Imaginative Journeys Essay
An imaginative journey is a voyage of discovery, which takes when one is transported from a physical to a metaphysical via power of imagination. Shakespeare’s The Tempest is set on a fictitious, unnamed island, ten leagues beyond civilization, where all sense of torment, trouble, wonder and imagination is possible. Yen Martel’s novel Life of Pi, The Board Of Studies excerpt The Town Where Time Stands Still by Shirley Geok-Lin Lim and the Triptych Painting The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch use visual and written language so evocative that responders are led through an intricate process of imagination constructed by the composer showing that imagination is more important than knowledge. More than anything thing else, this is the essence of imaginative journeys.
‘The protagonists in The Tempest undergo a metamorphosis of character, catalysed by introspective self-discovery. Initially, Prospero speculated that the outcome the imaginative journey would be vengeance, however, the end result was forgiveness. Had it not been for his initial motivation, the imaginative journey would not have been constructed. Prospero is characterised as a petulant, authoritarian figure, who is driving the parallel narratives of the plot. His “liberal arts” are dramatically symbolised by the motifs of the “book”, “staff” and “magical garment”. These motifs mirror the initial corruption of his soul; it is of particular significance that renunciation of his dominion required the “drowning of his book” so that “his affections could become tender”. Prospero’s hatred of his “perfidious” brother Antonio is potently conveyed through his discussions with Miranda where he uses powerful metaphors to communicate Antonio’s scheming and toxic ways; “To what tune pleased his ear that he was, / the ivy which had hid my princely trunk.” The musical metaphor of the “tune” evokes the sense of Antonio’s manipulation of the people of Milan; it has an eerie “Pied Piper” connotation. The comparison of Antonio with ivy implies that he strangled Prospero like a parasite.
Imaginative Journeys essay
The imaginative journey is one in which we escape reality and are invited to acknowledge a new reality within the realms of the imagination. These journeys offer change and discovery providing valuable insight into ones past, present and future. Coleridge’s poems, “This Limetree Bower My Prison” and “Frost at Midnight” take the reader on an imaginative journey with ...
The use of two demonic allusions powerfully depicts the emotions harboured by Prospero towards Caliban. The constant reference to him a “poisonous slave” and as “child of Sycorax and the devil” creates a callous overtone, which degrades and debases the savage character. This forms a basis from which Shakespeare depicts the metamorphosis of Prospero from a scathing and embittered man to a kind-hearted, absolving father. There is a metaphorical transition, which is captured in the image of a “sea change” in Ariel’s song. The use of soliloquy empowers the audience to see deep into the thoughts of the once austere and irritable Prospero. His use of religious allusions such as the “wiser action is in virtue than in vengeance”, which is emphasized by alliteration is in stark contrast to the demonic language previously used. Thus it is only through imagination that both Caliban and Prospero are able to acquire the necessary knowledge to transform themselves. Ultimately therefore, they recognise that the imagination is more important than knowledge.
Similarly, in Life of Pi, Pi’s imaginative journey caused him to reassess his preconceived attitudes. First person reflection reveal how this optimistic assertion “take life the way it comes at you and make the best of it” is eventually ‘replaced by his exasperated comment “My suffering does matter”, where present determinate tense effectively personalizes his transition, comparable to Prospero’s metamorphosis in The Tempest. In an allusion to Postmodernism, Pi causes responders to imagine that “the world just isn’t what it is … it is how we understand it, no?”, where his rhetorical question “isn’t just looking upon the world already something of an invention?” summarizes his subjectivism regarding personal and worldly issues. This relativism is also seen in The Tempest as contrasting characterizations of Gonzalo, Antonio and Sebastian render conflicting descriptions of the island, thus reaffirming the power of the imagination to shape ones knowledge.
The Term Paper on Imagination Is More Important That Knowledge
“Imagination is more important that knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” Do you agree? Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand while imagination embraces the entire world, and ...
