In Dreams Begin Responsibilities
Svetlana Sidorova
Professor Grossman
Eng 201-534
October 19, 2012
In “In Dreams Begin Responsibilities” Delmore Schwartz works with themes illusion, status and changes. He does this through mother, father and light. Schwartz is saying that most of the people are infantile and weak because they cannot accept the reality of life.
Through the mother, we see that dreaming may lead to a painful disappointment. The mother has an unrealistic image of her and her future husband as an idyllic, respectable and happy couple, which is not true in reality. “… avoiding the riotous amusements being beneath the dignity of so dignified couple”. She is trying to make an image of herself as an intelligent, domestic and interesting woman, which shows that she is not open and free with her fiancé. “…according to her principles of economy and housewifeliness”. The mother also has fantasies about the proposal moment, taken from the love novels she reads, which were destroyed by actual proposal in the middle of a conversation on Coney Island. “… she…begins to cry”. Perceiving the world only through prism of our expectations and wishes may lead to a fatal mistakes and wrong decisions which will afterwards turn the life into a disaster.
Through the father is shown a high position in a society will not necessary bring a happiness. The father does not love his future wife but he wants to merry her only because she is from a good and respectable family. “…My father thinks of my mother… and of the pride which will be his when he introduces her to his family”. The only thing he cares about is how to make money and what they will bring to him. “My father tells my mother how much money he has made…” his ambitious to become rich and dignified are so high that he is able to do everything to reach it, even it goes separately from his feelings and senses. “His clothes are newly pressed, and his tie is too high in his high collar”. The high range social position will not bring a respect and
Professor Grossman
Eng 201-534
October 19, 2012
In “In Dreams Begin Responsibilities” Delmore Schwartz works with themes illusion, status and changes. He does this through mother, father and light. Schwartz is saying that most of the people are infantile and weak because they cannot accept the reality of life.
Through the mother, we see that dreaming may lead to a painful disappointment. The mother has an unrealistic image of her and her future husband as an idyllic, respectable and happy couple, which is not true in reality. “… avoiding the riotous amusements being beneath the dignity of so dignified couple”. She is trying to make an image of herself as an intelligent, domestic and interesting woman, which shows that she is not open and free with her fiancé. “…according to her principles of economy and housewifeliness”. The mother also has fantasies about the proposal moment, taken from the love novels she reads, which were destroyed by actual proposal in the middle of a conversation on Coney Island. “… she…begins to cry”. Perceiving the world only through prism of our expectations and wishes may lead to a fatal mistakes and wrong decisions which will afterwards turn the life into a disaster.
Through the father is shown a high position in a society will not necessary bring a happiness. The father does not love his future wife but he wants to merry her only because she is from a good and respectable family. “…My father thinks of my mother… and of the pride which will be his when he introduces her to his family”. The only thing he cares about is how to make money and what they will bring to him. “My father tells my mother how much money he has made…” his ambitious to become rich and dignified are so high that he is able to do everything to reach it, even it goes separately from his feelings and senses. “His clothes are newly pressed, and his tie is too high in his high collar”. The high range social position will not bring a respect and