Oh! The Angst!

Cynicism has become an important part of student life.

This past week has seen my pessimism reach previously un-fathomed depths. Along with the usual bitching and moaning relating to the college/country/planet authorities, the smaller things have come within the reticule of my depressing rifle. The aggression of certain breeds of bird, the use of the word "supposebly" and the sogginess of tomatoes have all been the subject of bitter, never-ending tirades.

Oddly enough, however, I no longer view this pessimism as a bad thing. With previous little time left in college, it is the right of the student to verbally tear to shreds every single aspect of existence. Nothing should be left along from our scathing and snide remarks that undermine the very laws of existence. We are thus united under a banner of negation.

For after all, this college era is most certainly ending. We will not have the luxury of complaint for much longer as we must finally engage with the system rather than deriding it from afar. Inevitably, we must become the people we despise. But if we can hold on to the smallest part of our disquiet, or at least the memory of it, then perhaps we can give future generations less to complain about.

If not, then at least they can enjoy their small rebellion as we have enjoyed ours!

-The English Student

Sons and Lovers

In D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers we find a myriad of social issues intertwined with in-depth psychology and beautiful imagery.

Perhaps one of the more striking aspects of this novel is the possibly incestuous relationship between Mrs. Morel and her sons, William and Paul. The reliance that this mother has on her children for social and personal fulfilment can still be seen in the tendency of many parents to project goals on their offspring today. While it is not prudent to attach a certain school of psychological theory to Lawrence, his discussion of humanity in this and other manners is certainly insightful.

The working class situation of the Morel's is very expertly addressed by Lawrence. Unlike Dickens or Burney, description of the toil that Morel undergoes to provide for his family is given. This ordinary and to an extent, universal discussion, coupled with an intricate depiction of urban England creates a strikingly innovative novel for the early twentieth century.

However, these new and interesting areas of discourse are, as with all aspects of the narrative, tainted with remorse, regret and pain. All instances of love are coupled with examples of extreme and sudden hatred. While Miriam and Paul obviously enjoy each other's company while on holiday, there is a constant undercurrent of resentment. Paul even considers himself incapable of love and consequently sabotages his relationships. We are not presented with a cloud containing a silver lining so much as an overcast sky!

D.H. Lawrence has written an undeniably brilliant book, but its inescapable pessimism means that it is not one I enjoy.

-The English Student