Listen to this podcast by Tracy K. Smith. It is called The Slowdown. Each week she features new poems and talks for about five minutes. The poem I want you to examine is “In Memory of Shame.”
Look at what is being said about shame and how it is acquired and why it matters. Analyze the poem and then apply this idea of shame to a character in your choice book. Think about why they experience shame, who gave it to them, and how it has affected them.
You are looking at two-three full paragraphs for this post.
Felicia Pasadyn
ReplyDeleteMrs. Perrin
AP English Literature
24 February 2019
Tracy K. Smith analyzes in depth how shame is sometimes directed at the innocent, and this can then manifest as debilitating embarrassment. The shamed individual often feels they cannot do anything right, a major idea written about in Karenne Wood’s poem “In Memory of Shame.” Another text that highlights the effects of shame on a young person is Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried. In all three of these literary mediums, shame is seen to be given to the innocent by society; this negatively affects the life of the shamed individual when they accept the shame, as they are forced into embarrassment and bearing the heavy weight of carrying it with them.
In the poem and novel, shame is created in certain individuals by society’s expectations and judgement. Wood states, “because it was our fault and because we did nothing wrong...because we were ignorant and because we knew too much...because we drank and because we stopped drinking” (1-5). The repeated use of conceptual opposites and the word “because” emphasize the involuntary acceptance of shame in the embarrassed individuals. It seems the speaker in the poem simply cannot do anything right, as society labels and judges them without say from the speaker. This disrespect from society can also be seen in The Things They Carried. Tim feels, “My conscience told me to run, but some irrational and powerful force was resisting, like a weight pushing me toward the war. What it came down to, stupidly, was a sense of shame. Hot, stupid shame. I did not want people to think badly of me. Not my parents, not my brother and sister, not even the folks down at the Gobbler Cafe. I was ashamed to be there at the Tip Top Lodge” (O’Brien 63). When faced with the difficult decision of whether or not to go to Vietnam, Tim ultimately decides to go to war only because of the shame society has forced upon him. He feels the weight of expectation and the eyes of society are enough to push him over the edge and submit to go to war. Both Tim and the speaker in the “The Memory of Shame” experience shame because society has given it to them, innocent beings.
The reason certain innocents feel shame is because they accept it, which results only in embarrassment and a lack of freedom from the weight of shame. The poem reads, “because we were children or women or not/ white or just not enough./ because we wanted to protect them” (Wood 15-17). The repetition of “or” shows the several groups of individuals that are shamed in this society. These groups of people, as seen by the last line of the poem, are trying to protect something or someone, and stand up for themselves and others. However, society makes them feel ashamed, and as a result, these minority groups are forced to then accept the embarrassment. Even in her analysis, Tracy Smith mentions, “Shame is like that...if you accept it, it becomes yours to keep.” The minorities mentioned in the poem unfortunately have no other option but to accept the shame forced upon them, and must then carry that heavy embarrassment for an extended period of time. The same occurs to Tim and his comrades in the novel. He explains, “They would touch their bodies, feeling shame, then quickly hiding it...He felt shame. He hated himself....They carried shameful memories” (O’Brien 40). It is not only Tim who feels the weight of shame and guilt, but his whole Alpha Company. The outside world places this upon them, and many of them accept it. Tim is a prime example of accepting shame society gives to him, as it is what drives him to go to Vietnam and write the novel overall. The result of accepting this shame is that the men at war must carrying that emotion everywhere they go, and it sure is a burden.
Shame is ugly, forced unto the innocent by society. If the individual accepts it, the crushing weight shame brings can cause burdensome embarrassment and heavy shamefulness.
In the podcast “The Slowdown,” Tracy K. Smith shares the poem “In Memory of Shame,” written by Karenne Wood. Smith shares her observations throughout her life, mainly stating how victims are considered to be at fault of the so-called crime, rather than the suspect themselves. Relating to her own story, Woods wrote a poem from the perspective of a victim of shame, portraying what was deemed as wrong. Both of these women experience shame due to their inclusion of a different race or ethnic culture, given by others surrounding them. Similarly in “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Díaz, Oscar is shamed for numerous reasons. One of the big reasons regards his appearance and characteristics, considering his race and the stereotypes and expectations associated with Dominicans.
ReplyDeleteOn the first page of the actual story, Oscar is already shamed for not having much of a chance with bringing in the ladies. The narrator says, “And except for one period early in his life, dude never has much luck with the females (how very un-Dominican of him),” displaying that Oscar was at fault, like how Smith mentions that victims are at fault of a crime (11). This expression of Oscar gives him the reputation that is considered unworthy and responsible for these results. As Oscar might have some control, he can not change everything, in which he unknowingly needs to be his true self and not conform with societal standards. Similarly, Wood’s narrator says, “because we couldn’t fry an egg correctly,” which relates to the struggle Oscar has with his relationships (17). He did not meet the expectations of other girls, like Wood’s narrator did not meet the expectations of properly cooking an egg, whether it be literal or metaphorical.
Towards the middle of the novel, Yunior, the narrator, attempts to help Oscar with his girl problems, yet ends up putting him to shame. The narrator says, “Nothing else has any efficacy, I might as well be myself. But yourself sucks! It is, lamentably all I have,” showing the lack of confidence Oscar has and the shame that comes with it (174). At this point Oscar nearly accepts his fate in a calm manner, despite the advice Yunior tries to provide him with. According to Wood’s poem, he is put to shame “because we loved too much or not enough,” overall missing the expectations of a Dominican male (16). Oscar portrayed his interest with women in a way found often unattractive and repulsive, in a way loving them too much and border-line obsessing at points. Thus being said, Oscar’s actions and receivings are quite opposite from what is typically expected from a Dominican male.
Oscar’s character closely relates to Wood’s poem, “In Memory of Shame” due to the situations he faces throughout the novel. He experiences shame due to his lack of being the typical Dominican male, often given by his peers and family members. Although being given an obstacle consisting of conformity every now and then, Oscar continues to attempt to capture a female’s heart by his true self.
Shame is classified as one of the basic human emotions. It is more than embarrassment; it is the feeling of knowing you have done wrong and are remorseful for and humiliated by your actions. However, Karenne Wood’s poem “In Memory of Shame” examines the sometimes-undeserved nature of shame. Rather than remembering truly shameful behaviors, the reasons the poem states for feeling ashamed seem inconsequential and meaningless. Whether it is “because we were ignorant and because we knew too much,” (Wood 3) or “because we couldn’t fry an egg correctly” (Wood 10), it seems that the narrator’s memories of shame include even the smallest details of life. In this way, the poem seems to be searching for every possible reason to be ashamed; it is as though the narrator is attempting to explain their feelings of inferiority using the minute details of their life. As Tracy K. Smith stated in her podcast “The Slowdown” about the poem, “ if you accept [shame], even if its not yours to accept, it becomes yours to keep” (Smith). The narrator, as well as the demographic “we” they seem to be speaking on behalf of, has accepted that shame even though it may not be rightfully theirs. Because of this, they find humiliation even in “dust” (Wood 11) in their homes, their race, and their gender. This idea of feeling shame for even the smallest action is also reflected in the spiralling list of opposites - “because it was our fault and because we did nothing wrong / because we spoke and because we had nothing to say...because we drank and because we stopped drinking” (Wood 1-2, 5). Regardless of what the narrator does or says or thinks, it is all wrong. They have been made to feel less than, and because of this they seem self-conscious of things that even they cannot control. This is the worst kind of shame - one that is not deserved, but is forced upon a human being because of how their peers and society have harshly judged their every action.
ReplyDeletePart 2 (sorry for the length!)
ReplyDeleteThe “new world” presented in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is one where this type of judgement is not just common but is a lifestyle, and anyone who dares to rebel against that lifestyle is cast out. Therefore, it is a prime arena for this type of shame to manifest itself. Linda, a woman living outside of the sterility of the “new world,” feel perhaps the most acute sense of shame upon re-entering what is considered to be civilized society. Linda’s shame originates from the circumstances in which she found herself in the Savage Reservation in New Mexico. She grew up in the “new world,” enjoying all of the perks of bottle-grown babyhood, having different men each day, and the miracle drug soma that strips individuals of all pain. However, at the time she was “having” a man who became the Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, she got lost in New Mexico. As the Director said, “we’d gone riding up one of those revolting mountains, and it was horribly hot and oppressive, and after lunch we went to sleep. Or at least I did. She must have gone for a walk, alone. At any rate, when I woke up, she wasn’t there” (Huxley 65). Linda is then abandoned in the Savage Reservation, and gives birth to the Director’s son while there. She is forced to undergo a complete lifestyle reversal, and is left with a perpetual feeling of shame for her crimes against her old home’s standards that she is forced to commit in New Mexico if she is to survive. To be a mother in the new world is a crime. At one point, to ask if one is a mother is referred to as a dirty joke (Huxley 35). Linda commits this crime by giving birth to John. As she says, “It’s too revolting. And to think that I. Oh, Ford, Ford, Ford! And yet John was a great comfort to me” (Huxley 82). This inner conflict within Linda concerning the simultaneous love and hate she has for her son causes her immense pain. She feels ashamed that she is a mother, and that she has lived a lifestyle that is dirty. It goes against everything she was taught in the new world, and she is disgusted by her own being. In this way, Linda encapsulates the victim-shame described by Karenne Wood in her poem. Linda’s situation is no fault of her own. She had no way of knowing that she would be abandoned, she had no way of knowing what it is to be a mother because she was never taught, and she had no choice but to adopt a contrary style of living than the traditional soma-coma life in the new world. But nevertheless, she feels ashamed of her every action because of society’s judgement.
Shame in and of itself has a negative connotation, especially when that shame is the self-inflicted shame of a victim, as that victim has not actually done anything wrong. Despite this negative connotation, Linda’s situation in Brave New World also raises an interesting question - does the ability to feel shame also make us more human? When I reflect upon the characters who felt ashamed of their actions in Huxley’s story, it is a short list. However, that short list includes each person who I felt displayed a shred of humanity. Bernard is ashamed of the way men “have” women “like meat” (Huxley 33), and Helmholtz is ashamed of the way the words he writes “aren’t important enough, somehow” (Huxley 46). Linda is ashamed of motherhood and John is ashamed of being different because, even in the Savage Reservation, “they shut [him] out of absolutely everything” (Huxley 91). On the other hand, the people living according to the “new world’s” rules feel no shame for their sexual promiscuity, addiction to soma, immorality, and general lack of regard for others. In this way, the ability to feel shame is one thing that binds together the more human characters in Brave New World. The dehumanizing effects of shame, as discussed in Wood’s poem, may then also serve as a tool for society to remove the heart from anyone who has still maintained a shred of humanity.
In the poem “In Memory of Shame: by Karenne Wood, the concept of shame and how it affects individuals in society is examined. The idea of shame and embarrassment shaping one’s actions is shown through the use of figurative language and rhetorical devices. A text that exemplifies these ideals is the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. In the book, the character Bernard is forced to conform to society and because of this, when he is not able to please others, he is driven into shame and embarrassment. Wood’s poem creates a lens that one can examine the entirety of Huxley’s novel with, but more specifically, the individual characters.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the poem, Wood uses many devices to convey her message of shame and embarrassment, and these can be applied to the characters in Brave New World. One that is very prevalent is the use of anaphora with the phrase “because we” (Wood 2) at the beginning of each line. This repetition over and over again helps convey her message of shame beating people down and how it engulfs the individual. This is exactly what happened to the character Bernard in the novel. When he brought back the savage, John, all of society, especially the people in power, wanted to see John because he was so different. However, when John does not want to come out and see these people, Bernard is left to face them and tell them that he cannot satisfy their wishes. The novel states: “In the end Bernard had to slink back, diminished, to his rooms and inform the impatient assembly that the Savage would not be appearing that evening” (Huxley 173). This shame and embarrassment of not being able to please his superiors caused him to cower and hide from his reality. In Wood’s poem, she states “because we loved too much or not enough/ because we couldn’t fry an egg correctly” (9-10) to show how this shame of disappointing others because one could not do something right explains Bernard’s actions and how he bottled up his shame instead of facing it.
A second character that did this in Brave New World was Linda, John’s mother. Instead of facing her problems and the shame from having a child, she ignores this and looks to soma to get rid of her issues. In Wood’s poem, she explores the idea of being embarrassed of one’s physical nature. She states: “because we were young, old, fat, bony, spineless, cocky,/ selfish, selfless, frigid, immoral, guilty” (Wood 7-8). This listing of all the things that are considered “bad” in society shows how one bottles up these attributes and are embarrassed by them. Linda does exactly this in the novel. Because she had spent so much time away from the normal world, she was not able to assimilate back into society. She feels embarrassment because of this and does not wish to face her problems and shame that she is feeling. In the end, this bottled up shame eventually kills her because she was trying to get rid of this through the use of soma.
Wood’s explanation of shame in her poem “In Memory of Shame” is shown in the text Brave New World through the characters trying to assimilate and conform to society.
Shame is defined as being “A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior” (Oxford English Dictionary). The poem “In Memory of Shame” by Karenne Wood shows how the cognitive dissonance associated with the justification of shame is dealt with by the offenders by projecting onto the victims. Cognitive dissonance arises when there is an inconsistency of thought. Examples of cognitive dissonance can be seen throughout “In Memory of Shame”. The line “because it was our fault and because we did nothing wrong” (Wood 1) shows how this feeling of cognitive dissonance is resolved through projection. By claiming that what happened to the victim was their fault in the first place it reduces the shame the abuser feels, the shame will result in a cognitive dissonance when trying to explain how the victim is at fault, and in trying to resolve the feeling of cognitive dissonance the abuser will project the shame onto the victims: “because [they] were ignorant and because [they] knew too much” (Wood 3). By claiming it is the fault of the victim based on both what they did and did not do the feelings of shame are never dealt with by the offender but instead forced onto the victim.
ReplyDeleteIn “The Picture of Dorian Gray” the most obvious example of shame being projected in onto a victim is in Dorian Gray’s confrontation with Sibyl Vane. Before Dorian had taken his friends Lord Henry and Basil Hallward to see his new fiancée, an actress named Sibyl, perform he had spoken about how wonderful of an actress she was to Basil and Lord Henry, “She is a simply born actress. I sat in the dingy box absolutely enthralled” (Wilde 58). During Sibyl’s performance, though, she was described by Dorian as “absurdly artificial” and “a complete failure” (Wilde 64). The knowledge that Dorian had fallen in love with and become engaged to a bad actress whom he had built up so favorably caused Dorian to feel ashamed and embarrassed in front of his friends. The cognitive dissonance between what Dorian had thought about Sibyl and the bad performance he had just seen was dealt with projecting it onto Sibyl saying “You have killed my love… I loved you because you were marvelous, because you had genius and intellect… You are shallow and stupid” (Wilde 66-67). Dorian could not deal with the fact he rashly fell in love with the incomplete thought of a person and so he forced Sibyl to suffer on his behalf claiming that she (and she alone) was the reason he had fallen out of love absolving himself of any possible blame. Even after Dorian sees the painting’s cruel smirk reflecting what he had done he tells Lord Henry “‘I was brutal Harry-- perfectly brutal. But it is all right now. I am not sorry for anything that happened. It has taught me to know myself better.’” (Wilde 73). Except it had not taught Dorian to accept his emotions and their consequences as Dorian still did not entirely see Sibyl as a victim or his own actions as unjustified. This ties into the works larger theme of fatalism and blame. Dorian's hubris becomes his undoing as he never fully accepts blame for his actions attributing the degradation of his soul to an inescapable fate or a curse. This eventually leads him to attack and blame everything from Basil and the Yellow Book, to the painting itself his hamartia eventually resulting in his own destruction.
In the poem, “In Memory of Shame,” by Tracy K. Smith, shame is something that is thrust upon people for stupid things that are often not even a person’s own fault. This is something that is seen in Aldous Huxley’s Novel, “Brave New World,” with the character John, who is forced to live with people judging him for things that were put with him when he was born. In these forms of literature, shame is given to the character due to things that they had not control of having, and are in this way humiliated.
ReplyDeleteIn the poem, shame is given by society to those who believe they are better than the one who is being judged. No matter what, they are better. This is said with contradictory statements that Smith says like, “because it was our fault and because we did nothing wrong/ because we spoke and because we had nothing to say/ because we were ignorant and because we knew too much” (Smith 1-3). This shows that no matter what the narrator did, society still looks down upon them, and has preconceived notions about them. This is a similar situation with John, the human who born outside of the new world order, and is a bit different than everyone else. This leads to him feeling shame, and having others look at him differently. This feeling within John even leads to his own demise. As this strange to self society watches John with horror and anticipation, “as the Savage struck at his own rebellious flesh, or at that plump incarnation of turpitude writhing in the heather at his feet.” (Huxley 258) This society thinks that John is simply a savage that is here for their entertainment and inner thought just because he is different, even as he is ending his own self.
Both the poem and the novel show how although people are different, they have different views on each other. That difference often leads to shame being dealt to the other party based off of their difference. It is shown that this shame is given simply due to reasons that the parties have no control over their qualities that they obtained through birth.
(LAURA MILES PART 1)
ReplyDeleteIn Karenne Wood’s poem, “In Memory of Shame”, she expresses the idea that shame is something that follows a person throughout their lifetime. In the twenty-first century, it is very easy to be compared to other people as a result of the popularization of social media. With thousands of individuals around the world posting on the internet, the pressure to look and act a certain way is increasing every day. Although it is incredibly easy to feel ashamed of oneself in today’s world, shame has been inflicted upon people by society throughout history. Whether it is because of race, ethnicity, appearance, et cetera, no individual can be perfect in every person’s eyes. Wood expresses this idea when she says, “...because we were young, old, fat, bony, spineless, cocky/ selfish, selfless, frigid, immoral, guilty…” (Lines 7-8). Through saying this, Woods is able to portray the sense that derogatory terms are made about everyone by everyone, which makes it difficult to both blame someone for making these assumptions and accept that we ourselves make similar judgements.
Although Wood illustrates the idea that shame is acquired as a result of societal pressure, she shows that a person’s acceptance of this pressure is also to blame for an individual’s ridicule. Despite the fact that pop culture is responsible to an extent for inspiring stereotypes, our individual acceptance of these standards are equally to blame. Wood concludes her poem with, “...because we wanted to protect them…” (Line 17). Through saying this, Wood shows that the criticism listed throughout the poem was prompted by society, but the reason that these words held so much weight was because they emotionally affected many people, making them feel ashamed of who they are. Furthermore, this line shows that victims of ad hominem want to protect others from its harmful effects. Wood also expresses that it is human nature to make judgements about others although it brings shame to both those who criticize others and victims of this treatment.
A character that experiences both internal and external shame in Oscar Wilde’s the Picture of Dorian Gray is the main character, Dorian. Since his childhood, people around him commented on his beauty. They also made assumptions about his character and innocence based on his good looks. Lord Henry in particular convinced Dorian that, because of his appearance, his actions would never prevent others from considering him pure. Dorian’s acceptance of Lord Henry’s theory is what encouraged Dorian to defy morals by doing things such as committing crimes. Once Dorian embraced the idea that beauty is equivalent to innocence, he experienced inner turmoil that eventually caused his death. Wood’s poem can be seen throughout Dorian’s story as his life demonstrates the struggle individuals face between embracing societal values or one’s own morals. Despite the many people made positive assumptions about Dorian, they brought just as much shame upon his as if these assumptions were negative. The misconception that Dorian was innocent brought shame upon him in that it drove him to commit crimes and turn away from his morality. Furthermore, Dorian is able to portray an idea similar to Wood that assumptions about other people can be neither prevented nor embraced because these judgements will always offend or affect others in some manner.
Shame is an attitude and a feeling that makes the individual uneasy. Tracy K. Smith discusses in her podcast, “Slowdown”, how it is mainly directed towards the innocent individuals in the society and it can lead to both inner and outer embarrassment. Smith also discusses the poem “In Memory of Shame,” written by Karenne Wood. Where the shamed feel like they are prone from doing anything right. This is also reflected in “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley and the demise of the “savage,” John, towards the end of the novel. Once shame is presented on an innocent individual, it persists to stay with them enough to cause a demise within them which is seen in both “in Memory of Shame” and “Brave New World.”
ReplyDeleteShame can be interpreted as a nagging gnat throughout John and Wood’s subjects’ lives. Woods states, “because it was our fault and because we did nothing wrong” (Line 1). By being her first line has engraved the ideal and the stance of how present shame is in an innocent individual’s life. They had performed no sinful tasks yet they are at fault for the miserable actions. John was also innocent which is shown when Huxley writes, “‘And so I was born in Malpais,’ he concluded. ‘In Malpais.’ And he shook his head” (79). He states that he was born in Malpais, the reservation and then learned what true freedom was. It was not his choice to be born in the reservation but rather his father’s choice, the director who went to visit with his pregnant mom and lost her there. It was not his fault that was where he started his life and it wasn’t his fault that he learned what true freedom was. By stating his actions after stating such a phrase it indicates how disapproving he is from being placed into the reservation and to show the effect later in his life. The shame persisted with them throughout their entirely, which is described when Woods exclaims, “because we couldn’t fry an egg correctly/because the house hid dust in its corners,” (10-11). By mentioning the minimal tasks in the subject’s life and how pestering the shame is to the individual. It is present when they make dinner and even how nature produces dust in their house. They are not the one causing the dust but rather nature is causing the pestering shame to the individual. Which is reflected in John’s suicidal scene, when Huxley states, “That evening the swarm of helicopters that came buzzing across the Hog’s Back was a dark cloud ten kilometers long. The description of last night’s orgy of atonement had been in all the papers” (176). The swarm of helicopters metaphorically represents the swarm of shame that overwhelmed John, which leads to his interpreted suicide from hanging himself, “dangled a pair of feet” (176). It was a common cloud to John, however, a dark one that continued to loom over him to show how persistent the shame was to John. By including the fact that it was in all the papers shows how impactful the shame was to John; showing how many people were involved in the shame he felt. How it wasn’t him producing it and indicating his overall innocence. Which also indicated the magnitude of the fascination of his “freedom” and feeling he felt compared to them that lead to his sense of a wall stopping him from continuing the freedom. John and Wood’s subject was innocent yet were persistently shamed throughout their lives.
Shame is a feeling that makes individuals feel pressured and miserable. It is many placed on individuals who would be considered innocent in their own right. However, they are taken in as the culprits and are given the shame. The shame is not dormant but rather persistent and can drive individuals to their demise and own suicide. It also can be present in the most minimal tasks that they perform. Shame: till death does them part.
Shame is something that sparks guilt, embarrassment, and pity in the pit of the stomach. It can be something that is wrongfully placed, blamed, or taken. It is something that no matter what a person does, how they act, or what they do, they have that feeling of shame strike them in the pit of their stomach solely because of their appearance and or culture. While shame is a very powerful emotion that is very important in the process of moving forward and recovering from mistakes, it is also a very powerful emotion that can be wrongfully placed.
ReplyDeleteIt was wrongfully placed on those Native Americans and African Americans spoken about in the podcast. It was also wrongfully placed upon John, Bernard, and Linda; characters from the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. The shame of what the United States government did and the shame of the pain and trouble they caused drove them to be bitter and stubborn which is what caused the blame of that shame to be placed on the Native Americans or the African Americans. Although that is not what is right, that is what happened which ultimately places more shame on the government. Shame was placed on John and Linda because of the way John was born and because of John’s beliefs, but only because the society that was placing that shame did not have to capacity to understand the value of their morals. Shame was also placed on Bernard because of his slight difference from the rest of the Alphas, but similarly, it was placed because the societies lack of understanding and empathy for change. Shame is a very powerful emotion felt in the very pit of ones stomach that urges them to act based on that shame.
Humanity is full of imperfections and mistakes, so shame is bound to be something we all feel. We were never meant to be perfect beings or have everything figured out, so shame and guilt can be understandable. However, the shame that is explained in “The Slowdown” by Tracy K. Smith is a shame that is harmful to who we are. We live a life of fear because we do not follow societal normalities. Smith explains her own journey about talking about the shame of racism that is so preposterous. Smith states, “If you accept it, even if it is not yours to accept. It becomes yours to keep.” This idea explains that shame can target the victim and the blameless for no good reason, and it can burden our souls and weigh us down.
ReplyDeleteThe poem “In Memory of Shame” by Karenne Wood that is used in Smith’s podcast further explains the idea of an unjust shame. The shame can become so ridiculous that we hold an unworthy burden “because the house hid dust in its corners” (Wood 11). It is so easy to fall into the trap of blaming ourselves for acts committed against us. We begin to look at every tiny to detail to see where we went wrong when we should have realized that it was where others went wrong. We feel shame in who we are “because we were treated disrespectfully / because we were children or women or not white or just not enough” (14-16). Feeling as though we are not enough is something we all come into contact with, but when we allow the shame of not feeling as though we are enough to win, we allow the unachievable standards of our world win. We acquire this shame by seeing our diversity as a mistake. Differences are what makes this world unique, and by ignoring who we are we, we ignore the contribution we can make to this world. Standards of who we are supposed to be should never define who we truly are.
In the novel, “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley, we see this type of shame in the character of Linda. Linda has had the unique opportunity of living in both the “new world” and the old. However, when she journies back with Bernard after struggling for years to fit in with the old world, she realizes the shame she feels for raising her own son, John. Huxley states, “‘Yes, a baby- and I was its mother.’ She flung the obscenity like a challenge into the outraged silence; then, suddenly breaking away from him, ashamed, ashamed, covered her face with her hands, sobbing” (140). Something many would view as bravery, this world views as shameful. Linda did not follow the standards of the new world, but instead of welcoming this different path, this society chooses to degrade it. They even call her son a “savage.” Linda takes on the shame they should feel for how they treat her and drowns it in the soma in order to forget. She kills herself out of shame “because we stayed and because we left” (Smith 12). She made different life choices that were considered immoral, but all that they were was different. This brings to the light a message that is emphasized in all three of these pieces. We should not feel responsible to accept a burden that is not ours. A shame of who are, of who we are born to be is an act of violence against ourselves and this world. By being ashamed, “because it was our fault and because we did nothing wrong” (Smith 1), we dismiss the contribution that our diversity can make to this world. We are not simply created to follow societal expectations but redefine them. We limit ourselves and the world when we feel the shame of our true identity.
At the core of Karenne Wood’s poem “In Memory of Shame” is the idea that people often feel shame for reasons that are not necessarily logical. However, in her podcast, Tracy K. Smith takes this idea one step further. Rather than just saying that shame is present in everyone’s life, Smith argues that shame is the result of injustices that are often placed on people for no particular reason. Using her own experiences as an example, and referring to the idea of “cultural genocide,” Smith believes that shame is often a result of the victimizing of a group of people because of their indifference from the majority of people. This idea can again be seen in the poem with the continuous repetition of the phrase “because we…”. This type of shame, as stated in both the podcast and the poem, is often the worst type of shame to feel. There is no just cause for it, it is only the result of the opinions of other people. This shame can not only be the result of a single opinion, however, but it is also often a national problem. Smith states in her podcast that owning up to this shame is a “national reckoning.” Expanding the argument to a global scale, Smith states that it is a nation’s own responsibility to make sure shame like this is destroyed before it has the chance to spread.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of shame that both Smith and Wood mention in the podcast can strongly be seen in the novel The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. Shame can often be considered one of the intangible objects that O’Brien and his fellow soldiers must carry with them on a daily basis during their time in Vietnam. It is one of those emotions that are a result of the war, and that the soldiers do not give their consent in feeling. In particular, the main character, Tim, feels a very strong amount of shame. His shame is a result of his motives behind finally enlisting in Vietnam. In the novel, O’Brien states “All those eyes on me—the town, the whole universe—and I couldn't risk the embarrassment. It was as if there were an audience to my life, that swirl of faces along the river, and in my head I could hear people screaming at me…” (O’Brien 59-60). Rather than listening to his own heart, Tim focused on the public’s opinion of himself. He didn’t want people to think less of him because he did not agree with the fighting in Vietnam, so instead, he decided to make a life-altering decision, which ultimately had negative consequences. These negative consequences resulted in an immense amount of shame within Tim. Tim states “I would go to the war-I would kill and maybe die-because I was embarrassed not to” (O’Brien 60). By relying on the opinions of those around him, Tim felt shame for reasons that were not at all purposeful.
