Yossarian...

“He wondered often how he would ever recognize the first chill, flush, twinge, ache, belch, sneeze, stain, lethargy, vocal slip, loss of balance or lapse of memory that would signal the inevitable beginning of the inevitable end.” (pg. 173)

This quote relates to the topic of fear and death, that is consistent throughout the entire book specifically in reference to Yossarian. He constantly has the idea of death on his mind, always thinking about scenarios in which he might be killed or people that could potentially kill him by their actions during missions etc. Also, Yossarian shows a sense of paranoia to the idea of death, in the sense that he thinks about highly unlikely methods of dying, such as the failure of his lymph glands, disease of his head, chest or intestines, or the deterioration of the cells on his body every night. Such thoughts as these in the war camp, truly paranoia Yossarian and provide as a mental excuse for him to leave and go live in the camp hospital where he feels he will always be monitored and less likely to suddenly die. Due to this fear, he has become fragile and extremely vigilant and caring to his own life (which is his top priority throughout this entire book). Do to all this thinking of death, he further feels trapped in the war due to all the possibilities of different deaths and catch 22. This passage gives an insight into Yossarian’s emotional instability.

stone (c)old bitty

On top of being a classic in and of itself, The Stone Angel is peppered with various songs and poems throughout. One little diddy is "The Prisoners' Song" by Vernon Dalhart which pops up on page 106. However Hagar Shipley, the protagonist, recites a version that is a little different from the original...

Hagar's version:

If I had the wings of an angel,

Or even the wings of a crow,

I would fly to the top of T. Eaton's,

And spit on the people below.

original:

Now, if I had the wings of an angel,
Over these prison walls I would fly.
And I'd fly to the arms of my darling,
And there I'd be willing to die.

Why is it important to compare the two? The Stone Angel is a journey through the last moments of Hagar Shipley's present life as well as a reflection of her past. The version that Hagar brings up in the novel is a verse that she remembers her children chanting when they were young. There is obviously a contrast in the tone of her children's version compared to the original lyrics. The version included in the book is more joking and childish while the original is more serious and melancholy. It is interesting because Hagar does not say anything about the original version even though it is more relevant to her situation. Hagar, being the stubborn and excessively proud old lady that she is, approaches her dying day with the sense of being trapped inside herself (her body is the prison) and at unease because she thinks she will die having never known love. If she could find someone that loved her and that she loved (her darling), she would be much more accepting of her fate and would be able to escape the constraints of being the stone cold old bitty that she is, on the wings of her newfound love.

Awwwww

Grace Poole?

I require and charge…of an impediment” pg. 432

All along there has been a sense of foreboding around “Grace Poole” and the person on the third floor. This quote finally addresses the mystery. Jane and Mr. Rochester are in the chapel about to be married when the clergymen asks the standard question if anyone knows of any impediment of why the couple can’t be together normally there’s a pause and the ceremony continues. However, at Jane and Mr. Rochester's wedding, a person actually speaks up to declare there is an impediment and the mystery finally unfolds about the strange occurrences on the third floor

External beauty versus internal beauty

Throughout the novel, Brontë plays with the duplicity between external beauty and internal beauty. Both Bertha Mason and Blanche Ingram are described as stunningly beautiful, but, in each case, the external beauty obscures an internal ugliness. Bertha’s beauty and sensuality blinded Mr. Rochester to her genetic madness, and it was only after their marriage that he gradually recognized her true nature. Blanche’s beauty hides her arrogance and pride, as well as her desire to marry Mr. Rochester only for his money. Yet, in Blanche’s case, Mr. Rochester seems to have learned not to judge by appearances, and he eventually rejects her, despite her beauty. Only Jane, who lacks the external beauty of typical Victorian heroines, has the inner beauty that appeals to Mr. Rochester. Her intelligence, wit, and calm morality express a far greater personal beauty than that of any other character in the novel, and Brontë clearly intends to highlight the importance of personal development and growth rather than superficial appearances. Once Mr. Rochester loses his hand and eyesight, they are also on equal footing in terms of appearance: both must look beyond superficial qualities in order to love each other.

"I must keep in good health, and not die."

“No sight so sad…and not die” pg. 43

You get the sense of what Jane is going to be like as an adult because you can see her character already taking form. She is able to keep a strong mind when being persecuted even though the environment she is being raised in is loveless and unsupportive. Jane still manages to have a sense of self worth so that she is able to stick up for herself when she has to face Mr.Brocklehurst. Mr. Brocklehurst has the demeanor that would intimidate any child yet Jane, is able to stand up for herself with plenty of backbone and wit.

“The horror, the horror”

“ ‘ His last word - to live with,’ she insisted. ‘Don’t you understand I loved him - I loved him - I loved him!’ “I pulled myself together and spoke very slowly. “The last word he pronounced was - your name.’ ” (Pg. 109)

This quotation is taken from a conversation Marlow has with Kurtz’s fiance, a year after his return from Africa. Kurtz’s fiance is still in mourning over the death of Kurtz and asks Marlow to tell her what Kurtz’s last words were. Marlow lies to her saying that Kurtz spoke her name before dying, when really his last words were, “The horror, the horror” (Pg. 98). This lie was an act of sympathy by Marlow who thought it would be ‘too dark’ to tell her the truth. However I think that this lie applies on a much larger scale than just between these two people. I think that the lie Marlow tells applies to the Ivory Trade in Africa and Colonial Imperialism as a whole. Although ivory trading and imperialism were mainly corrupt and evil, there effects were justified or lied about, due to the extreme wealth they produced. Therefore lies like the one Marlow tells helped to build the false impression of ‘civilized’ trading and imperialism, which people in Europe were lead to or chose to believe. The significance of Marlow lying at the end of the novella is that in doing so nothing changes, and peoples interpretations of civilized europe and barbaric africa remain.

Darkness of the Heart

“Trees, tress, millions of trees, massive, immense, running, up high; and at their foot, hugging the bank against the stream, crept the little begrimed steamboat, like a sluggish beetle crawling on the floor of a lofty portico. It made you feel very small, very lost, and yet it was not altogether depressing that feeling.” (Pg. 48)

In this quotation Marlow is describing the scenery of the African jungle, while traveling on his steam boat down the Congo river. Marlow vividly describes the raw beauty of his surroundings while also reflecting on the danger and unknown. This contrast of beauty and danger creates a powerful sense of mystery in the reader, while also revealing Marlow’s own emotions. I also believe that this quote provides evidence of an alternate meaning to the title, ‘Heart of Darkness’. Initially this title is perceived as describing mankind's journey into the heart of darkness, which is Africa. However after reading this quote I think it is clear that Africa is a place of beauty and not darkness. Whereas the traders and natives in the book seem to evolve around violence and destruction. Therefore it is in actual fact the human’s who posses the darkness and are bringing it with them into Africa. Hence the darkness referred to in the title is a darkness of the human heart and not that of Africa.