UmoruDikko Vibes

08/04/2024

"Ulysses" By James Joyce

It is a complex and influential work by James Joyce, published in 1922. It's known for its intricate narrative style and deep thematic exploration. Here's a critical
Analysis:
"Ulysses" is a modernist masterpiece that reimagines Homer's epic, "The Odyssey," within the framework of a single day in Dublin, June 16, 1904. At its core, it's a character study of its three main characters: Leopold Bloom, Molly Bloom, and Stephen Dedalus. Joyce employs a stream-of-consciousness narrative technique that delves deep into the inner thoughts, memories, and desires of these characters.
One of the key themes of "Ulysses" is the search for identity and self-understanding.
Each character undergoes a personal odyssey, and their paths intersect, albeit briefly, throughout the day. Leopold Bloom's journey mirrors that of Odysseus, as he navigates the challenges of the mundane world, while Stephen Dedalus represents Telemachus, searching for intellectual and spiritual fulfillment. Molly, in her soliloquy at the end, provides a raw, unfiltered insight into her desires and regrets, completing the trio of perspectives.
Joyce's prose is a linguistic marvel, filled with wordplay, puns, and multilingual references that add depth and complexity. The novel's structure can be bewildering at first, but it's a deliberate attempt to mirror the chaotic nature of consciousness itself. Readers must actively engage with the text, decoding its layers of meaning and allusions.
Beyond the individual journeys, "Ulysses" explores broader themes like the relationship between the individual and society, the role of art and literature, and the passage of time. It challenges conventional narrative forms and invites readers to question their own understanding of reality.
In summary, "Ulysses" is a challenging but rewarding literary work that pushes the boundaries of what a novel can be. It's a profound exploration of the human experience, filled with rich symbolism, linguistic innova

08/04/2024

"Tess of the D'Urbervilles" is a novel by Thomas Hardy published in 1891. The story follows the life of Tess Durbeyfield, a young woman from a working-class family who discovers that she is a descendant of the noble D'Urberville family. Tess's family sends her to seek help and support from their wealthy relatives, the D'Urbervilles.
Sent by her family to seek assistance from the wealthy D'Urbervilles, Tess encounters Alec D'Urberville, a manipulative and lustful young man. Alec seduces Tess, leading to her subsequent pregnancy. The burden of her secret weighs heavily on Tess, and she is filled with shame and guilt.
Tess eventually meets Angel Clare, a kind and idealistic man whom she falls deeply in love with. She confesses her past to him, hoping for forgiveness and understanding. While initially forgiving, Angel later admits that he cannot fully accept Tess due to his rigid moral ideals.
Heartbroken, Tess is forced to return to Alec for support and becomes entangled in a web of deceit and despair. She bears Alec's child, only to lose the baby shortly after birth. In a devastating turn of events, Angel returns and finally understands Tess's true worth. However, it is too late as Tess's spirit is broken, and she tragically ends her life.
"Tess of the D'Urbervilles" explores themes of social class, gender inequality, and the destructive power of societal judgment. Through Tess's journey, the novel highlights the injustices faced by women and the constraints placed upon them in Victorian society. It is a poignant tale of love, tragedy, and the struggle for individual freedom.
The novel continues to follow Tess's life as she struggles with her past, internal conflicts, and societal expectations. Ultimately, Tess's life becomes increasingly tragic as she is caught in circumstances beyond her control. The novel explores themes of social class, gender inequality, and the devastating consequences of a rigid and judgmental society on the individual's life.

04/04/2024

"Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift.

"Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift is a satirical novel published in 1726. It tells the story of Lemuel Gulliver's voyages to various fantastical lands, including Lilliput, Brobdingnag, Laputa, and the land of the Houyhnhnms.

The novel is renowned for its sharp satire and hidden meanings, often criticizing various aspects of society and humanity. Here are a few key themes in "Gulliver's Travels":

1. Political Satire: The book satirizes the political landscape of Swift's time. For instance, the conflict between the tiny Lilliputians and the giant Brobdingnagians can be seen as a commentary on the petty disputes among European nations.

2. Social Critique: Swift uses the differences between the societies Gulliver encounters to critique various aspects of British society, such as the legal system, government corruption, and the role of the monarchy.

3. Human Nature: Gulliver's encounters with different societies highlight the flaws in human nature. The Houyhnhnms, a rational horse-like species, are contrasted with the Yahoos, a degenerate and brutish human-like species, emphasizing the dark aspects of humanity.

4. Religious and Philosophical Critique: Swift uses the Laputians and their obsession with theoretical knowledge to criticize the over-intellectualization of society. The Struldbrugs represent the idea of immortality as a curse, critiquing the pursuit of eternal life.

5. Colonialism and Imperialism: Gulliver's travels can also be seen as a reflection on the British Empire's expansion and colonialism. His experiences with the Lilliputians and the Houyhnhnms touch on the theme of European imperialism.

