#interpretations

[violetsbookshelf]

Romeo and Juliet - Act 5, Scene 3 (Romeo and Juliet's death) varying interpretations

[princesssarisa]

In the past I've shared other people's musings about the different interpretations of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Namely, why Orpheus looks back at Eurydice, even though he knows it means he'll lose her forever. So many people seem to think they've found the one true explanation of the myth. But to me, the beauty of myths is that they have many possible meanings.

So I thought I would share a list of every interpretation I know, from every serious adaptation of the story and every analysis I've ever heard or read, of why Orpheus looks back.

One interpretation – advocated by Monteverdi's opera, for example – is that the backward glance represents excessive passion and a fatal lack of self-control. Orpheus loves Eurydice to such excess that he tries to defy the laws of nature by bringing her back from the dead, yet that very same passion dooms his quest fo fail, because he can't resist the temptation to look back at her.

He can also be seen as succumbing to that classic "tragic flaw" of hubris, excessive pride. Because his music and his love conquer the Underworld, it might be that he makes the mistake of thinking he's entirely above divine law, and fatally allows himself to break the one rule that Hades and Persephone set for him.

Then there are the versions where his flaw is his lack of faith, because he looks back out of doubt that Eurydice is really there. I think there are three possible interpretations of this scenario, which can each work alone or else co-exist with each other. From what I've read about Hadestown, it sounds as if it combines all three.

In one interpretation, he doubts Hades and Persephone's promise. Will they really give Eurydice back to him, or is it all a cruel trick? In this case, the message seems to be a warning to trust in the gods; if you doubt their blessings, you might lose them.

Another perspective is that he doubts Eurydice. Does she love him enough to follow him? In this case, the warning is that romantic love can't survive unless the lovers trust each other. I'm thinking of Moulin Rouge!, which is ostensibly based on the Orpheus myth, and which uses Christian's jealousy as its equivalent of Orpheus's fatal doubt and explicitly states "Where there is no trust, there is no love."

The third variation is that he doubts himself. Could his music really have the power to sway the Underworld? The message in this version would be that self-doubt can sabotage all our best efforts.

But all of the above interpretations revolve around the concept that Orpheus looks back because of a tragic flaw, which wasn't necessarily the view of Virgil, the earliest known recorder of the myth. Virgil wrote that Orpheus's backward glance was "A pardonable offense, if the spirits knew how to pardon."

In some versions, when the upper world comes into Orpheus's view, he thinks his journey is over. In this moment, he's so ecstatic and so eager to finally see Eurydice that he unthinkingly turns around an instant too soon, either just before he reaches the threshold or when he's already crossed it but Eurydice is still a few steps behind him. In this scenario, it isn't a personal flaw that makes him look back, but just a moment of passion-fueled carelessness, and the fact that it costs him Eurydice shows the pitilessness of the Underworld.

In other versions, concern for Eurydice makes him look back. Sometimes he looks back because the upward path is steep and rocky, and Eurydice is still limping from her snakebite, so he knows she must be struggling, in some versions he even hears her stumble, and he finally can't resist turning around to help her. Or more cruelly, in other versions – for example, in Gluck's opera – Eurydice doesn't know that Orpheus is forbidden to look back at her, and Orpheus is also forbidden to tell her. So she's distraught that her husband seems to be coldly ignoring her and begs him to look at her until he can't bear her anguish anymore.

These versions highlight the harshness of the Underworld's law, and Orpheus's failure to comply with it seems natural and even inevitable. The message here seems to be that death is pitiless and irreversible: a demigod hero might come close to conquering it, but through little or no fault of his own, he's bound to fail in the end.

Another interpretation I've read is that Orpheus's backward glance represents the nature of grief. We can't help but look back on our memories of our dead loved ones, even though it means feeling the pain of loss all over again.