The novel, podcast, and poem all show a very similar cause for shame within certain individuals. Although shame may come about in all different types of people, it is very commonly the result of the expectations and opinions placed on oneself. As Tim clearly demonstrates in The Things They Carried, shame is long-lasting if it wrongfully comes about in someone in the first place. To ensure that one won’t feel shame, they must realize if it is just or not, and whether it seems logical in their life.
The poem comments on how shame is brought on by one's self. Karenne Wood said that we feel shame "because we love too much or not enough" (9). This is caused by how a person feels about their own thoughts or actions, not necessarily how society makes them feel. The poem suggests that shame is brought on by internal feelings rather than the external forces of society. However, the opposite is true in Huxley's, "Brave New World".
ReplyDeleteIn the novel, "Brave New World", shame is felt by those who do not conform to the lifestyle of those in the World State. When the concept of parents is mentioned in the novel, "There was an uneasy silence. Several of the boys blushed. They had not yet learned how to draw the significant but often very fine line between smut and science" (23).This shows that the very idea of true love or parents make the children feel embarrassed and ashamed. This mentality is further displayed in the many toxic relationships that are featured in the novel. "Brave New World" suggests that the feeling of shame is caused by society and magnified by one's own thoughts and feelings.
The poem “In Memory of Shame” by Karenne Wood, comments on the idea of shame and the ownership that individuals in society take whether it’s right or wrong to do so. “In Memory of Shame” is full of antithesis. Using antithesis emphasizes the kind of lose lose battle that many individuals in society are faced with. Whether a person was “ignorant” or “knew too much”(3), that individual will feel shame. Although one deserves shame and one does not, either will lead to this feeling. As Tracy K. Smith had mentioned, if shame is accepted, even if it is not your own, keeping it makes you own it. This type of shame-owning can be seen in the first line “because it was our fault and because we did nothing wrong” (Wood). Whether the individual was right or wrong, the victim that is being scolded by society will carry shame because it is taken on through the role of victimhood when, in reality, it belongs to the oppressors. This might be a reach, but I also believe the title “In Memory of Shame” is a play on the words “In Memory of Me”. These words were spoken by Jesus at the last supper before he would die for all the guilt, shame, and sins that society bore. He took ownership although it was not his to bear.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of shame can be seen in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray as well. The character Dorian Gray feels shame when he is confronted by Basil about the rumors that have circulated through town and also at the awfulness of his soul that was portrayed through the portrait. In both instances Dorian feels shame, but only the portrait confirms his guilt that accompanies shame: “There was nothing evil in it, nothing shameful. You were to me such an ideal as I shall never meet again. This is the face of a satyr” (Wilde 114). Dorian feels shameful about the rumors, although not all of these are true, most likely because he already feels shame for what he has done and who he has become, and feels any more that is projected onto him will not affect him. The shame is projected onto him by Basil and other members of the town which only angers Dorian mostly out of embarrassment. This reaction is illustrated as Wilde writes, “Dorian glanced at the picture, and suddenly an uncontrollable feeling of hatred for Basil Hallward came over him…” (115), showing the effect that shame can have on an individual especially if it is well deserved.
The podcast, The Slowdown hosted by Tracy K. Smith shares the poem "In Memory of Shame" by Karenne Wood in an enlightening episode. Smith brings to life Wood's poem about the weight of shame as it plagues the human mind. Her words describe shame as an inescapable feeling that cannot be stopped. The ever looming presence shame holds over a person is a constant battle. To shame it does not matter if it was intentional to feel a certain way or if it could have been helped at all it is all the same to the demon that is shame. Every line in the poem utilizes the word “because” the parallel structure leads to the idea of a one track mind set. The word “because” in general indicates to the reader the subject is trying to find a reason for what they are feeling which causes the poem to have a desperate and anxious tone. The result of the intense tone and running structure mirrors the mentality of a person who experiences shame. The poem is look into the hearts of those who cannot swallow their feelings and are at a constant war with the reasons why they were not good enough for society. The first two lines establish an inner conflict from the speaker’s perspective as they ramble, “because it was our fault and because we did nothing wrong / because we spoke and because we had nothing to say” (1-2). There is a pattern of contradictory statements within the two lines that continues on throughout the poem. The result of this proves whether things would have gone one way or another if “it was our fault” or if “we did nothing wrong” shame would still come to haunt a person. It displays if things could have been different, if they were different, it would not change the result of anything and shame is truly inevitable.
ReplyDeleteThe tone and feelings of Wood’s poem can be applied to the character Basil from the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray written by Oscar Wilde. Basil encounters feelings of shame when he interacts with his friend and favorite subject to paint, Mr. Dorian Gray. Instead of building up Basil as a friendship would Dorian literally stabs in the back. Dorian reacts this way because Basil starts to regret the love that he has for Dorian as he has become corrupt and is not the man he once was. It was believed, “The love that he bore him—for it was really love—had something noble and intellectual in it… Yes, Basil could have saved him. But it was too late now”(Wilde 86). Basil regrets he could not save Dorian from himself and is ashamed he ever saw beauty in someone who became a monster. He had pure intentions though as he changed his mind from his initial thoughts the results turned catastrophic. Later, after hearing that Basil does not adore Dorian as much and his love is no longer the same, “[Dorian]... suddenly [had] an uncontrollable feeling of hatred for Basil Hallward came over him” to which he murdered the poor man who admired him (Wilde 207). His outward shame he felt for himself was then taken in by someone else and it turned on him. Something that was so personal was great enough to affect others which at the end of the day is not fair to person going through the emotions. The situation Basil goes through is proof “because we loved too much or not enough” and “because we wanted to protect them” is not enough and that is why people feel shame (9, 17). Shame stems from insecurity, the fear of failure, the fear of not being good enough for someone else, when the only person that should matter is oneself.
