The Eyes

OK, I just have to blog about the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg. I must admit, they simply fascinate me. I can't stop thinking about them. They pop up in the most unpredictable places and they could symbolize so many things. I think that's one of the reasons I like them so much, they aren't confined to one thing, they could be anything (almost).

On the cover (of most of the books), his eyes appear as the dominant feature. It's the first thing you see, even before the title. I didn't pay much attention to that before I cracked the book open, but now I think it's pretty important. In the picture, the eyes are shown above a bunch of bright colors (symbolism in themselves), but in this image, the colors seem to be depicting a cityscape. There is a blue line right where the cheek would be, and it almost seems like it could be another light from the city, but then when you notice where it is located, you realize it's more like a tear. I like this picture because I think it really gets at the symbolism behind the eyes themselves.

This symbolism being that his eyes see EVERYTHING. And yes, I mean this literally. Every time something big happens, Fitzgerald talks about T.J. Eckleburg's eyes. This is especially true whenever Myrtle is involved. Each time someone slips up (and this happens often) those eyes are watching. Even when Fitzgerald doesn't mention them, you know they're there. The eyes are a constant in the book, never leaving, never moving, never blinking, never blind. It doesn't matter where you go, you can't hide from them. It's important, because with all the selfish people in this story making crazy choices, it's important to note that those mistakes do not go unnoticed. It would be all to easy to think that these people are in their own world, unreachable by the outside, but Fitzgerald wants to make sure we know that's not the case.

Another thing I noticed is that Dr. Eckleburg himself never makes an appearance. Has he since died? Or is he better left as a symbol, not a character? I, personally, was a little disappointed. I would have loved to see him described in Fitzgerald's vivid imagery. He could have been a person to intervene in these peoples' lives, instead of just looking on. Maybe it wouldn't have worked, though. He might not have been able to make a difference. He was only an oculist, after all. In any case, he is left as he is, seeing all, knowing all, the silent watchman.

The Declaration

I'm sure there are plenty of you out there who were bored out of your minds while reading the Declaration, but I, for one, was mesmerized. I loved the way the words flowed like poetry and how, even though they're talking about some pretty heavy stuff, it's beautiful. It's so logical and well thought out, not just a lame grade-school tirade about how unfair Britain is.

I also think it's really cool to actually be able to read something like this that has had such a huge impact on us. I've seen the actual document in DC and we've learned about it so many times in History class, but I've never read it all the way through and analyzed it. I think everybody should read it at least once in their lifetime, simply becuase it is so influential and so well written.

It's interesting, too, to think about the writers of this amazing document. I wouldn't even know where to start if I had to write something this important. I have trouble just figuring out what to say for simple school assignments, and I have no idea what I would do if the thing I was writing would change the course of our nation, even the world, forever. How would I even begin? Somehow, the writers of the Declaration must have figured it out, but I'm at a loss how they did it. Not only did they convey their intentions with absolute clarity, but they accompanied them with grace and eloquence. There are few in this world today, if any, who could do what they did.

I hold these writers in the utmost respect. I wish people still wrote like that today, but there is still much to be said for our writers. The styles have changed immensely over the years, but at least this remains the same: People continue to write to revolutionize and to change our world. They write to improve things and to inform and to make a difference. Our causes are still noble (at least, many are) just as they were back in 1776. My hope is that our causes stay noble for as long as we continue to write about them.

Of Monsters and Maps

I loved looking at all the maps last week. It was totally fascinating to see a new representation of places that are so familiar to us. It was also hilarious to see the various things they included. There was a map with the Loch Ness Monster, one with a bunch of pelicans labeled, even one with a random sketch of a colony of beavers. I found all the little details to be quite humorous. It also made me wonder, what was the point? Why did we need to see Nessie or a rock full of pelicans? Then I decided that the little drawings are what make the maps relatable. By adding a myth or a familiar sight, the artist made could make his map feel like home. These small images would have made the maps seem a little less foreign, and a little more like normal.

I also liked their close attention to detail, from each small hill to the illustrations lining the edges. Our maps today are detailed, down to the last highway and side road, but when it comes to marking geographic landmarks or just making quirky little side pictures, we are certainly lacking. I think we’ve lost something valuable over the years. I, personality, would enjoy seeing a little mouse peering up at me, or perhaps a fish swimming in the middle of Lake Michigan. Maps today are for function, not fun.

My point, I suppose, is simply just that it is important to pay attention to the small things because they can go a long way. However cliché it may sound, it is still true. Today, people think that maps are just for finding your way (at least, if you happen to be using a map and not a GPS). We don’t really care if the maps we use make us smile or make us feel at home. All we want is to get from point A to point B without getting hopelessly lost. Maybe if there was a beaver on our maps, we’d be a little less stressed while driving and we’d be more likely to find our way.