tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post1517615546645775945..comments2024-03-29T03:04:00.853-05:00Comments on Wuthering <br>Expectations: In general, cactus blooms are the most beautiful in the world if you except a few parasitic plants - Stifter in the greenhouseAmateur Reader (Tom)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-65938809304531097472013-02-28T09:41:11.073-06:002013-02-28T09:41:11.073-06:00It's almost a genre, isn't it? The symbol...It's almost a genre, isn't it? The symbolism would be hard to tamp down, even if you wanted to.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-79437898012665097662013-02-28T09:30:20.893-06:002013-02-28T09:30:20.893-06:00I've read a story about a night blooming cereu...I've read a story about a night blooming cereus. Now I'm having a hard time placing it and a quick search reveals a story collection by that name and a lot of bloggers with stories about their night blooming cereus parties, none of which looks quite right. Hmmmm. If I discover which is was I'll send you a link, as I recall the story being lovely* despite (or becasue of) the obvious symbolism.<br />*I know you don't like lovely or beautiful for non-visual arts, but I still think it was lovely.Sparkling Squirrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10899640164757220074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-12893139210488934582013-02-27T15:51:55.678-06:002013-02-27T15:51:55.678-06:00Literary texts, in song or fiction, about cactus f...Literary texts, in song or fiction, about cactus flowers are rare enough that they are inherently relevant to each other. So say I.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-2178366497521211122013-02-27T13:22:10.410-06:002013-02-27T13:22:10.410-06:00"The cactus where your heart should be has lo..."The cactus where your heart should be has lovely little flowers."<br />Okay, Magnetic Fields lyrics aren't exactly relevant, but they went through my head while reading this.Sparkling Squirrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10899640164757220074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-48726421406628690362013-02-26T23:49:54.614-06:002013-02-26T23:49:54.614-06:00It's maybe simple, but not necessarily shallow...It's maybe simple, but not necessarily shallow.scott g.f.baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726743149139510832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-22664931136483476992013-02-26T23:38:40.458-06:002013-02-26T23:38:40.458-06:00The cactus parallels Heinrich in that the growth o...The cactus parallels Heinrich in that the growth of both is slow and organic, but benefits from intense nurturing. Although I hope poor Henirich's growth was not deliberatley stunted by cold.<br /><br />Stifter is insisting on the value of a variety of kinds of beauty - the eternal, the recurring (roses), but also the ephemeral, like the cactus flower. The zither music, improvised, is also ephemeral. The well-lived life includes all of the types. <br /><br />Ah, I see, it is also a form of renunciation. This is a Goethean theme. Some things you preserve, some you let go. It sounds so shallow when I put it that way.<br /><br />Yeah, "Stone is serious," I love that.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-48833021056484016452013-02-26T12:34:14.393-06:002013-02-26T12:34:14.393-06:00So the blooming cactus is a triumph of art and aes...So the blooming cactus is a triumph of art and aesthetics? The transplanting of it from the greenhouse to the perfect and beautiful rose house is pretty heavily symbolic. What's going on with the characters to parallel this activity? Anything? Is Heinrich the twin of the cactus, or doesn't the story work that way? Is the temporary nature of the cactus bloom significant in re Heinrich's story? Etc. Yes, I should just read the book myself, I see that. Especially since you cheat us out of the resolution to the zither theme.<br /><br />"Stone is serious" is terrific. I hope I remember to steal that.scott g.f.baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726743149139510832noreply@blogger.com