Knowledge in Arcadia
" Valentine:.....till there's no time left. That's what time means. Septimus: When we have found all the mysteries and lost all the meaning, we will be alone, on an empty shore."Discuss the importance of knowledge within Arcadia in light of the above quotation. Knowledge is of importance to all of the characters in Arcadia, the pursuit of which lies at the root of many of their actions. Although their motives may be the same, what they seek is invariably different: the diverse range of information they search for, and the manner in which they do so, can be ordered into something of a hierarchy. But what should rightfully be at the top, and which the bottom? Whether it is Thomasina's intuitive understanding or Hannah's cautious, but well-grounded, speculation ultimately does not matter: "It's all trivial," as both Valentine and Hannah say. That's not to say that the information is unimportant as much as claiming that the process of finding out is, in itself, more significant. In an even greater sense, knowledge defines time: this has its origin at the Fall from grace, when knowledge of good and evil was brought to mankind. Defined in this way, when there is no knowledge left to be gained, there will be "no time left", and
The structure of the play allows the audience to examine the mistakes of interpretation that the characters of the "present" make about the past, for example, Bernard believing that Chater was killed by Byron. " The pivotal moment in the play lies in Hannah's speech and her assertion that the curiosity for knowledge is what defines our lives: "It's wanting to know that makes us matter" (75). In this way, the quest to discover becomes a definition for being alive. To discuss the importance of knowledge within Arcadia firstly requires us to ask to whom knowledge is important. This quote epitomises the view that knowledge is of little value in comparison with the search for it. What is to become of mankind at the end? If we are to fill our pails with knowledge until our wells run dry, we will be "alone, on an empty shore". The significance of this is that the knowledge that the characters gain, or seek to gain, leads, at the end, to ruin. " (68), and she says to Chater: "The Castle of Otranto was written by whomsoever I say it was" (13). Eventually, Valentine comes to accept Thomasina's genius, discovering that she was feeling her way towards what is now known as the Second Law of Thermodynamics. " (75) There cannot be a "life" after the searching is over, for that is the essence of being alive. " (94) In this way, knowledge is used to define time. Hannah says: "You can't believe in the afterlife, Valentine. Each of the characters desires knowledge, and this lies at the heart of their actions. no, indeed, a hare, though very rabbit-like. An example of this from the "past" is Lady Croom, who insists that things are as she says they are: Septimus is forced to correct himself! in front of her when he says he has shot "a rabbit.
Common topics in this essay:
Believe God,
Law Thermodynamics,
Hannah That's,
Chater Bernard,
,
Classicism Arcadia,
Castle Otranto,
Byron Knowledge,
Lady Croom,
Eventually Valentine,
empty shore,
knowledge defines,
search knowledge,
found mysteries,
empty shore discuss,
exchange views,
celestial get-together,
hannah's cautious,
define life,
chater duel,
philosophical argument,
discuss importance knowledge,
importance knowledge arcadia,
shore discuss importance,
there's left that's,
|
Acceptance Essays
