Comparison Essay 1 by Breanne Delaporta
“The First Night” and “Eleonora”
Natsume Soseki and Edgar Allan Poe are two authors who are often compared because of similarities in their writing. Natusme Soseki is often
called the Edgar Allan Poe of Japan. Edgar Allan Poe is recognized for being the creator of the first mystery and for the creepy themes in his stories such as “Murders of the Rue Morgue,” and “The Fall of the House of Usher” (Meyerowitz, 2010). Even though there are many similarities between the authors, there are also many differences. Both authors had different influences which are evident in their writings. The time period in which the stories were written, in combination with the authors’ use of gloomy settings and vivid symbolism portray the themes of death and isolation in “The First Night” and “Eleonora.”
Isolation is apparent in the setting of “The First Night” in many ways. For example, Soseki and the woman are always alone together; Soseki never mentions any other characters in the story aside from himself and the woman. They are isolated with only each other for company. After the woman dies, Soseki waits alone for her to return after 100 years. Natsume Soseki writes, 「自分は苔の上に座った。これから百年の間こうして待ているんだなと考えながら、腕組みをする丸良墓石を眺めていた。」(pg.5) Additionally, Soseki and the woman’s love for each other drives them into
isolation. They are so deeply in love with each other that they allow themselves to rely only on one another. Soseki shows this by saying 「(百年、私の墓の傍に座って待っていて下さい、きっと逢いにきますから。」自分はただ待っていると答えた」。(pg.4) This quote shows how his love for the woman leads him to wait for 100 year hoping that she will return to meet him again.
Isolation is also prevalent in “Eleonora.” Poe openly states, “We had always dwelled together, beneath a tropical sun, in the Valley of theMany-Colored Grass….. Thus it was that we lived all alone, knowing nothing of the world without the valley -- I, and my cousin, and her mother” (Eleonora, 2013).They stay isolated because they love each other and only want to be with each other. After Eleonora dies, Poe remains alone for nearly the rest of the story until he travels into the city, finds a new wife, and gets remarried, despite thefact that he said that he would not marry anyone else. Poe remarries because his loneliness drives him to do it. Poe writes this because he wants to show how isolation as a cause of loneliness will always result in doing whatever possible to fill the feeling of desolation.
Both stories symbolize death in various ways. In “The First Night” Soseki says that he sees his reflection in the woman’s eyes. This reflection represents how he saw death in her eyes. The reflection of himself in her eyes was foreshadowing the event of her death. Soseki writes, 「その真っ黒な瞳の奥に、自分の姿が鮮やかに浮かぶかんでいる。」(pg.1). This quote is showing how he looks into her eyes, and sees his own reflection which symbolizes the woman’s upcoming death. The woman even asks him if he can see the upcoming death in her eyes.
Death is represented in Eleonora when everything in The Valley of Many Colored Grass becomes dark and it is no longer the beautiful haven it was when Poe first described it. After the death of Eleonora, the River of Silence, also becomes noisy, but then returns to its original silence. Poe wrote,
And the lulling melody that had been softer than the wind-harp of Aeolus, and more divine than all save the voice of Eleonora, it died little by little away, in murmurs growing lower and lower, until the stream returned, at length, utterly, into the solemnity of its original silence (Eleonora,
2013).
The River of Silence becoming noisy and returning to silence, and everything in the Valley of Many Colored Grass turning dark represents Poe accepting the fact that Eleonora was really dead. It could also represent his feelings for Eleonora dying, because soon after the Valley of Colored Grass turns dark, Poe went into the city and remarried. All the plants in the Valley of Many Colored Grass dying could symbolize how Poe no longer loves Eleonora, and how he has moved on to another point in his life.
Both
Soseki and Poe use many descriptive adjectives in their stories, and pay a lot of attention to detail. One of the most recognizable features of Poe’s works is that he writes many paragraphs just to describe one object or person. With this being said, the reader gets a very clear image of what he is describing in his stories. For example, Poe describes the River of Silence in great detail at the beginning of the story when he says “From
the dim regions beyond the mountains at the upper end of our encircled domain, there crept out a narrow and deep river, brighter than all save the eyes of Eleonora; and, winding stealthily about in mazy courses, it passed away, at length, through a shadowy gorge, among hills still dimmer than those whence it had issued” (Eloenora, 2013).Soseki also uses many descriptive adjectives in his story. In “The First Night” Soseki writes many paragraphs about the woman describing to the man specifically how she wants to be buried. The woman gives step-by-step instructions for the man to follow. Soseki also writes many lines just to describe the woman’s face. He uses descriptive adjectives such as “blood colored, vibrantly red, pure white, and long eyelashes wrapped around moist eyes.”
Even though Soseki takes the time in describing the woman who dies, he never told the reader her name. However, Poe gives the reader the name of the woman (his cousin) who died, but doesn’t describe her to the extent of Soseki. Poe only gives us a minimum amount of details. Soseki also described the death process thoroughly, while Poe does not. Soseki writes 「しばらくして、女またこういった。(死んだら、埋めて下さい。大きな真珠貝で穴を掘って。そうして、天から落ちてきる星の破片を墓標に置いて下さい。そうして墓の傍に待ったいて下さい。また、逢いにきますから)」。(pg. 3).
The time period that these two stories were written in was quite different. “Eleonora” was written in 1850 and “The First Night” was written in
1908 (Eleonora, 2013, Breaking Into Japanese Literature, 2013). Despite the fact that they were written 58 years apart, they both share many common themes.
Also, they were written within two completely different cultures. “Eleonora” was written in America and “The First Night” was written in Japan. Early American culture and Japanese culture are so drastically different that it is amazing that two stories written within these two different cultures could have coalescing themes.
In “Eleonora” Poe makes reference to the gods Eros and Aeolus. This shows the influence that Greek mythology had over the United States during the 1800s. Japan was not influenced by Greek mythology because they were so far from Europe and America where Greek mythology was prevalent. Also, Japan had their own belief system that was different from Americans and Europeans.
Overall, Poe’s “Eleonora” and Soseki’s “The First Night” are very comparable. However, there are also many differences which exist between the
stories. These differences exist because both authors had different influences that affected their lives. These influences also affected the way they wrote. The time period in which the stories were written, when combined with the authors’ use of gloomy settings and vivid
symbolism, portrays the themes of death and isolation in “The First Night” and “Eleonora.”
Natsume Soseki and Edgar Allan Poe are two authors who are often compared because of similarities in their writing. Natusme Soseki is often
called the Edgar Allan Poe of Japan. Edgar Allan Poe is recognized for being the creator of the first mystery and for the creepy themes in his stories such as “Murders of the Rue Morgue,” and “The Fall of the House of Usher” (Meyerowitz, 2010). Even though there are many similarities between the authors, there are also many differences. Both authors had different influences which are evident in their writings. The time period in which the stories were written, in combination with the authors’ use of gloomy settings and vivid symbolism portray the themes of death and isolation in “The First Night” and “Eleonora.”
Isolation is apparent in the setting of “The First Night” in many ways. For example, Soseki and the woman are always alone together; Soseki never mentions any other characters in the story aside from himself and the woman. They are isolated with only each other for company. After the woman dies, Soseki waits alone for her to return after 100 years. Natsume Soseki writes, 「自分は苔の上に座った。これから百年の間こうして待ているんだなと考えながら、腕組みをする丸良墓石を眺めていた。」(pg.5) Additionally, Soseki and the woman’s love for each other drives them into
isolation. They are so deeply in love with each other that they allow themselves to rely only on one another. Soseki shows this by saying 「(百年、私の墓の傍に座って待っていて下さい、きっと逢いにきますから。」自分はただ待っていると答えた」。(pg.4) This quote shows how his love for the woman leads him to wait for 100 year hoping that she will return to meet him again.
