Today, while I was writing my essay on Zulus, I noticed that I had gotten about three quarters of the way done with my draft, I felt that maybe I was getting a little ahead of myself considering that the entire essay was an analysis of a single chapter heading. I had planned to do much more than that at this point and began to think that if I go in another direction I an make this work. For my essay I had Continue reading “Thinking of Changing Essay Topic”
Communism in Zulus?
While I was reading Percival Everett’s, Zulus, I had noticed that the government policies within this society resemble that of the Communist Soviet Union. Aside from the general oppression of the government on then people, the first thing that brought this to my attention were the cheese trucks. Back when my great grandparents still lived in Russia, they had to get food by waiting on line at these food depots. They were like stores Continue reading “Communism in Zulus?”
Light bulb
Percival Everett’s, Zulu, has been one of the most interesting books that I have read so far since arriving at this college. I had never before read a book with these seemingly irrelevant, but most certainly important chapter titles. Reading all the names from various time periods and various stretches of life makes one think about where he or she first learned of them. Reading names such as Plato, Solomon, Napoleon, Hades, etc. made me stop in my train of thought and go, “Oh I know this person” and, “I read about so-and-so or read so-and-so’s work.” It was like a little Continue reading “Light bulb”
Territoriality of Vocabulary
As time goes on and the disciplines continue to develop, the English language changes according to the trends of the generation. When one subject starts to become the dominant discipline, said subject starts to effect what certain words mean and how they are used. Moran’s, Interdisciplinarity, states, “The obvious connections between the subjects, Continue reading “Territoriality of Vocabulary”
The Superiority Complex That Prevents Peace Among Disciplines
Within the many existing disciplines, some are considered superior to others while others are seen as having no purpose at all. Moran argues in his chapter “Theory And The Disciplines” of his book, Interdisciplinarity, that some disciplines, such as the sciences, hold themselves highest above all others. Moran quotes Lacan as saying,
“Lacan here
seems to compare the discipline of Freudian psychoanalysis with
a religious cult, in which the various members profess their loyalty
to a founding father, and indeed, he likens his treatment
at the hand of the IPA to an excommunication.” (Page 91).
Moran quotes Lancan as saying that the discipline of Freudian psychoanalysis is basically its own little club that shuns anyone who does not go along with the group. Such people believe that those whom act or think differently are beneath them and will never contribute to society. People like this see other disciplines as holding no value and therefore a waste of time. Continue reading “The Superiority Complex That Prevents Peace Among Disciplines”
A Reflection on Dionysus in The Bacchae
Dionysus, Greek god of wine and fornication is seen as perversion by Pentheus, King of Thebes. The women of Thebes worship Dionysus by drinking and having sex with various men. Pentheus bans the worship of Dionysus in an attempt to lessen Dionysus’ hold over the women; thus giving Pentheus more control over his people. Dionysus, disgruntled by this act and he devises a plot to ruin Pentheus’ life. Dionysus drives Pentheus’ female family members insane and forces them to join his followers in the forest to “worship” him. However, these activities quickly escalate into the mutilation of animals and trespassers later on. While the women are drunk and “lively” Dionysus is cavorting among them in the form of a feeble Lydian. Pentheus manages to capture the “Lydian” and interrogates him to get to the bottom of the women’s behavior. Dionysus lets himself be captured in order to get close to Pentheus and manipulate him. He wants to drive Pentheus mad and have his people lose all respect for him. Pentheus fails to interrogate him, mistakenly ties up a bull (instead of Dionysus), and stabs Dionysus’ shadow thinking it was Dionysus. At that point Dionysus creates an earthquake and Pentheus’ family (now Dionysus’ followers) become violent and kill many animals.
Throughout Dionysus’ plan, he is attempting to get Pentheus to lift the ban on following himself. However, even after all that has happened, Pentheus refuses. Pentheus is too proud and will stop at nothing to get his way. However, this is his downfall. He is blind to Dionysus’ trickery and believes that everything happening is just coincidence. This is when Dionysus becomes even more devious and unbearably cruel. He convinces Pentheus that he gives up but does not try to convince Pentheus that the misfortune was his doing. He tells Pentheus to spy on the women to understand what the situation is and to get information on how to fix everything. Throughout this, Dionysus is somehow deluding Pentheus’ mind and convinces him that if he disguises himself as a women, he will not be attacked by Dionysus’ followers. Pentheus is reluctant at first but goes along due to his gullible state.
It is baffling how cruel Dionysus can be; he may be a god, but he acts as if he were a child with a gun. He only cares for himself and will hurt everyone to get his way. Maddening Pentheus’ family (along with Pentheus) was not revenge enough for Dionysus. He wants Pentheus dead and to spit in his face once he is gone. Dionysus has Pentheus’ own mother tear Pentheus to shreds after having him fall from a tall tree. The madness does not stop there; Pentheus’ mother brings the head of her son to her own father upon which she slowly realizes the horrible act she has committed. The mother and grandfather are in tears over the tragedy and yet Dionysus still is not satisfied. In their grief stricken state, Dionysus further destroys the family by turning the mother and grandfather into snakes, banishes them from Thebes, and will later force them to invade their abandoned homeland.
Dionysus is very cruel in his punishment. He is like a psychopathic child. Pentheus puts Dionysus’ followers in “time out” and Dionysus throws a fit. He proceeds to put Pentheus through hell several times for preventing Dionysus from getting attention from his followers. And just like a psychopathic child, he feels pride for the horrific punishment he has dealt on those who had slightly inconvenienced him. Dionysus claims to be a god, but is merely a child with a god’s powers.