Wednesday, November 4, 2015

For Friday: Defoe, A Journal of the Plague Year, pp.60-115 (appox).


For Friday: Defoe, A Journal of the Plague Year, pp. 60-115 (approx.)

Answer TWO of the following...

Q1: On page 62, the Narrator notes that if the Buriers found a corpse with a good winding sheet on it, “it was reported, that the Buriers were so wicked as to strip them in the Cart, and carry them quite naked to the Ground: But as I can not easily credit any thing to vile among Christians...I can only relate it and leave it undetermined.” Do you read this passage as satirical or merely factual? Where else do we see him reporting on the abuses of his fellow citizens during the Plague? Do you detect any satire or censor in his reports?

Q2: Throughout these pages, how does the Narrator present himself as a devout Christian as well as a solid middle-class citizen? In other words, without talking much about himself, how does he demonstrate his morality among the general sea of vice and degeneracy around him? Why do you think Defoe presents him this way, rather than as a more colorful and criminal character, which would make for a much juicier book? [note: this is all the more remarkable, when you consider that several of his other books—Moll Flanders, Roxana, Captain and Singleton—are about thieves, prostitutes, and pirates.]

Q3: At one point in the narrative, the Narrator admits that he kept a journal of his day-to-day experiences, as well as “Meditations upon Divine Subjects,” though “What I wrote of my private Meditations I reserve for private Use, and desire it may not be made publick on any Account whatever” (75). Why do you think the Narrator mentions this if he has no interest in sharing it? Are we meant to assume that this book is taken from these private meditations? Or does this help us understand why the “Journal” is a more public—and therefore acceptable—book in his eyes?

Q4: These pages are full of stories the Narrator either hears second-hand or witnesses personally. Some of them are horrific, and others touching, such as the Man shut out from his own family, who spends his days finding food to send them through the windows. Which of these stories did you find the most interesting? How did it help paint a picture of the realities of the plague for many Londoners, particularly those who couldn’t afford to leave town and had to weather the ‘storm’ without assistance?  

2 comments:

  1. Q2: Defoe creates the Narrator as a form of symbol, the model citizen, if you will. He cares for the people and through his previous statements of being guided by God, he seems to be on his own spiritual walk or journey. On page eighty-two, the narrator states "I was indeed shocked with this sight; and I went away with my heart most afflicted, and full of the afflicting thoughts, such as I cannot describe."..I stood a while, but I had no stomach to go back again to see the same dismal scene over again…" The narrator is portrayed as a strong moral citizen that is experiencing some of the most horrifying experiences. His actions and responses speak most highly of his character and values, rather than abandoning his beliefs and fellow citizens.

    Q3: I believe that the Narrator has some deeper messages and findings that he appears to hold more personable. Also, it aids in establishing this work as a non-fiction piece, sort of saying there are other writings as evidence to back up the story. This journal represents a lot of day-today activities or experiences, some uplifting and some horrifying, but I still gather a lot of deep undertones and messages about the character of the given society. It highlights the maltreatment of the underclass while also showing how the upper class more than abandoned them in this time of peril. Taking a non-fiction approach, we see the clear upsets of social dynamics.

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  2. Q1: I think this part is a bit satirical. He has already made his views clear about other "un-Christian-like" actions, such as locking people up in their house and, basically, sentencing them to death. He also mentions nurses who purposely hasten their patient's death, but he ends that conversation almost immediately. I think he may be censoring some of the awful things people did during the plague. Society was pushed to its absolute boundaries and some people grew to be selfish and cold to the sufferings of others.

    Q4: The story that really broke my heart was of the man who lost his entire family. H.F. was at the mass grave when a death cart came in along with an older gentleman. As soon as his family's bodies were dropped into the pit, his grief overwhelmed him. The buriers took him to a tavern, but H.F. stayed behind. While he looked upon the grave he observed all "were to be huddled together into the common grave of mankind...for there was no difference made, but poor and rich went together" (page 81). This line is the epitome of the reality facing society at that time. No man or woman was left untouched by the effects of the plague. The 'storm' affected everyone.

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Next Week and the 15-Point Quiz!

 We have ONE MORE class next week, on Monday, when we'll wrap up the class and talk about adaptations. Bring your paper with you IF you ...