I’ve noticed that with both The Nose and The Metamorphosis, reading closely into each sentence individually reveals… well, not much. I’m a person who is used to a sort of literature in which meanings are discovered between the lines, through clever language, poetic wording, and metaphor (not that either of the previously mentioned works aren’t extended metaphors themselves, which they may well be). With The Nose, the words don’t sound poetic. There isn’t much looking into each individual sentence. I have the impulse to keep looking for deeper meaning in each sentence, and I can find none…
I attempt to look closely at the text, but I can’t find anything different than what I’ve already read…
… however, when I take a step back and look at the work as a whole, a variety of themes become prevalent, most noticeably the focus on the social classes and distinctions in rank between various members of the community. This is a social commentary on Russia. And unlike other works that I’ve read (especially for English literature classes), this text requires the reader to take a step back and view the work as a whole – not pick apart tiny details with a magnifying glass to each and every word. That being said, words make up each work, and would be nothing without them. However, I find that it is easier to step back and attempt to understand the meaning of The Nose when it is written simply as it is in the libretto. Less is more, in this case – in the case of the amount of words used.
The minimalist design in this staircase exemplifies the concept of “less is more.”
Perhaps its because I read the translated short story before I read the libretto, but reading the shortened version with just dialogue and minimal outside information made it easier to see what is highlighted in Russian society. For me, this is because I was reading too closely into the short story – with less words present, what was important made itself highlighted. For instance, when Kovalev speaks to the clerk in order to put a notice into the newspaper, he refers to all of his social contacts in order to gain the attention of the clerk and get his notice published. Even though the strategy doesn’t work, the reader still gets the sense that almost every interaction touches upon or even revolves around one’s social status in the world of The Nose. And even though the exact same situation happened in the short story version, I found that the libretto’s even more concise content allowed me to see to what was important more easily.
This leaves me wondering what the opera of The Nose will be like. The text is clear, though with sound, will the meaning get distorted? I am aware that when we view it, it will be in a different language (with the text in front of us). Will the meaning become even more clear? While reading the story, due to the lack of poetic language, I didn’t get much feeling from it. Will I gain more feeling with music in the mix? Will this result in a clearer understanding of the story? I’ve heard great things about the production we are to see, and I can’t wait to find out.
Works Cited:
Magnifying Glass. N.d. Graphic. clker.comWeb. 8 Oct 2013. <http://www.clker.com/cliparts/0/4/0/4/1225770283668564458emyller_magnifying_glass.svg.med.png>.
Minimalism. N.d. Photograph. andrewcaldwell.orgWeb. 8 Oct 2013. <http://andrewcaldwell.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/minimalism.jpg>.
I also wonder what the opera will be like. Will it be as weird as the libretto itself? Or will it be as weird as the ballet, the Metamorphosis? I liked the Metamorphosis ballet because it really helped me visualize everything, and definitely in a more graceful way. I hope that The Nose will be the same. Will the Nose be shaped like a nose or will he be like Gregor from the Metamorphosis who wasn’t shaped like a cockroach? I also agree with the fact that you need to step back and look at the Nose as a whole. The nose isn’t a metaphor for something. It is practically the theme of the entire novel, illustrating social class.
Janice Fong
Great mood diary! I have to agree with your assertion that over the years, as students, we have been groomed to look in-between the lines, over the lines and through the lines to understand the meanings of what are mistaken to be trivial sentences. I have to agree that I am very much not used to taking a look at a piece as a whole like you mentioned. When I think in retrospect of the short stories we have read, I think about comparing them to taking a look at a picture as a whole rather than analyzing specific details in the piece. I am also very curious as to how the actors and actresses will depict the nose itself in the opera.
I love your mood diary because it is so unique. I completely agree with the idea that the libretto mad the point more clear than the short story. I find that I have the same problem; searching for meaning between the lines and being frustrated when I still cannot find it. However, reading the libretto actually made the reading enjoyable and highlighted exactly what we were suppose to pay attention to. Not to say I do not enjoy a story where I have to dig a little deeper but the libretto highlighted the satire of “The Nose” as a whole. As a visual learner, I believe that going to the opera will make the meaning of the work even more clear. Reading along while watching people sing “The Nose” to us, sounds like we are bound to gain a greater understanding after seeing it before us.
First of all, I really enjoyed reading your mood diary because it stood out from the others. I particularly liked how you related your better comprehension of the libretto with the idea of minimalism. Quite honestly, I wouldn’t have drawn that connection after reading the story. Although I found the short story clearer than the libretto, I can see why you thought otherwise. Personally, I like reading short stories more than plays or librettos because there is more space for your interpretation in the first alternative. In librettos, the character developments and the dynamics of the story are mostly overt and clear, but they are also more rigid. I enjoy reading between the lines and scrutinizing stories to look for possible symbolism and metaphor. That being said, I too am curious about the opera. I want to know if it will strictly adhere to the plot line. More importantly, will the acting make the symbolism more explicit or will it draw more attention to the literal meaning of the story?