tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post5903528198740532353..comments2023-12-30T17:31:11.883+00:00Comments on The Solitary Walker: Something And Nothing To SayThe Solitary Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11284354541952038339noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-4275185302446899792009-03-18T00:30:00.000+00:002009-03-18T00:30:00.000+00:00Aah, now I hadn't thought from this angle - the di...Aah, now I hadn't thought from this angle - the different perspectives of idealism and realism within different mediums or contexts. But would they not all go back to a philosophical core?...anyway, I need to do more pondering on these themes and thank you for opening up a much broader perspective. <BR/><BR/>In the last few years I have started to explore specifically idealism and realism from a philosophical basis but with a heavy interest in the psychological ramifications. I enjoyed your blogs on Hardy because it gave this - understanding the writer and his life and then exploring the themes, intentional or not, in the book. I really enjoy this approach with Hesse's writings - one think that always astounds me in my analysis, among many things, is their sheer brilliance at such young ages.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-755767226928491972009-03-16T23:10:00.000+00:002009-03-16T23:10:00.000+00:00I think there's a big topic here, Bella, about ide...I think there's a big topic here, Bella, about idealism and realism which both of us are only just scratching the surface of. But that's the nature of blogging. Alongside all the great things about blogs and the comments on them, I do think that a certain superficiality and meretricious dazzle can inhibit deeper, more complex and sophisticated explication and communication. It's the nature of the blogging beast.<BR/><BR/>Which is why I experimented a little recently with the multi-post very-slightly-more-in-depth riff on Hardy. Not that I intended this at the outset - it just evolved, as pretty well all my posts do. I like that spontaneous thing about blogging. Of course blog posts are to some extent premeditated, and crafted - but serendipity, luck and spontaneity play a big part. There's nothing quite like a blog post, is there - it's quite different from a letter, an email, a review, an essay, a conversation, a diary and so on.<BR/><BR/>I think it would be interesting to develop further this thing about idealism and realism. Idealism and Realism in literary terms are different from Idealism and Realism in philosophical terms - which again are different from idealism and realism in everyday language.The Solitary Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11284354541952038339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-39759428434748366922009-03-16T01:56:00.000+00:002009-03-16T01:56:00.000+00:00Hopefully my neccentricity will be my saving grace...Hopefully my neccentricity will be my saving grace!Raph G. Neckmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02468502742144495020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-14555980981047815322009-03-15T23:31:00.000+00:002009-03-15T23:31:00.000+00:00Oh dear, I knew you would ask re my progress - I a...Oh dear, I knew you would ask re my progress - I am hesistant to read anymore of the book just yet, aware from comments and posts of its somewhat deep depths and depressing elements. My previously voracious appetite for books that explore the depths of human existence has lessened. After posting my comment yesterday I thought I needed to return to Steppenwolf for some much needed guidance on how to remove the muddy vision created by realism. Yes, I admit, I am a recovering idealist (hmmm, not sure about the recovering bit yet, maybe should be 'struggling idealist')Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-41751866311750775552009-03-15T21:59:00.000+00:002009-03-15T21:59:00.000+00:00Yes, one of our great writers, I think, Loren. I'm...Yes, one of our great writers, I think, Loren. I'm loving reading the Claire Tomalin biography. And I look forward to reading more of your own posts on Hardy.<BR/><BR/>Raph - for God's sake don't go too far the other way and knock too many edges off your idealist persona! Diggory Venn in Hardy's novel may be a practical, down-to-earth, reliable sort of chap - but he isn't half boring!The Solitary Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11284354541952038339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-3459643533217098282009-03-15T20:04:00.000+00:002009-03-15T20:04:00.000+00:00I so wish I had time to read 'The Return of the Na...I so wish I had time to read 'The Return of the Native' again! I can only dimly remember the characters, and your words jog more memories.<BR/><BR/>However, your post has been something of an oracle to me at present: I am a bit of an idealist, and need to temper this with common-sense realism. Which I usually do pretty efficiently - but sometimes need a little nudge ... So thank you SW!Raph G. Neckmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02468502742144495020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-14830464431467900842009-03-15T17:58:00.000+00:002009-03-15T17:58:00.000+00:00I have a lot to say about all your recent entries,...I have a lot to say about all your recent entries, sw, but every time I go to comment I find myself writing an essay, not a comment.<BR/><BR/>That's the same problem I'm having with commenting on The Mayor of Casterbridge, so I guess I'll just let what I say on my own site serve as a comment on what you've written here.<BR/><BR/>The very fact that there is so much to say about Hardy is probably proof that he's one of our greatest writers.Lorenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03152302644577926337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-3574953841718857222009-03-14T23:09:00.000+00:002009-03-14T23:09:00.000+00:00Well put, Bella. Clym learns the hard way. Eustaci...Well put, Bella. Clym learns the hard way. Eustacia does not learn at all.<BR/><BR/>I think that bitterness quotation is so, so true. It can sometimes take a lifetime to make good the mistake of a moment. A short, sharp catastrophe, or one selfish thoughtless act, can sully years' long joy. If we let it.<BR/><BR/>How are you progressing with the book?The Solitary Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11284354541952038339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-68762488430847233752009-03-14T20:26:00.000+00:002009-03-14T20:26:00.000+00:00I like exploring these themes of idealism and real...I like exploring these themes of idealism and realism - I'm not sure whether many people travel the difficult road from idealist to realist - and the collateral damage is often bitterness. It reminds me of Hesse's Steppenwolf -this struggle between idealism and realism.. <BR/><BR/>That is a powerful quote on bitterness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com