Key Concepts from Literary Texts

Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching

  • Author: Lao Tzu (ancient Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism)

  • Central Theme: Lao Tzu contrasts true virtue with superficial virtue.

    • True Virtue:

      • Acts naturally and selflessly.

      • Does not involve ulterior motives.

    • Superficial Virtue:

      • Behaves "virtuously" for show or due to obligation.

    • Consequences of Declining Virtue:

      • As virtue declines in society, people turn to rules and rituals, referred to as "the rites," to replace genuine morality.

      • When rites are lost, society resorts to force to compel compliance.

  • Overall Warning:

    • Lao Tzu warns that when individuals lose their inner connection to the Tao (the natural way), they compensate with artificial rules and forms of control.

Franz Kafka - The Trial

  • Author: Franz Kafka

  • Summary: This passage describes Josef K's confusion and anxiety as he faces bureaucratic punishment.

    • Josef K's Experience:

      • Tries to reason with guards to maintain control but feels increasingly powerless.

      • Internal struggle is depicted, showcasing the difficulty in understanding the absurd and oppressive legal system that judges him.

      • Engages in self-reflection, questioning whether he could have influenced the course of events, yet everything appears senseless and beyond his control.

  • Main Idea:

    • Kafka illustrates the absurdity and dehumanization of bureaucratic systems. K. is trapped in a realm where guilt and justice lack clear meaning.

Joseph Conrad - Heart of Darkness

  • Author: Joseph Conrad

  • Summary: The narrator reflects on Mr. Kurtz's death and the theme of moral corruption.

    • Kurtz's Characteristics:

      • Consumed by greed and lust for power while in the African jungle, obsessed with acquiring ivory, as expressed in his proclamation, "My ivory! My Intended!"

      • Physical decay mirrors moral collapse; he loses touch with humanity over time.

    • Wilderness as a Reflection:

      • The wilderness exposes the darkness within human nature and soul.

    • Warnings Against Isolation and Power:

      • Isolation and accumulation of power can blind individuals to the presence of evil.

      • Individuals often remain unaware of their moral decline.

  • Main Idea:

    • Civilization's veneer can quickly deteriorate, revealing humanity's innate capacity for darkness and corruption.

Yuan Zhen - “The Story of Ying-ying”

  • Summary:

    • A young scholar named Zhang saves a monastery from bandits and engages in a secret affair with Cui Ying-ying.

      • Despite her emotional investment, Zhang ultimately abandons her in pursuit of his career, resulting in heartbreak for Ying-ying.

  • Themes:

    • Love versus ambition.

    • Betrayal and Confucian duty.

    • Vulnerability of women in society.

  • Significance:

    • Considered a classic Tang dynasty “marvel tale” (chuanqi), it serves as a foundation for later literary works like the Romance of the Western Chamber.

William Blake - Proverbs of Hell (from The Marriage of Heaven and Hell)

  • Summary:

    • Blake employs paradoxical proverbs to critique various societal institutions.

      • Example: “Prisons are built with stones of law, brothels with bricks of religion.” This challenges the moral authority of law and religious institutions.

  • Themes:

    • Rebellion against conventional morality.

    • Emphasis on visionary imagination and spiritual liberation.

Rumi - “What I Most Want”

  • Summary:

    • The speaker expresses a desire to transcend the limitations of personality and ego, seeking mystical union and freedom from worldly constraints.

  • Themes:

    • Spiritual yearning and self-transcendence.

    • Exploration of mystical love.

  • Style:

    • Poetic and introspective, exhibiting characteristics typical of Sufi mysticism.

Virginia Woolf - Mrs. Dalloway

  • Summary:

    • Clarissa Dalloway contemplates life's fragility and the complexities of identity.

      • Experiences profound existential unease during ordinary activities such as walking and hosting parties.

  • Themes:

    • Exploration of inner consciousness and existential anxiety.

    • Investigation of the nature of the soul.

  • Style:

    • Employs stream-of-consciousness narrative and features lyrical prose.

Joseph Conrad - Heart of Darkness (Revisit)

  • Summary:

    • The narrator provides insights into Mr. Kurtz’s complicated character and the psychological ramifications of imperialism.

      • Kurtz exemplifies both brilliance and moral decay.

  • Themes:

    • Investigations into colonialism, madness, and the duality of human nature.

  • Tone:

    • Described as dark, introspective, and symbolic.

Franz Kafka - The Trial (Revisit)

  • Summary:

    • Protagonist Josef K. navigates a surreal and oppressive legal system, emphasizing feelings of disorientation and alienation within a bureaucratic context.

  • Themes:

    • Absurdity of the system, underlying guilt, and existential dread that pervade K.'s experience.

  • Style:

    • Characterized as Kafkaesque: bleak, surreal, and psychologically intense.

  • Key Quotes From Text:

    • p.7, in the "Arrest" chapter, K. states, "…if this was a farce, he was going to play along."

    • Following the chapter break, K. grapples with his awareness of freedom, asserting, "He was still free."

    • p. 54, beginning of "In the Empty Courtroom," K. reflects on the lack of communication from authorities: "he couldn't believe they had taken his waiver of interrogations literally…" showing K.'s internalized anticipation of events.

    • p. 120, during the "Lawyer" section, contemplation of dark hours: "Of course there are always dark hours, everyone has them, when it seems that one has accomplished nothing…" leading to an acknowledgment of the belief in oneself, albeit one that remains solitary and frail.