Isolation is also prevalent in “Eleonora.” Poe openly states, “We had always dwelled together, beneath a tropical sun, in the Valley of theMany-Colored Grass….. Thus it was that we lived all alone, knowing nothing of the world without the valley -- I, and my cousin, and her mother” (Eleonora, 2013).They stay isolated because they love each other and only want to be with each other. After Eleonora dies, Poe remains alone for nearly the rest of the story until he travels into the city, finds a new wife, and gets remarried, despite thefact that he said that he would not marry anyone else. Poe remarries because his loneliness drives him to do it. Poe writes this because he wants to show how isolation as a cause of loneliness will always result in doing whatever possible to fill the feeling of desolation.
Both stories symbolize death in various ways. In “The First Night” Soseki says that he sees his reflection in the woman’s eyes. This reflection represents how he saw death in her eyes. The reflection of himself in her eyes was foreshadowing the event of her death. Soseki writes, 「その真っ黒な瞳の奥に、自分の姿が鮮やかに浮かぶかんでいる。」(pg.1). This quote is showing how he looks into her eyes, and sees his own reflection which symbolizes the woman’s upcoming death. The woman even asks him if he can see the upcoming death in her eyes.
Death is represented in Eleonora when everything in The Valley of Many Colored Grass becomes dark and it is no longer the beautiful haven it was when Poe first described it. After the death of Eleonora, the River of Silence, also becomes noisy, but then returns to its original silence. Poe wrote,
And the lulling melody that had been softer than the wind-harp of Aeolus, and more divine than all save the voice of Eleonora, it died little by little away, in murmurs growing lower and lower, until the stream returned, at length, utterly, into the solemnity of its original silence (Eleonora,
2013).
The River of Silence becoming noisy and returning to silence, and everything in the Valley of Many Colored Grass turning dark represents Poe accepting the fact that Eleonora was really dead. It could also represent his feelings for Eleonora dying, because soon after the Valley of Colored Grass turns dark, Poe went into the city and remarried. All the plants in the Valley of Many Colored Grass dying could symbolize how Poe no longer loves Eleonora, and how he has moved on to another point in his life.
Both
Soseki and Poe use many descriptive adjectives in their stories, and pay a lot of attention to detail. One of the most recognizable features of Poe’s works is that he writes many paragraphs just to describe one object or person. With this being said, the reader gets a very clear image of what he is describing in his stories. For example, Poe describes the River of Silence in great detail at the beginning of the story when he says “From
the dim regions beyond the mountains at the upper end of our encircled domain, there crept out a narrow and deep river, brighter than all save the eyes of Eleonora; and, winding stealthily about in mazy courses, it passed away, at length, through a shadowy gorge, among hills still dimmer than those whence it had issued” (Eloenora, 2013).Soseki also uses many descriptive adjectives in his story. In “The First Night” Soseki writes many paragraphs about the woman describing to the man specifically how she wants to be buried. The woman gives step-by-step instructions for the man to follow. Soseki also writes many lines just to describe the woman’s face. He uses descriptive adjectives such as “blood colored, vibrantly red, pure white, and long eyelashes wrapped around moist eyes.”
Even though Soseki takes the time in describing the woman who dies, he never told the reader her name. However, Poe gives the reader the name of the woman (his cousin) who died, but doesn’t describe her to the extent of Soseki. Poe only gives us a minimum amount of details. Soseki also described the death process thoroughly, while Poe does not. Soseki writes 「しばらくして、女またこういった。(死んだら、埋めて下さい。大きな真珠貝で穴を掘って。そうして、天から落ちてきる星の破片を墓標に置いて下さい。そうして墓の傍に待ったいて下さい。また、逢いにきますから)」。(pg. 3).
The time period that these two stories were written in was quite different. “Eleonora” was written in 1850 and “The First Night” was written in
1908 (Eleonora, 2013, Breaking Into Japanese Literature, 2013). Despite the fact that they were written 58 years apart, they both share many common themes.
Also, they were written within two completely different cultures. “Eleonora” was written in America and “The First Night” was written in Japan. Early American culture and Japanese culture are so drastically different that it is amazing that two stories written within these two different cultures could have coalescing themes.
In “Eleonora” Poe makes reference to the gods Eros and Aeolus. This shows the influence that Greek mythology had over the United States during the 1800s. Japan was not influenced by Greek mythology because they were so far from Europe and America where Greek mythology was prevalent. Also, Japan had their own belief system that was different from Americans and Europeans.
Overall, Poe’s “Eleonora” and Soseki’s “The First Night” are very comparable. However, there are also many differences which exist between the
stories. These differences exist because both authors had different influences that affected their lives. These influences also affected the way they wrote. The time period in which the stories were written, when combined with the authors’ use of gloomy settings and vivid
symbolism, portrays the themes of death and isolation in “The First Night” and “Eleonora.”
Comparison Essay 2 by Steven Johnson
There were two writers in the 20th century that set the standard for writing. These two men, Edgar Allan Poe and Natsume Soseki, were the creative writers that set a new standard for creative writing. Both authors' writing included similar themes that are included in setting, time and language, and both presented their works to the world. Themes in the stories Eleonora and The First Night, are shown through the macabre mood of the setting, the use of metaphorical language to enhance the story, and through the allegorical symbols.
In The First Night by Natsume Soseki, the setting of the story plays a large role in the expression of the narrative. The dynamic environment adds an element that would go completely unnoticed if the location was omitted, and Soseki excellently displays this through the woman on the bed, the courtyard grave site, and the passing of the one hundred years. The story begins in the bedroom of the woman, in which the story ha somewhat mixed feelings. The woman is certain of her death but the main character is uncertain of her death. There seems to be an argument about this fact, but the woman is sure of herself. There seems to be a connection between the two, but the setting plays no part in this idea. Following the intimacy between the main character and the woman, the setting contributes to a darker mood, giving the reader a feeling of loss. Following the death of the woman, the courtyard shows the reader that the mood has turned dark in alignment with the theme of the story. The pearl shell and the grave also add a small element of wonder to the macabre mood of the piece, but serve no help to the curing of the reader's already bleak outlook to the end of the story. Upon the continuation of the story, the passing days gives the reader a feeling of uncertainty, and the reader no longer trusts the setting, characters, or mood of the piece because of the curve balls that have been thrown at the reader.
Edgar Allan Poe demonstrates the theme of his piece through similar means in the setting. In the beginning of the story, the scene is set in a valley where Poe and his cousin are wandering aimlessly. The valley is red and innocent, and currently displays no aspect of the future of Poe and his companion, but it has an effect on the characters. Soon after Poe and his cousin fall in love with each other and get married, and the valley and the setting change to support this rapid, abrupt change. The valley, which used to be red, has changed to a white and filled with life to adapt to both of their new lifestyles. And, as the story continues to Eleonora's death, after which the valley grows violets and turns dark with death to demonstrate the change in the theme.
Both stories use metaphorical language to give the reader a clearer understanding of the themes of the works. Poe uses Eleonora as an object to compare things to, and says
“[Insert descriptor]...save for the [body part] of Eleonora”
This allows the reader to understand that Eleonora is extremely beautiful, and allows the reader to attach themselves to her. Poe also uses metaphors to kings and gods of late, and uses these as imaginative metaphors to keep the reader interested and thinking. At one point, he describes the beauty of flowers in comparison to God.
“The whole surface of the valley, from the river to the mountains that girdled it in, were carpeted all by a soft green grass... its exceeding beauty spoke to our hearts in loud tones, of the love and of the glory of God.”
Metaphors like this strengthen the overall portrayal of the themes of the story, and these are the ways that Poe uses the language to his advantage.
Soseki also presents his work in a way that uses unique language elements to present a point. This uniqueness can easily be identified in the description of the flower that showed itself at the end of the story. Also, Soseki's usage of interesting descriptors causes the story to give off a slightly different feeling, and the reader can identify and relate with this feeling.
Finally, both authors use metaphors and allegorical symbols in their stories. Poe used the valley as the main allegorical symbol, as a symbol of the continuation of life. The valley was initially red and white, as life will initially be. The valley was filled with innocence before the love between Poe and Eleonora. Soon after, life arose in the valley, and the valley turned white, as to symbolize love in a relationship between the characters.
“...These spots, not less than the whole surface of the valley, from the river to the mountains that girdled it in, were vanilla-perfumed, and the white daisy [had] exceeding beauty.”
This continuation of events and use of color to reach an eventual end is the clearest allegorical reference in either story, and the story continues to a point at which Eleonora dies. The valley's now predictable response becomes a reality and it turns black, the color of death, following the unfortunate events in the story of Poe.
In Soseki's The First Night, the main reference is of life after death. Following the loss of Soseki's beloved, Soseki sits and performs the task he was assigned; he would wait for one hundred years for the return of his significant other, who promised to return after that one hundred years. She returned in the form of a spirit occupying a plant, and spoke directly to Soseki even though he lost faith in her return.
“自分が百合から顔を離す拍子(ひょうし)に思わず、遠い空を見たら、暁(あかつ き)の星がたった一つ瞬(またた)いていた。”
This plant had all the beauty of the woman, and Soseki knew instantly that she had kept her promise.
In conclusion, both The First Night and Eleonora had similar themes relating to the mood of the pieces, the use of figurative language, and the allegorical themes presented in each piece. Both authors have utilized these to make completely individualized stories that have been and will be cornerpieces of literature for years to come.
In The First Night by Natsume Soseki, the setting of the story plays a large role in the expression of the narrative. The dynamic environment adds an element that would go completely unnoticed if the location was omitted, and Soseki excellently displays this through the woman on the bed, the courtyard grave site, and the passing of the one hundred years. The story begins in the bedroom of the woman, in which the story ha somewhat mixed feelings. The woman is certain of her death but the main character is uncertain of her death. There seems to be an argument about this fact, but the woman is sure of herself. There seems to be a connection between the two, but the setting plays no part in this idea. Following the intimacy between the main character and the woman, the setting contributes to a darker mood, giving the reader a feeling of loss. Following the death of the woman, the courtyard shows the reader that the mood has turned dark in alignment with the theme of the story. The pearl shell and the grave also add a small element of wonder to the macabre mood of the piece, but serve no help to the curing of the reader's already bleak outlook to the end of the story. Upon the continuation of the story, the passing days gives the reader a feeling of uncertainty, and the reader no longer trusts the setting, characters, or mood of the piece because of the curve balls that have been thrown at the reader.
Edgar Allan Poe demonstrates the theme of his piece through similar means in the setting. In the beginning of the story, the scene is set in a valley where Poe and his cousin are wandering aimlessly. The valley is red and innocent, and currently displays no aspect of the future of Poe and his companion, but it has an effect on the characters. Soon after Poe and his cousin fall in love with each other and get married, and the valley and the setting change to support this rapid, abrupt change. The valley, which used to be red, has changed to a white and filled with life to adapt to both of their new lifestyles. And, as the story continues to Eleonora's death, after which the valley grows violets and turns dark with death to demonstrate the change in the theme.
Both stories use metaphorical language to give the reader a clearer understanding of the themes of the works. Poe uses Eleonora as an object to compare things to, and says
“[Insert descriptor]...save for the [body part] of Eleonora”
This allows the reader to understand that Eleonora is extremely beautiful, and allows the reader to attach themselves to her. Poe also uses metaphors to kings and gods of late, and uses these as imaginative metaphors to keep the reader interested and thinking. At one point, he describes the beauty of flowers in comparison to God.
“The whole surface of the valley, from the river to the mountains that girdled it in, were carpeted all by a soft green grass... its exceeding beauty spoke to our hearts in loud tones, of the love and of the glory of God.”
Metaphors like this strengthen the overall portrayal of the themes of the story, and these are the ways that Poe uses the language to his advantage.
Soseki also presents his work in a way that uses unique language elements to present a point. This uniqueness can easily be identified in the description of the flower that showed itself at the end of the story. Also, Soseki's usage of interesting descriptors causes the story to give off a slightly different feeling, and the reader can identify and relate with this feeling.
Finally, both authors use metaphors and allegorical symbols in their stories. Poe used the valley as the main allegorical symbol, as a symbol of the continuation of life. The valley was initially red and white, as life will initially be. The valley was filled with innocence before the love between Poe and Eleonora. Soon after, life arose in the valley, and the valley turned white, as to symbolize love in a relationship between the characters.
“...These spots, not less than the whole surface of the valley, from the river to the mountains that girdled it in, were vanilla-perfumed, and the white daisy [had] exceeding beauty.”
This continuation of events and use of color to reach an eventual end is the clearest allegorical reference in either story, and the story continues to a point at which Eleonora dies. The valley's now predictable response becomes a reality and it turns black, the color of death, following the unfortunate events in the story of Poe.
In Soseki's The First Night, the main reference is of life after death. Following the loss of Soseki's beloved, Soseki sits and performs the task he was assigned; he would wait for one hundred years for the return of his significant other, who promised to return after that one hundred years. She returned in the form of a spirit occupying a plant, and spoke directly to Soseki even though he lost faith in her return.
“自分が百合から顔を離す拍子(ひょうし)に思わず、遠い空を見たら、暁(あかつ き)の星がたった一つ瞬(またた)いていた。”
This plant had all the beauty of the woman, and Soseki knew instantly that she had kept her promise.
In conclusion, both The First Night and Eleonora had similar themes relating to the mood of the pieces, the use of figurative language, and the allegorical themes presented in each piece. Both authors have utilized these to make completely individualized stories that have been and will be cornerpieces of literature for years to come.
Comparison Essay 3 by Stacy J.
The common themes in “Eleonora” by Edgar Allen Poe and “The First Night” by Natsume Soseki are death, depression, loneliness, and tragedy. The theme that has the most impact on the story is the theme of death. In Poe’s “Eleonora” and Soseki’s “The First Night” , the reoccurring theme of death in conjunction with the setting, a common tone used by both authors, and the different and similar symbols used throughout their work result in similar moods of loneliness and isolation.
In the story “Eleonora”, Edgar Allan Poe sets the mood by first thoroughly illustrating the place where he lives. Poe characterizes a happy setting where he and his cousin lived together. He says they, “dwelled together, beneath a tropical sun, in the Valley of the Many- Colored Grass” (Poe, page 1). With this comment, it is obvious that Poe is happy and the environment around him is beautiful. When Eleonora dies, the story changes to a dark, isolated, and lonely mood. When defining the aftermath of her death, he says:
And then, lastly, the voluminous cloud up rose, and, abandoning the tops of the mountains to the dimness of old, fell back into the regions of Hesper and took away all its manifold golden and gorgeous glories from the Valley of Many-Colored Grass” (Poe, page 4).
This quote conveys the change from Poe being happy to him feeling isolated and lonely. Poe uses the setting to help explain and describe how he feels at the time and the progression from happiness to loneliness. Isolation and loneliness are displayed through him living in a valley by himself after Eleonora dies.
The setting for “The First Night” is quite different. There is no progression of change within the story. The setting of the story consistently remains gloomy. Soseki provides a desolate feeling throughout the story that gives the reader a sense of isolation and loneliness. Soseki’s story takes place inside of a man’s dream. The dream mostly occurs in a graveyard, where the character sits by a woman’s graveside for 100 years. The theme of loneliness is shown when the woman he loves dies. When the woman dies, he is left all alone for the 100 years he sits by her grave. 「しまいには、苔の生えた丸い石を眺めて、自分は女に欺されたのではなかろうかと思い出した」(Soseki, page 6). This quote explains how he waits next to the woman’s grave for 100 years and how disappointed and lonely he feels when he thinks she is deceiving him because she has not come back.
Both authors also use a similar tone when they lose the woman they love. After Eleonora dies, Poe uses a very depressed tone. Poe describes his sadness by stating how everything becomes quiet and decays away after Eleonora dies. He says:
And the golden and silver fish swam down through the gorge at the lower end of our domain and bedecked the sweet river never again. And the lulling melody that had been softer than the wind-harp of Aeolus, and more divine than all save the voice of Eleonora, it died little by little away, in murmurs growing lower and lower, until the stream returned, at length, utterly, into the solemnity of its original silence (Poe, page 4).
After the woman dies in Soseki’s story, he also adopts a depressed tone. Soseki says, 「それでも百年がまだ来ない」 (Soseki, page 6) to try to get his readers to feel sad for his character because it sounds like his character has lost hope in the waiting period of 100 years. It is through this tone that their doubts, true feelings, and loneliness are shown. The sadness reveals how alone and isolated the characters feel they are. Both Poe and Soseki have successfully used a depressed tone to relate better to readers and to draw them into the story.
Finally, Poe and Soseki use the theme of death to create different symbols that represent the same concept. In Soseki’s “The First Night”, he uses the sun to represent the time that has passed by.「そのうちに、女のいった通り日が東から出た。大きな赤い日であった。それがまた女のいった通り、やがて西え落ちた。赤いまんまでのっと落ちて行った」(Soseki, page 5). This quote explains how the sun rises and sets just as the woman says it will before she dies in the story. Without the sun, there would be no concept of how much time is passing in the story.In “Eleonora”, Poe uses the clouds parting from the mountains as a symbol for how he feels when Eleonora leaves him. He says, “The voluminous cloud up rose and abandoned the tops of the mountains” (Poe, page 4). He uses this quote as a symbol to convey how he feels abandoned when Eleonora is taken from him.
Another symbol Poe uses in “Eleonora” are the promises she made to him to symbolize her everlasting life. He says:
Yet the promises of Eleonora were not forgotten; for I heard the sounds of the swinging of the censers of the angels; and streams of a holy perfume floated ever and ever about the valley; and at lone hours, when my heart beat heavily, the winds that bathed my brow came unto me laden me with soft signs; and indistinct murmurs filled often the night air, and once-oh, but once only! I was awakened from a slumber, like the slumber of death, by the pressing of spiritual lips upon my own (Poe, page 4).
Poe wanted to explain how she will always be there for him even though she is dead. It would be as if she is there in real life. In “The First Night”, the woman makes a similar promise to the man. She says 「百年、私の墓の傍に座って待っていて下さい。きっと逢いにきますから」 (Soseki, page 4). She promises to him that she will come back after a 100 years to meet him again. The promises in Soseki’s story represent the hope she gives him. When she dies, the man will still have hope that he will see her again. It is not until after he realizes she is not returning that the story will adopt a melancholy tone.
The theme of death is pertinent throughout both stories for the plot. The plot of both stories are based upon how the male character loses the woman he loves. The reoccurring theme of death in both stories creates similar settings where loneliness and isolation are shown, a common tone used by both authors, and symbols that are both the same and different throughout their work. The use of symbols, tone, and themes were all blended together to create two similar works, but yet they are different in more ways than one.
In the story “Eleonora”, Edgar Allan Poe sets the mood by first thoroughly illustrating the place where he lives. Poe characterizes a happy setting where he and his cousin lived together. He says they, “dwelled together, beneath a tropical sun, in the Valley of the Many- Colored Grass” (Poe, page 1). With this comment, it is obvious that Poe is happy and the environment around him is beautiful. When Eleonora dies, the story changes to a dark, isolated, and lonely mood. When defining the aftermath of her death, he says:
And then, lastly, the voluminous cloud up rose, and, abandoning the tops of the mountains to the dimness of old, fell back into the regions of Hesper and took away all its manifold golden and gorgeous glories from the Valley of Many-Colored Grass” (Poe, page 4).
This quote conveys the change from Poe being happy to him feeling isolated and lonely. Poe uses the setting to help explain and describe how he feels at the time and the progression from happiness to loneliness. Isolation and loneliness are displayed through him living in a valley by himself after Eleonora dies.
