Reflection Series: Science, Romance, Mystery

Based on three poems of Edgar Allan Poe:
       http://www.online-literature.com/poe/580/
       http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/annabel-lee/
       http://www.heise.de/ix/raven/Literature/Lore/TheRaven.html

Ellen Poe's stories are pleasurable reads. His sonnet on science though makes me wonder how he knew about Diana in the 1800s. His works, however, are a true art and reflect the concerns of his day - especially with science. They are true examples for the age of romanticism and emphasizes on feeling rather than reason. From science to romance, and then to mystery: all are charged with emotions and exoteric communication.

Poe recognizes the undeniable power of science. He describes her as the unavoidable daughter of man's many years of observation and civilizations. I imagine her to be elderly too; with 'peering eyes,' which I imagine to be a dense glass over her eyes. Full of years and experience she carefully 'preys' on objects in some kind of arbitrary sequence. Poe feels endangered; he knows that he is on this queue and he is nervous. I envision my grannies - from my childhood eyes; how I saw them treat a sibling that was sick or injured. They were often too carried away with the benefit of their therapy that their old ears barely heard the screams of pain by the hurting kid; nor their feeble hands sensitive enough to soothe a painful spot. I still remember my edginess whenever I was on the menu. I would vow never to be sick again - especially when granny is around. Poe also recognizes the limitations and delusions of science, and he considers nature less unnerving. In fact, he thinks of nature as the jewel and shelter for the afflicted of science. The balance of nature and its harmony is unparalleled. Its flawlessness faults the shabby science on every count. Poe is uncomfortable, and so are many.

Poe's Annabelle Lee picks on the ranting of a romantic heart. The expression, “…in a kingdom by the sea,” makes the story sound like a folktale. I like the proclaimers words, “… a maiden there lived whom you may know…” It comes across as though the maiden is so popular to this fellow that he thinks the world might as well know her. Apparently, they were childhood lovers in this kingdom by the sea. Their love and commitment to each other grew with them, and, not surprisingly, invited even the envy of celestial beings. Everyone probably admires the unrelenting affection of any couple and covets it - even the gods. It seems like these gods are notorious for wanting true love for them only - notorious enough to become serial killers. Annabelle Lee's lover is undaunted by this conspiracy, and convince that no one, not even deity, can separate their love for each other: even nature sings and twinkles to their affection. He is going to be with his lover, even if it means taking the challenge to the realms of the gods.

Finally is Poe's intriguing raven story. When I was a child visiting the villages with my parents and surrounded by nature's wild, I remember a similar experience. The residents had told me about the different sounds that dogs make when the see dead people walking around. I had believe these tales. One night, our dog started out this chorus, and soon the neighboring dogs joined. I was never more uncomfortable being among the living. I felt so weak and vulnerable, and could not wish more for the morning. In this condition, I too would have thought of a raven as having special abilities. Its crowing would very much sound like whatever word it matches best within my language: “Nevermorrrrrre!”

I love these poems: I feel very connected with their stories. It is often good to hear someone else describe certain effects of life that one would normally never speak about to other people because they may laugh at the assumed paranoia of the speaker, and make jokes about the stories that are sure to dawdle. After all, as a quiet room is more daunting in the dark, so are the stories of the night best left to the night. 

Poe, Edgar Allen. "YouTube - Annabel Lee." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 05 Mar. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4bb_6MmgZo>.

Poe, Edgar Allen. "The Raven." 1854. Print.

"Sonnet: To Science by Edgar Allan Poe." The Literature Network: Online Classic Literature, Poems, and Quotes. Essays & Summaries. Web. 05 Mar. 2011. <http://www.online-literature.com/poe/580/>.

Reflection Series: Amontillado

Based on The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe:

http://www.literature.org/authors/poe-edgar-allan/amontillado.html

Poor Fortunato. Amontillado. What was he thinking? Amontillado. How did he fall so easily? Amontillado. Striding to his death so foolishly: Amontillado! Poe is a great writer! I love the way he builds this story. It is dramatic - and touching.

“THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.”

The beginning of this story could not be more enthralling! It finishes the story even before it starts. The first paragraph goes on to put the reader in the mind of the reporter and explain his rationale for the malevolence he is about to commit. The language and decisiveness of the speaker is compelling and - at least for me - almost amusing in the somewhat bitter expression of the speaker's resolve, but the end of the story leaves a soft reader with awe and quietness: the speaker meant business.

“At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely, settled --but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk.”

I could imagine the flaming eyes of the speaker as he reported this account: unforgiving even after the death of Fortunato. He would not be appeased. The heat of his resolution seems like what precluded the 'idea of risk.' Fortunato did not live to serve punishment.

“I must not only punish but punish with impunity.”

 The speaker was also resolved to be guiltless no matter the length he went. Fortunato's blood was upon his crime and his children could blame his misfortune on him. He was going to serve time for his insensitive words, and only a sudden distaste for wine could save him. Unfortunately for Fortunato, help was not within his instincts.

“I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.”

A weird sense of the speaker's pleasure as he describes here gripped me until I pricked myself. His satisfaction was sinister, but I could well identify with it. It was the gratification of an idea before its employment, the ease of the problem at the thought of a good fix. In the midst of a great festival, Fortunato was in deep trouble, but he did not know. Help was all around, but the speaker's accomplice was within Fortunato. Amontillado.

