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March 08, 2006
I Heart You
I love the different meanings of "heart" Hall used in her opposing view of the previous article. To the Romans it was about courage in battle and to the Egyptians it meant affection. The cultures overlapped into marriage as another meaning for "heart" and I enjoyed how she described Enobarbus' views as well as Cleo's servant's feeling about her husbands "imaginary nose." She kind of brings up the cheesiness of the whole relationship between Antony and Cleopatra so this was much more refreshing than just reading about politics and she is sure to point out that Antony "hearts" Cleo in the way that he says that Cleo is his "conqueror." Aw, isn't that special?
Posted by ErinWaite at March 8, 2006 07:27 PM
Comments
Good call, Erin. "All's fair in love and war" and "love conquers all" are old sayings that encapsulate the dual meaning of "heart." And, of course, English-speaking poets who were familiar with classical sources would have noticed and perpetuated that dual association.
Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz at March 8, 2006 09:00 PM
I think that's what I secretly love about being a creative writing major. We're constantly told to look for the hidden meanings of things and it allows you to come with some heinous things that may have nothing to do with what the author was saying or you look at it and think, "This guy is just saying he had a bad day or was in love, end of story,folks!"
Posted by: Erin Waite at March 14, 2006 11:10 AM