1 Nov 2022: D-8 to lit a levels

Starring, in chronological order:

The cowboy, the worst and most incompetent drivelling, snivelling, jibbering, jabbering idiot. The man whose common sense was never his strong point. The monstrous arrogant wineskin. The prince of the Church. The faithful lamb. The very pious sheepdog. The rat in the corner except that he won't fight. Seigneur Bastard. The infernal young idiot. The poohpoohing goddam. John Bowyer Spenser Neville de Stogumber, bachelor of theology and keeper of the private seal to his eminence the cardinal of Winchester. The flower of courtesy who will have to pick a peck of pickled pepper. The monk. The canon. The subtle and profound rare noodle. The brother. The relic seller. Rum Tum Trumpledum Bacon Fat and Rumpledum. The inventor of a most extraordinarily comic dress. And last but not least...

The impudent baggage. The cracked country lass. The mademoiselle in love with war. The cancer. The old Greek tragedy that is rising among us. The stealer of the bishop's horse. The obstruction to traffic...

Saint Joan.

2021

"Thou wanton dost thou dare call me noodle"

Enough said, honestly. The humour hits every time you read, even if it's in an exam setting and you're sick and tired of analysing how Shaw uses humour to draw attention to the irony in the state of affairs to reflect the larger themes of iconography, blah blah blah. Thanks Shaw for all the exposition and verbal vomit on how the church/feudal political system works, btw! He really be implanting that #sociohistoricalcontext.

// Counting this here so my reading challenge progress can look a bit less dismal

I didn't really love this.

TS Eliot's perspective was spot on. This play reveals a great deal about Bernard Shaw (and modernism), but not a whole lot about the Maid.

The Joan presented in Shaw's introduction, who is described as brave, petulant, and bizarre, is quite distinct from the Joan in Shaw's play, who comes across as childish, moralizing, and cartoonish.

It seems as if Shaw was more interested in using the character of Joan to explore his own ideas and themes rather than presenting a fully-rounded and accurate portrayal of the historical figure.

As a result, the play often feels more like a vehicle for Shaw's own artistic and intellectual pursuits rather than a genuine exploration of the Maid of Orleans.

Perhaps if Shaw had focused more on the real Joan and less on his own modernist agenda, the play would have been more engaging and satisfying.

However, as it stands, it remains a somewhat flawed and unfulfilling work.

The first scene of this play is truly one of the most perfect and uproariously hilarious things I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It is, without a doubt, probably my all-time favorite single scene among all plays, or at the very least, my absolute favorite comedic scene. The banter and interplay between de Baudricourt and his squire are simply side-splitting. The line "Positive! Now see here. I am going to throw you downstairs" never fails to elicit laughter.

I was initially hesitant to read through the entire play, fearing that it might somehow disappoint me and thus mar my deep love and affection for that magnificent Scene I. However, I eventually gathered the courage to do so, and to my great relief and joy, it did not disappoint. The play as a whole maintained the same level of charm, wit, and entertainment that I had experienced in that first wonderful scene. It was a truly satisfying reading experience from start to finish.

It is like an Irish Brecht!!! What a great idea of pre-modernity and how lucid! How it collects an entire century (the 19th) and confronts it against itself. WOW.

This description seems to be highly praising something that has the characteristics of an Irish Brecht. It emphasizes the excellence of the idea related to pre-modernity and the clarity with which it approaches the 19th century. By "collecting" the century and "confronting it against itself," it implies a deep exploration and examination of the era's various aspects and contradictions. The exclamation "WOW" at the end further emphasizes the speaker's admiration and astonishment. It makes one wonder what specific work or concept is being referred to here that has such remarkable qualities and the ability to capture and analyze an entire century in such a profound way.

Shaw’s preface might be better than his play.

The brief preface paints an admirably fair picture of Joan. It presents a detailed and objective view of her character, which helps the readers to have a better understanding of the context and the background of the play.

The play, on the other hand, feels too didactic at times. It seems that Shaw is trying too hard to convey his message and ideas, which makes the play lose some of its naturalness and authenticity.

Moreover, the epilogue—in my estimation—worsens the play. It gives a rather abrupt and unsatisfactory ending, which leaves the readers with a sense of incompleteness.

However, there are some beautiful, important passages throughout the play. These passages add depth and beauty to the play, and make it worth reading despite its flaws.

Overall, while Shaw’s preface is excellent, the play itself has some不足之处 that prevent it from being a truly great work.

Meh. I perhaps care far too much about Joan of Arc to peruse a book that firmly adheres to such a particular way of perceiving her.

I am deeply moved by the concept of her singularity being so damnable. However, her character seemed more like a lighthearted joke, and the condemnation of others lacked a real sting.

The dialogue simply did not possess the power to convey the content effectively. Nevertheless, I am still glad that I read it, especially certain parts of the prologue.

Protestant Joan - eh, well, it's okay.

Overall, while the book had its shortcomings in presenting Joan of Arc, it still offered some interesting perspectives that made the reading experience worthwhile.

Perhaps with a different approach to the dialogue and a more nuanced portrayal of her character, the book could have been more engaging and impactful.

Nonetheless, it has given me food for thought and has furthered my exploration of this fascinating historical figure.

I sense a Joan of Arc hyperfixation forming.

Joan of Arc is such a fascinating historical figure. Her story is one of courage, determination, and unwavering faith.

She was a young peasant girl who believed she had been chosen by God to lead the French army against the English during the Hundred Years' War.

Despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles, she remained committed to her cause.

Her military victories were remarkable, and she became a symbol of hope and inspiration for the French people.

However, her life was cut short when she was captured, tried, and burned at the stake.

Her story has endured throughout the ages, and she continues to be a source of fascination and admiration for people around the world.

I find myself increasingly drawn to her story and eager to learn more about her life and legacy.

It is as if her spirit is calling out to me, urging me to explore and understand her remarkable journey.

I am determined to satisfy this hyperfixation and delve deeper into the world of Joan of Arc.

Perhaps through this exploration, I will gain a greater appreciation for her courage and the impact she had on history.

Wikipedia claims that this is a play lacking a villain, which is indeed one perspective. However, another view is that this is a play where there are no truly good people, except perhaps Joan. But then again, she is a nationalist religious zealot who leads an army and refuses to listen to anyone except the voices in her head. As someone with a basic understanding of mental health, this didn't always sit well with me. On one hand, everyone is at least somewhat sympathetic. For instance, even the Inquisitor has some redeeming qualities, which is quite a feat. On the other hand, everyone is also at least somewhat terrible. It's truly a wild and complex play that makes you question the nature of good and evil.

The Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925 was awarded to a remarkable author.

This prestigious award recognized the outstanding literary achievements of the recipient.

The work of this author had a profound impact on the literary world, captivating readers with its unique style and profound themes.

The awarding of the Nobel Prize not only brought international acclaim to the author but also shone a spotlight on the importance of literature in society.

It served as an inspiration for future generations of writers, encouraging them to explore new ideas and push the boundaries of literary expression.

The 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature will always be remembered as a significant moment in literary history, commemorating the genius and creativity of the laureate.

I actually loved this.

It was genuinely funny and at the same time deeply sad.

Joan was not portrayed as a Saint but rather as a teenager, which made her more relatable and human.

Her persecutors, too, were not simply presented as villains but as confused men.

This nuanced portrayal added depth and complexity to the story.

It made me think about how often we simplify people and situations, reducing them to one-dimensional characters.

In reality, everyone has their own motives, fears, and insecurities.

By presenting Joan and her persecutors in this way, the author was able to create a more engaging and thought-provoking narrative.

I found myself sympathizing with both Joan and her persecutors, which is a rare feat in storytelling.

Overall, this was a wonderful piece that I would highly recommend to others.

I vividly remember having a profound love for this particular thing during my high school days. It was something that truly captured my interest and held a special place in my heart. However, ever since then, I haven't taken the time to reread it. I often wonder if it would still have the same impact on me as it did back then. Maybe it would bring back a flood of memories and emotions, or perhaps it would seem different through the lens of my more mature perspective. Nonetheless, the fact that I haven't revisited it yet makes me feel a tinge of curiosity and a longing to reconnect with that part of my past.

Joan of Arc is a remarkable figure who has inspired countless works, including a powerful play.

She was an incredibly courageous individual, driven by her unwavering faith. Her story brings to mind that of David, the son of Jesse in the Bible. Just as David was chosen by God to lead the Israelites against the Palestines, Joan firmly believed that she was divinely chosen to lead the French against the English.

David successfully fulfilled his mission, but unfortunately, he was later hated by the king and his own countrymen. Similarly, in the case of Saint Joan, the king begins to feel uneasy in her presence and grows impatient with her ideas and outspokenness. Joan's words, "Don't think you can frighten me by telling me that I am alone. France is alone. God is alone. And the loneliness of God is His strength,"彰显 her unwavering spirit.

Joan of Arc had the courage of a thousand men and was prepared to fight alone if necessary. However, the English, who saw her as a threat, wanted to burn her for her rebellion against them. They even offered a king's ransom of sixteen thousand pounds for her capture.

Ultimately, Joan was captured and put on trial. She was denied the right to have a lawyer represent her, and the promoter or prosecutor was publicly unfair towards her, deceiving her. The entire trial was unjust. She was induced to confess with a promise of leniency, but they later used her confession to hang her. Her trial paralleled that of Jesus Christ, which ended in crucifixion.

To be continued...