I'm just wondering why it is, do you think, that the wedding-guest is 'spellbound' after only a short taste of the 'glittering eye' and the 'skinny hand'. Is it just his persistence? His force of personality? Or is there something so otherworldly about the mariner that he reduces the guest to the state of 'a three-year's child' without real effort?
I had a student once who wrote a fabulous recreative piece about the wedding-guest--why he was chosen by the mariner. Interesting to imagine a backstory, don't you think?
Hi Miss, I may be stupid but im not entirely sure how to use Mark Haddon's site to aid my revision.
ReplyDeleteThat's because it is not a revision site--it is just a 'useful link' text site--that is, one which might give you more insight into the text or is of general interest (I'll add more later). You're right, though, you're not going to get any exam questions about his website. I find his comments quite interesting. but if you like I can create a list of links that makes the distinction clearer...
ReplyDeleteahhh okay its still confusing but interesting never the less. Yes that would be great! thanks =)
ReplyDeleteMaybe the wedding guest sees a reflection of the Mariner's horrifying past via his glittering eyes, and it magnified + projected onto him (the guest) through direct contact with the Mariner... just a thought.
ReplyDeleteYes, I like that idea. I wonder why 'glittering' has such scary connotations? Do you think that Duffy was thinking of the Ancient Mariner when she made Salome's eyes glitter?
ReplyDeleteI think 'glittering' has different connotations for different genders. The connotations of a woman's eyes glittering is of something glamorous or exciting (like in Salome perhaps) but it is very different for a man. Personally, the connotations of a man's eyes glittering is that of a pervert - stereotypical I know.
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ReplyDeleteI like that point--do you think there's a connection between the eyes being the window of the soul here?
ReplyDeleteIn fact, looking someone directly in the eyes, though often used as a way of trying to convince of the truth, is apparently often a sign of lying...
A shame, it was interesting, Amani
ReplyDeleteAhh sorry, that was an accident, my laptop was playing up. I was only trying to edit that post. I can't remember everything I wrote but it was something along these lines...You can find out more about someone by looking into their eyes rather than through their speech. It could explain why the mariner instead of introducing himself simply uses his "glittering eye" as if he is trying to tell the guest, look at me, what im about to tell you is worth listening to and may change your life. It is also impossible for the eyes to lie and by allowing the guest to look into his, the mariner is opening up to him trying to show him that he is more than what his appearance portrays therefore gaining the wedding guest's trust.
ReplyDeleteI do think the eyes are like a window to the soul yet I'm sceptical about whether people are actually able to read people by looking into their eyes. For example, what do the eyes show when one is telling the truth, lying, sad? "glittering" to me means mischievous, happy or secretive.
ReplyDeleteLooking someone directly in the eye could be seen as lying but i think not being able to look at someone in the eye is worse. If however one believes that direct eye contact is a sign of lying, i would then result to looking at someone's body language and the mariner holds the guest "with his skinny hand". I think the courage to do this to a stranger shows he has nothing to hide and is willing to open up to the guest which means he will present the full truth and not only a part of it. This could explain why in the tale told, we are not always sympathetic towards him because he is simply retelling the tale exactly how it happened unlike Nick in the Great Gatsby.
Yes, the touching with the hand is important, isn't it--especially as the guest's first instinct seems to be to brush him off like he might a beggar. There's something very personal about someone reinforcing words with physical contact of that kind.
ReplyDeleteThis just wiped half my post--perhaps there's a self-censoring element here?
Slightly off topic, but on the topic of telling when someone is lying, I have recently become mildly addicted to 'lie to me' and 'the mentalist', which both play on this idea of being able to read truth through body language. In 'Lie to me' the clips that they have of politicians are fascinating...
Lie to me is definitely an interesting show however I have only seen the first episode and never had the time to watch any of the rest. I always wondered how much of it is actually true, they seem to have a specific record for example of an expression that means a certain thing yet people react differently. I think it's rather narrow minded to judge people from a rule book.
ReplyDeleteThis could be irrelevant but do you think the mariner uses his "skinny hand" as a way of selecting the guest. Maybe the guest's reaction is a way of confirming that he is the one that must listen to the tale (like a test of character) His reaction is slightly arrogant and I know I myself would have perhaps reacted in the same way to a stranger. Moreover I think this is a common reaction for us all (or at least the majority of us). It could be a way for him to select the people that must hear him and if one may have responded with kindness, then the tale is not necessary for them to hear. This could be linked back to the kindness shown to nature.