Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Classics?

A few rich and ruthless people have locked themselves in their palaces in the middle of nowhere, a long with a suite of young and old in order to enjoy in the charms of sex and obscenity for 120 days.
120 days of Sodoma, that is. A cult work by Marquis de Sade. When it appeared it caused a great scandal. It is not really for children but today is considered a classic. De Sade wrote it in prison, so only the first part was written in detail. The rest is made of footnote and shorter synopsises, information which De Sade wrote for himself. In his works he also spoke about corrupted judges and ruthless rich men. The criminals of this book are the pillars of society.
Tropic of Cancer, by Henry Miller was written in first person, about an adventurer who lived in Paris, and who wanted to become a writer. His top level style of writing and the interesting plots were overshadowed by explicit scenes and obscene language that shocked the nation. Some of the characters were inspired by real people, and the third chapter was dedicated to (imagine this) a prostitute!
Lolita, by Vladimir Nabukov shocked the world telling a story of a middle-aged man, Humbert Humbert, who desperately falls in love with twelve-year-old Lolita. It was labeled pornography and a work which promotes pedophilia. The book recorded crazy sales, but no one wanted to admit having it. Today the book is also considered a critic of American society, full of many witty lingual games and references to classic works. Nabukov admitted that Humbert was and extremely unpleasant person
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, where Holden Caulfield uses dirty words, hangs out with prostitutes and generally does not behave decently, was "shameful" and controversial. However this book is considered a masterpiece of literature from the past century. Mark David Chapman, the murderer of John Lennon, was carrying the book with him at the time of the murder...Not the best recommendation for it, but it is still admired by some of the smartest people in the world.
Lady Chatterley’s Lover, by D.H. Lawrence, is about young aristocratic Constance, wife of Clifford Chatterley, frustrated with her husband’s impotence caused by his paralysis, started messing around with Oliver Mellors, who is of a much lower class than her. Constance realises that to fulfil a complete life, she must not live only with her mind, but also with her body. Head prosecutor, who in court tried to explain the book was pornography, when asked if it were the kind of book "you would wish your wife or servants to read answered - Yes, Sir!

.

No comments: