Communication in A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man

In this book, I saw communication for the first time, as a sort of tragedy. Steven has a beautiful mind-one that is uniquely creative and expressive. The reader gets the chance to meet Steven's mind before they actually become acquainted with his personality. In fact, it is hard to get a good grasp on his personality throughout the entire book. This is because, at least in this book, the "personality" is not how someone feels or thinks, or even what they are passionate about. A person's personality is how they act around other people. When I think about my personality, I think of something a little different than what my mind and heart look like. Honestly, I think my insides are quieter than my outsides. My personality however, has everything to do with how I communicate. People only know of your personality by the things you choose to share with them. So essentially, one could make up an entire personality that was a complete lie, but that would indeed be their personality. Steven's mind is what takes center stage, and it is when he is forced to share that the tragedy that is communication takes place. When he would interact with his school mates, teachers, or even his family, I found myself not wanting him to give them the time of day because even with the most eloquent language, I didn't think he could do his feelings justice. The fact that he had to speak to others and attempt to voice his feelings was almost heartbreaking. In our group discussion though, we found that although this was tragic, it was certainly necessary. What good is an artist's mind, feelings, or passions if they never share them with anyone?

“We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.”

I keep thinking about this quote and I think that it embodies this idea. Although an artist may not only use language, there has to be some way to measure their voice and their passions. I like the way that Pope wrote about as and a duty. Art, he said, has the power to bring people to God, to see into the magic that is art. And the artist has a gift that he must share with the World. I think that communication is art- whether it be speaking or writing or painting or singing. Although we may never be completely satisfied with our attempts to make sense of those things that are sacred and mysterious, we must at least try. Why?

Because it is an artist’s duty.

Communication in Beloved

One of the obvious aspects of communication that was present in Beloved was the distinct dialogue. But beyond that, the significance of communication and the absense of it when I felt it was so desperately needed seems to be more valuable to the novel as a whole.

Toni Morrison herself said, "We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives."

Honestly, when I first read this quote I disagreed. I was thinking about people that cannot speak or communicate. How are their lives measured? But then I realized that their stories and their journeys only exist to the rest of the World through other people's words. People speak for them. Why? Because language is the major way we pass on stories in our society. I know this may seem cliche, but even though I believe that language is a vital tool in measuring one's existence, I think lives can be measured in love...even when it is unspoken.

Now, when I think back to Beloved, I think about the horrific things that happened to Sethe and Baby Suggs and I realized that even if they never TOLD anyone about their trama, it still existed and "nothing ever dies." So what is the good of speaking things out loud? The clear answer is that people just need an outlet. It is cetainly theriputic to voice your secrets and concealed emotions, but I still wonder if this really changes things. I wonder if there are certain people that do not need to talk about their feelings to understand them. I am certainly not one of those people. I think of Paul D. He wanted to be one of those people, but he too was bothered by the past, even if he tried to cover that up. Once he confronted the past and all of its vulgerity and infalibility, he could love with all of his heart. It is almsot as if, not communicating and not confronting him held him back from being the person that he really was.

Communication is confrontation. Maybe there are people in the World that can confront their issues without "language" and maybe some can cope with life through other outlets. But as for me, and arguably all of the characters in Beloved, it is essential.

Communication in The Stranger

Life and Death Communication (Crime and Punishment)

In Crime and Punishment, Feodor Dostoevsky puts a character in a situation of no return. Rodya embodies the human struggle to find meaning, purpose, and ultimately a reason to live. In addition to these philosophical struggles this man goes through, he also seems to come to a point in his life where he needs, arguably more than anything else, redemption that he can see, hear, and understand. To my surprise, Rodya really needed communication... from God.
Rodya desired an answer. Rodya went looking for an answer and even if he didn't find God and if the book ended in a completely different way, the fact that he has the boldness to look for an answer is what makes him a hero in my book.

I wonder if every human being comes to a point in their life where they become tired of communicating and wants to be communicated with. Of course, humans are communicated with every day, but I think Rodya (along with myself) wanted something completely different than every day jibber jabber. An answer. What a profound word.

Even if we take God out of the picture, the communication from Sonya meant the World to Rodya at the time. To literally hear another human being, not to mention one that he loved, tell him that she did not loath him for committing murder changed Rodya's life. Actually, it may have saved his life.

"Well, when one has no one, nowhere else one can go! For every man must have somewhere to go"

This quote proves the idea, but if I could change it I would say that "every man must have someone to go to." Beyond that, I think every man needs someone to truly communicate with. Svidrigailov had nowhere to go. He killed himself. I don’t know how much stronger of a message Dostoevsky could have sent than by having the one guy that could not receive validation in the form of communication shoot himself. It is as if he is saying that it is a matter of life and death. Even if Svidrigailov would not have killed himself, what did he really have to live for without a “Sonya” in his life?

I am realizing that there are two kinds of communication. One kind is inconsequential - frivolous even, but it is the majority of the communication most people experience every day. The other kind is a rare and more valuable type of communication that speaks to a person's soul (if you believe in that kind of a thing) and it can validate one’s existence. Communication has the power to bring redemption. If it wasn't so, the words "I forgive you" would not hold such significance for so many. Communication is all about giving voice to the emotions that make us human. Sure, you can feel love, but it will never be the same as hearing someone say the three words. Communication ends wars (or starts them), it finally unites prince charming with his girl, it saves people's lives, and in Rodya's case it led him to God. Wow.