In The Tempest, realms, which are beyond the literal world, are evoked to create a state of heightened awareness. Thus the imagination again takes priority over knowledge. The sea voyage is strongly symbolic of the journey whilst the shipwreck denotes the perils of human life. The opening stage direction engages responders with “a tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning”, symbolic of a disruption in the natural order. Throughout the play, Shakespeare juxtaposes supernatural events with natural events, thereby portraying journeys as phenomena, which are influenced by an array of factors beyond human control. The breakdown of naturalism is further developed through the boatswain’s abrupt outburst at the nobles; “To cabin. Silence! Trouble us not!” Contextually, the harsh tone of this dialogue is significant as Elizabethan society was based on a rigid social hierarchy and such blatant insubordination was not a common occurrence. This would therefore cause responders to use their imagination and become more engaged by the imaginative journey, thereby establishing the importance of the process of imagination to the journey. The presence of the supernatural in a range of mythical characters and the “spirits” of the isle help responders to suspend their disbelief. The motif of music and dreams also cleverly create for the responders an awareness of the presence of magic and the fantasia of the island.
In Shirley Geok-Lin Lim’s The Town Where Time Stands Still we as the “traveller” embarks on an imaginative journey to the unconscious realm in an attempt to discover the “genii loci” (spirit of a place).
This suggests at purer realm one absent of sin end darkness where the “traveller” seeks out this idyllic world that will “act on their internal psychology like an irresistible force, so that they will return to the place from which they came blessed and altered.” In other words the traveler is in search of enlightenment within this spiritual realm where they hope to obtain this moment of absolute understanding and perfection ultimately reaching a “State of Grace”. However the imagination is only momentary and the “State of Grace” will be lost to the traveller upon return to reality where sin and darkness is ever present. Therefore the “traveller” enters the unconscious realm in hope of achieving the ultimate “State of Grace” where they will be blessed and altered and free from the sin end darkness present within reality and within themselves.
The Term Paper on The Journey, Not The Arrival Matters
This very general cliché statement describes a widespread feeling towards the subject of journeys; the journey process is far more valuable then the ‘destination’ or end results of the journey. Composers commonly reiterate and emphasis this perspective through their texts such as Larry and Andy Wachowki’s science fiction film “The Matrix”, William Shakespeare’s ...
Hieronymus Bosch’s triptych painting The Garden of Earthly Delights is his surreal portrayal of paradise, the garden of earthly delights and Hell. Bosch uses art as a medium to take his audience on imaginative journey into the realms of the Garden of Eden and the underworld. The first panel features the Garden of Eden, the tree of knowledge and God presenting Eve to Adam. The first panel also reveals how the ultimate “State of Grace” has been achieved with all its purity and innocence; however temptations are still present with the Tree of Knowledge. These concepts are supported through the use of imagery of the mythical creature the unicorn, which is representative of purity, virginity as well as the imagination, and the serpent, which is representative of the devil and therefore associated with, sin.
The centre panel features lust in its many forms as Hieronymus Bosch believed this sexual act was proof of man’s fall from grace and illustrates that through imagination one is able to gain knowledge of the reality of mans position in the universe. Images of huge fruits within the centre panel represent the pleasures of the fresh, for mankind’s “original sin” was the devouring of the forbidden fruit. Therefore The Garden of Earthly Delights is appropriately placed between the Garden of Eden where the original sin was committed and Hell where all sin will be punished. Finally the last panel of Hell depicts at place of fantastical torment where demons and half human animals evoke fear and punish sinners who have committed any of the deadly sins. This is shown through the imagery of imaginative creatures like the magisterial bird that eats up its human victims, and then defecates them into a well of excrement and vomit. This is punishment for any of those who have committed the deadly sin of gluttony. Through the use of musical instruments, which are traditional symbols of love and lust, Bosch suggests any of those who have enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh will be crucified on these enormous musical instruments for eternity. Hieronymus Bosch has attempted to create this idyllic world, the Garden of Eden through the use of his imagination however the sin and darkness present within man results in our fall from grace and the eternal damnation of all sinners. Thus showing only through the imaginative journey not the acquisition of knowledge, can you attempt to reach a “State of Grace” as within reality we are ultimately flawed with darkness and sin.
The Essay on Dante’s Inferno Vs Bosch’s Garden Of Earthly Delights
The concept of Hell is a powerful one to all who give pause to question an act of morality or sin. We are warned that choosing a path of debauchery may cause us to fall out of the holy grace of our omniscient God, leaving our afterlife to be one of pain, misery and suffering. These teachings are, though terrifying to some, generally vague- the specifics incomprehensible and distant. Hell is well ...
Each text through its own context and using an array of techniques conveys similar ideas about imaginative journeys, which ultimately challenges the responder’s thinking on issues relating to their own world. More than anything else on an imaginative journey, the blend between reality and fantasy offers a pathway to the imagination that can, depending on the individual’s strength of mind, contain positive or negative experiences
