Monday, February 26, 2018
Poem and Crime and Punishment
"The Undeniable Pressure of Existence" by Patricia Fargnoli is a poem we read in class. In looking at this poem, please explain with textual evidence what she is saying and what you think the title means. Once you have done this, apply what she is saying to one of the characters in Crime and Punishment.
Be mindful not to repeat what a peer has said.
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The poem “The Undeniable Pressure of Existence” by Patricia Fargnoli paints the picture of a fox nonstop running through a town, running towards something that is not entirely clear, “his eyes fixed on some point ahead of him” (Fargnoli 16). The narrator is watching from his car, “and from my moving car, I watched him/ helpless to do anything to help him” (Fargnoli 12-13). This poem can be interpreted to how everyone feels pressure to keep working to reach their full potential, to keep working towards more. The fox runs past everything that represents plain normal life, “beyond it past the perfect/rows of split-levels, their identical driveways” (Fargnoli 9-10). Even though the fox is tired he keeps running, “far out of his element, sick, panting, starving” (Fargnoli 15). Even though people are not sure what they are working towards and are exhausted they keep working because they feel to keep working and trying to be more successful than they already are.
ReplyDeleteThis poem can be applied Sonia from Crime and Punishment. Sonia is the daughter of Marmeladov. Due to his drinking habits and gambling problems Sonia is forced to go into prostitution to help provide for her family, this is especially needed after Marmeladov is killed. However, throughout the novel Sonia holds on to her religion. When talking to Raskolnikov about her faith she says, “What should I be without God” (Dostoevsky 4.4). Showing that she believes everything in her life is because of God. Holding onto her faith is Sonia hoping that one day her life will get better, she will not be stuck in the same position for the rest of her life. Throughout the story Sonia’s prostitution is looked down upon, but she knows she must work in order for her family to survive. In the end she ends up leaving St.Petersburg and going to Siberia with Raskolnikov, “Razumihin and Sonia saw him in prison as often as it was possible (epilogue.1). Sonia visited Raskolnikov often and did her best to make him comfortable. At first Raskolnikov was quiet with her but eventually accepted her company and accepted the love he had for her. Sonia managed to leave her life in St. Petersburg behind and start a new life in Siberia with Raskolnikov.
Patricia Fargnoli’s poem The Undeniable Pressure of Existence is about a fox that is “far out of his element, sick, panting, starving” and running through a bustling suburban city (Fargnoli 15). The fox seems to be running towards something only it can see, some sort of salvation from the world that has caused it so much suffering. This relatable theme applies to the title because the fox, who represents the common man, has suffered the inevitable strife that comes with simply existing.
ReplyDeleteFargnoli’s poem relates to Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel Crime and Punishment in the way that both narratives relate to the idea that one must keep pushing forward in life despite what is thrown their way. This theme is seen through Crime and Punishment’s Lizaveta and The Undeniable Pressure of Existence’s fox. Both characters are beaten down by the world yet keep trudging on. Lizaveta is physically and emotionally abused by her pawnbroker sister, yet she continues to bend to her every will in order to live the comfortable life her sister’s profession provides. The fox is physically beaten down as well, as he runs “limping, gaunt, matted dull haired” (Fargnoli 4). Both characters never stop doing what is needed to survive, no matter how ludicrous it may seem to an outsider.
“The Undeniable Pressure of Existence” starts with an unhealthy fox running and moves to a passerby watching the fox trek to an unseen safe haven, “his eyes fixed on some point ahead of him, some possible salvation in all this hopelessness” (Fargnoli 16-18). The poem by Patricia Fargnoli shows ideas of carnivalization in the space that the fox is presented running in and running from. The fox is shown repetitively running from a territory that is traditionally unfamiliar from his own with “Jim’s Pizza,” “Wash-O-Mat,” and “Citco” (lines 3-5). This is the threshold, space and point of the fox’s crisis. Carnivalization plays into the structure, for the whole poem is a single run on sentence that maintains the quickness of the poem. As the fox is beared down “sick, painting, starving,” he persists rapidly through the space where his fate is changing (line 15). The undeniable pressure of existence, as explained by Fargnoli, is the consistent obstacles that must be overcome in hope of reaching some sort of self peace.
