Topic:"Literature is the best way to overcome death. My father, as I said, is an actor. He's the happiest man on earth when he's performing, but when the show is over, he's sad and troubled. I wish he could live in the eternal present, because in the theater everything remains in memories and photographs. Literature, on the other hand, allows you to live in the present and to remain in the pantheon of the future.
Literature is a way to say, I was here, this is what I thought, this is what I perceived. This is my signature, this is my name."
Ilan Stavans, Professor of Spanish, Amherst College
From "The Writer in Exile: an interview with Ilan Stavans" by Saideh Pakravan for the fall 1993 issue of The Literary Review
In 300 words
Literature forever
Literature, I thought in ninth grade, was for the birds. Anyone who grown up on books like The Famous Fiveï and Nancy Drewï would share my opinion. But then I came across Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.
Julius Caesar is one of the most powerful pieces of literature. Unfortunately, though, I had no notion of this prior to my venture.
I had taken Julius Caesar for my tenth grade English class, but when I first pursued it I was not impressed. It was the first time I had ever read Shakespeare, and for the inexperienced reader, Julius Caesar just looks like a whole lot of letters strung together.
However, as I read up more historical facts, the significance of the play hit me like a brick. I could connect to the characters, to Marcus Brutus and to Mark Anthony,
And the fickleness of human nature left a deep imprint on my mind. Each time I read it, I become a part of the story, a spectator to this intense saga.
Through this play, Shakespeare captures that instant of time when the Roman Empire was plunged into its biggest crisis. Julius Caesar reveals the fallacies of human nature graphically and boldly. The perfidy of Brutus and the rest of the conspirators, the youthfulness of Octavius Caesar, and the scheming Mark Anthony ï all are beautifully portrayed in this drama. And overriding them all is the megalomaniac Caesar ï omnipresent in both life and death.
In my opinion, Julius Caesar is a timeless masterpiece, because it links the past, present and future. History repeats itself. Though the betrayal of Caesar, an event of immense historical importance occurred nearly two millennia ago, the overall gist of the incident is manifested in the dealings of political leaders all over the world today. Moreover, human nature, despite all efforts, can never alter itself. Superficially we may appear very different from the people of Rome in 49BC, but as far as behavior is concerned, we still share the same emotions as them ï the same hatred, bitterness, jealousy and pure seething ambition. And with this knowledge, one can glean glimpses of the murky future.
Literature is more effective than drama because while drama enforces itself on you, literature allows itself to permeate slowly through your mind. Also, the scenes one visualizes on reading are much richer and longer lasting than seen in a live play. This is because your own imagination has to supply the imagery. Had I watched Julius Caesar
Live rather than read it, I do not think this would have had as profound an impact on me.
Julius Caesar may not be a part of my courses any more, but the play has left a lasting legacy in my heart. Lines from the drama play in mind again and again.
Literature is eternal. It regales the past, dwells on the present, and glorifies the future.
Literature is a way to say, I was here, this is what I thought, this is what I perceived. This is my signature, this is my name."
Ilan Stavans, Professor of Spanish, Amherst College
From "The Writer in Exile: an interview with Ilan Stavans" by Saideh Pakravan for the fall 1993 issue of The Literary Review
In 300 words
Literature forever
Literature, I thought in ninth grade, was for the birds. Anyone who grown up on books like The Famous Fiveï and Nancy Drewï would share my opinion. But then I came across Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.
Julius Caesar is one of the most powerful pieces of literature. Unfortunately, though, I had no notion of this prior to my venture.
I had taken Julius Caesar for my tenth grade English class, but when I first pursued it I was not impressed. It was the first time I had ever read Shakespeare, and for the inexperienced reader, Julius Caesar just looks like a whole lot of letters strung together.
However, as I read up more historical facts, the significance of the play hit me like a brick. I could connect to the characters, to Marcus Brutus and to Mark Anthony,
And the fickleness of human nature left a deep imprint on my mind. Each time I read it, I become a part of the story, a spectator to this intense saga.
Through this play, Shakespeare captures that instant of time when the Roman Empire was plunged into its biggest crisis. Julius Caesar reveals the fallacies of human nature graphically and boldly. The perfidy of Brutus and the rest of the conspirators, the youthfulness of Octavius Caesar, and the scheming Mark Anthony ï all are beautifully portrayed in this drama. And overriding them all is the megalomaniac Caesar ï omnipresent in both life and death.
In my opinion, Julius Caesar is a timeless masterpiece, because it links the past, present and future. History repeats itself. Though the betrayal of Caesar, an event of immense historical importance occurred nearly two millennia ago, the overall gist of the incident is manifested in the dealings of political leaders all over the world today. Moreover, human nature, despite all efforts, can never alter itself. Superficially we may appear very different from the people of Rome in 49BC, but as far as behavior is concerned, we still share the same emotions as them ï the same hatred, bitterness, jealousy and pure seething ambition. And with this knowledge, one can glean glimpses of the murky future.
Literature is more effective than drama because while drama enforces itself on you, literature allows itself to permeate slowly through your mind. Also, the scenes one visualizes on reading are much richer and longer lasting than seen in a live play. This is because your own imagination has to supply the imagery. Had I watched Julius Caesar
Live rather than read it, I do not think this would have had as profound an impact on me.
Julius Caesar may not be a part of my courses any more, but the play has left a lasting legacy in my heart. Lines from the drama play in mind again and again.
Literature is eternal. It regales the past, dwells on the present, and glorifies the future.
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