Eloquent Writing May or May Not Contain Meaning

"We love eloquence for its own sake, and not for any truth which it may utter, or any heroism may inspire."

     This quote from Thoreau states that as a society, we love eloquent language itself, not necessarily for what it is saying.  Eloquent language may not always be in regards to the truth, but because it is beautiful people enjoy it more.  Thoreau's quote not only displays his point, but it proves it as well.  I do not agree with what Thoreau is saying, since it is possible to see through someones flowery diction.  Many times when someone is giving a speech or writing, it is easy to see through someones big words to the lack of meaning behind them.  Since people are able to see through the meaningless language, no one love eloquence for its own sake.  The only time that I see people love eloquence for its own sake is in poetry.  Sometimes, poetry is beautiful and has a beautiful meaning, but other times is sounds nice but lacks actual depth.  Many politicians also use this method when asked questions and proposing ideas that they do not actually have a solution to.  By using big words, they are able to get off topic and fill u time without providing a real answer.  In the 2016 presidential election, this is especially true.  There are many issues facing our country today, and it is difficult to find a true solution, so to defend themselves many politicians will not admit that they do not know and will use eloquent language to protect their reputations.  Many legislators do not wish to show people that there are negative aspects of their discussion, so the people are left to listen to unnecessarily wordy speeches and writings to find out what their government is doing.  In a way, the people never really find out the entire truth.

     Despite the typical lack of meaning in eloquent meaning, it can inspire people.  The beautiful words stand out to people, and once people latch on to specific words it is easy to persuade them.  This reveals that eloquent language can be loved for its inspirational effects, but it can also be identified as meaningless.  In my opinion, Thoreau is both right and wrong in his thinking.  I believe he is aware of this since in his writing, he himself uses pretentious language.  This invokes a feeling within the reader but it does not always have meaning.  Much of his writing is redundant to points he makes; Thoreau will make a point,  but then restate it in flowery language over and over again.  I believe that Thoreau says, "We love eloquence for its own sake, and not for any truth which it may utter, or any heroism may inspire," to invoke further thinking.  I do not think that he intended for the quote to be factual and that he is aware that the quote can be interpreted as incorrect.

Everyone is Equal...Except for You

     The creation of the United States of America was the beginning of the promotion of power being distributed to white men.  However, these men were very hypocritical in saying that each citizen has unavailable rights, but then continuing to look down upon women and treat them as property.  The Declaration of Independence was a unanimous document stating that America wanted to be separated from Britain and why. This was written in 1776, but years later, in 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote the Declaration of Sentiments, following a similar format to the original document.
     The Declaration of Independence is a key document in the history of the United States and it was used as the bases for the Constitution in later years.  Thomas Jefferson begins the Declaration of Independence stating that if a people is unhappy, then they have the right to dissolve what oppresses them since all are united through the laws of nature as well as through God.  The most well known portion of this document is that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."  However, these rights were not given to women, despite stating that each person is created equal.  It takes many years for women to gather enough support to create the Seneca Falls Convention, the beginning of the feminist movement that is still in effect today.
     Jefferson continues to go on an list all of the grievances that Britain committed upon the United States, being very specific and straightforward in what is being accuse and uses "He" to personify Britain.  Staton does the same thing in her Declaration of Sentiments, except this time it is used to point to who specifically is opressing the rights of women.  Men are the cause so men will be accused with a powerful line stating "He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable rights to the elective franchise."  In a world full of hypocrites, Elizabeth Cady Stanton speaks out, showing them how wrong they are.  The Declaration of Independence was to state independence from the reliance on Britain, but the Declaration of Sentiments was to state independence from men since women were tired of being pushed into the background.
     Due to the difference in time period that these pieces were composed, the wording is very different.  In the Declaration of Independence the word choices are very overcomplicated and difficult to read.  The Declaration of Sentiments was much easier to read, since it was written to be spoken out loud.  It was originally read at the Seneca Falls Convention on July 19, 1848.  The Seneca Falls convention was the beginning of the women suffrage movement where many notable women gathered to discuss the need for women's rights.  However, the format for each document was almost the same.  With an introduction of beliefs, then accusations of grievances by the opposing group of people who are stripping them of their rights.  Both the Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of Sentiments were written because a group of people had been controlling them and taking away their rights, not listening to them in important matters that applied to them.  While the men who supported the Declaration of Independence went on to oppress the women who supported the Declaration of Sentiments, both groups suffered injustices that needed to be addressed.

