Sunday, March 1, 2009
Archetypes
There aren't alot of archetypes in this novel. Nobody is seeking anything or extremely good or bad. The one contrasting idea is that Mr. Eager (a high society preacher) is hated because he's stuffy and doesn't like lower class people, but Mr. Beebe (the other more liberal preacher) makes up for it because he is nearly the opposite and tolerant of all people. There is no danger or learning or really outstanding characters. This book isn't a classic because of its characters but rather the blatant disregard for society and its call for equality with men and women which was way before the accepted time period. Overall, the characters themselves are normal and boring.
Character Growth
The most obvious change in a character in Forster's novel, is that of Lucy, not only because she is the most developed persona or that it is her story, but because she means more than just one person. The novel is based on her change from a naive girl to an understanding, thoughtful and spirited woman. Forster uses her change to discuss love, the restraints of society and a woman's place with his audience. Without this discussion there would be no story.
Lucy's change is very important because it is almost a lesson to humanity. She learns to disregard the rules of society and what people think of her to be happy in her own way. Once she discovers that she is intelligent and can and will have a say, she finds a new world. Moving back to Italy with her true love brings the book full circle as she is in the perfect, brighter Italy away from the oppressive droll England.
Lucy's change takes many forms. Forster uses love, music and scenic aspects to help her discover her true free self. She goes from being meek and timid to being opinionated and wise. At first she envies the freedom of Italy, and misses it when returning to England. Cecil falls in love with her for her spirit, which she acquired from Italy, but at the same time he wishes her to conform to his idea of what a woman should be. At the end of the novel, Lucy embraces Italy for its beauty and ignores all social structure which shows that she has become free and is no longer oppressed and afraid.
Lucy's change is very important because it is almost a lesson to humanity. She learns to disregard the rules of society and what people think of her to be happy in her own way. Once she discovers that she is intelligent and can and will have a say, she finds a new world. Moving back to Italy with her true love brings the book full circle as she is in the perfect, brighter Italy away from the oppressive droll England.
Lucy's change takes many forms. Forster uses love, music and scenic aspects to help her discover her true free self. She goes from being meek and timid to being opinionated and wise. At first she envies the freedom of Italy, and misses it when returning to England. Cecil falls in love with her for her spirit, which she acquired from Italy, but at the same time he wishes her to conform to his idea of what a woman should be. At the end of the novel, Lucy embraces Italy for its beauty and ignores all social structure which shows that she has become free and is no longer oppressed and afraid.
Criticism #3
Criticism #3: http://www.emforster.info/pages/roomview.html
An Interpretation of E. M. Forster's A Room with a View by Rob Doll© 2002
Doll uses many examples and quotes from the text of A Room with a View to argue two main points. One is that Italy is the embodiment of the freedom, adventure and spirit that is not only craved by Lucy but by all people. Italy does indeed have loose and questionable characters and avoids and yet is society. It is a mixture and it is ironic that the joy of Italy is in its people and the history of those people, but the English people who come to and are supposed to "know" Italy are completely blind to this facet. Doll's second main point is that Lucy was destined to fall for and marry George Emerson instead of Cecil because the murder which they witnessed was the consummation of their marriage to come. This interesting argument is based on Lucy's rebellion in Italy and of course the fact that ultimately she does marry George. His evidence is based on the fact that when Lucy buys the nude pictures of the goddess Venus, and then the blood from the murder splashes on them, the resulting connection between her and George is not of love or even from the traumatic circumstances but rather that a "marriage" has been consummated.
I found Doll's arguments to be very interesting and thought provoking. He focuses mainly on Italy and nothing of the social aspects which are surely there. This brings into question the reliability of his analysis, but for my part, I am inclined to agree with him.
An Interpretation of E. M. Forster's A Room with a View by Rob Doll© 2002
Doll uses many examples and quotes from the text of A Room with a View to argue two main points. One is that Italy is the embodiment of the freedom, adventure and spirit that is not only craved by Lucy but by all people. Italy does indeed have loose and questionable characters and avoids and yet is society. It is a mixture and it is ironic that the joy of Italy is in its people and the history of those people, but the English people who come to and are supposed to "know" Italy are completely blind to this facet. Doll's second main point is that Lucy was destined to fall for and marry George Emerson instead of Cecil because the murder which they witnessed was the consummation of their marriage to come. This interesting argument is based on Lucy's rebellion in Italy and of course the fact that ultimately she does marry George. His evidence is based on the fact that when Lucy buys the nude pictures of the goddess Venus, and then the blood from the murder splashes on them, the resulting connection between her and George is not of love or even from the traumatic circumstances but rather that a "marriage" has been consummated.
I found Doll's arguments to be very interesting and thought provoking. He focuses mainly on Italy and nothing of the social aspects which are surely there. This brings into question the reliability of his analysis, but for my part, I am inclined to agree with him.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Allusions to this book:
Movie: 1985-Won 3 Oscars. Another 21 wins & 19 nominations. Highly payed and well-known cast, including actress Maggie Smith (from Harry Potter and many other movies).
