Titanic sinking anniversary

The word was often invoked on the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s departure from Southampton, England. For example, as The Guardian observed:

“Part of the enduring pull of the Titanic story is that it, yes, illustrates man’s hubris to the point that the ship itself has become a cliched metaphor.”

Hubris means “exaggerated pride or self-confidence” and comes directly from the Greek word with the same meaning.

Hubris is nearly always used in this context to refer to human ambitions – and not, for example, to the specific actions of the Titanic’s crew.

Post : Courtesy of Merriam Webster dictionary. 

Macbeth

I stumbled upon a blog on Macbeth. I enjoyed reading it. I loved most of this author’s other posts. He has a penchant for brevity and an interesting picture-essay style, while bringing out unusually interesting points to light.

I have loved Macbeth since I was a child when I bumped into this musty book in the bookshelf, a relic from my mother’s college days. I was intrigued by the plates, particularly the witches near their cauldron, Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking, “I have done the deed”, etc. Some of the verses I committed to memory have stayed with me ever since. ‘Fair is foul and foul is fair’,is one such.

I did go through the book a few times over on a timeline, when I was around 18 or twenty, and once more later. Owing to my familiarity, I would place Macbeth as the best of Shakespearean plays. However, I owe it to this author for very interesting information such as Shakespeare’s clown characters. I have often wondered how these scenes fit into an otherwise somber story-line. Also the picture of Dunsinance Hill is reminiscent of Shelly’s Ozymandias: there is just a bare hill where all the story played out in intensity!

However, I the historical Macbeth seems to be one of the best loved of ancient Scottish kings. Shakespeare installed a devious plan to malign his reputation in England at a time when the English probably wanted suzerainty over her, and the Englishmen would have been enticed by such tales. The United Kingdom was formed soon after Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s timing and selection of the plot were clever, to say the least. Would some expand this line of thought.

I am very curious. Thanks in advance.

History in retrospect

Events become important only in retrospect. When they happen, we gloss over them as though it was a normal event. I am sure everyone would be able to remember that most of the landmark events in their lives passed by just like any other normal event.

I  remember watching  the movie ‘20000 leagues under the sea’, particularly the last narrative over the sinking of the submarine Nautilus: “ All good things must come to an end.” But the end is usually not as spectacular in most cases.

After my seventh grade school in a village, our family moved to a bigger city. I still remember my friend asking me: “When will we meet again?”

I had stopped my bike in front of his house to talk to Saji. He was out in front of his house with a melancholic smile.

“Of course, I would come again, and I would be riding my bike just like this again.”

That was a foolish statement indeed and I knew it. But I was expressing my hope. The fact is that I haven’t met him ever since for the last nearly three decades. I know that he is in the USA, but I don’t know much more.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated in Sarajevo eventually led to the World War I.  When Mohammed Bouazizi set himself on fire in protest against Tunisian government harassment, little did he realize that he was setting in motion a revolution that would overthrow the government.  These are relatively small incidents that assumed enormous proportions in hindsight after much bigger events followed.

When Louis Riel was executed in 1885 at the age of 41, he didn’t die a hero. I had the chance to visit St. Boniface museum on the Louis Riel day. Out of many artifacts, a  handwritten  letter in red ink piqued  my interest. It read: “Either – a rope for Louis Riel or a bullet for Bishop Tache.” At once my imagination took me to the year 1885 and the face of Bishop  turning pale on reading that very letter which I was looking at!  Although the Metis regarded him as a hero, he died a miserable death. He has become a legend in retrospect.

I have read that when the great Shakespeare died, he was little aware of the celebrity he was going to become! What a poor predicament for history makers.

What are your personal experiences with events in your life? Were you aware of the significance of those events when they played out?