Notes of April, 20th 2012

Tennyson's Ulysses

In the first section of the dramatic monologue written by Lord Alfred Tennyson, the reader comes in contact to Ulysses. He is a really modern character; indeed, thanks his own experiences he has learnt more not only about the world, but also about himself, entering the relationships.

Speaking about his own life Ulysses uses very important words and expressions which convey indirectly a complain for the world in which Tennyson lived, a world where people were only interested in profits and goods.

The reader can know a lot reading about the character. For example, he immediately understand that Ulysses is a passionate character from the choice of language. Indeed, in describing the way he has fighting he uses the verb " to drink".

When he talks about his adventures he gives the reader time and space references too. He also describes the weather ( "windy Troy"), whose conditions were not good, as not good were his situation ( he had to fight, to travel in bad weather conditions etc).

He speaks about life using the word " experience" and about death using the world "silence".

In the second section, Ulysses introduces his son Telemachus who is able to act following the principles of the Victorian Age. This ages were influenced by four trends of thought:

1. Darwinism

2. Utilitarism
3. Puritanism
4. Philantropism