The setting for “The First Night” is quite different. There is no progression of change within the story. The setting of the story consistently remains gloomy. Soseki provides a desolate feeling throughout the story that gives the reader a sense of isolation and loneliness. Soseki’s story takes place inside of a man’s dream. The dream mostly occurs in a graveyard, where the character sits by a woman’s graveside for 100 years. The theme of loneliness is shown when the woman he loves dies. When the woman dies, he is left all alone for the 100 years he sits by her grave. 「しまいには、苔の生えた丸い石を眺めて、自分は女に欺されたのではなかろうかと思い出した」(Soseki, page 6). This quote explains how he waits next to the woman’s grave for 100 years and how disappointed and lonely he feels when he thinks she is deceiving him because she has not come back.
Both authors also use a similar tone when they lose the woman they love. After Eleonora dies, Poe uses a very depressed tone. Poe describes his sadness by stating how everything becomes quiet and decays away after Eleonora dies. He says:
And the golden and silver fish swam down through the gorge at the lower end of our domain and bedecked the sweet river never again. And the lulling melody that had been softer than the wind-harp of Aeolus, and more divine than all save the voice of Eleonora, it died little by little away, in murmurs growing lower and lower, until the stream returned, at length, utterly, into the solemnity of its original silence (Poe, page 4).
After the woman dies in Soseki’s story, he also adopts a depressed tone. Soseki says, 「それでも百年がまだ来ない」 (Soseki, page 6) to try to get his readers to feel sad for his character because it sounds like his character has lost hope in the waiting period of 100 years. It is through this tone that their doubts, true feelings, and loneliness are shown. The sadness reveals how alone and isolated the characters feel they are. Both Poe and Soseki have successfully used a depressed tone to relate better to readers and to draw them into the story.
Finally, Poe and Soseki use the theme of death to create different symbols that represent the same concept. In Soseki’s “The First Night”, he uses the sun to represent the time that has passed by.「そのうちに、女のいった通り日が東から出た。大きな赤い日であった。それがまた女のいった通り、やがて西え落ちた。赤いまんまでのっと落ちて行った」(Soseki, page 5). This quote explains how the sun rises and sets just as the woman says it will before she dies in the story. Without the sun, there would be no concept of how much time is passing in the story.In “Eleonora”, Poe uses the clouds parting from the mountains as a symbol for how he feels when Eleonora leaves him. He says, “The voluminous cloud up rose and abandoned the tops of the mountains” (Poe, page 4). He uses this quote as a symbol to convey how he feels abandoned when Eleonora is taken from him.
Another symbol Poe uses in “Eleonora” are the promises she made to him to symbolize her everlasting life. He says:
Yet the promises of Eleonora were not forgotten; for I heard the sounds of the swinging of the censers of the angels; and streams of a holy perfume floated ever and ever about the valley; and at lone hours, when my heart beat heavily, the winds that bathed my brow came unto me laden me with soft signs; and indistinct murmurs filled often the night air, and once-oh, but once only! I was awakened from a slumber, like the slumber of death, by the pressing of spiritual lips upon my own (Poe, page 4).
Poe wanted to explain how she will always be there for him even though she is dead. It would be as if she is there in real life. In “The First Night”, the woman makes a similar promise to the man. She says 「百年、私の墓の傍に座って待っていて下さい。きっと逢いにきますから」 (Soseki, page 4). She promises to him that she will come back after a 100 years to meet him again. The promises in Soseki’s story represent the hope she gives him. When she dies, the man will still have hope that he will see her again. It is not until after he realizes she is not returning that the story will adopt a melancholy tone.
The theme of death is pertinent throughout both stories for the plot. The plot of both stories are based upon how the male character loses the woman he loves. The reoccurring theme of death in both stories creates similar settings where loneliness and isolation are shown, a common tone used by both authors, and symbols that are both the same and different throughout their work. The use of symbols, tone, and themes were all blended together to create two similar works, but yet they are different in more ways than one.
Created April 2014.
Last Edited 20 June 2016.