Subjective Reality in Anne Carson's Autobiography of Red
Anne Carson's Autobiography of Red is a world of subjective reality. Carson explores the relationship between subject and object through a reworking of an original Greek myth. The original myth is of Herakles, who's tenth labor was to kill Geryon, a red winged monster who lived on an island, and steal his cattle. Carson takes the insignificant character of Geryon and creates a story based on his life, as if set in modern times. Autobiography of Red enters a world of ambiguity, where all objects are challenged and made into subjects.
Geryon is the subject of Autobiography of Red. The title alone delineates the fact that Geryon writes this story about himself. It is his autobiography; he is both the author and the subject. In the original myth, Herakles was the subject, and Geryon was simply an object in Herakles' story. Anne Carson molds the slightest references to Geryon in the original myth and forms a story for him, his own story. Geryon also becomes the author of his own story. Even before Geryon learns how to write, he begins his autobiography: "In this work Geryon set down all inside things / [. . .] He coolly omitted all outside things." (29). Geryon's autobiography ignores the realities set by outside forces. The autobiography consists only of that which is a reality to Geryon. This is a subjective world, because everybody's personal reality is different. It cannot be set and standardized like outside realities. He begins this autobiography as a sculpture, as his mother tells a friend: "[Geryon's] right here working on his autobiography / [. . .] it's a sculpture he doesn't know how to write yet" (35). On his sculpture, which is really a t...
... middle of paper ...
...ent ending for himself than that which is already prescribed. Rather than losing his identity in death, Geryon finds it when he flies. He comes to terms with who he is. Geryon's flight can be seen as his final release from all outside objective realities. Geryon is now subject only to himself and his own reality from now on. When Geryon flies he has achieved true subjectivity.
Geryon's transposition from object to subject is portrayed in many ways throughout the novel. From the subjectivity of the facts, to the subjectivity of the novel itself, and ultimately to the subjectivity of Geryon himself, Anne Carson challenges objectifications and creates a world of subjectivity. Ultimately in Autobiography of Red, nothing is concrete and objective. Everything is dependent on the person receiving the information. Reality exists only in the eye of the beholder.
I believe you can be positive during a conflict. When being positive during a conflict, a better outcome will occur. For example, 6 million people died from a tragic event, the Holocaust. Many lives were lost, a majority were frightened, and most were hopeless.Yet, some people stayed positive during this horrible time. Three sources, in particular, Anne Frank, Dear Miss Breed, and a life story that is very heartwarming. They show how being positive is the best way to handle a conflict, however a negative conflict will get you nowhere.
He was different than everyone else; he was red and had wings, which led to his feelings of alienation and isolation. He grew up feeling like an outsider. It was hard for him to accept his winged nature. After his brother sexually abuses him, Geryon learns the difference between what is within and what is without; “he thought about the difference between outside and inside. Inside is mine, he thought” (Carson 29).
Jews. He took it upon himself and Miep to give the two families in hiding
ABSTRACT — The impeccable ingenuity of Anne Carson with an elite outlook to the Autobiography of Red edifies the subtle genre in the form of a poetic novel with its firm roots in Greek mythology. Carson, a professor cum poet attempts a precocious projection of the protagonist, Geryon, in the Autobiography of Red by which making an appeal to her readers to opine the literary piece to be the autobiography of Geryon. Carson’s intelligence actually, lies in transposing Geryon’s story, however, into the contemporary world, so that
Anne Lamott has an amazing ability to connect with the audience. With use of personal experience and scenarios to be able to connect with the reader using rhetorical techniques such as ethos and pathos. Although her use of vulgar terms may tend to turn off readers, giving her points less impact. Anna opens explaining how everyone has bad first drafts, even terrific writers. It is difficult to be able to sit down and create a perfect first draft.
The Diary of Anne Frank is about Anne Frank’s life in the Secret Annex hiding from the Nazi’s. The diary shows how the members of the Secret Annex help each other keep hope in spite of dark times.
