Finance and Creativity

In our most recent class, we discussed the impact financial situation has on creativity. Whilst discussing the subject in class, Sam and I agreed that having little financial means can negatively impact a creative person's work. This happens to people in the position where they must direct all their focus on the bare essentials unable to focus on the beauty and art of everyday life. This subject is further exmplified in Virginia Woolf's writing entitled, "Memories of a Working Women's Guild."She depicts working women as constant worriers. She says, "their eyes looked as if they were always set on something actual - on saucepans that were boiling over, on children who were getting into mischief." She continues, "Their lips never expressed the lighter and more detached emotions that come into play when the mind is perfectly at ease about the present." She expresses great respect for the women, while at the same time portraying them as "rooted to one spot.(pg. 156)" It is apparent that an artist must endure hardships and pain to be able to produce great art but their creativity can be impeded when they must focus solely on surviving.

Dr. Aziz and the Metaphorical Caves

Upon reading ‘The Caves’ portion of the novel, A Passage to India, I realized my favorite aspect is the metaphorical imagery used. It is interesting to see how the physical description of the caves so closely reflects the emotional mindset of Dr. Aziz. This is why it is so Ironic, Dr. Aziz doesn’t take much interest in the caves, as it says on page 156, “…Aziz noticed nothing.” Dr. Aziz appears his old self showing the ladies around whilst initially behaving as the ultimate gentleman, paying for everything and even attempting to be somewhat of a tour guide even though it becomes apparent he knows nothing about the caves. As it says on page 156, “His ignorance became evident, and was really rather a drawback.” E.M. Forster describes the sky as being dominant as usual meanwhile describing its essence as being “unhealthy.” Dr. Aziz puts on a front for Adele but it is made obvious he has his own agenda the whole time. His sinister inner self is revealed upon sexually assaulting Adele. He is also oblivious to the day as he perceives everything is going excellently regardless of the fact that he is a terrible tour guide and Mrs. Moore and Adele express little to no interest in the caves. For example on page 156, Mrs. Moore refers to it as “A horrid, stuffy place really.”