King Lear, written by William Shakespeare around 1604-1606, is a tragedy that follows the story of King Lear, who decides to retire and divide his kingdom among his three daughters: Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. The division is based on the eloquence of their declarations of love for him. However, Lear's youngest and favorite daughter, Cordelia, refuses to flatter him and is disinherited. The play unfolds with Lear's descent into madness, the betrayal by his elder daughters, and the subplot involving the Earl of Gloucester and his sons. Ultimately, the play ends in tragedy with the deaths of Lear, Cordelia, and several other main characters, highlighting themes of deception, power, and the consequences of poor judgment[1][2][5].
Four Quartets is a cycle of four poems by T.S. Eliot, each titled with a place name: 'Burnt Norton,' 'East Coker,' 'The Dry Salvages,' and 'Little Gidding.' The poems are meditations on time, redemption, and eternity, blending Eliot's Anglo-Catholicism with mystical, philosophical, and poetic elements from various traditions. Each quartet has five sections and explores themes such as the conflict between individual mortality and the endless span of human existence, the nature of spirituality, and the relationship between the present and the past. The work is considered Eliot's masterpiece and his clearest exposition of his Christian beliefs[2][4][5].
Published in 1928, 'Decline and Fall' is Evelyn Waugh's first novel and a brilliant satire of English school life in the 1920s. The story follows Paul Pennyfeather, a theology student who is expelled from Oxford after a drunken incident involving the Bollinger Club. He then takes a job as a schoolmaster at a private school in Wales, where he encounters a cast of eccentric and misfit characters. The novel lampoons various aspects of British society, including public schools, the aristocracy, and the penal system, using Waugh's characteristic black humor and satire. Paul's misadventures include his involvement with the wealthy and unscrupulous Margot Beste-Chetwynde and his eventual imprisonment for his unwitting role in her prostitution business.
The Book of Job is an Old Testament book that explores themes of suffering, faith, and the nature of God. It tells the story of Job, a righteous man who endures immense suffering despite his piety. The book features dialogues between Job and his friends, who attempt to explain his suffering, and between Job and God. It raises profound questions about the relationship between God and humanity, the problem of evil, and the meaning of life. The Book of Job is considered a literary masterpiece, known for its poetic language and philosophical depth. It remains a source of reflection and inspiration for readers grappling with the complexities of faith and suffering.
In 'Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief', Jordan Peterson synthesizes insights from neuropsychology, cognitive science, and Jungian approaches to mythology and narrative. The book examines why people from different cultures and eras have formulated myths and stories with similar structures, and how these myths reflect fundamental aspects of human cognition and morality. Peterson argues that the human mind categorizes the world into known and unknown territories, and that myths and religious stories represent the eternal struggle between order and chaos. He also discusses the role of heroic figures in bridging these two realms and the importance of confronting the unknown to achieve personal and societal growth. The book is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary work that aims to make the wisdom of myth accessible to the modern mind[3][4][5].
In 'We Who Wrestle with God', Dr. Peterson delves into the ancient, foundational stories of the Western world. He analyzes Biblical accounts of rebellion, sacrifice, suffering, and triumph, such as the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, the Tower of Babel, Abraham, and Moses. The book explores how these stories stabilize, inspire, and unite us culturally and psychologically. It encourages readers to understand these narratives scientifically and spiritually, to become conscious of the structure of their souls and societies, and to see themselves and others in a new light.
The book details Zarathustra's descent from his mountain solitude to share his transformative ideas about humanity and existence. Nietzsche explores themes such as the rejection of traditional moral values, individualism, and the concept of the Overman. Zarathustra's interactions with various characters reveal his struggle to articulate his vision and confront prevailing societal values. The book also delves into the existential test of the eternal recurrence of the same and the importance of self-overcoming and personal transformation[2][4][5].
Rainer Maria Rilke's 'Archaic Torso of Apollo' is a sonnet that reflects on the power of art to transform and inspire. The poem, part of Rilke's collection 'New Poems', uses the image of a fragmented statue to evoke a sense of wholeness and to urge the reader to change their life. It is an example of ekphrastic poetry, where the poet describes a work of art to explore deeper themes.
In 'The Trial of God', Elie Wiesel crafts a powerful narrative that grapples with the question of divine justice in the face of human suffering. The story is set in a Ukrainian village after a pogrom, where a trial is held to question God's role in such atrocities. This work reflects Wiesel's own experiences with faith and suffering during the Holocaust, though it is not set in that era.
In 'Things Worth Remembering', Douglas Murray explores the significance of poetry by sharing passages from renowned poets and discussing their impact on human experience. The column highlights the importance of memorizing poetry as a way to preserve cultural heritage and personal resilience.
Douglas Murray is a prominent author and commentator known for his books such as 'The Strange Death of Europe', 'The Madness of Crowds', and 'The War on the West'. His works often explore themes of immigration, identity politics, and cultural shifts in the Western world. Murray's writing is characterized by its provocative nature and has been praised by conservatives while criticized by progressives.
This book provides a detailed presentation of Piaget's research and theories on how cognitive processes develop from infancy to adolescence. It emphasizes the role of environment and new information in shaping intelligence. The work is a classic in the field of developmental psychology and offers insights into Piaget's groundbreaking ideas.
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson and Douglas Murray, author of “The War on The West,” discuss how a misguided purpose leads to abject misery, the cowardice of experts who choose silence in the face of malevolence, the psychology of fear, and the necessity of willful exposure to combat it.
Douglas Murray is a British writer, playwright, media correspondent and political commentator. He is the founder of the think tank the Centre for Social Cohesion, which is now part of the Henry Jackson Society. His publications include but are not limited to: “The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam (2017),” “The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity (2019),” and most recently “The War on the West: How to Prevail in the Age of Unreason (2022)”. Murray has also written columns for publications such as “The Wall Street Journal” and is an associate editor for “The Spectator.”
- Links -
For Douglas Murray:
The War on the West (Book) https://www.amazon.com/War-West-How-Prevail-Unreason-ebook/dp/B09HM74J3X/
The Madness of Crowds (Book) https://www.amazon.com/Madness-Crowds-Gender-Identity-BESTSELLER/dp/1472979575/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Murray on Twitter @DouglasKMurray https://twitter.com/DouglasKMurray?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor