Throughout the readings we have done of Tristram Shandy, I have on numerous occasions wondered as to why Sterne used the language he did. I found myself more confused more often than not whilst doing the readings. Sometimes I think he was just taking his ability as a writer to play with the English language, but on other occasions I have wondered if he wrote that way to discuss subjects that were normally not "discussable" in that time period. Does anyone have any other possibilities?
I know these blog posts are supposed to be grounded in the reading, but I was just curious...
I feel like these things were very discussable as long as they were contained within a certain context - which is exactly why Sterne manipulated language in the ways he did. Everyone knows when people are discussing sex, but since many of these books focus on class this discussion had to be kept classy (for lack of a better word). Another possibility (that really ties in with the writing ability theory) is as an ego boost for Sterne. With the sexual innuendos we see in Shandy, we can tell that any smart 18th century reader would pick up on them - with the key word being 'smart'. It would make Sterne feel smart if he were the author of such a minor riddle that some naive readers would not understand. Sterne's manipulation of language not only displayed his writing ability, but also his command of the class system. This makes him the ideal picture of a gentleman, which would make his writing style successful for those who could understand its purpose.
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with Keena. I think Sterne wrote the way he did to flaunt his own clever mind. I also think his style of writing enabled him to talk about topics normally avoided in polite company. However, I also think that his writing is indicative of the method of reading during the eighteenth century. Each 'chapter' in Tristam Shandy, be it a paragraph or ten pages is extremely conversational. The drawn out story of Shandy's early life and ongoing adventures serves to keep readers interested. I know that I found listening to Shandy much, much easier than reading it myself. Considering that most readers would have probably been listening to a family member reading this novel, they hopefully would have been subject to vocal inflection and the dramatic pauses the writing demands. The language itself not only makes it possible for adults to discuss these topics amongst themselves, but also makes it appropriate to read to the whole family; most of those innuendos and crude jokes would've gone right over the heads of young children.
ReplyDeleteI think that the discussion we had in class about "Tristram Shandy" being a great "moralizing" novel is very indicative of the purpose Sterne had in writing the novel. I think that the way in which he wrote it, though very witty and intelligent, was meant to fashion the way that each individual mind thinks. Although it may be difficult for the reader at times to decipher the exact message that Tristram is trying to get across, Tristram is intended to teach the reader lessons in a way that other eighteenth century novels didn't; through direct experiences and "figuring things out" as he goes along. I do agree somewhat with the above comments that Tristram pretends he is trying to hide certain innuendos, but he knows that the character will figure it out, it does however, protect his role as a "gentleman" to keep these things hidden under his own wit, rather than laying them outright.
ReplyDeleteTS uses language that is definitely unique from any other novel that we have read this semester so far. I agree with both Keena and Dayna said about Sterne using his wit to preserve his status as gentleman by having these clever innuendos but are they really that clever? I mean I found his innuendos to be about as clever as an episode of family guy, they are pretty blatant and the only people that wouldn't understand the jokes are small children who have no business understanding the jokes anyway. I think that what Stern is attempting to do is show how strong an influence words really are on the thought process of the reader. I mean by placing a few sexual filled jokes throughout the book Sterne makes his reader constantly anticipate a sexual reference even if one is not really there. After a while I personally began to just expect there to be sexual themed jokes and because of that I probably overlooked some of the moral messages that Sterne was trying to impart.
ReplyDelete