The Book of the Grotesque- who knew it was so complicated?

With the multitude of definitions, of new meanings, of new perspectives, it is highly impossible to define the words of Sherwood Anderson, more so, extract a clear definition of what makes a person "grotesque." My senses tell me that the prologue and "The Book of the Grotesque" hiddenly define a grotesque person as one that holds the absolute truth. Do we know this absolute truth? Is it one specific, clearly defined, truth, that all men hold? Who knows? ... Let's take a look at the beginning of "The Book of the Grotesque"- the writer, with a white mustache wants his bed up high in order to look through the windows, but had "forgotten" the reason to (22). What possible plan could the writer have that was "ludicrous?" The word ludicrous is the first direction definition of grotesque that is noticed. Now let's find the connotations of ludicrous: amusing, foolish, ridiculous, weird, idiotic, sometimes humorous. It's weird how this definition characterizes the writers thoughts in the next paragraph which extrapolates on his heart's desire for youth and life, through the thoughts of death. Firstly, he views death in a nonchalant way as he states that the :thoughts did not alarm him" (thought being that fact that he might die sometime unexpectedly). Nonetheless, it is quite weird that he views death in such a relaxed way; the normal human being, would fear death, as the coming of death is usually accompanied by suffering or adversity. Note, that the old man does not suffer nor does he feel pain, he feels a "special thing." Secondly, he states that as he lays lying in bed, something "rather young" was bothering him- a women wearing a coast of mail. Now here is the real ridiculousness: the juxtaposition of female and male attributes. There was a feminine figure who was metaphysically characterized as a male due to the clothing. This could be an allusion to a fairy tale, the knight and horse relationship. The knight is strong and brave, yet subtle and boring, while the horse is wild and outgoing, full of youth. This allusion is a parallel to old age vs. youthfulness; in this case he judges a male as lifeless until an internal spark joy and youthfulness arises (aka, a femininity of some sort). I could go on about this allusion as it truelove highlights the bizarre thinking, but I shall move on. We see another illusion- of dreams. As the old man got sleepier, "figures began to appear before his eyes" (23), and there figures were all grotesque. Voila, this is the first time Anderson uses the word grotesque. Note that the writer builds this story in order to define a grotesque characters, perhaps showing us the absolute truth, then tells us that he never published the book in which he tells of all the truths that comprise of a grotesque. He somewhat tells us "all of them" (24): truth of virginity, truth of passion, truth of wealth, profligacy, abandon...but too many for him to list that were supposedly all "beautiful." So there we go, it were these truths that made people grotesque! But wait a minute, previously, we defined grotesque with a negative connotation, now we are saying that the weirdness of these grotesques doesn't really compute to the definition at all, rather it is the simple truths. He states that "the moment one of the people took one of the truths to himself, called it truths, and tried to live his life by it, he has come a grotesque." Therefore, if a man enforces a truth on himself as a path of life, it was falsehood, dishonesty, and was the main characteristic of being "grotesque." In other words, the fact commits a sin (losing virginity, abusing wealth, etc) and tires to hide it by reinforcing the past to hide his mistakes, makes him grotesque. This may not be the definition, after all, in literature there are multiple meanings to work, but in correlation to the novel as a whole, it sure seems that Anderson uses the definition of grotesque to highlight mans lust for hidings ones sins. 

Thou Blind Man’s Mark

Thou Blind Man's Mark by Sir Philip Sidney 

(1554-1586)

Thou blind man's mark, thou fool's self-chosen snare, 

Fond fancy's scum, and dregs of scattered thought ; 

Band of all evils, cradle of causeless care ; 

Thou web of will, whose end is never wrought ; 

Desire, desire ! I have too dearly bought, 

With price of mangled mind, thy worthless ware ; 

Too long, too long, asleep thou hast me brought, 

Who shouldst my mind to higher things prepare. 

But yet in vain thou hast my ruin sought ; 

In vain thou madest me to vain things aspire ; 

In vain thou kindlest all thy smoky fire ; 

For virtue hath this better lesson taught,— 

Within myself to seek my only hire, 

Desiring naught but how to kill desire.

The Poem, "Thou Blind Man's Mark, by Sir Philip Sidney, illustrates the effect of desires on man's ability to live life in happiness. When analyzing this poem, it is important to denote the title. Sidney uses the word "blind" which connotates to a lack of vision, sightless, lack of awareness  or physically blind, but the word blind does not imply a physical connotation, more so, one of emotions. The Man is blind,  not by sight, but by thoughts. The desires he has are blocking his ability to think of "higher things" (line 8). Also in the title is the word "mark;" it is likely that the mark is once again not a physical print, but an emotional mark- his desires are these "marks" that linger his in mind, blocking his true, materialist emotions which enable peace and happiness. Note that the author uses the word mark instead of a more harsh word like scar or stamp. This word choice shows that these desires aren't permanent like a scar, but is removable with effort. Therefore, the first line states that these marks of desires are what makes a man a fool, as they choose a physical attribute to account for their happiness. 

