5. Even her detractors praise Chopin's style. Describe its characteristic. Is it dated? Chopin does not fill up her scenes with inventories of concrete detail. Does she lack interest in material actuality? Or is she simply a poor observer?
5. Chopin does not fluff her scenes with unnecessary details or pointless banter. Her concise writing means that any details that she does include have weight and carry some symbolic importance. Unfortunately for those who enjoy being able to create a mental picture when reading, her lack of detail makes it difficult to do that. But, it also leaves much to the interpretation of the individual reader. Most modern writer take the route that gives their books a movie-like quality, describing flowers, sidewalks, etc. in order to give the reader the opportunity to form a mental picture but this style of writing denies the reader the option of interpretation. While modern writing is enjoyable to read, Chopin’s style actually makes the reader think and work to read in between the lines.
Eryn, I agree that Chopin's style is primarily conceived of symbols and that leaves many points of The Awakening up for multiple interpretations, such as the content of the letter Edna reads from Robert as Madame Reisz's. Symbols are how Chopin creates her argument. She does not simply state her argument, as concrete details would, but rather lets in unfold in symbols such as birds and the sea.
Eryn, I agree that Chopin’s style makes it extremely difficult to form a mental picture. The number and complexity of the symbols that she uses are staggering. I believe that if she bogged the story down with concrete details that meant nothing beyond their physical existence, much of the focus of the reader would be drawn away from the symbols and their meaning would be lost. I agree that she uses symbols to convey her message. It impressed me that every motif stood for something different, but they all tied back in together to demonstrate Edna’s awakenings and growing self-identity.
I believe that Chopin does not add too much detail in the scenes in order to not make the subject dated. Yes, society and times have changed, but women do not always have the fair treatment, and many times do feel the way Edna did. This feeling of oppression is still very evident today. The circumstances may be different and not as strict, but Chopin left a simple mold in which many generations of women can find that they fit into. Hopelessness and an overall feeling of captivity will never be dated. Chopin adds some symbolism but pretty much gets straight to the point. The subject is not one that can have too much detail put in it anyway, since if it were prettied up, it would not have such an impact on the reader.
Like Eryn said, Chopin did not "fluff up" the details, but doing so made them all the better. The fewer there are, the more important and meaningful. In How to Read Literature Like A Professor, he says that authors sometimes leave things out in order to allow the reader to have a broader and more individual interpretation. By using fewer details and allowing us to use our own imagination with some things, Chopin's style is not dated.
Chopin does not fluff up her work with useless details to make her work become dated. The details that she does select to keep in the work allows her to emphasize these details through literary devices such as symbolism. The specific details that she keeps in and repeats create linking themes throughout the book. By leaving out the fluffy details, Chopin allows her writing to be interpreted in several different views and keeps her from being dated. By lacking the fluff, we can apply The Awakening to any time period and allow for individual interpretation from the time when it was first published, to the modern day and yet it will still be relevant.
5. Chopin does not fluff her scenes with unnecessary details or pointless banter. Her concise writing means that any details that she does include have weight and carry some symbolic importance. Unfortunately for those who enjoy being able to create a mental picture when reading, her lack of detail makes it difficult to do that. But, it also leaves much to the interpretation of the individual reader. Most modern writer take the route that gives their books a movie-like quality, describing flowers, sidewalks, etc. in order to give the reader the opportunity to form a mental picture but this style of writing denies the reader the option of interpretation. While modern writing is enjoyable to read, Chopin’s style actually makes the reader think and work to read in between the lines.
ReplyDeleteEryn, I agree that Chopin's style is primarily conceived of symbols and that leaves many points of The Awakening up for multiple interpretations, such as the content of the letter Edna reads from Robert as Madame Reisz's. Symbols are how Chopin creates her argument. She does not simply state her argument, as concrete details would, but rather lets in unfold in symbols such as birds and the sea.
DeleteEryn, I agree that Chopin’s style makes it extremely difficult to form a mental picture. The number and complexity of the symbols that she uses are staggering. I believe that if she bogged the story down with concrete details that meant nothing beyond their physical existence, much of the focus of the reader would be drawn away from the symbols and their meaning would be lost. I agree that she uses symbols to convey her message. It impressed me that every motif stood for something different, but they all tied back in together to demonstrate Edna’s awakenings and growing self-identity.
DeleteI believe that Chopin does not add too much detail in the scenes in order to not make the subject dated. Yes, society and times have changed, but women do not always have the fair treatment, and many times do feel the way Edna did. This feeling of oppression is still very evident today. The circumstances may be different and not as strict, but Chopin left a simple mold in which many generations of women can find that they fit into. Hopelessness and an overall feeling of captivity will never be dated. Chopin adds some symbolism but pretty much gets straight to the point. The subject is not one that can have too much detail put in it anyway, since if it were prettied up, it would not have such an impact on the reader.
ReplyDeleteLike Eryn said, Chopin did not "fluff up" the details, but doing so made them all the better. The fewer there are, the more important and meaningful. In How to Read Literature Like A Professor, he says that authors sometimes leave things out in order to allow the reader to have a broader and more individual interpretation. By using fewer details and allowing us to use our own imagination with some things, Chopin's style is not dated.
ReplyDeleteChopin does not fluff up her work with useless details to make her work become dated. The details that she does select to keep in the work allows her to emphasize these details through literary devices such as symbolism. The specific details that she keeps in and repeats create linking themes throughout the book. By leaving out the fluffy details, Chopin allows her writing to be interpreted in several different views and keeps her from being dated. By lacking the fluff, we can apply The Awakening to any time period and allow for individual interpretation from the time when it was first published, to the modern day and yet it will still be relevant.
ReplyDelete