Communication in King Henry

While reading King Henry IV, I noticed two distinct patterns regarding communication

1. The characters communicate differently depending on who they are surrounded by.
2. Because certain characters fail to communicate what they feel, relationships are damaged.

Prince Harry is the perfect example of one who changes his communication patterns based on who he is speaking with. In the beginning of the play, Harry appears to the audience almost as a teenager. He is witty, opinionated, and he is quick to criticize his friends and his family. He is constantly taking friendly jabs at Falstaff especially, speaking as if he is a commoner. In reality, the audience knows that the Prince is part of the Royal family, and I assumed he has been told (probably numerous times) how to act and how to speak and how to conduct himself in public. Despite these instructions, harry chooses to communicate in the way his friends do. This also reveals something about the human tendency to fit in. One of the easiest ways to fit in is to communicate like everyone else. Hal talks like his friends, he talks ABOUT the things they talk about, because he doesn't want to stick out as something different.

Then, there is a dramatic shift as Hal wishes to redeem himself to his family and the Royal Court. Now, he finds himself wanting to fit in and so his communication so drastically changes. He speaks to his father now, with certainty and confidence. He is well aware that his Father is no pub-crawler or rebel and knows exactly how he SHOULD sound. By then end of the play, through Harry's communication, the audience sees a true transformation of a boy into a man. And eventually, that man will have to change his communication to become a King.

The second pattern in Henry IV is that miscommunication or a lack of them lead to blemished relationships. This is seen as King Henry and his son have a revealing conversation. Hal has just saved his father's life and his father tells Hal that he has "redeemed [his] lost opinion". The King clearly looked unfavorably upon his son, but also thought his son looked unfavorably upon him. Hal reassures his father that he would never betray him and it is as if this one fact fixes there complicated relationship. Because the King simply saw his son as a "mess-up" or a "lost cause", he decided not to even try to communicate with him to find something different. Once the two communicate, the audience can sense that the relationship is completely different.

Communication in Oedipus

In Oedipus Rex, Communication played a larger role than I originally thought. I don't know if Oedipus' character would have been so complex is Oedipus did not think out loud or verbally communicate every one of his feelings. Yes, it is a play, so naturally one would share their feelings verbally, but it is more than that for Oedipus. Even as he is addressing his people, he does not filter his words or feelings. Why does Oedipus feel this need, this desire, to always communicate what he feels?

I was not purposely "looking for myself" in Oedipus, but I did find myself naturally empathizing with him on more than one occasion. In doing this, I think I have found a possible answer to this question: Oedipus verbalizes his concerns and ideas in an attempt to convince and justify himself. If he can offer yet another solution, if he can argue with Tierisias for one more second, if he can just keep speaking, he can deny the bitter truth that awaits him. Through constant communication, Oedipus can appear strong when he may be overcome by weakness and doubt.

In the end, as Oedipus finally faces the truth, he cannot stop talking. He cannot stop telling everyone how damaged and disgusting his existence truly is. This is again because he is trying to validate what he knows he must learn to see as true: that he is not the man he always thought he was. Oedipus uses verbal communication to convince himself of the truth.

The First

Communication:
a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior ~Merriam-Webster's Dictionary

How is a person’s ability to communicate vital to their well-being? (Had to make my BIG question the "LARGEST" font)

I started thinking about communication in general last year as I joined Speech and Debate. Hearing that most people's greatest fear is public speaking shocked me, seeing as I compete in oratory (speech delivery). I remember asking my coach why he thought I enjoyed something like public speaking and he responded saying, “There is something very empowering about commanding the attention of a room with your ideas.”

I soon after, started to notice a fear of speaking in many people around me--classmates, my parents, even my teachers. In noticing this fear, I also began to notice that these people that fear verbal communication almost always have another way to communicate what they feel. For example, one of my closest friends is an artist in more ways than one. She may not always verbalize her strong opinions or imagination, but when I see one of her pictures, it is as if I am seeing her soul-- her insecurities, and passions, and her voice. Another one of my friends can never and will never show her frustration or anger towards another verbally, but later shares these feelings through a novel-length letter. It is as if she has the words, but speaking them is just not enough.

My Question in Literature:

As I read Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse, this idea fascinated me even more. The style in which Woolf chooses to write shines light on this idea of a lack of communication. The novel does not tell the story from one person’s perspective, but instead explores it from multiple angles. These characters appear one way to the rest of the characters—usually predictable and even insignificant. However, when the story switches viewpoints, the reader finds that all of the characters have a deep and profound inner struggle.

Communication plays into this because you can almost sense the characters’ frustrations as they are not able to show the world how they really feel. Lilly, seen as meek and unimportant communicates through her paintings and conceals them from the world. I would guess that she fears communication with others because she fears revealing the deeply profound person that she is. Revealing herself to the people around her could mean hurt, rejection, and ultimately loneliness.

I admittedly did not see this connection in Ayn Rand’s Anthem until later, but now I see that communication could very well be the key to breaking though the oppressive society in the novel. The passion is ultimately stirred up in the protagonist as her begins to finally find a way to communicate his ideas; through writing. Then, his passion is ignited as he begins to verbally communicate which leads to love and desire and all of the other components necessary to be a human at all.