The Representation of the Journey in Sixteenth Century Literature - Essay Example

The Representation of the Journey in Sixteenth Century Literature Introduction From Homer to Steven King the authors applied journey' as a recognized literary instrument. Journeys always played a great role and had a very important meaning in literature. Many literary creations start with journey that lasts up to the end of writing often representing the foundation of the plot. It is remarkable that sometimes these trips are not physical travellings from one place to another. In a narrative, journey often represents mental development of an individual or cause great changes in his life. An author may create a story about hero’s trip in order to join motivating essentials to make his character go through development or change. The given paper will discuss the journey in Sixteenth century literature. Journey in The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, a play by Christopher Marlowe Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus is known as ‘Renaissance Man’, because he represents the mood and the essence of the Renaissance epoch. Here the author applies journey in order to make his hero, a very educated person, reach better understanding of what he already knows Faust's way starts in the land of knowledge and finished when he appears in Hell. The journey has a very important meaning not only for the author’s contemporaries but for modern readers because the author shows exactly where the journey of Faustus starts and where it ends (Snydre, 1966). Even now we can come to hostelry To-the-Lion, where in the room number five the hero started his journey. This atmosphere can inspire to create one more story about modern Faustus who lives among us. And in the town of Staufen one can easily find the place where Faustus was peaked up by devil: You stars that reigned at my nativity  whose influence hath allotted death and hell  Now draw up Faustus, like a foggy mist,  Into the entrails of yon laboring cloud. Notwithstanding that Faustus’ trip finishes in Hell, the important point of the Marlowe’s creation supports the Protestant idea that the seeking sacred salvation is an individual task that needs no mediator (Snydre, 1966). Individuals can damn themselves because of what they did however they have a chance to atone. The next famous quote reflects this idea. Mephastophilis states: Why this is hell, nor am I out of it. Think'st thou that I, who saw the face of God, And tasted the eternal joys of heaven, Am not tormented with ten thousand hells In being deprived of everlasting bliss? The lesson of the author is that he deviates from the morals by finishing Faustus’ journey in Hell: the advices of figurative personages such as Old Man were not paid enough attention. Journey the in works of Anne Askew and Jane Grey In literature the word “journey” receives a lot of new meanings. It may also seem a travelling from life to death. Also some literary creations make the reader travel to the past. And this meaning is given to the writing by the author usually unintentionally, because nobody knows about the time of his death. The sixteenth century also has such literary creations. It is the works of Anne Askew who is famous first of all by her writing telling us about her own life. In these literary creations, titled the Examinations (1546, 1547), the author tell us about her imprisonment, stating about her innocence. Such autobiographical works make the reader travel to the past, learn about the history not from the historians but from the people who were their and suffered that personally (Waller, 2006). The same can be said about autobiographic poetry of Lady Jane Grey, her poems about the imprisonment: Sitting here, pondering what I will be or if at all future generations remember me Journey in Sonnets by Shakespeare The journey plays an important role in Sonnets by Shakespeare. The author represents different journeys, both mental and physical. Sonnet 27 is somewhat thoughtful and calm, portraying the topic of insomnia, parting, misfortune and painful memories. Here the author shows how feelings and memories of the person do not let him fall asleep, and the pictures that appears before him in darkness: Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed,, The dear repose for limbs with travel tired; But then begins a journey in my head To work my mind, when body's work's expired: The hero’s journey to his dear girl is mental, the physical journey is finished. In Sonnet 50 poet shows the journey as the representation of sorrow. The hero has to leave his friend because of the journey; How heavy do I journey on the way, When what I seek, my weary travel's end, Doth teach that ease and that repose to say, 'Thus far the miles are measured from thy friend!' The beast that bears me, tired with my woe, His heart is crying and it seems that he deliberately does his best to make this journey more difficult, while there are a lot of easier ways. However, the character simply does not care about his trip, about what houses he has and what road he rides. This journey is the way of sorrow, so it can’t be and should not be pleasant: More sharp to me than spurring to his side; For that same groan doth put this in my mind, My grief lies onward, and my joy behind. The next Sonnet 51 in its turn shows the heroes’ way back to his beloved. However this Sonnet has another important meaning: it shows the travelling from youth to maturity. Conclusion In literature journey is an instrument that helps understand hero’s inner world, his states, dreams and intentions. Also it is a way of mental development of the represented personality. The author usually creates a story about hero’s trip in order to join motivating essentials to make his character go through development or change. The journey helps the author reflect his thoughts and state his lesson. Without the journey, physical or mental, it would be impossible for the authors to represents the feeling of the hero, develop his character, change his way of life. Only a long way can lead us to the truth, wisdom and happiness. Works Cited Snydre, Susan. Marlowe's Doctor Faustus as an Inverted Saint's Life. Studies in Philology, 1966; Shakespeare's Sonnets in Latin, translated by Alfred Thomas Barton, newly edited by Ludwig Bernays, Edition Signathur, Dozwil, 2006; Waller, Maureen. Sovereign Ladies: Sex, Sacrifice, and Power. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2006 Read More