Shame if often used to described a negative feeling associated with a human action. In "Memory of Shame" by Tracy K. Smith, shame is derived from “because" and not “despite”, “after” and not “before” and in turn, creates a tone of hopelessness- a learned helplessness. In The "Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde", Smith’s ideas of shame in society can be reflected on Dorian’s countless decisions in hiding the painting. "For weeks he would not go there, would forget the hideous painted thing, and get back to his light heart, his wonderful joyousness, his passionate absorption in mere existence” (Wilde 286 )and through rejecting Sybil "You have spoiled the romance of my life. How little can you know of love, if you say it mars your art! Without your art, you are nothing. I would have made you famous, splendid, magnificent. The world would have worshipped you, and you would have none my name. What are you now? A third-rate actress with a pretty face”(Wilde 63).
ReplyDeleteSmith also helps delve further into Dorian’s shame with sybil as she explains, “because we loved too much or not enough” and “because we stayed and because we left” (Wood 9-12). Considering that Dorian explained to Lord Henry that he was unimaginably in love with Sybil to then break it off after one mistake both explains how Dorian loved too much and then not enough. Even with this, Dorian wanted to find the innocence in him because he knew that his actions; which caused the shame had ultimately led his painting to decay - causing him more shame: “For weeks he would not go there, would forget the hideous painted thing, and get back to his light heart, his wonderful joyousness, his passionate absorption in mere existence” (Wilde 286). However, the shame for Sybil also returned back countlessly into the shame for the painting. In the start, Dorian was filled with greed for wanting more youth with nothing given in return but ultimately, the painting was the price Dorian paid and sacrificed old age for shame and contempt that can be seen with, "On his return he would sit in front go the picture, sometimes loathing it and himself, but filled, at other times, with that pride of individualism that is half the fascination go sin, and smiling with secret pleasure at the misshapen shadow that had to bear the burden that should have been his own” (Wilde 286). In fact, “because [he was] young” (Wood 7) he wanted more youth and “because [he was] ignorant and because [he] knew too much” (Wood 3) he traded for his youth willingly and when the curtain finally drew on Dorian Gray his shame had been traded back in the form of age because it had been too much and he had known too much about it already.
In the podcast “The Slowdown”, hosted by Tracy K. Smith, she analyzes shame and the poem “In Memory of Shame” by Karenne Wood. The poem is, in a way, an explanation for why people feel shame and how it manifests itself in people. For example, almost every line of the poem begins with the word “because”. While this reputation initially appears as justification for the unstated action, it eventually feels more like excuses than anything else. This excuse feeling is further emphasized through the contradictions present in almost every line. For example, Wood writes that “because it was our fault and because we did nothing wrong/ because we spoke and because we had nothing to say/ because we were ignorant and because we knew too much” (Wood, 1-3). In each of these lines, the use of the word “and” asserts the connection between the two clauses and the absurdity of the situation. How can someone be shameful because they were ignorant and knew too much? The two terms are incompatible. However, these contradictions also help to show that shame affects everyone. The contradictions exist partially to show this; one group feels shame for being ignorant whereas another feels shame for knowing too much. In can be acquired through any action in which a mistake was made, whether the fault is of the individual or of another one. This can be clearly seen when Wood writes “because the house hid dust in its corners/ because we stayed and because we left/ because our faces were the wrong ones” (10-12) and because we were children or women or not white or just not enough” (14). Shame is presented as arising in both people who do not clean up properly(a relatively minor offense) to people who are the victim of racism and sexism! Clearly, common sense would dictate that the difference of severity between these two causes of shame would elicit different emotions. Yet they do not. Why? It is because the universal cause of shame is stated perfectly in the last line of the poem: “because we wanted to protect them” (15). In the end, the actions causing shame can be boiled down to protection in one way or another. Whether it is to protect yourself or pride or fear or whatever, it does not change the fact that at the basic level the act was done out of protection. This demonstrates the complexity of the human condition, how humanity wants to protect itself yet simultaneously feels guilty for its own actions that were needed to accomplish said goal.
ReplyDeleteThis idea of shame can be applied to Oscar Wao from “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Diaz. In the story, Oscar is ostracized by everyone, completely isolated socially and always failing the expectations that are put upon him. This can be seen when the narrator Yunior writes, “Anywhere else his triple-zero batting average with the ladies might have passed without comment, but this is a Dominican kid we’re talking about, in a Dominican family; dude was supposed to have Atomic Level G, was supposed to be pulling bitches in with both hands (Diaz, 24). While Oscar has plenty of things to be ashamed of, this particular source of shame arises from a combination of his family and his environment. His family expects to be a “player” and so does society due to the racial stereotypes surrounding Dominicans. When Oscar is unable to accomplish this goal, his shame is so immense that he tries to commit suicide on multiple occasions. The humiliation, pain, and shame he feels from being unable to live up to stands in unmeasurable.
PART 1:
ReplyDeleteIn the poem “In Memory of Shame,” by Karenne Wood, the idea of shame is explained as a simple concept that can take complete control of the lives of any unfortunate individual that come upon it. What is interesting about shame is the fact that it is created by someone who would be considered the victim of a situation. They feel at fault for what happens to them, even when they are not to blame. This feeling stems from embarrassment when considering peer reactions. Due to this, Wood explains that shame can occur at any time in life. Whether it being a parent trying to help their child but always end up feeling that they “loved too much or not enough” (Wood 9), or a young person who felt simultaneously they were “ignorant and because [they] knew too much” (Wood 3). When shame has taken its full effect, the individual feels as if they can never truly satisfy others or themselves. Wood is especially careful with the way she structures the poem. The repetition of the phrase “because we” along with numerous uses of contradictory statements help to show the seemingly unending and often unfair pressure of shame placed on a person. While the victim is widely described throughout the poem, it is also important to note Wood’s final statement: “because we wanted to protect them” (Woods 17). This is the only time in which the people outside of the victim are mentioned. While the victim explains their shame in not satisfying social norms like being able to “fry an egg correctly” (Woods 10), the other people simultaneously feel shame for choosing not to help the victim, despite knowing full well the shame and struggles they are undergoing.
PART 2:
ReplyDeleteThis idea of “both sides” feeling shame is perfectly encapsulated in Aldous Huxley’s, “Brave New World.” The clear outsiders to the established “new world” are Linda and John, people who are already given shame by being labeled “savages” because they live outside the geography and ideology of the rest of the world. Linda in particular is a character full of shame as seen from the first time she is mentioned in the story. She used to be a resident of the “new world” until she was left behind on a Savage Reservation by accident and had a son while living there. Due to childbearing or anything resembling a family being widely considered as sacrilege in the “new world,” Linda felt embarrassed by what she had done, describing her new life as “too revolting. And to think that I . . . Oh, Ford, Ford, Ford! And yet John was a great comfort to me” (Huxley). Though she loved her son and had gotten accustomed to the savage lifestyle, Linda still felt that she should be ashamed for the choices she made, though they were not entirely her fault. Similarly her son, John, feels shame for the culture he was raised under when he visits the “new world.” He is taken aback by how clean, perfect, and yet emotionless the society is, so much that he attempts to explain and convince a group of residents of the idea of freedom and free-will. When his efforts fail, John comes to the realization that he and his beliefs are the minority and strange part of society. He is so overcome with shame for the life he lived that he killed himself to escape the horrors he discovered. While this all happened, the other side of the world was affected as well (though not as much). Bernard Marx was a sympathizer to the savage ideals and questioned whether the “perfect lifestyle” was truly ideal. However, when forced to make the choice between supporting John’s uprising or the stability of the “new world,” Bernard did not have enough will to go against the societal gradient, though later apologizing to John, “‘I want to say how sorry I am about everything that happened yesterday.’ He blushed. ‘How ashamed’ he went on, in spite of the unsteadiness of his voice . . .” (Huxley). Bernard felt shame for wanting to go against the system and refusing to help someone who felt discriminated against, fully supporting Karenne Wood’s idea of shame being felt from multiple perspectives. That is what makes shame and embarrassment so prevalent in any society: its ability to encompass all, for better or for worse.
Shame is acquired through blinded interpretation guided by confused emotions. It matters because it has the power to disrupt the future of the people it inflicts.
ReplyDeleteIn this poem, the narrator is trying to speak a meaningful passage about nonsense, which is in fact the sense of the poem. Each line is confusing, because the two actions theoretically cannot coexist in the same moment or situation: “because it was our fault and because we did nothing wrong” (Smith 1). It is impossible for a person to commit a crime if everything they did or intended to do was legal. Yet, if the outcome is negative there can be a longing for explanation that then alters their memory of the scenario. A memory of them making fault comes to surface, satisfying their longing for reason. The strongest ingredient of shame is the fact that an internal guide is inadequate evidence: “because we loved too much or not enough” (Smith 8). Someone cannot simultaneously love the right or wrong amount, but they can experience one and remember feeling the other. It puts one person's word against another, because there is no physical proof of what was fueling their decisions and actions. This allows doubt to become disbelief. Finally, shame can come from a lack of control: “because we were treated disrespectfully // because we were children or women or not white or just not enough.” (Smith 13-14). The way someone is viewed, their features from birth, and the way others honor them cannot be determined by that individual. Each of these conditions factor into their need for explanation that summons shame. Their perception is clouded and they need a reason for the wrong that occurred to have happened. The only reason they can find support for is the support they make up themselves. This fictional evidence then sticks with them for a time that changes the way they deal with future problems.
John, the Savage, in “Brave New World”, experiences shame. He has been pulled out of a society that punishes unholy behavior and thoughts. According to the people of his civilization, it was pleasing to God to inflict serious -- sometimes sacrificial -- pain as penance (Huxley 114-117). The only way to overcome anything impure was to harm themselves, otherwise immense guilt would flood in. He enters a community pumped with luscious temptations to appease peoples natural urges (Huxley 237). These sexual and psychedelic distractions keep the citizens stimulated, mimicking the sensation of happiness. These two extremes build his guilt. He has been programmed to believe any impurity is deserving of intense punishment, and then is immersed in a place that will undoubtedly trigger those type of thoughts and feelings. In the end, this shame brought on by his overwhelm of confusion and emotions impacts his final choices in the book. When Lenina visits him in his seclusion, he feels embarrassed by his first thoughts of seeing her. He blames his own lack of self control, then inflicts his frustration on her and himself. Wiping each person until they bleed out. Without this shame brought on by his misconception about human nature, divine nature, and penance, then he could have accepted his flaws and pursue a life searching for God past the soma.
Amanda Pizon
DeleteShame is an emotion derived from the cruelty and anger of others. The judgement from others about not being perfect is what causes this uncomfortable emotion. Even though it is human nature to make mistakes, everyone still judges others for theirs. In the poem "In Memory of Shame" by Karenne Wood, it mentions "because it was our fault and because we did nothing wrong" (Wood 1). This contradicts itself the same way people contradict theirselves when they judge others for mistakes that they have made as well.
ReplyDeleteWhen one is fighting in a war, they leave judgement for others behind and instead place the judgement on themselves. In "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien, the narrator explains that men will go to war and risk their lives out of pure shame brought onto them from within. They do not feel the shame from society but rather from their own embarrassment. When Jim Cross watched his friends die, he automatically put the blame on himself. He burned the picture of his love because he could have no distractions. Although one can feel shame from others, it really comes from within.