"Luchresi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry."

"And yet some fools will have it that his taste is a match for your own.

"Come, let us go."

"Whither?"

"To your vaults."

The conspirator plays a good act, and Fortunato's ego thrives. There was no room for suspicion even in a catacomb. Oh Fortunato! How blind could you be? Your world must be as sweet as your taste!

Bells kept jingling in the procession of Fortunato's last walk. His conspirator remained as patient and persuasive, leading his quarry to his con.

"Come… we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible.”

I imagine Fortunato's head swelling. This was the ultimate medicine for his cough.

“Besides, there is Luchresi -“

This was the peak of the yet uninterrupted praise, and Fortunato quickly interrupt the new direction toward his rival,

"Enough… the cough's a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough."

Yes Fortunato. A cough cannot kill your majesty, but this man will. Therefore, it was that as a silly prey Fortunato was led to his trap; baited by his egotistical virtuoso. Seeing the dead around him, but exalted above reason by his counterpart and intoxication.

After the last brick was put in place, much after the last joke was told, Fortunato was quiet - perhaps, now among the dead. Amontillado. What started as a riveting story with a witty proclamation of a man's rage and threat ended with the silence of shock. I cannot stop wondering if he really left Fortunato there to die.

“A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.”

Amontillado. In pace requiescat!

Poe, Edgar Allen. "The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe." Edgar Allan Poe, Short Stories, Tales, and Poems. Web. 03 Mar. 2011. <http://www.poestories.com/read/amontillado>.

Reflection Series: The Words Poor Richard

Based on Franklin's Way To Wealth, Or Poor Richard Improved: To Which Is Added How To Make Much Of A Little, By Bob Short.

http://www.archive.org/stream/franklinswayweal00franiala/franklinswayweal00franiala_djvu.txt

Original:

THE WAY TO WEALTH. 33

REMEMBER SIN is THE GREATEST

EVIL; SALVATION BY JfiSUS CHRIST THE

GREATEST GOOD; AND GRACE TO CHANGE

THE HEART, THE POOR MAN'S RICHEST

TREASURE. Let the poor man then

find his way to the cheapest market

on a Saturday ; to that place of wor-

ship where he can meet with the best

advice on a Sunday ; and go like an

honest man to his labour on the

Monday ; and following these simple

rules, he will be happy twice over ;

happy in time, and happy to all

Eternity.

Rework:

Sin is the greatest evil. It is everyone’s worst nightmare – even those that have no clue what the word means. Sin is mostly rooted in fear and selfishness – whether fear of the unknown or fear of a known consequence. Fear fosters sin. For example, it could prove difficult to get the truth from a kid who is being questioned for an action that is supposedly wrong. The lies from the child are often not because of the available choice to lie, but rather because of the perceived fear of the consequence from saying the truth. Selfishness and insensitivity are other instigators of sin. A thief, for example, is more preoccupied with his rational for stealing than with the role his or her action takes on the larger picture that affects others. Fear and selfishness could also be to self. For example, a person might claim to hate him or herself and then commit suicide. With a closer look, however, the fear of failure and the selfishness of thinking that his or her life did not affect other people aided the act. The person felt that his or her life was solely lived for their satisfaction. Thus, even as it concerns individuals, these factors play a significant role especially considering that a selfish person cannot as much be liberal to himself as they often say, “trust no one – not even yourself.”

Nonetheless, Jesus Christ brings salvation and freedom of the heart. He saves a person from eternal condemnation and brings grace to a person’s heart even in this life. He is the poor man’s richest asset and also the most secure. Jesus Himself assured that the peace He has given to us was not from the world and, hence, the world cannot take it (John 14:27). He brings assurance for life and strength for each day. Not only is He secure in the spirit of a man, but He also brings security to the person. He is refuge, power and wisdom all at once – with an overwhelming love for His man or woman. He relates personally and individually with them and sustains them with plenty of encouragement and guidance.

A man might be poor in every other thing. He may shop in the cheapest stores and eat the sorriest food, without friend or affluence, cut off from the world in an economic and or social isolation. Everyone might know him as a Nobody. However, if Christ is in Him, it does not matter the apparent, or the hunger. He is a winner! He wins above life in a way that the rational world cannot explain or pinpoint in a lab. He wins in a way that only his spirit can identify. As the bible expresses:

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men…” 1 Corinthians 1:17 – 25

Reassured by words as these in a place of worship, even the poor can go forth into the start of another week with diligence and advantage. He can leave refreshed and ready to selflessly, and in the reverential fear of God, serve and profit in his ventures. He is also equipped with words of wisdom from the almanac and has his bible to guide him even further. Poor Richard is saying, “Mark this man.” He will be twice as happy every day as a brighter light unto a perfect day!

"Full Text of "Franklin's Way to Wealth, Or, Poor Richard Improved : to Which Is Added How to Make Much of a Little, by Bob Short"" Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine. Web. 28 Feb. 2011. <http://www.archive.org/stream/franklinswayweal00franiala/franklinswayweal00franiala_djvu.txt>.

Bible, King James Version. NC: Bible House, 1976. Print.