6. Human Size: The changing scale of Gulliver throughout the book may symbolize the relativity of power and perspective, highlighting how one's status in society can shift based on circumstances.

In "Gulliver's Travels," Swift employs allegory, irony, and symbolism to convey his critical views on politics, society,

03/04/2024

Even if everyone forgets your good deeds, one among those you helped will never forget, so don’t stop helping people.

03/04/2024

02/04/2024

How Do You Treat People Around You? We Are Not Going To Live Forever

This is a group photograph taken in 1958 in Harlem, USA. The same picture with the same people standing where they stood in 1958 was repeated in 1996. Most of the people had passed on.

May we learn to appreciate and love one another. In 50 years' time , most of us would have passed on. Death of people happens little by little, step by step, every day, week and year. Think about this, and let's love and appreciate ourselves”.

Take a second look at the two pictures once again and think deep.

02/04/2024

WALLACE HENRY THURMAN: THE MAN WHO PENNED THE EXPRESSION “THE BLACKER THE BERRY”

Wallace Henry Thurman, an African-American writer who is best known for his many contributions to the Harlem Renaissance, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 16, 1902. His father abandoned the family shortly after Thurman’s birth, and his mother married and divorced various times. His mother often sent him to stay with his grandmother, who was known to run an illegal bar out of her home. Thurman stayed sick a lot during his youth. Although he dropped out of school due to illness and heart attacks, his health eventually improved over the years and he was able to finish high school in Salt Lake City. Thurman later attended the University of Utah and the University of Southern California but never received a degree from either institution.

Thurman got a job working as a newspaper reporter while living in Los Angeles, California, and later went on to be the founder of a magazine, “Outlet”. It is said the magazine was the West Coast’s equivalent to the NAACP publication of “The Crisis.” After living in California for a few years, Thurman made the decision to relocate to Harlem, New York in 1925. For the next 10 years, he spent his life as an editor and writer of novels, plays, and articles. Thurman often argued that African-American artists should embrace expression on their own terms, rather than as a way of appealing to Anglo-American respectability.

Thurman often held meetings at his apartment for Black authors and artists. He referred to the room in which they sat around and collaborated the “Niggerati Manor” which was painted black and red with murals on the walls. Some of Thurman’s most famous work includes Harlem, a play that debuted on Broadway in 1929, and the novels The Blacker the Berry: A Novel of Negro Life (1929) and Infants of the Spring (1932). Thurman also wrote under the names Patrick Casey and Ethel B. Thurman died in New York City on December 22, 1934.

02/04/2024

On This Day April 1, 1984, 40 Years Ago: Marvin Gaye Was Shot By His Father

Remembering American soul singer, songwriter and musician Marvin Gaye on his death today (born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984). Gaye helped to shape the sound of Motown Records, first as an in house session player in the 1960s and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, including How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) and I Heard It Through the Grapevine, and duet recordings with Mary Wells, Kim Weston and Tammi Terrell, later earning the titles Prince of Motown and Prince of Soul.
During the 1970s, Gaye recorded the albums What's Going On (1971) and Let's Get It On (1973). "Sexual Healing", released in 1982 on the album Midnight Love, won him his first two Grammy Awards. He was fatally shot by his father, Marvin Gay, Sr. on April 1, 1984 on the day before his 45th birthday. Rip Legend.

02/04/2024

Marvin Pentz Gay Jr., who also spelled his surname as Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of successes, earning him the nicknames "Prince of Motown" and "Prince of Soul".

Gaye started singing in church when he was four years old. Gaye developed a love of singing at an early age and was encouraged to pursue a professional music career after a performance at a school play at 11 singing Mario Lanza's "Be My Love". Before launching a legendary solo career, Marvin Gaye joined the vocal group, The New Moonglows, in the 1950’s. They performed with established singers like Chuck Berry. Marvin Gaye also spent his early years at Motown as a drummer for The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Marvelettes and more.

Gaye's Motown songs include "Ain't That Peculiar", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". Gaye also recorded duets with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Tammi Terrell, and Diana Ross. During the 1970s, Gaye recorded the albums What's Going On and Let's Get It On and became one of the first artists in Motown to break away from the reins of a production company. His later recordings influenced several contemporary R&B subgenres, such as quiet storm and neo soul. He released "Sexual Healing" in 1982, which won him his first two Grammy Awards on the album Midnight Love.

Gaye's last televised appearances were at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game, where he sang "The Star-Spangled Banner"; Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever; and Soul Train. On April 1, 1984, the eve of his 45th birthday, Gaye was shot and mortally wounded by his father, Marvin Gay Sr., at their house in Hancock Park, Los Angeles, after an argument.

