Saturday, December 22, 2007
Lying's Intentions
Lying exists in an appropriate form as well. At the masquerade Antonio playfully lies to Ursula as he denies to be himself when he answers her question by saying, "To tell you true, I counterfeit him" (II.1.93). This lie is only employed to enhance the general mood and does not risk harming anyone. Lying is also acceptable when it is deemed appropriate by the situation at hand. In poker, deceit and manipulation are part of the game and lying becomes a common practice in which everyone partakes. Although lying is generally wrong because it can disrupt fragile circumstances, there are some solid situations where it can even be encouraged!
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Poem and Analysis
1 Some men never think of it.
2 You did. You'd come along
3 And say you'd nearly brought me flowers
4 But something had gone wrong.
5 The shop was closed. Or you had doubts -
6 The sort that minds like ours
7 Dream up incessantly. You thought
8 I might not want your flowers.
9 It made me smile and hug you then.
10 Now I can only smile.
11 But, Look, the flowers you nearly bought
12 Have lasted all this while.
- Wendy Cope
The poem "Flowers" by Wendy Cope uses the central metaphor to compare flowers with the abstract idea of thoughtfulness. The character that she is recounting of in the poem has not brought her any flowers but was indeed thinking about it as the third line says "And say you'd nearly brought me flowers." This thought, however not carried out, has affected the author as much as if the flowers were truly there as she says, "It made me smile and hug you then" (9). In the last two lines the author describes how the mere thought of bringing hers flowers had an even greater effect than flowers could themselves as she says, "But, Look, the flowers you nearly brought,/ Have lasted all this while" (11-12). This poem also contains end rhyme between the second and fourth lines of each stanza.
This poem has a compelling message. It reminds me that material objects don't mean nearly as much as the thought and care of others around. The people in our lives are what truly matter, and too often we divert attention away from that and place value on objects. These objects have no feelings and cannot support and stand by as can the important people in our lives. As the saying goes, "It's the thought that counts."