARACTERS!! RIDICULOUS!!
Now that we have finished four narratives, I am amazed at how similar three of the text have been. The Odyssey, Out of the Silent Planet, and Persuasion all have strikingly similar story arcs as well as many of the same characteristics in the major characters. The Odyssey follows Odysseus' journey home after the Trojan War, while OSP does the same with Ransom's journey back to Earth, and Persuasion does with Anne's journey to just find a home. Throughout each text the main character had to overcome many trials and ordeals with the help of a guiding spirit. In The Odyssey, it was Athena guiding Odysseus. OSP found Ransom being guided by Hyoi/Augray/Oyarsa. In Persuasion, we see Anne being guided by her friend Lady Russel. Even some of the antagonists in each narrative are strikingly similar. The Odyssey's Calypso, OSP's Weston, and Persuasion's Mr. Elliot are all exceedingly selfish individuals that only do anything if it benefits their egotistical goals. I never would have thought that these three narratives would be so similar, but once you remove the settings of each, the plot and characters are strikingly similar.
ReplyDeleteThe two characters I would like to parallel are Mary from Persuasion and Weston from Out of the Silent Planet. Mary and Weston are both dramatic characters who are looking to climb the social latter in their societies.
ReplyDeleteIn Persuasion we see Mary think of only herself and what will benefit her. Her son gets injured and instead of trying to console him we see her whine and complain that she can't go to the dinner party. She spends most of her time complaining about something, and usually ignores her two children. She wants sympathy from everyone she encounters and seems to test people on the regular to see if they will fall for her act and feel sorry for her give her attention she so longs for. She also is seen to disapprove of associating with people of lower class than her. This is seen when the group of Lousia, Henrietta, Captain Wentworth, Mary, Anne, and Charles Musgrove make their way to Wintrop. The Hayters live here, but Mary wants to turn around immediately since she does not approve of associating with people of such low connection.
In Out of the Silent Planet we see this same type of character in Weston. He is consumed by his desire to further the human race and will do whatever it takes to accomplish this. He selfishly thinks of only himself and what will benefit him as he takes Ransom to Malacandra. Weston actually takes Ransom there thinking he will get some kind of "prize". He seems to only care about his progress towards bettering the human race while in Malacandra, even though he has a loyal partner with him. He often treats his partner, Devine, as if he is unimportant and a little dumb. This can be seen when Weston is talking to the Oyarsa. Westin is talking nonstop and clearly making a fool of himself yet Divine must be present to not only satisfy Weston but also to save them from being overthrown.
Also, Mary and Westin are not necessarily well-liked characters. They both find themselves in difficult situations and the people they interact with unhappy with them. They try and better the situation by talking their way out of it, but they usually only make fools of themselves.
Alicia Smith
ReplyDeleteInstead of just talking about a parallel from main character to main character, I want to point out resemblance of The Odyssey’s minor character, the swineherd, to Anne. Through this same vein, Captain Wentworth closely resembles Odysseus. The specific situation I wish to reference is in Book 14 of the Odyssey when Odysseus finally reached Ithaca and stayed with Eumeaus.
Captain Wentworth was like Odysseus in this scene because he was disguising himself from the Anne the way Odysseus disguised himself from the swineherd. In the Odyssey, it was a physical disguise, along with a disguise of character because the swineherd did not know that Odysseus was Ithaca’s king; he just though he was an old man. (Book 14, 40-62) In Wentworth’s case, the disguise revolved around his emotions. Instead of telling Anne about his feelings for her and expressing his jealousy, he feigned interest in Louisa. (XI, 191-199) In both cases, a character is shielding his true self from another. It is also worth noting that this concept of a disguised character has occurred in all of the works that we have read thus far, with Xerxes believing that the king talked about him and his honor when the king was actually talking about Mordecai, and in Out of the Silent Planet, Ransom (after living with the hrossa) mistook Devine and Weston as creatures who, “were bipeds, though the lower limbs were so thick and sausage-like that he hesitated to call them legs,” (19. 124) This parallel of who characters are versus who they appear to be seems to be a commonalty between great narrative works.
With the swineherd, Odysseus fleshed out Eumeaus’s loyalties, and found out that he was still loyal to Odysseus. This revealed the swineherd as an honest character, who respected Odysseus even when had not returned to the throne. Moreover, Odysseus knew that Eumeaus wasn’t just bestowing his loyalty to him just to put up a façade for him; since the swineherd didn’t know that his guest was Odysseus, he couldn’t claim loyalty to him to make himself look good in his presence. (Book 14. 169-172) Similarly, just as Odysseus found loyalty in Eumeaus, Captain Wentworth found loyalty in Anne when he discovered that she had turned down an offer of marriage to Charles Musgrove (X. 75). This relationship between a loyal partner and the person to whom the partner is loyal is clearly seen. Diving deeper, just like the swineherd did not know the old man was Odysseus – who treasured his loyalty – Anne did not know (at the time) that her loyalty was also treasured by Wentworth.
Interesting themes, trust and appearance…
Two characters that go along the same lines for me would have to be Ransom and Telemachus. Though each character is at a different stage in his life, the same challenge is presented before them. Telemachus must leave his home for the first time to seek news of his father, and Ransom is leaving for a place his eyes have never seen. Through each of their journeys they both are searching for meaning and not knowing what may come before them. Both puzzled, their journeys help each put together the pieces in their head. Telemachus is given word of his father by Menelaus and Nestor, who both paint his father as the glorious man he’s always heard of. Although they’re unaware if Odysseus lives, it brings a bit of closure to Telemachus. Ransom’s encounter with the hrossa somewhat mirror Telemachus’ meetings. The hrossa come into contact with Ransom and help him learn the ways of the hrossa and Malacandra. Ransom now has a few questions answered about the new planet, and a sense of safety with the hrossa.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading these two narratives, we follow both characters to help answer the questions in our head as well. They take us on a journey with them to find the answers they seek as well. Telemachus and Ransom start out naïve and unaware of their journey and surroundings before them. By the end Telemachus has become a man, and Ransom is finally walking on his own free will.
The two parrelles that I would like to discuss are Mordecai and Wentworth. There is no obvious connection between the two, besides that they are both male sidekicks of the main female "hero". However I would like to propose that they are in fact more in common.
ReplyDeleteIn Esther, Mordecai is the uncle of Esther that raised her from a child. He is the one that often gives her advice and is always there for her. He is the one that tells her to hide her past and to always excel in what she does. He also ends up being Xerxes second in command at the end of the book. He is praised by someone that does not like him.
Wentworth has been in Annes life for over 8 years. He is part of Annes past that she "hides" (not neccessarily hides it, just does not tell others about it). He is also one that helps Anne throughout the book in small ways. He tried to push Anne to be something that he knows she can be. In the end he ends up marrying her, in turn being her "second in command". He is always talked highly about from everyone, including Mr. Elliot who does not like him.
These are the main reasons that I think the characteristics of Wentworth and Mordecai are very similar, even if not to the untrained eye.