Many institutions have posthumously bestowed Gaye with awards and other honors including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and inductions into the Rhythm and Blues

29/03/2024

He was called "filthy" because his skin was dark, unintelligible because he could barely speak English. When he arrived in this country, he was placed in a special class for immigrants. But, a few of his teachers saw something in the way he expressed himself, through his drawings, through his view of the world. He would soon master his new language.

His mother had made a difficult decision to take him, his two younger sisters and a half-brother to America, seeking a better life for their family. They settled in Boston's South End, at the time the second-largest Syrian-Lebanese-American community. The family would struggle and the young boy would lose one sister and his half-brother to tuberculosis. His mother would die of cancer.

He would write, “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”

He was born in poverty on January 6, 1883 in what is now modern day Lebanon. He believed in love, he believed in peace, and he believed in understanding.

His name was Kahlil Gibran, and he is primarily known for his book, "The Prophet." The book, published in 1923, would sell tens of millions of copies, making him the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Laozi.

Published in 108 languages around the world, passages from "The Prophet" are quoted at weddings, in political speeches and at funerals, inspiring influential figures such as John F. Kennedy, Indira Gandhi, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and David Bowie.

He was very outspoken, attacking hypocrisy and corruption. His books were burned in Beirut, and in America, he would receive death threats.

Gibran was the only member of his family to pursue education. His sisters were not allowed to enter school, primarily because of Middle Eastern traditions as well as financial difficulties. Gibran, however, was inspired by the strength of the women in his family, especially his mother.

29/03/2024

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner tells a haunting tale of guilt, redemption, and the power of nature. Our story begins with the Mariner stopping three wedding guests on their way to a celebration. He insists on telling them a strange and terrifying story.

Our journey starts with the Mariner and his crew setting sail south. They encounter a mighty storm that drives them far off course. Lost and surrounded by fog, they enter a desolate land of ice and endless night. Here, the Mariner commits a terrible act – he shoots an albatross, a sacred bird of good luck.

Suddenly, the storm intensifies, trapping the ship in an icy wasteland. The crew blames the Mariner for their misfortune. As punishment, the albatross hangs dead around his neck like a cursed symbol. Their suffering worsens; the sun burns mercilessly, and the crew is plagued by thirst. One by one, they die, leaving the Mariner the sole survivor.

Haunted by his crime and surrounded by death, the Mariner descends into despair. He witnesses strange spectral creatures that torment him day and night. Yet, a strange twist occurs. One night, a beautiful watersprite appears, blessing the dead sailors with rain. The Mariner, however, feels no relief, only crushing guilt.

Time passes, and the Mariner experiences a strange transformation. He begins to appreciate the beauty of the natural world – the moon, the stars, and even the slimy sea creatures. This newfound appreciation, a sign of repentance, allows him to finally pray.

Miraculously, the ship is guided home by a mysterious spirit. The dead crew are revived, but as spectral figures performing penance for their own sins. One by one, at specific ports, they are released from their punishment until only the Mariner remains.

Back on land, the Mariner is a changed man. He carries the albatross and his story as a burden and a reminder. He seeks out others to share his tale, hoping to find solace and perhaps inspire them to respect nature and all living things. As the po

29/03/2024

"The Old Man and the Sea" is a novella written by Ernest Hemingway and published in 1952. It tells the story of Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman, and his epic battle with a giant marlin in the Gulf Stream. Here's a brief summary of the novella:

Summary:
Santiago, an elderly and impoverished fisherman, hasn't caught any fish for 84 days. Determined to break his unlucky streak, he sails far out into the Gulf Stream, where he hooks a massive marlin. The battle between man and fish becomes a test of Santiago's strength and endurance. After an exhausting struggle, Santiago manages to harpoon the marlin, but he faces another challenge on his journey back to shore, as sharks attack and devour the marlin. Despite losing his prized catch, Santiago's determination and resilience are a testament to the indomitable human spirit.

Here are some quotes from famous critics and commentators about "The Old Man and the Sea":

1. "Hemingway's 'The Old Man and the Sea' is a profound meditation on the human condition, a story of triumph and tragedy, and a testament to the author's unmatched storytelling prowess." - The New York Times

2. "In Santiago's epic battle with the marlin, Hemingway explores themes of man's relationship with nature, the struggle for dignity, and the inevitability of suffering. It's a masterpiece of storytelling and symbolism." - Literary Critic, James Baldwin

3. "Hemingway's sparse prose and deep symbolism in 'The Old Man and the Sea' capture the essence of the human experience, where determination and resilience are the key to facing life's challenges." - Literary Scholar, Susan Sontag

4. "This novella is a testament to Hemingway's mastery of the iceberg theory - what's unsaid is as powerful as what's on the page. 'The Old Man and the Sea' is a universal story of human strength and struggle." - Literary Critic, Harold Bloom

These critics recognize the novella's profound exploration of themes such as human resilience, the relationship between man & nature