Annemarie's whole life circled around the lie about Aunt Birte, plus others. Her life changed, her relationship towards the adults changed, and last but not least, she learned the meaning and the way of
The activity of understanding Alice Williamson's diary begins prior to reading the first word. The reader begins to identify part of the reading experience based upon their feelings on diaries themselves in the moments of suspension between knowledge of type of text and the reading of the first entry.
Her diary not only helped her come to terms with change, but also allows us deeper insight into her life and what life was like for Jews during World War II. Anne changed from a young girl to a young woman, and the diary shows her journey through the hardships she faced during her time in the
I told you why Anne had felt this way during her ordeal, and what this reveals about her character and her views about life. Anne is a strong and heroic young girl who has a heart for others and she is very compassionate towards others. Which is a great quality to have in that time period she was going through? No one could have done it better than Anne. She helped people look at the good in the situations she was never the one mention the negative things. You think how you would react to this situation. Would you be buoyant? Or would you be colorless in this and always look at the crummy never say anything positive. All quotes can be found in the collections book pages
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live during World War 2? Life during World War 2 was torture if you were jewish, especially if you were a kid. Felix Salingar from Then by Morris Gleitzman and Anne Frank both knew what it was like. Their stories both describe the lives of jewish children hiding from the Nazis, in fear of being taken and killed. Throughout both of their stories, many character traits were discovered about them that show how they are similarly affected by the events in their stories. Anne Frank and Felix Salingar have many similarities, some of which stand out more than others.
She goes on a journey that involves discovering her race, gender, and true love in order to discover her identity. Hurston writes this book to teach other women to embrace being strong, courageous, and independent despite the common stereotype that exists in the
The diary is an accurate record of the way Anne grows up and matures, in the unfortunate situation she found herself. Given the circumstances in which the novel is written Anne gave a very vivid description of her surroundings and the feelings she encountered throughout her ordeal. The novel displays the grief and frustration that is experienced throughout the time spent in hiding. The emotions of the situation are captured in the text and gives validity to the pain and frustration encountered. Despite the amusing and enlightening side of the diary, that documents the process of her adolescence, it also provides a vividly terrifying description of what it was like to be Jewish hiding during the time the Nazis sought to kill all the Jews in Europe. After two years of living in the "secret annex", behind a bookcase, and having to be extremely quite during the day so that the workers in the office and warehouse below could not hear them the family was captured.
Cecily mentions her diary to Algernon and she explains “it is simply a very young girl’s record of her own thought sand impressions and consequently meant for publication. When it appears in volume form I hope you will order a copy” (73). However, this directly contrasts Cecily’s previous conversation with Miss Prism about the purpose of her journal and the quality of such novels. Cecily does not keep her diary for the intent of a novel; she keeps it as a record of life. Therefore, everything Cecily mentions about the diary from this point forward is just a tool of manipulation. Cecily intrigues Algernon with her diary that she claims is full of information about their three-month
On June 12, 1929, at 7:30 AM, a baby girl was born in Frankfort, Germany. No one realized that this infant, who was Jewish, was destined to become one of the worlds most famous victims of World War II. Her name was Anne Frank. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank and B.M. Mooyaart, was actually the real diary of Anne Frank. Anne was a girl who lived with her family during the time while the Nazis took power over Germany. Because they were Jewish, Otto, Edith, Margot, and Anne Frank immigrated to Holland in 1933. Hitler invaded Holland on May 10, 1940, a month before Anne?s eleventh birthday. In July 1942, Anne's family went into hiding in the Prinsengracht building. Anne and her family called it the 'Secret Annex'. Life there was not easy at all. They had to wake up at 6:45 every morning. Nobody could go outside, nor turn on lights at night. Anne mostly spent her time reading books, writing stories, and of course, making daily entries in her diary. She only kept her diary while hiding from the Nazis. This diary told the story of the excitement and horror in this young girl's life during the Holocaust. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl reveals the life of a young innocent girl who is forced into hiding from the Nazis because of her religion, Judaism. This book is very informing and enlightening. It introduces a time period of discrimination, unfair judgment, and power-crazed individuals, and with this, it shows the effect on the defenseless.