The authors views these desires as a force of evil which inhibits the mind- almost like a parasite that harms the body. In this case the desires are the parasite that inhibits a mans ability to think with "will" (line 4), and this will is what keeps the internal joys alive. Nonetheless, desires force vain on a man. Line 5 is vital to understanding the poem as it implies that desires are easy to hold- he says they are "dearly brought." In essence  desires are natural to man; they are easily wanted, therefore, hard to get rid of. The meaning of lines 5 though 7 is that desires have the ability to ruin ones though process- change it from that is in healthy state to one that is sick with unnatural thoughts. This once again highlights the parasite parallel. The poem shifts focus and tone in the thrid to last line when the author states that "virtue hath his better lesson taught;" Virtue, are his morals, the natural state of mind and these morals are the only things that can save him from being in "vain." The overall theme of this poem is to emphasize how desires are man's inner evil that stops one from attaining internal peace. At the end of the poem, the author explains his problem- his struggle to kill desire. Meaning that desire is not easy to rid of, it take effort, and introspection, that is the thoughts "within himself," in order to cure. 

Found it! Tintern Abbey in Frankenstein!

The sounding cataract
Haunted him like a passion: the tall rock,
The mountain, and the deep and gloomy wood,
Their colors and their forms, were then to him
An appetite; a feeling, and a love,
That had no need for a remoter charm
By thought supplied, or any interest
Unborrow'd from the eye
-Page 139 (Chapter 18 of Frankenstein)

Mary Shelly quotes Tintern Abbey when Frankenstein and Clerval are crossing the English channel, and are sailing to London. The excerpt is primarily used to illustrate Clerval's character, that is, he is full of compassion towards nature and adores what nature has given to man- the beautiful views and sites. Thanks to Clerval's "ardent affections" and imagination," Victor gains some motivation. In essence, he acts as Victors source of morality and drive to imagine and introspect. This is important for Victor as he needs to discover the divine truth of his creation, his true intentions, as well as rid of his guilt towards creating the monster. Frankenstein, on this trip, is going through a dilemma; he is worries, scared, an sorrowful for the deed he has already done- he feels as if his past is haunting him (his past being giving life to an inanimate creature)...but thanks to Henry's optimism and intellectual thinking, he feels a sense of relief. He even says: "these ineffectual words are but a light tribute to the unexampled worth of Henry, but they soothe my heart, overflowing with the anguish which his remembrance creates"( Frankenstein 140).
Relating back to this excerpt from Tintern Abbey, is an allusion, of an eye, that depicts the true value of the sense vision- to appreciate nature, nonetheless, to appreciate the beauties God has created. Let's start with the first line of the stanza, the word cataract. The definition of the word cataract is a "cloudy lens inside the eye;" this definition when placed through human perspective has a negative connotation, almost saying that the human's eye is shielded and lacks the capabilities to correctly see nature and all it has done for us. Pretty much highlighting human ignore (as they say...ignorance is bliss). Although, some select few individuals like Clerval are gifted with the ability to see natures beauties as a gift from god, and these few individuals devour sharing their love for nature in order to bring happiness to others- a truly selfless act. The fact that Clerval is indirectly helping Victor through his emotional instability makes me wonder, is Victor jealous of the fact that he can not understand nature in Henry's depth? Does Victor feel an obligation to love nature and explore nature now that he has become a "creator?" Why does he even Henry's deep admiration for journey's and introspection? I think he is jealous!
Now let's take a look at the fifth line of the passage and the word "appetite." The word appetite here brings a restless connotation to the poem as it illustrates eagerness. Victor describes Henry as being eager to frame the world as a place of discovery and ultimate happiness...which is something that Frankenstein dreams to have.
Lastly, the phrase "Unborrow'd from the eye." This last line was a puzzle for me and still is. What could he mean by Unborrow'd...was it perhaps the functions of the eye? That some people have the capabilities to turn the banal, superficial scenes of nature into a thought process of finding ones self and the fact that this gift could not be borrowed? I could be way off, but did it mean that his heart was pure and could see through the "cataract" that blocks every human beings vision and perception. My gut tells me that the Victor wants us to realize that all human beings have a blocked vision in which they can only view the superficial aspects of nature, that is providing them food, shelter, and life, but fail to recognize the mental happiness it gives us as well.