TV Show: 2007 (British series)
Advertising for Bed and Breakfast and hotels that use Forster's title as inspiration
PBS show
Barnes and Noble advertising
TV Show: 2007 (British series)
Advertising for Bed and Breakfast and hotels that use Forster's title as inspiration
PBS show
Barnes and Noble advertising
Why is it a classic?
Many written works achieve near instantaneous notoriety, and then quickly fade in memory to be forgotten altogether. The books that stand the test of time, that are reprinted and in demand far beyond their first publication, are the classics which often are remembered because of their universal applications and insights into human nature. A Room with a View is one such classic of British literature. E.M. Forster does a beautiful job of examining human, and more specifically a woman's nature. His character's confidence and her decision to go against society's expectations makes this book very memorable.
Much of the focus in this novel is on women, as it is told from a young woman's perspective and several other of the more outspoken characters are women or at least respect women and their opinions. Forster uses his work to analyze the place of women in society and more broadly, question society itself and the ranking system within it. This highly debatable subject ensures that the novel will continue to stand the test of time because it cannot be forgotten until the unsolvable issues are resolved. It indirectly questions the Christian religion as well, because the novel implies that women should be equal to men not waiting for them to lead and speak first. Every culture will have their own answer to what a woman's place is, and there may be no clear cut right answer, only opinions. However, these questions can be applied to any culture and any group of people which is really the key element of a classic.
A Room with a View can also be analyzed on the level of the plot line as well as the extrapolated issues within it. The story follows one girl, Lucy, through her change from a girl to a woman. This transformation is applicable for all time periods and all people for as long as human beings exist. It is timeless, and writing a novel that follows it relies on the assurance that there will always be an audience for such works because it is universally understandable.
Besides discussing women, this book is also a classic because of its theme of true love. It seeks to define this elusive and abstract quality or idea, which is what many people throughout the world are also seeking. Most people want to experience true love, and inevitably there are many obstacles that stand in the way of such a fairy tale ending. One such obstacle is well known as exemplified by the phrase, "for love or money." In A Room with a View, Lucy has a chance to marry into a high society family and all that that entails, but instead she chooses the simplicity of true love. Dwelling on the drama of this can be very entertaining and emotionally enthralling. Using love can be one of an author's best tools to make sure his or her work is remembered.
This novel is a classic due to its controversial nature, timeless questions, and theme of love. It applies to all people for all time, which means that to ignore it or forget it would be to get rid of or deny part of human nature. This book will continue to last, and it will always have an audience whether people agree with it or not.
Much of the focus in this novel is on women, as it is told from a young woman's perspective and several other of the more outspoken characters are women or at least respect women and their opinions. Forster uses his work to analyze the place of women in society and more broadly, question society itself and the ranking system within it. This highly debatable subject ensures that the novel will continue to stand the test of time because it cannot be forgotten until the unsolvable issues are resolved. It indirectly questions the Christian religion as well, because the novel implies that women should be equal to men not waiting for them to lead and speak first. Every culture will have their own answer to what a woman's place is, and there may be no clear cut right answer, only opinions. However, these questions can be applied to any culture and any group of people which is really the key element of a classic.
A Room with a View can also be analyzed on the level of the plot line as well as the extrapolated issues within it. The story follows one girl, Lucy, through her change from a girl to a woman. This transformation is applicable for all time periods and all people for as long as human beings exist. It is timeless, and writing a novel that follows it relies on the assurance that there will always be an audience for such works because it is universally understandable.
Besides discussing women, this book is also a classic because of its theme of true love. It seeks to define this elusive and abstract quality or idea, which is what many people throughout the world are also seeking. Most people want to experience true love, and inevitably there are many obstacles that stand in the way of such a fairy tale ending. One such obstacle is well known as exemplified by the phrase, "for love or money." In A Room with a View, Lucy has a chance to marry into a high society family and all that that entails, but instead she chooses the simplicity of true love. Dwelling on the drama of this can be very entertaining and emotionally enthralling. Using love can be one of an author's best tools to make sure his or her work is remembered.
This novel is a classic due to its controversial nature, timeless questions, and theme of love. It applies to all people for all time, which means that to ignore it or forget it would be to get rid of or deny part of human nature. This book will continue to last, and it will always have an audience whether people agree with it or not.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Summary
A Room with a View is a piece of classic British literature which is set in an Italian pensione and a well-to-do neighborhood in the countryside of Surrey, England. It begins when Lucy Honeychurch, a girl of about twenty who is searching for a way to grow up and yet live up to the standards of her society. She must choose between love and being proper, snobbish expectancies and a naturally sweet dispositon, and most of all making her own decisions or letting others put her in her place as a woman and making them for her. The story begins at the Italian pensione which Lucy is visiting with her cousin Charlotte. She meets many interesting people, among whom are George Emerson and his father who are socialists and generally disliked among Lucy's more proper group. Upon witnessing a murder, Lucy faints into George's arms and so begins their romance. She denies her feelings as advised to do so by her chaperone, who insists George is a "cad", and he tries to hide his own feelings for her as requested.
