In The Writing of Fiction (1925), novelist Edith Wharton states the following:
At every stage in the progress of his tale the novelist must rely on what may be called the illuminating incident to reveal and emphasize the inner meaning of each situation. Illuminating incidents are the magic casements of fiction, its vistas on infinity.
Choose a novel or play that you have studied and write a well-organized essay in which you describe an “illuminating” episode or moment and explain how it functions as a “casement,” a window that opens onto the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.
The first choice my mind went to was the Dubliners. Specifically ‘The Dead.’ I read illuminating incident as ‘epiphany’ and James Joyce used probably more epiphanies than any of the other authors we’ve read. I would mention Gabriel’s identity issues, specifically his Irish identity issues, problems connecting with people, his wife, his general lack of understanding of life. I would say how I interpreted the ending (which can be read multiple ways) and back up my feeling that it was supposed to be hopeful with the memorable biblical allusions and how the Irish Catholics tend to view death. I would bring up how throughout all of Dubliners, there was a common theme of paralysis. Dublin was diagnosed by Joyce as having paralysis and the people were afraid to live. So the work as a whole is illuminated when Gabriel realizes this. I think Joyce was disappointed in the Dubliners for failing to fight against British rule so I could maybe incorporate that into the reason why Gabriel has this epiphany (this would be part of the 'casement'). He uses Gabriel’s illuminating experience at the end of the Dead as him finding peace with Death and learning that his previous life was not really living. He’s settling just like the snow which blankets everyone in Dublin, connecting him with the all the living as well as the dead. I’d use the quote "journey westward" as meaning into western Ireland, showing a change in his views from earlier when he was bashing his country.
ReplyDeleteI also would use 'Dubliners'. I think the use of the epiphanies throughout the text really demonstrate how a single moment can lead to the illumination of the meaning of the work. I don't think I would include the part about the journey westward however. That particular point, while interesting seems to be a little extra tag on at the end. I would also focus on the story of "Eveline" and how she had a realization that she could not leave her home for Frank. I would use this to exemplify Joyce's notion that life is in paralysis; nothing can change, nothing ever changes. Her illuminating experience is that she cannot leave. I would use these two examples to showcase the common threads throughout the book as well as how Joyce effectively uses epiphany to make his point.
DeleteI would also focus on "The Dead" and Gabriel's epiphany. The aspects I would focus on are his relationship with his wife and the snow at the end. With respect to his wife, I would talk about their complete disconnect. While all he can think about is her and how he wants her, she is dreaming about a long-dead lover. His realization of this leads to the epiphany of the work. Also, I would talk about how the snow fell over "all the living and the dead". With this, I would talk about how Gabriel's epiphany could also signal a rebirth of a paralyzed Ireland. His epiphany can be universally applied through the snow.
DeleteI think I would also use "Dubliners", but I would focus on "Araby" rather than "The Dead" or "Eveline". I think this prompt works well with "Araby" because the narrator's delusion create the perfect conditions for an epiphany. First, I would discuss the narrators delusions and his desire for an escape from the banal. The narrator is attracted exoticism of the Araby, and sees it as the key to winning Mangan's sister's heart. The narrator's greatest delusion is his made-up relationship with Mangan's sister. The narrator's description of the girl is simultaneously erotic and ecclesiastical, which shows his utter naievete. The narrator uses his obsession with a girl he hardly knows as an escape from his dreary life.
DeleteThe narrator reaches his epiphany when he reaches the Araby, and in the process all of his delusions are shattered. First, the Araby is not as exotic as the narrator expected; its most exotic wares are English porcelain. Also, as the narrator listens to the older shopkeepers, he realizes the ridiculousness of his romantic quest. The narrator's epiphany is the key to the story because it reveals that neither the Araby or his love interest can give him an escape from the dreariness of Dublin.
I would choose Siddhartha, for his "illuminating moment" is when he reaches enlightenment. It is the peak of the novel and of his life. This is the one moment that proves everything he had previously done was not a waste. He had experienced different cultures and lived amongst different lifestyles, but nonetheless, he still managed to obtain enlightenment. This singular event tied together the entire novel. It was the factor that supports the morals within the story. Regardless of where you live, or if you have sinned, it is still possible to reach nirvana. All of Siddhartha's ideals and experiences culminated in this singular event. Although reaching enlightenment is not realistic for most individuals, the ideals behind it are relatable. Siddhartha's journey reflects that everyone has the possibility of being happy and at peace with yourself. Material goods and wealth are not the true factors of happiness; one can only truly be at peace with himself when he accepts and embraces his sins and therefore grows from his mistakes.
ReplyDeleteI would also write about Siddhartha, mainly because the line in the passage, “At every stage in the progress of his tale the novelist must rely on what may be called the illuminating incident” reminded me of each stage in Siddhartha’s journey to enlightenment. In an essay, I would briefly focus on each person Siddhartha encounters prior to the river man, to emphasis that the river provides him with his illuminating moment – self-enlightenment. Like Morgan said, this moment shows the meaning of the text as a whole because much of the novel is about self-teaching, and that enlightenment does not have to come from how others tell you to get it. I agree with Morgan’s comments about how it is always possible to reach nirvana, but I would add to the essay and analysis the aspect of the self, and how it is one’s responsible to reach enlightenment on his own.
