"I wake to sleep" (Roethke, 822). That right there is a fantastic line. Pretty much defines me also. Everything in between is just mumbo jumbo to feed my brain sweets while my everything else is being fed brussels sprouts and bell peppers. It shows that Roethke is one without necessarily much of a desire to enjoy each and every second of being alive, and instead wants to just get through the day to sleep (For the record I do enjoy being alive and I like brussels sprouts-not bell peppers though. Irrevelant. I apologize for that pointless reading session you may have just had).
The last line of the poem, "I learn by going where I have to go" (Roethke 822), contains one word that particularly sticks out to me, and that is "have". "Have" gives a negative connotation and one that is forceful and without desire, such as his perspective on sleeping and waking up. He is forced to go where is has to go. Basically, Roethke has no choice but to go and once he is there, he has no choice but to learn. Ultimately, Roethke is learning by putting himself out there even if he doesn't want to go. It's all similar to school. We learn by going to the designated classes of the day and their times, even if we don't feel like going. As we pile up on missed classes and learning, we no longer can go anywhere.
LeGuin's "The One's Who Walk Away from Omelas" was my least comprehended short story of the year. As far as I know, there is a place called Omelas and a little girl who depicts the happiness of the people, some of which walk away. That's the plan-spoken truth. Relating these two isn't easy, but maybe the relationship has something to do with going where he HAS to go, the same way as those who walk away from Omelas. Those who walk away faced no choice, and were forced to do it, even if it was wrong or controversial.
Im glad you like brussel sprouts-haha. Your interpretation of the last sentenced interested me. I didn't catch the "have" part of and did not think of it the way that you did. It put a new perspective of the poem in my head and helps me get a better overall grasp of the story.
ReplyDeleteAnother quick note, Milad...the title of the poem is "The Waking," not "The Walking." To be honest, I thought it "The Walking" at first, too.
ReplyDeleteTo branch off what Tyler said, I thought your meticulous attention to detail helped clear up the importance of the word "have." You showed us how the negative connotation meant that going was not a choice, but an obligation. Obviously, Omelas was not your strong suit, but when you connected the two, you had a pretty good idea, and sounding confident would have made it that much stronger.
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