Chance or fate takes over when the Emersons move to a country home in Surrey and are very surprised to find that Lucy is in fact their neighbor, and is engaged to a very boring, yet high class man named Cecil. Cecil likes Lucy's free spirit, but he often tries to put her in her place and tell her what to think because he is the man. When George again confesses his love for Lucy one night, she breaks off her engagement with Cecil but plans to run away to Greece to avoid criticism for liking another man, which is improper behavior for a woman who is expected to be thoughtful not lustful. However, George's father discovers her intentions and confronts her, saying that she should not avoid true love but rather embrace it and marry George, his son. Lucy is extremely upset by this meeting, but in the very end she goes against everything she has been taught, and disregards everything that is expected of her to elope with George back to Italy.
Chance or fate takes over when the Emersons move to a country home in Surrey and are very surprised to find that Lucy is in fact their neighbor, and is engaged to a very boring, yet high class man named Cecil. Cecil likes Lucy's free spirit, but he often tries to put her in her place and tell her what to think because he is the man. When George again confesses his love for Lucy one night, she breaks off her engagement with Cecil but plans to run away to Greece to avoid criticism for liking another man, which is improper behavior for a woman who is expected to be thoughtful not lustful. However, George's father discovers her intentions and confronts her, saying that she should not avoid true love but rather embrace it and marry George, his son. Lucy is extremely upset by this meeting, but in the very end she goes against everything she has been taught, and disregards everything that is expected of her to elope with George back to Italy.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Criticism #2
Infotrac Search: "A Room with a View" AND Forster NOT Movie NOT Video NOT Marketing Under subcategory academic journals. Title: Modern pilgrimage and the authority of space in Forster's A Room with a View and Woolf's The Voyage Out. By: Alexandra Peat. (Saved on T drive as A Room with a View #2)
In her extensive discussion of several novels, Peat exhausts the subject of pilgrimages and journeys within classical literature and the effect that they have on the characters and the nature of the environment. Focusing on A Room with a View, Peat discusses mainly the first half of the novel when Lucy is in Florence and the surrounding countryside. She argues that Forster uses the Baedeker, Lucy's guide book, as a representation of typical tourist and that without it Florence is merely the same as England. Instead of reverently attending to the churches and sacred pieces of art, the loss of her Baedeker reduces Lucy to seeing the beauty as "cold" and like a "barn" as well as being taken with the ordinary people of the city and the sky instead of more suitable sights. Forster discusses the sky several times, and although it is unchanging, the blue seems more rapturous in Florence than it would be in England. Peat proposes that the differences are because Italy is a separate more idealistic place than the oppressive, mundane England. She also compares the "continuous contextuality" in a room with a view with another novel by Virginia Woolf, and she discusses the characters of that novel in depth as well.
Some of Peat's criticism is very hard to understand because obviously I have not read Virginia Woolf's novel, therefore the similar qualities under scrutiny are lost. However, when discussing only Forster's novel, she is very logical and makes good arguments using a balance of examples from the texts and conclusions drawn from them. She focuses alot on the surreal and pastoral aspects of the novels and ignores some parts not crucial to her arguments, but that is not necessarily a bad thing as she is examining several, not all, of the themes and motifs in the book.
In her extensive discussion of several novels, Peat exhausts the subject of pilgrimages and journeys within classical literature and the effect that they have on the characters and the nature of the environment. Focusing on A Room with a View, Peat discusses mainly the first half of the novel when Lucy is in Florence and the surrounding countryside. She argues that Forster uses the Baedeker, Lucy's guide book, as a representation of typical tourist and that without it Florence is merely the same as England. Instead of reverently attending to the churches and sacred pieces of art, the loss of her Baedeker reduces Lucy to seeing the beauty as "cold" and like a "barn" as well as being taken with the ordinary people of the city and the sky instead of more suitable sights. Forster discusses the sky several times, and although it is unchanging, the blue seems more rapturous in Florence than it would be in England. Peat proposes that the differences are because Italy is a separate more idealistic place than the oppressive, mundane England. She also compares the "continuous contextuality" in a room with a view with another novel by Virginia Woolf, and she discusses the characters of that novel in depth as well.
Some of Peat's criticism is very hard to understand because obviously I have not read Virginia Woolf's novel, therefore the similar qualities under scrutiny are lost. However, when discussing only Forster's novel, she is very logical and makes good arguments using a balance of examples from the texts and conclusions drawn from them. She focuses alot on the surreal and pastoral aspects of the novels and ignores some parts not crucial to her arguments, but that is not necessarily a bad thing as she is examining several, not all, of the themes and motifs in the book.
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