DeleteYeah, I can't imagine choosing a book other than Siddartha. Like, the novel is basically saying: there is some underlying value in all things, some value that we cannot immediately comprehend, and there is an event where Siddartha becomes conscious of this (the river enlightenment scene). The novel is always about discovering this secret truth, and yet for the most part, the book doubts its existence: Siddartha searches and cannot find, etc. There appears to be nothing like what he is told there is, and those who have been "enlightened" have deceived themselves into believing they are so. Of course Siddartha does get his true moment, and it basically is this quote: the river stops being a river and becomes this unyielding almost-magical force etc etc.
Delete100 years of solitude opens by establishing what its illuminating incident is, "Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice." That's the moment where the rest of the world started to influence this small isolated village. Its the moment where a character first encounters the wonders of the modern world and is permanently changed by it. CAB's death by firing squad may count as well since it hints at how badly modernity goes for the town.
ReplyDeleteI would choose Jane Eyre and talk about the moment she decides to leave St. John and go back to Rochester. It is really her defining moment, when she finally is able to ignore propriety and follow her heart. This really serves as a casement of the meaning of the entire novel because one of it's major themes is the importance of passion. Although Jane was a feisty child, she looses a lot of her spirit during her years at Lowood, and it isn't until Rochester encourages her to speak freely that she is able to learn to let go of some of her decorum. Still, until Jane's revelation, she is not able to fully listen to heart, and thus is not able to embrace the theme of the novel. Her willingness to do what she believes is improper out of love makes the moral of the book that passion overrides logic.
ReplyDeleteI would have to choose Heart of Darkness for this prompt and would talk about the ending moment where Marlow lies to the Intendend. It really is within this moment in the text that Conrad's entire commentary on truth comes to together. As a reader we are left with a lie and Marlow's actions are left to be questioned by the reader. The reader is suppose to think about the harms of lies and the concepts of reality. Basically Conrad is stating that there is never any concrete realities and the realities we have are shaped by our own experiences and whether they are real or not to others makes little to no difference.
ReplyDeleteI would also choose this text. One of the things that I look for in a prompt is a means by which to keep the AP reader interested. As a result, I would discuss the multiple intepretations of the meaning "the horror, the horror," in describing Kurtz's last revelation. This works perfectly because the meaning of the text is ambiguous. It is unclear exactly what Conrad would like to the reader to take out of the text. I would suggest that Kurtz came to the realization that his life's work was meaningless which is surely something horrible due to the fact he would never have the chance to reap the benefits. He had wasted his entire life in Africa. This epiphany scene would be sure to pique the interest of the reader.
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DeleteI also think that Heart of Darkness is appropriate for this prompt. I agree with Brittany that the "illuminating" moment is the ending, where Marlow lies to the Intended about Kurtz's final words. This final moment is profound as it reveals Conrad's intended meaning for the text as a whole; He makes us reflect on the obscurity of truth and morality.
DeleteLikewise, Conrad conveys his view on the human condition through another crucial scene, the one in which Marlow meets Kurtz for the first time, realizing that he is vulgar and cruel--the complete opposite of what he had expected. Here, Conrad exploits the flawed nature of human beings and their inherent evil.
I would use either scene to answer this prompt.
One Hundred Years of Solitude fits well with this prompt. Even though the moment of illumination exists at the very end of the text (both literally and figuratively, when it comes to understanding Melquiades' manuscript!), it forces us to re-examine the entire novel.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that this "epiphany" occurs at the end of the book makes writing/planning the essay more challenging since all the events culminate at this moment of profundity, but I would either discuss the use of language throughout the text (besides the whole metafiction aspect of it), like the insomnia plague and perhaps the role of Aureliano Babilonia (and point out the Biblical reference of 'Babilonia').
Indeed, the epiphany that we see with Aureliano Babilonia's discovery of the meaning of Melquiades' work is integral to the meaning of One Hundred Years of Solitude.
DeleteThe self-referential nature of Melquiades' documents--they comprise the book itself--references an important theme of the work. This cyclical nature of the narration highlights the very path that the Buendias take through their history. Even their very nomenclature repeats itself, with later family members making the same mistakes as their namesakes. This repetition of events brings into question the role of fate in the determination of one's life. Ultimately, Aureliano's deciphering of Melquiades' text brings the main focus of One Hundred Years of Solitude to the forefront.
I would use Song of Solomon (even though I'm not the biggest Tony Morrison fan...). At the very end of the novel, Milkman has a tremendous epiphany. While he is already reborn throughout his travels, this final flight shows how he is willing to face death. In the past, Milkman was Macon Jr., son of his hated, wealthy father. By understanding his past and connecting his flight to Solomon, he emerges as his own identity. Morrison, continuing this liberation, uses images like birds, wings, and contrasting images. Instead of repeating "dead," she switches to "life". Finally, by rejecting his last material possession, his life, Milkman realizes how connected he is to all of his ancestors.
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