Where did Cummings get his start?

E.E. Cummings is one of the most recognized poets from the 20th century. Cummings destiny to become a poet was evident even as a small child. [http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/e-e-cummings] However, Cummings explored many different avenues and gained experience from many experiences in his lifetime.

As a child, Cummings already liked to view the world in his own way. When Cummings was just four years old, he was very interested in drawing. He showed a love of animals in his sketching, but with hints of perspective. Sketching became a lifetime hobby of Cummings. Cummings also enjoyed going to his family farm; where he would cut wood, go for long walks, and take bicycle tours. [http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/eecummings.html]

It was when Cumming’s first attended the Agassiz school that he realized his love for poetry. While attending school, he realized he had a talent for memorizing the poems of Longfellow and Emerson. This inspired Cummings to begin writing a few of his own poems. [http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/eecummings.html] However, it wasn’t until college that he began to take his studies seriously. At Harvard, Cummings studied Greek and English classics. While in school, his poems were often ran in the Harvard Monthly and Harvard Advocate. [http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/e-e-cummings]

[http://theinspiredcafe.com/tag/e-e-cummings/]

After Cummings received his M.A., he moved to New York, where he worked at a publishing company. Cummings endured many hardships in the years to follow; however, the 1920s were the time of his greatest productivity. During this time he helped write an autobiographical play and later published a book of poetry. [http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/eecummings.html]

One poem Cummings wrote was The Cambridge Ladies Who Live In Furnished Souls. This poem describes women who never think for themselves, who never question society, and who are unaware of anything bigger than themselves. These women have no values or ideas of their own, nor do they question values. They also have no understanding of Christ, but show superficial excitement. [http://blue.utb.edu/gibson/cambridge%20ladies.htm] Basically, the poem talks about wealthy women who are only living by the social standards of society, not their own understandings. Cummings probably wrote this poem because he was such a free-thinker, that women with this persona were frustrating and hard to accept.

(representation of the ladies of Cambridge above)

[http://foldedvictory.blogspot.com/2011/08/cambridge-ladies-who-live-in-furnished.html]

The Snows of Kilimanjaro

Often when comparing the film production of a novel, people are let down and disappointed. Most books turned into movies have been condensed and changed in order to keep the attention of the audience. While movies help give the audiance a visual picture of the story, I believe that they are usually more harmful than helpful.

In the case of the novel The Snows of Kilimanjaro, Ernest Hemingway, the author, sold the screen rights to the story. However, he, could never bring himself to watch the production. [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/snows_of_kilimanjaro/] Hemingway was unsatisfied with the change of the ending from his novel. In his original works, the main character dies from his wounds. This was changed in the hollywood production because the producer preferred the character survive, and go on to write something of lasting value. [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/snows_of_kilimanjaro/] Simple issues such as these, are what lead to the distortion of stories turned into film.

 

[http://missdarcyslibrary.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/the-snows-of-kilimanjaro-1936/]

[http://www.bernardherrmann.org/music/the-snows-of-kilimanjaro/]

Another comparison of a book turned into a movie with vast changes is Dear John. Nicholas Sparks wrote the original book focusing on a young man serving in the military and the struggling relationship he has with his father. The main focus of the book was that “John” found love, but she also helped teach him to love his father by the realization of his father having Asperger Syndrome. The movie version told a similar story, however, to draw in more viewers the story was focused more on the love story alone. [http://www.traceycramerkelly.com/dear-john-by-nicholas-sparks-book-versus-movie-which-is-better/]

 

[http://bookablereads.blogspot.com/2011/07/cravings-13-dear-john-by-nicholas.html]

[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0989757/]

I feel that both these examples prove that a film can be harmful to portray an authors depiction of their story. Considering that the film is not written or directed by the author, it’s impossible that the exact image the author had can be depicted. However, for some people who do not have creative imaginations, it may help them visualize the story if reading the book does not explain circumstances thoroughly enough.

Blanche Dubois

Blanche Dubois, from A Streetcar to Desire, can be viewed from many different perspectives. Some critics may view Dubois as an angel victimized by her surroundings, while others view her as a harlot. [http://www.bu.edu/writingprogram/journal/past-issues/issue-2/seigle/] To me, Blanche plays a very similar role to that of Scarlett O’Hara from Gone With the Wind. Both were stories of women who would do whatever it takes to better their lives.

[http://www.moviefanfare.com/vivien-leigh-scarlett-ohara-vs-blanche-dubois/]

Both Blanche and Scarlett share the same characteristics, that they will do whatever they have to do to get what they want. Both characters also manipulate men to keep their social status and financial needs.[http://helenroulston.com/scarlett.html] Even when comparing story lines, Scarlett O’Hara had no troubles before the war and was considered a true southern belle, much like Blanche. Later on throughout the stories, both women come across hardships and have to take care of their families.

To me, while the stories are very different, the characters are very similar. Both play roles of women who are lost, confused, conflicted, and living in their own fantasies. [http://www.shmoop.com/streetcar-named-desire/blanche-dubois.html] The concept of reality causes them many struggles in life, including spending the family money, and losing their one great loves. These women lived priviledged, then tragic lives.

[http://whshonors9.wikispaces.com/A+Streetcar+Named+Desire]