Blast from the Past: an Analysis of Changing Ideals in an Advancing Society
Progress has always been an undeniable factor in our world’s changing landscape. From the wheel to steam engines, from spinning wheels to giant machines that weave cloth in seconds, progress is inevitable in human society. However, in contrast to the academics who want to absorb as much knowledge as possible, there are others who are content in their ineptitude. In an excerpt from her piece Adam Bede, George Eliot seems to lament the passing of old leisure in the face of a hectic modern world, but upon closer examination of her use of personification, imagery, and diction reveals a relatively unappealing, unrealistic, and outdated antique that contrasts with the chaotic, …show more content…
However, there is a chastising undertone in Eliot’s writing. Eliot, being part of the ‘New World,’ the up and coming Industrial Revolution, knows that one must contain a spark of desire for knowledge, otherwise progress will be halted. Eliot also describes the activities Old Leisure partakes in with warm, nostalgic imagery, stating that he is “fond of sauntering by the fruit-tree wall” and enjoys “scenting the apricots when they were warmed by the morning sunshine” Although this imagery may seem open and comforting, the danger lies in enveloping oneself in the warmth of its amenity. By falling into the predictable cycle of comfort, one loses their curiosity for new experiences, and with that curiosity, progress is also lost.
Progress has always been an undeniable factor in our world’s changing landscape. From the wheel to steam engines, from spinning wheels to giant machines that weave cloth in seconds, progress is inevitable in human society. However, in contrast to the academics who want to absorb as much knowledge as possible, there are others who are content in their ineptitude. In an excerpt from her piece Adam Bede, George Eliot seems to lament the passing of old leisure in the face of a hectic modern world, but upon closer examination of her use of personification, imagery, and diction reveals a relatively unappealing, unrealistic, and outdated antique that contrasts with the chaotic, …show more content…
However, there is a chastising undertone in Eliot’s writing. Eliot, being part of the ‘New World,’ the up and coming Industrial Revolution, knows that one must contain a spark of desire for knowledge, otherwise progress will be halted. Eliot also describes the activities Old Leisure partakes in with warm, nostalgic imagery, stating that he is “fond of sauntering by the fruit-tree wall” and enjoys “scenting the apricots when they were warmed by the morning sunshine” Although this imagery may seem open and comforting, the danger lies in enveloping oneself in the warmth of its amenity. By falling into the predictable cycle of comfort, one loses their curiosity for new experiences, and with that curiosity, progress is also lost.