Love

Some of my favorite poems in this class are the ones that relate to life, love, and things people regret missing out on. For example, the poem Down by the Salley Gardens is about a guy who failed to listen to woman he loved. He was so rushed through life that he wanted to quickly rush through each stage of their relationship. To me he was probably eager to get a job, settle down, and start a family. All of those things are amazing mile stones in life, but if one rushes too quickly to accomplish everything there is to look forward to then one ends up with nothing more to look forward too. Being a girl I understand the feeling of wanting to experience all of the great things in life, but as I am coming nead the end of my college experience I am starting to realize the importance of taking my time and enjoying life. Often times people get caught up in things that do not matter, especially materialistic things, that the important things in life such as family, friends, health, emotions, etc. are put on the back burner. When the poem ended with the guy in tears it shows me that all his rushing through life trying to get everything done left him sad with nothing more to look forward to.

Goblin's Market

The funny thing about this poem is that I found it incredibly easy to read. I read the entire poem and felt like I really understood it. I understood that the Goblin's offered fruit that would hurt whomever ate it. But when I got to the forum discussion I could not really pinpoint what the Goblin's represented. I knew the represented evil and sold the bad addictions that everyone often gets caught up with in everday life. Laura fell victim to peer pressure and could not resist the fruit. I dont think Goblin's were really Goblins and fruit was not really fruit. I read one forum post about how it could be cocaine. I really liked this interpretation. It made perfect sense as to how it would cause someone to become so addicted and unable to resist. I interpreted the Goblin's to represent peer pressure and the night to hide the illegal activities that they tried to get people to take part in. They tried to lure people in by saying that not any regular man can make and sell this, and that its the best thing you could try. Once she tried it she could not get enough of it, but as she grew sick the goblin's no longer appeared (now that they had her they moved on to new "victims"). To show that she had the strength to overcome this addiction her sister goes to the Goblin's and resists what they had to offer. She endured taunting and a beating all night, but she never gave up. She went to her sister and showed her undying love for her sister and allowed her to eat the fruit off of her. Seeing her sister's strength brought the most life back into her that had been there in awhile; giving her the strength to overcome anything because she had her sisters love and support.

Poetry

Say over again, and yet once over again,That thou dost love me. Though the word repeatedShould seem 'a cuckoo song,' as thou dost treat it,Remember, never to the hill or plain,Valley and wood, without her cuckoo-strainComes the fresh Spring in all her green completed.Belovèd, I, amid the darkness greetedBy a doubtful spirit-voice, in that doubt's pain,Cry, 'Speak once more---thou lovest!' Who can fearToo many stars, though each in heaven shall roll,Too many flowers, though each shall crown the year?Say thou dost love me, love me, love me---tollThe silver iterance!---only minding, Dear,To love me also in silence with thy soul.

Before this class I was never into poetry. After reading and posting on some of the forums posted on lamoodle, I am really starting to gain a new respect. As a class we were asked to ponder the question as to whether or not the lady in the poem is asking for too much. As people read this poem they have their own insight on to what the poem means. To me when someone is in love there is nothing wrong for wanting your partner to say it back and truly mean it. But as I read over other peoples' interpretations they also have very valid points, like for instance is she insecure and needing constant assurance. I could see that if this were the case it could be a little bothersome. To me the poem is about a women who is feeling that she might love her significant other more than he loves her. Before she does anything rash she is merely asking that he say that he loves her and stop treating it like it is a crazy subject. Not only does he need to say it, but he must truly mean it. If he cannot give her this then to me it would seem that they are both wasting their time. Love is the greatest gift on earth and no one should be afraid of letting the people they love know.

People think and believe differently. The nice thing about reading poems is that you walk away from it with the interpretation that best moved you while reading it. When you get to share and discuss your thoughts with others it can even expose you to things you might not have picked up and realized.

Frankenstein

Going through the class forums a good point was brought up, what if Walton's letters to his sister about the story of meeting Frankenstein were all fictional?  He constantly makes reference to being lonely in each of his letters.  Maybe in order to really get his tale out there he creates this story about the creation of a monster.  The monster and Victor would be representations of what he feels.  He is alone at sea with no friends and no one he can relate to and he longs for someone to fulfill this emptiness.  Although he is not rejected as a beast, he is very much like the monster and even Victor.  Victor is seeking something more in life, ends up with a monster, rejects the monster, the monster then is rejected by everyone, and in the end they both are left sad, alone, and miserable.  Maybe the creation of this story was just so that Walton could get his feelings out on paper.  This is the fun thing about interpreting what you read because many questions are brought into the open and leaves everyone with several thoughts and interpretations.