ReplyDeleteFargnoli’s fox can be compared to Raskolnikov from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Raskolnikov is constantly trying to run from his mind in the immoral crimes he has committed. The fox “kept running,” as did Raskolnikov, literally and figuratively, from reaching a conclusion in his morals as well as admitting to his murders (Fargnoli 7). In his attempt to escape from the pressure and obstacles, his mental mind can not compensate with the stress of his situation. He becomes physically ill at the mention of the murders. When Porfiry visits Raskolnikov, he briefly questions him of the murderers and after Porfiry says “I heard, indeed, that you were in great distress about something. You look pale still.” (Dostoevsky 3.5.44). Although Raskolnikov is not as driven to salvation as the fox is, due to his lack of certainty, Raskolnikov and the fox are both seen running through obstacles to find peace.
“The Undeniable Pressure of Existence” by Patricia Fargnoli depicts a fox in poor condition running through a developed city remote of forests familiar to the fox. The speaker then goes on to point out that despite the distress, the fox had, “...had his eyes fixed on some point ahead of him, / some possible salvation / in all this hopelessness, that only he could see.” (Fargnoli 16-18). All of which give light to the meaning of the poem’s title, saying that only the individual itself can find their own purpose and truly live. The poem also seems to relate to existentialism by sketching out these, “...perfect / rows of split-levels, their identical driveways / their brookless and forestless yards” and the fox running away from this city, not accepting the changes, to his “salvation” (Fargnoli 9-11). What’s more interesting is the speaker’s refusal to help this fox because, “...he was beyond / any aid…” (Fargnoli 14). Which leads to the question of did the speaker not want to help the fox because he found his purpose or is it because he is too different from poem’s society standard of having perfect yards?
ReplyDeleteRaskolnikov seems to be closely related to the poem because of his existentialism and his need to find a way to deal with his guilt of his crime. Similar to the fox, Raskolnikov is aware of his poor condition but continues to seek out his salvation from guilt. And throughout the novel, Raskolnikov understands that his philosophy and “purpose” on life differs greatly from the norm but continues to find his salvation anyways. And even in the end of Crime and Punishment, where Raskolnikov confesses to the crime, when Raskolnikov talks to Dounia about it, Raskolnikov still seems to believe that he did not commit a crime and is still unsatisfied with confessing as a way to get rid of his guilt.
The poem “The Undeniable Pressure of Existence” by Patricia Fargnoli demonstrates the story of a fox, who is running through a developed city. The fox was in awful condition: “he ran, limping, gaunt, matted dull haired”(Fargnoli 4). The poor condition of the fox is illustrated, which he was also “sick, painting, and starving.” Although the fox was in a very bad state, he had a sense of hope. The poem states, “his eyes fixed on some point ahead of him, / some possible salvation”(Fargnoli 16-17). The fox does not give up, although its hopelessness is demonstrated. The fox could only see this “point” of salvation, which relates to existentialism. Existentialism is the approach that emphasizes the existence of an individual person, who determines their own development and fate. In the title, existence is mentioned: “The Undeniable Pressure of Existence”, which existence is the main factor of existentialism. Fargnoli is saying that individuals have control over their own life and their purpose. The fox continues on his rough journey, when he can easily give up, which relates to existentialism. The fox decides to evade death and fight for his life. The narrator does not chose to help the fox: “I watched him, / helpless to do anything to help him, certain he was beyond / any aid”(Fargnoli 12-14). This relates to existentialism because the fox only has control over its own fate, therefore, the narrator did not interfere. Existentialism is demonstrated in Fargnoli’s poem, which the fox chooses his own fate, despite its poor condition.
ReplyDeleteRaskolnikov in Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky relates to Fargnoli’s poem, “The Undeniable Pressure of Existence”. Raskolnikov is an existential character because he deals with guilt and sicknesses, due to the malicious crime he committed. Raskolnikov looks for “salvation” just as the fox: “some possible salvation / in all this hopelessness, that only he could see”(Fargnoli 17-18). Raskolnikov fights through his poor conditions and choses to not turn himself in until the end of the novel, instead of giving up immediately after the murders. He has control over his own fate. Also, relating to existentialism, Raskolnikov makes a huge decision to murder the women in the first place, which he believed he was extraordinary and able to commit such a crime. This has a huge affect on Raskolnikov’s fate because he is eventually imprisoned for his actions. Raskolnikov and the fox from Fargnoli’s poem are both existential characters because they both are in control of their own fate, fighting through their poor conditions and not giving in.
Patricia Fargnoli wrote a poem called The Undeniable Pressure of Existence. The poem illustrates a helpless fox mindlessly passing through man made structures. The poem then continues to describe the physical health issues that the fox experiences. The poem demonstrates the difficulties one can experience when they are out of place. Foxes are typically seen in nature where there are streams and trees so that they can roam around more freely and comfortably. When foxes are in their element they can easily find food to eat and water to drink. Unfortunately, the fox is in a crisis state in which he is, “...sick, panting, starving…” (Fargnoli 15) The abstract diction being used goes to show that the fox is uncomfortable, he is hungry and ill. This signifies the state in which the fox lives in. The fox is in a space where he has to adapt to the new environment in order to survive. This is important because it illustrates the uncomfortable conditions one will face in order to survive in a new environment. This connects to the title in which it demonstrates the pressure of existence. This inevitable pressure to survive constantly exists as long as the fox exists. The title reveals the compulsion people feel in order to survive in this extraordinary environment. The title signifies the constant stress people face in order to not only survive but to also drive forward and achieve their goals. One must take every opportunity that is opened in order to be one step forward and to live a little more comfortably.
ReplyDeleteThis idea connects to the characters in Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel called Crime and Punishment. Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov is the daughter of Semyon and Katrina Marmeladov. Sonia relates to the fox because she is forced to work as a prostitute in order to survive poverty. Sonia is a prime example of someone is placed out of their element and is living in poor conditions. Although Sonia is a prostitute, she is also a symbol of good morals. Sonia is out of place because she is a person who has good virtues but she is forced to prostitution in order to help her family out of poverty. Prostitutes are viewed as morally weak and they were often looked down upon. Sonia is like the fox because they are both, “...far out of his element.” (Fargnoli 15) The heavy tone that is being used to demonstrate the poor conditions they are living in because they are far out of placed. This signifies the struggle that both Sonia and the fox face in order to survive in a space they are not comfortable in.
Patricia Fargnoli’s “The Undeniable Pressure of Existence” follows the narrator’s chase of a tattered and injured fox passing through the “turned away brick faces of the condominiums” and other buildings, searching for something imaginary with fierce determination (Fargnoli 2). The writer repeats the word “past” continuously, implying a sort of continuous forward momentum throughout the piece. The narrator follows the fox with the same intensity, passing by such distractions as “Jim’s Pizza” and “the Wash-O-Mat” from the comfort of a car (Fargnoli 5). Through this bleak, unwelcoming-yet-familiar landscape, the narrator chases the fox who chases the unknown, and here two diverging paths are revealed in perfect contrast. The fox has determination, “his eyes fixed on some point ahead of him, some possible salvation,” unrelenting in his search and truly exhibiting the consequences of this though his physical appearance and exhaustion (Fargnoli 16-7). Meanwhile, the narrator seems somewhat frustrated with such a stagnant life filled with comfort but devoid of fulfillment, as portrayed by the setting surrounding this person. They chase the fox as if chasing a more meaningful life, looking for answers from a creature who seems to have them. This is the “Undeniable Pressure of Existence;” is it better to live a painfully real life chasing what truly matters or to be comfortable and dull, leaving no real mark on this Earth? Fargnoli leaves us with this question as the chase continues indefinitely.
ReplyDeleteThis poem relates most closely to Raskolnikov from Crime and Punishment in his search for meaning in his life. He starts the novel as if surrounded by the “turned away brick faces of the condominiums” and the “perfect rows of split levels,” stuck in his apartment and tired of school work (Fargnoli 9-10). All around him is the hustle and bustle of St. Petersburg, filled with opportunity, and yet nothing seems to satiate his indescribable need for something more meaningful. However, after the murders, he becomes the suffering fox, overcome with guilt and mania. He learns that to break this cycle of monotony and venture beyond the norm is to suffer the consequences that come along with it. In this way, Raskolnikov exemplifies this ultimate question posed in the poems title.
“The Undeniable Pressure of Existence” by Patricia Fargnoli presents a scenario of a tired, wheezing fox running through the concrete jungle of man, as someone from their car watches helplessly as it runs itself to death. The meaning of the poem lies in the namesake title, that their is a certain pressure that lies within each hedonistic soul to survive and thrive, and in that at all costs. Their is this undeniable pressure being forced and seen on both the person in the car and the fox, as both are faced with recognizable dilemma. The fox is out of his element and looks nearly hopeless as she describes: “and he ran loping on, far out of his element, sick, panting, starving” (Fargnoli 14) and the viewer of this, whoever is sitting in their car in their own specifically human element, believes they are hopeless too saying: “and from my car, I watched him, helpless to do anything”(Fargnoli 12). This undeniable pressure comes from the single undeniable conditions of life, above all death. The fox is roaming in the narrators element, the human world, and knows that even if he stopped to help him he wouldn’t solve the fact that he is not where he is supposed to be, and trying to help him cannot stop that. This is comparative to Fyodor Dostoevsky's work “Crime and Punishment” and it’s relationship between Razhumin and Raskolnikov as compared to the Narrator and the Fox respectively. Razhumin desperately tries to help Raskolnikov, taking him to the doctor, getting him clothes etc. But regardless he is too stuck ahead to help him in his own world and even if he provided what was necessary, Raskolnikov wouldn’t be able to make use of it, like Fargnoli says about the fox: “His eyes fixed on some point ahead of him, some possible salvation in all this hopelessness, that only he could see”(Fargnoli 16) . Raskolnikov cleary transcends the conventional notions of society with his heroic sacrifice to murder the pawnbroker, but in doing so he eliminates his being to be involved in society, what he gave up his life for. No matter how much Razhumin can see how much pain he is in and how much he tries to shower him with help, it is a useless cause that he will never be able to understand the complexity of Raskolnikov and therefore makes him more particular helpless than anyone else. This treatment makes us alone in the universe, in birth and death, and this is what Fargnoli talks about as the undeniable pressure of existence, as reflected in the book.
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ReplyDeleteThe poem, The Undeniable Pressure of Existence, by Patricia Fargnoli, captures the story of a fox and his journey to his “possible salvation” (Fargnoli 17). Salvation is the preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss. From the knowledge given by the context, the fox is severely weak from his journey to his “salvation”. Also, the author describes the fox as, “...far out of his element, sick, panting, starving...” (Fargnoli 15). With the numerous adjectives describing the fox and his state of being, it again displays the image of torment within the fox. However, the he keeps going without hesitation, because he believes. He believes that there is a salvation, and as a result of that, he doesn’t worry about the process. At the end of the poem the speaker says, “...in all this hopelessness…” (Fargnoli 18). Those four words show how people think when they’ve been beaten. When knocked down, people chose to stay down because it’s easier, and they lose sight of the reason they were standing in the first place. However, in the case of the fox, he doesn’t let anything around him lose sight on his goal, on his salvation. The title, The Undeniable Pressure of Existence, is in itself a question. The question is although we get knocked down, what does it take to stand back up? The author answers the question with the poem. In doing so, the piece as a whole becomes a lesson, and because this, it is understood that with hope, anything is possible.
ReplyDeleteHope is a universal necessity that often comes in times of trouble. This necessity can be found in the novel, Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky. By applying the poem, The Undeniable Pressure of Existence, by Patricia Fargnoli, that shows a parallel between the character Sonia from, Crime and Punishment and the fox from, The Undeniable Pressure of Existence. Sonia, like the fox has hope. However, her hope is that her relationship with God, as well as Raskolnikov, will grow and become better. Since Sonia becomes a prostitute to provide for her family, her morals are tested. She soon becomes looked down upon because she is a prostitute. However like the fox, in her mind she sees, “some possible salvation/ in all this hopelessness, that only he could see” (Fargnoli 17-18). The same “possible salvation,” that the fox was fixed on. As a way of demonstrating her hope she says, “What should I be without God” (Dostoevsky 4.4). Sonia illustrates her feelings towards religion and God, and tells that she would be nothing without God. God is the very reason she has hope. Without question, without hesitation, each of the character’s continue to strive towards their goal because of the spark of hope that has ignited within them.
Within the poem “The Undeniable Pressure of Existence” by Patricia Fargnoli, an injured fox roams a city, striving for existence over essence. The narrator watches helplessly as the fox runs past businesses and condominiums “limping, gaunt” (4). Then a tone shift occurs at line 12 where the narrator starts to analyse what it means to exist. The fox is ”far out of his element” (15), beyond saving at this point and the narrator wonders why he still believes there is “some possible salvation” (17). The fox has the natural instinct to live no matter what obstacles may appear, a quality that humans have, but do not always use. This begs the question, why do we evade death? The answer is that we cannot fathom not existing and enjoy the suffering in living when you wish you weren't. The mere thought of not existing is too much for humans to comprehend which is why death seems scary.
ReplyDeleteThis poem directly relates to the life of Marmeladov in the novel “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Marmeladov is a drunk who lives by Existential ideals. Through his Existential outlook on life, he finds pleasure in drinking because he “may suffer twice as much” (1.2.20). Marmeladov lives the life of the fox in Fargnoli’s poem, living simply to exist. Although Marmeladov is not enjoying life and is aware of death, unlike the fox, he still refuses to take his life even believing that he will be saved in the afterlife. Through this unwillingness to be saved in the afterlife by continuing living, Marmeladov exhibits his unconscious fear of death and the possibility of no God. He lives like the fox, unknowing and instinctual, blinded by the Existentialist beliefs on death.
“The Undeniable Pressure of Existence” by Patricia Fargnoli illustrates the journey a fox takes across a town. The journey of the fox is described as fast-paced and continuous, “...past the turned-away brick faces of the condominiums / past the Citco gas station with its line of cars and trucks…” (Fargnoli 2-3). The Fox continues to keep running passed everything in its vicinity, “...past Jim’s Pizza, past the Wash-O-Mat. / past the Thai Garden, his sides heaving like bellows…” (Fargnoli 5-6). The interpretation of this poem is discovered through the foxes inability to stop for even a single moment. The fox keeps pushing further and further, “...his eyes fixed on some point ahead of him…” (Fargnoli 16), although his very sickly state, evident when Fargnoli writes, “...far out of his element, sick, panting, starving” (16). This description of the fox is analogous to the everyday goals and aspirations that individuals pride themselves with. Everyone is pushing and striving for their own goals past their own bearable exhaustion, they are unable to settle for lesser. The long continuous run-on sentence that the author provides is able to complement the running of the fox; the motion is long and continuous, the poem is expressed without any stops and is fast paced, just like the journey of the fox. The title is referring the the pressure that individuals place on themselves; this pressure forces individuals to reach for very difficult self-imposed goals.
ReplyDeleteThe poem’s theme is most relatable to the Sonia in, “Crime and Punishment,” by Dostoevsky. Sonia’s character revolves around striving to better herself. Throughout the novel, the reader is introduced to Sonia as a hardworking figure, evident through her acceptance of prostitution due to her family’s unfortunate financial circumstance. Her loyalty to her family is evident through her treatment of her father, “And here I, her own father, here I took thirty copecks of that money for a drink! And I am drinking it! And I have already drunk it!" (1.2.31). Although she knows that her father will misuse the money she has given him, she provides him with money to drink anyway. Sonia then betters herself throughout the novel by continuing her religious practices. She not only tries to better herself through religion, but also uses religion as a tool to guide Raskolnikov and his morals. Her religious affiliation is clearly evident when she recites a bible verse, “And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth” (4.4.183-184). Sonia is similar to the fox as she is also on a non-stop journey of self-betterment. Although her journey is much more promising than the fox, it is able to allude to the foxes’ journey through the evident betterment she undergoes.
The poem by Patricia Fargnoli titled “The Undeniable Pressure of Existence” is a perfect allusion to The Myth of Sisyphus. The story of the fox showcases how even when the steepest of hills are presented we must continue to push our “rock”. The speaker in this poem feels sorry for the fox but does not believe he can do anything to help “I wanted him,/ helpless to do anything to help him,certain he was beyond/ any aid” (Fargnoli 12-14). This theme of suffering is important because it encompasses a moral lesson that man is alone in this world and if the fox wants to survive he must keep going.
ReplyDeleteThe same can be said about Sonia from Crime and Punishment. Sonia did not belong to the cards she was dealt in life. Marmeladov is much like the speaker in this poem and Sonia is the fox. Marmeladov feels badly for what his daughter has to do for him, “I ought to be crucified, crucified on a cross, not pitied! Crucify me, oh judge, crucify me but pity me!" (Dostoevsky 1.2.36). Still he does not do much to save Sonia. He watches her sell her body to afford to pay for his drinking habits, "I drink so that I may suffer twice as much!" (Dostoevsky 1.2.21). This is where the theme of suffering comes in. Sartre says this on suffering, “In a world, man must create his own essence: it is in throwing himself into the world, suffering there, struggling there, that he gradually defines himself.” Basically Sarte is saying that Sonia must face her suffering and Marmeladov must do that same. This suffering has to take place before the “salvation” as talked about in the poem is discovered. So although all knew of Sonia’s suffering no one truly got to experience it the way she did, “in all this hopelessness, that only he could see” (Fargnoli 18). The fox and Sonia are existential characters who keep pushing their rock but Marmeladov and the speaker of the poem are failed exstitentionalists.
In “The Undeniable Pressure of Existence”, the author Patricia Fargnoli writes a speak watching a wounded fox run through a town and suburb from their car. A sense of urgency surrounds this fox. He is injured, “beyond any aid”, yet is running(12-13). This urgency hinges on the repetition of “running”, creating an emphasis on the fact that despite the injuries of this fox, he keeps running. According to the speaker, this urgency is directed at “some possible salvation” (16). This poem is about the search for salvation. It is about the wounded and suffering seeking refuge that they cannot see but can only believe in. The speaker sees themselves in that fox, that everything beyond seeing a wounded fox run is a reflection of the speaker. A wild injured fox doesn’t know salvation, only the primal urge to survive. The speaker is wounded, seeking salvation. The title, “The Undeniable Pressure of Existence” is that search for salvation. Whether that salvation is found in religion or money or drugs, it fulfills the mind and soul. There is always pressure to seek a personal salvation, just as strong as the wild fox’s pressure to survive.
ReplyDeleteThis poem connects to Crime and Punishment’s character Dounia, Raskolnikov’s sister. She relates most to the wounded fox. Although the fox’s cause of wounds is unknown, the book reveals that Dounia’s wounds are caused by Svidrigailov, who developed, “a most irresistible physical desire” for her, resulting in the loss of her job and reputation(6.4.3). She comes to Saint Petersburg, just as out of element as the fox in the poem, seeking to fix her past, trying to find salvation in her engagement with Luzhin and his wealth and opportunities, but ends up running from him as well. An element of carnivalization also follows both, wildly out of their elements, a fox out of forests and a country girl in the city, surrounded by unknowns and pushed to the limit, the fox to near death, Dounia to a reunification with Svidrigailov. Both her and the fox are seeking salvation from the harm that has come to them. Dounia first attempts to find it in Luzhin, but finds harm within that relationship and ultimately finds her salvation with Razumikhin marrying him in the epilogue.
Patricia Fargnoli’s poem “The Undeniable Pressure of Existence” details the melancholy tale of an injured fox who is seen “running by the side of the road” (Fargnoli 1). As the poem progresses, increasing detailed, yet disheartening, imagery is introduced to emphasize the fox’s debilitating struggle, “and he ran, limping, gaunt, matted dull haired” (Fargnoli 4). In describing the fox’s physical state as being “far out of his element, sick, panting, starving”, the author of the poem also provides a deeper, more intellectual perspective regarding man’s innermost motives. As the narrator looks on to the struggling fox, they feel “helpless to do anything to help him, certain he was beyond / any aid”, revealing the state of hopelessness by which the fox is seen by others (Fargnoli 13). Then the fox’s own self indecision is revealed as he is described as being beyond “any desire to save him”, suggesting that the fox has given up (Fargnoli 14). And still, despite this lack of desire to save himself and end his struggling, the fox’s eyes are still “fixed on some point ahead of him” (Fargnoli 16). These paradoxical actions seem to suggest that life, and man, has an inherent urge to avoid death whilst having no concrete motive for doing so.
ReplyDeleteCrime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky depicts a similar notion through the major character Raskolnikov. After Raskolnikov commits murder, he is faced with a seemingly endless inner debate regarding his reasonings for committing the murders, and his intentions towards admitting. “...he does not respond to anything except one point on which he seems excited-- that’s the murder?”(2.5.108). Raskolnikov is faced, as is the fox, with an inherent urge to avoid suspicion of being caught, despite an inner ignorance as to why and an ego-fueled urge to confession and claim his “extraordinary” status. Once again, there is a paradoxical struggle which suggests that man has an instinctive urge to avoid nonexistence, yet he is blind to his reasonings.
“The Undeniable Pressure of Existence” by Patricia Fragnoli illustrates a running fox from a bystander’s point of view. The fox makes no stops on its run as it passes highways and buildings, “past Jim’s Pizza, past the Wash-O-Mat, past the Thai Garden, his sides heaving like bellows” (Fragnoli 5-6). As the fox passes these places he becomes more tired and sick, but he never slows down. The strong will of the fox is prominent because as he passes the buildings and houses he could have safely settled or even just rested, but he doesn’t because he’s determined to get to his destination. He is driven by his own hope and trust that he could find the point he’s running to. “His eyes fixed on some point ahead of him, some possible salvation in all this hopelessness, that only he could see” (Fragnoli 16-18). Though from the outside things seem hopeless for the fox, he knows that getting to his destination will be worthwhile, despite what others think.