A Timeless Message

"Whenever Vanity, and Gaiety, a Love of Pomp and Dress, Furniture,

Equipage, Buildings, great Company, expensive Diversions, and elegant Entertainments

get the better of the Principles and Judgments of Men or Women there is no

knowing where they will stop, nor into what Evils, natural, moral, or political, 

they will lead us."

~John Adams~

     

     John Adams wrote this very longwinded and complicated sentence in a letter to his wife Abigail Adams.  Language and writing styles were very different then than they are in current times, but their correspondences with each other have the same casual feeling as an email or a text in 2016.  Despite people nowadays not using words such as "pomp and dress," or "equipage," in casual writing, the issue that the Adams couple addresses has rings of truth in the modern setting.

     When I attempted to deconstruct this quote from John Adams, I took away several messages.  However, the most prominent was that a materialistic people and society will focus on the superficial things in life which will eventually be seen as superior in the eyes of the common people, leading them down the wrong path.  People are easily influenced by those around them, causing people to value physical things that are unnecissary to every day function. Those with a copious amount of goods tend to become vain and eccentric, always wanting to show off their affluence.  These people not only look down on those with less, but people with less material wealth begin to feel jealous and desire the same "success" as the others.  Materialistic people often become the elite and powerful in societal rank and politics throughout history, and in modern times it can also be incorporated into the workplace and schools.  People who place self-worth on the amount of goods they have typically are not deserving of or suitable for a leadership possition.  It is difficult to see how others see once materialistic values take root.  There is no knowing in which direction the common people will be lead if they are not treated equally and alongside those who hold power.

     Materialistic people do not genuinly care for the success of all.  Rather, they care for their own personal gain.  These people can be seen as standoffish due to feelings of superiority as well as jealousy from the other side; or, these people can be put on a pedestal and idolised due to their success.  This power trip giveseople the ability to manipulate and falsely lead the common people into something that is not as it seems.  Many politicians, in both the time of John Adams through the Presidential Election of 2016, can be seen as the elite, materialistic, and vain.  It is difficult to find a leader that will place their own personal opinions aside to think of the betterment of all people.  Materialistic and moral do not typically coincide with each other in the sense of politics throughout history.

     Materialistic leaders will lead people to believe that their way of life is superior few to having more things to boast about.  Tangible results are placed over spiritual and emotional results.  Many people can seem to be happy on the surface, but are lacking the true sustiance of life.  A person can put up the facade of a perfect life, when in reality something is missing.  For example, a couple can be in an unhappy relationship, but stay together since they already have material happiness.  People may look put together since they have such a copious amount of things to be happy about, but lack something that truly makes life worthwhile.

     John Adams may have made is message very overcomplicated, but with some critical thinking, his message can be seen as timeless.  Materialism and vanity never go away, especially with people who are seen at the top of the pillar of success.  However, Adams sparks thinking that will lead to the realization that no one is truly happy in a society that values tangible success over anything else.  While Adams may have been writing specifically about politics at the time, his message can apply to everyday life in both the past and the present.

Richard Cory

by Edwin Arlington Robinson

Whenever Richard Cory went down town, 

We people on the pavement looked at him: 

He was a gentleman from sole to crown, 

Clean favored, and imperially slim. 

And he was always quietly arrayed, 

And he was always human when he talked; 

But still he fluttered pulses when he said, 

"Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked. 

And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—

And admirably schooled in every grace: 

In fine, we thought that he was everything 

To make us wish that we were in his place. 

So on we worked, and waited for the light, 

And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; 

And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, 

Went home and put a bullet through his head.