Post by Makiro on Sept 13, 2009 18:55:41 GMT -5
Sitting here in my room, listening as I am to the Two Towers Soundtrack, I am a bit of a loss as to what exactly I should write here. I have, for a long time, entertained the notion of starting a blog here, and indeed have come close to doing just that on a number of occasions. Sadly, however, my efforts are usually foiled by both my utter lack of imagination when it comes to such things, and, dare I say it, a certain lack of courage on my part. Nonetheless, from this moment on I shall endeavour to maintain this, my miniscule corner of the internet's unimaginably vast realm.
I think the first point of order here should be to apologise for my rather unfortunate style of writing. Not only is it, perhaps, a trifle overcomplicated and needlessly pretentious, I also fear you'll find it grammatically incorrect on a level achievable only by the most unfortunate of Mediaeval peasants. This, however, is a fact I cannot change, and, if you intend to read on, I'm afraid it's "tough titty" as my mother would say.
The second point I would like to raise, is the explanation behind my thread's title. It is something of a quote from a quote. Both of the texts from which the title has been shamelessly scavenged are no doubt familiar to many of you. The first, and most obvious, of these is Phillip Reeves steampunk novel A Darkling Plain - a book which I happen to be very fond of. The second, and prehaps most obscure, of these texts is the poem from which the quote was originally taken by Reeve, and a poem which I have recently read in English. The poem, "Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold, is a rather bleak offering. Beautiful in its own way, yet melancholy to the extreme, perhaps even utterly defeatist. Whilst not usually someone who goes for poems of such a sad nature, I was particularly taken by one or two of its lines - perhaps, at first, only as the inspiration to the title of the Phillip Reeve novel.
"And we are here as on a darkling plain
Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,
Where ignorant armies clash by night."
I particulary like it as a reference to the situation - as some people see it at least - of our own, real world. With us, the lowly citizens of various nations, powerless in the face of the various governments, pushing and pulling this way and that, all for their own agendas.
I also feel, however, that it could easily be applied to the Star Wars Universe, and the endless struggle between Jedi and Sith, as the common being just sits by, waiting for destruction or salvation, but powerless to decide his, her or its own fate. The sheer desperation that must be felt by some inhabitants of the - albeit fictional - Star Wars Universe is, I feel, reflected by the two simple words "darkling plain". They can see their homes and their galaxy being torn apart around them, but can do nothing to stop it. The Jedi and the Sith - the "ignorant armies" - fight on heedless, each resolute in the determination to destroy each other. This constant warring inevitably leads to near permanent darkness - reflected by the words "darkling plain" and "night".
I must now apologise for that rather pointless tirade - and indeed for that somewhat abrupt ending... - and can do little else but invite you to comment on whate'er you will - be it positive or negative. Again, I can only offer my most humble apologies for that waste of your time, and hope that you shall refrain from reading whatever pitiful offering I next present!
I think the first point of order here should be to apologise for my rather unfortunate style of writing. Not only is it, perhaps, a trifle overcomplicated and needlessly pretentious, I also fear you'll find it grammatically incorrect on a level achievable only by the most unfortunate of Mediaeval peasants. This, however, is a fact I cannot change, and, if you intend to read on, I'm afraid it's "tough titty" as my mother would say.
The second point I would like to raise, is the explanation behind my thread's title. It is something of a quote from a quote. Both of the texts from which the title has been shamelessly scavenged are no doubt familiar to many of you. The first, and most obvious, of these is Phillip Reeves steampunk novel A Darkling Plain - a book which I happen to be very fond of. The second, and prehaps most obscure, of these texts is the poem from which the quote was originally taken by Reeve, and a poem which I have recently read in English. The poem, "Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold, is a rather bleak offering. Beautiful in its own way, yet melancholy to the extreme, perhaps even utterly defeatist. Whilst not usually someone who goes for poems of such a sad nature, I was particularly taken by one or two of its lines - perhaps, at first, only as the inspiration to the title of the Phillip Reeve novel.
"And we are here as on a darkling plain
Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,
Where ignorant armies clash by night."
I particulary like it as a reference to the situation - as some people see it at least - of our own, real world. With us, the lowly citizens of various nations, powerless in the face of the various governments, pushing and pulling this way and that, all for their own agendas.
I also feel, however, that it could easily be applied to the Star Wars Universe, and the endless struggle between Jedi and Sith, as the common being just sits by, waiting for destruction or salvation, but powerless to decide his, her or its own fate. The sheer desperation that must be felt by some inhabitants of the - albeit fictional - Star Wars Universe is, I feel, reflected by the two simple words "darkling plain". They can see their homes and their galaxy being torn apart around them, but can do nothing to stop it. The Jedi and the Sith - the "ignorant armies" - fight on heedless, each resolute in the determination to destroy each other. This constant warring inevitably leads to near permanent darkness - reflected by the words "darkling plain" and "night".
I must now apologise for that rather pointless tirade - and indeed for that somewhat abrupt ending... - and can do little else but invite you to comment on whate'er you will - be it positive or negative. Again, I can only offer my most humble apologies for that waste of your time, and hope that you shall refrain from reading whatever pitiful offering I next present!