ReplyDeleteThe poem correlates with Sonya and Raskolnikov from Crime and Punishment, where Sonya is the fox and Raskolnikov is the witness. At the beginning of the poem as the fox is running, only the speaker takes notice of him, even the buildings seem to be shying away. “Past the turned-away brick faces of the condominiums past the Citco gas station with its line of cars and trucks” (Fragnoli 2-3). The bricks in the wall literally “look the other way” which could relate to sonya because her degrading job as a prostitute caused her to feel shamed by others. While at the gas station the line of cars at the gas station, everyone is too caught up and busy to notice the fox, which could represent Katerina being busy caring for the children. Raskolnikov is the only person willing to not only take the time to get to know Sonya, but be able to overlook her prostitution. Raskolnikov sees Sonya’s struggle to make money after her father dies, and not moving out or abandoning her family, which may be an easier escape. Much like the fox doesn’t stop, Sonya’s faith in God leaves her hopeful on being able to take care of her family no matter which struggles she must overcome, though from the outside her poverty ridden situation looks hopeless.
The poem " the undeniable pressure of existence" tells the story of a fox as it hopelessly runs across an everyday community setting. The price is very interesting because it seems to be a comment on the fast pace of society through the use of the fox as an animal and the lines that continuously mention the fact that the fox is running. "I saw the fox running", "he kept running", "he ran on". This implies that life never slows down and you have to keep running no matter what. The title refers to the pressure of having to go on living life despite its fast pace. The fox is helpless yet it keeps running to get to survive. The way the poem is formatted also sends this message. The poem is not separated in stanzas but is instead one continuous paragraph with a lack of punctuation. The lack of punctuation emphasizes the rushed writing and the fact that there is no break in stanzas correlates to the idea that there is no break in life and you must just keep going. The undeniable pressure of existence is the pressure to want to survive. This can be seen through the line "far out of his element, sick, panting,starving, his eyes fixed on some point ahead of him, some possible salvation". The fox sees the salvation point and feels the pressure to want to get there and reach his destination.
ReplyDeleteThis poem can most easily be related to raskolnikov because he goes through the same feelings as the fox in the poem. He needs to find salvation after killing the pawnbroker. He also clearly feels the pressures of life throughout the novel which can be shown when he first visits the pawnbroker and then after when he meets marmeladov family. We can also relate the dull setting of the poem and the dull appearance of the fox to raskolnikov and where he lives. The fox is described as "limping, gaunt, matted dull hair" which can also be said to be an image of raskolnikov at the beginning of the novel when he talks about how his rent hasn't been paid. Raskolnikov seems to often be seen rushing through things also much like the fox such as the way he plans to kill the pawnbroker and then on impulse just kills her and her sister without thinking of the consequences of the second murder.
In the poem “The Undeniable Pressure of Existence” by Patricia Fargnoli, a fox is running throguh a suburban city, while being followed by the narrator in their car (Fargnoli 12). The fox is seemingly unbothered by the narrator, only running toward the fixed point ahead of him (Fargnoli 16). Fargnoli uses this image to define the idea of freedom. In the poem, the fox is a symbol of freedom, how it runs with such focus and determination. The narrator, only following it within the boundaries of the car, is “Helpless to do anything to help him, certain he was beyond / any aid, any desire to save him,” (Fargnoli 17-18). The frantic tone applied throughout the poem supports the narrator’s desperation for freedom; following and watching the fox is a representation of what he longs to have.
ReplyDeleteThis same idea can be seen from the character of Sonia from Fydor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Katerina, having seven children and a drunken husband who chooses to spend all their money on his drinking problem, clearly struggles with supporting her family. Sonia, being the oldest of the children, takes it upon herself to help her siblings by going into prostitution. This choice made by her is what suppresses her freedom, as she is stuck with selling her body, essentially, in order to earn money to help her family. In Fargnoli’s poem, the narrator in the car is comparable to Sonia, reaching for the freedom that can never be attained. The narrator’s helplessness to reach the fox is reflected by Sonia, as she continues to live this life to be able to earn money for her siblings and mother.
In her poem “The Undeniable Pressure of Existence”, Patricia Fargnoli describes the loneliness one feels while experiencing suffering. She said, “I watched him, helpless to do anything to help him, certain he was beyond any aid, any desire to save him” (12-3). This exemplifies the solarity of the fox as he ran while injured, and the loneliness the narrator experienced from watching him suffer. The loneliness felt by both parties showed how they both suffered in their own ways. The title of the poem summarizes a theme that sits in the shadows of humanity, and that is the pressure one feels throughout their life. This could be pressure set by others, or pressure one puts on themselves. Here, the narrator felt pressure from the innocence of the fox to help it, as well as the pressure he put on himself to do the right thing. This is an overwhelming feeling for sure, as well as something that all people can relate to.
ReplyDeleteIn Crime and Punishment, the characters often experienced loneliness while suffering. The ironic part is, although they all suffered, no one seemed to want to help anyone else. Towards the beginning of the novel, Raskolnikov witnessed a woman suffering, but did nothing but watch. The novel says, “Drank it up! Drank up all of it, all of it!’ the poor woman kept shouting in despair. ‘And they’re not the same clothes! Hungry! Hungry!’ (she pointed at the children, wringing her hands). ‘Oh, curse this life!” (1.2.56). Here, the woman can be seen as the fox and Raskolnikov is the speaker of the poem. The fact that Raskolnikov watched this woman shows that he cared even the slightest bit about her, but still chose to do nothing. This is like the speaker in the poem who watched the poem, but felt too hopeless to attempt to help it.
In the poem, “The Undeniable Pressure of Existence” by Patricia Fargnoli, the speaker of the poem describes what he sees as he watches a fox run through part of what seems like a suburban town. The poem, as described by the title, is attempting to illustrate the pressure that comes with trying to conform to society’s standards and expectations while one still attempts to reach their full potential. Fargnoli first begins to paint this picture through the use of several allusions in the first few lines of the poem, referencing places like “the Citco gas station with its line of cars and trucks” (3), “Jim’s Pizza,” and “the Wash-O-Mat” (5). This sets up the suburban setting and puts the fox, which should be in a forest, out of place. In the lines the hold all these illusions, Fragnoli repeats the word “past” in front of each location the fox runs by. The continuous use of the word “past” gives an anxious feel to the poem and makes it seem as if this suburban setting is closing in on the fox as it attempts to run away. Furthermore, later in the poem Fragnoli describes the “perfect/ rows of split-levels, their identical driveways/ their brookless and forestless yards” (9-11). These lines not only further put the fox out of place, but illustrate the conformity of this town, or society, that is closing in on the fox as it runs past. In the poem, the “point” ahead of the fox that he is “fixed” on (16) could be symbolic of the fox’s full potential, which would be found in its natural home in the woods or forest. However, the fox is unable to escape the conformity of the society that surrounds it and is feeling the pressure because of that, for in the poem it is described as being “sick, panting, starving” (15).
ReplyDeleteIn Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov can be seen as a parallel to the fox. In the novel, he attempts to reach his full potential by murdering Alyona the pawnbroker, for he believes himself to be an extraordinary man that does not need to follow the rules of society so that society can experience a change. However, after the murder of Alyona and the unplanned killing of Lizaveta, “society” closes in on Raskolnikov. Society is represented by the other characters in the book, as they all surround him and enter his life after the murder happens. Although the characters are representative of the most extreme versions of their personalities and caricatures, they symbolize the “normal” part of society that are absent from the whole novel. They surround Raskolnikov as he goes through a period of delirium and sickness after the murder, similar to the way the fox is sick in the poem as he chases his “full potential.”
“The Undeniable Pressure of Existence” by poet Patricia Fargnoli is the humming examination of the self, stamped with an energetic and outgoing attentiveness to the world. “And from my moving car, I watched him / helpless to do anything to help him, certain he was beyond / any aid, any desire to save him, and he ran loping on / far out of his element, sick, panting, starving” (Fargnoli 12-15). Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths. The social pressure to find your passion and know what it is you want to do plights society. It’s perfectly fine to just live your moments fully, and marvel as many small and large passions. For many people there is no realization, no bliss to follow, no discovery of your life’s purpose. This isn’t sad, it’s just the way things are. “His eyes fixed on some point ahead of him / some possible salvation / in all this hopelessness, that only he could see” (Fargnoli 16-18). Stop trying to find the forest and just enjoy the trees.
ReplyDeleteIn “Crime and Punishment”, Dostoyevsky examines the deeply held thoughts and feelings of a character, Raskolnikov. These thoughts and feelings illustrate the problems of finding meaning in existence. As he plots to kill a pawnbroker to whom he owes money, he rationalizes that she is an unsavory and wicked person, and that to kill her would be helpful to others. He cannot seem to decide whether his actions should benefit only himself or others. Much of the novel wrestles with this issue. Does one have a responsibility to others or should one take advantage to get the most benefit in a life that ends and has no meaning? Another existential problem Raskolnikov struggles with is whether to continue to live. Why not kill himself, like the woman he sees at the bridge, early in the novel where he witnessed her destruction. When we long for life without difficulties, remember that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.