Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Reading Analysis 9/24

            The first time I read, “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun” by William Shakespeare, I thought that why would anyone enjoy this poem if all he is doing is bashing everything about his mistress.  After reading it again later, you come to realize that besides the fact that yes he is actually talking about her like that but also that his love for her is extremely strong.  He does not need to compare her to all of the common clichés when describing a woman such as the rosy cheeks and the red coral.  He sees exactly who she is, the true self that she really is and loves her for that.  This can be related to the poem  When I Consider How My Light Is Spent” by John Milton about how the narrator of the poem is blind is unable to see the truth that is in front of him throughout his life.  He seems nervous that he is the one who stands and waits for a gift from God, while he cannot see his own truth that his gift is that of poetry.  An even more related topic is discussed in the article “Know It All: Can Wikipedia Conquer Expertise?”  from The New Yorker.  We find that its founder, Jimmy Wales, main goal of the sight was to be able to give accurate information to everyone on the Internet.  It allows for all users to be able to post articles on just about any topic and provide correct information it to in search for true facts regarding.   Shakespeare’s comparisons of his mistress, Milton’s narrator’s search for truth, and Wikipedia’s knowledge based information site all have a central theme of the quest for and value of truth.  Each of them provides their own insight as to why this is a significant theme and should be an important factor in our lives. I feel that within this Jesuit institution we are taught to seek the truth in all aspects of our lives.  We should value these teaches of the search for being true to ourselves in who we are and what we believe in.  The education we are getting is not that just for our minds, it is for ourselves as people living and interacting with this world.  

No comments: