Subject: | |
From: | |
Reply To: | |
Date: | Wed, 16 Aug 2000 09:59:46 -0400 |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Jacob,
On second thought, your equation of Pound/scriptor and Pound/Centaur
raises a problem of self-contradiction. The lone ant
who survives the ruins of Europe is a very humbled Pound whose
vanity has already been pulled down by history. I don't see how
Pound can now, as late as Canto 81, be mocking *himself* for
a vanity that's already been kicked out of him. I think that
here he's applying to others (e.g., the army) the lesson about
vanity he's learned himself. If the "plot"-premise of the Pisans
is that of a humbled Pound trying to survive, then is there any need
for Pound to remind himself later to be humble?
==Dan
At 11:24 AM 8/15/00 -0700, you wrote:
>What does the list think of this reading of the line, "The ant's a centaur
>in his dragon world: the ant is "ego scriptor," the ant fleeing the
>anthill of Europe in an earlier Canto. He thinks he is the wise centaur in
>his world of fantasy. Ironic, self-deprecating, followed by "Pull down thy
>vanity," which is NOT addressed to the U.S. Army.
>
HOME:
Dan Pearlman
102 Blackstone Blvd. #5
Providence, RI 02906
Tel.: 401 453-3027
email: [log in to unmask]
Fax: (253) 681-8518
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/english/clf/
OFFICE
Department of English
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI 02881
Tel.: 401 874-4659
|
|
|