Then there's the interpretation that Orpheus chooses his memory of Eurydice, represented by the backward glance, rather than a future with a living Eurydice. "The poet's choice," as Portrait of a Lady on Fire puts it. In this reading, Orpheus looks back because he realizes he would rather preserve his memory of their youthful, blissful love, just as it was when she died, than face a future of growing older, the difficulties of married life, and the possibility that their love will fade. That's the slightly more sympathetic version. In the version that makes Orpheus more egotistical, he prefers the idealized memory to the real woman because the memory is entirely his possession, in a way that a living wife with her own will could never be, and will never distract him from his music, but can only inspire it.

Then there are the modern feminist interpretations, also alluded to in Portrait of a Lady on Fire but seen in several female-authored adaptations of the myth too, where Eurydice provokes Orpheus into looking back because she wants to stay in the Underworld. The viewpoint kinder to Orpheus is that Eurydice also wants to preserve their love just as it was, youthful, passionate, and blissful, rather than subject it to the ravages of time and the hardships of life. The variation less sympathetic to Orpheus is that Euyridice was at peace in death, in some versions she drank from the river Lethe and doesn't even remember Orpheus, his attempt to take her back is selfish, and she prefers to be her own free woman than be bound to him forever and literally only live for his sake.

With that interpretation in mind, I'm surprised I've never read yet another variation. I can imagine a version where, as Orpheus walks up the path toward the living world, he realizes he's being selfish: Eurydice was happy and at peace in the Elysian Fields, she doesn't even remember him because she drank from Lethe, and she's only following him now because Hades and Persephone have forced her to do so. So he finally looks back out of selfless love, to let her go. Maybe I should write this retelling myself.

Are any of these interpretations – or any others – the "true" or "definitive" reason why Orpheus looks back? I don't think so at all. The fact that they all exist and can all ring true says something valuable about the nature of mythology.

[wouldwind]

Shouting At The Lawn: Distant Early Warning (Here comes the sun)

Crier à la pelouse : Avertissement précoce lointain (Voici le soleil)

FLORAL MUPPET | MUPPET FLORAL

[kisses4alex]

another ramble about arctic monkeys:

body paint.

I’ve always seen it as a song which is basically like turner’s time capsule in musical form, like an actor riffling through stolen props and costumes from various shows and productions, reminiscing on each of them to the audience, how each of them have had a lasting impact on his life. along with this I also see it as him reflecting on who he’s turned into and also his insecurities maybe that have formed from being perceived by so many at such a young age, he matured in the public eye, not quite grow up. yeah he and the band debuted officially at 20 however they were playing locally even before then around 16/17. yeah that’s not as young as most musicians like billie eilish but now we have the expanses of social media, they didn’t really, getting that much fame at an age where people are still very much figuring out their identity and who they are, freshly out of teen hood, must’ve been really overwhelming. I feel like body paint is an ode to that almost and how he’s had to put on so many acts and facades and what scars they’ve almost left him with. I was also looking at the spotify graphic and that helps my point, it’s just him walking around in the spotlight aimlessly. It’s almost like he’s accepted that no matter what, he’ll be watched now always, like a bug in a jar. It also I feel like could symbolise how he felt like the only one perceived so thoroughly, yeah sure the rest of the members weren’t fully ignored but turner, as the frontman, definitely had a lot more focus on him to say the least. yeah. hope that makes sense. late night ramble. in conclusion, I hate interpreting songs just as they are with their “intended” meaning (music is art, hoes), especially love songs. be more fun, stop taking music as literally sometimes. peace out

[aquatic-indie-gal]

Finally Got the Kick Start Off with My Very Own Interpretations on Patrice & Nate's Own Parents with My Own Showcase of the Fourth Sibling/Sister to the Dave Brothers, Audrey, Whose Patrice's Mother (Got the Name Ideas from @djinarocks).

Some Personal Bios on My Headcanons for The Kids' Own Parents.

Patrice's Parents: Jim & Audrey

Jim (Patrice's Father) is a Gardner and a Fisherman Who Works at the Gas Station as He's Quite Individual, Honest, and Smart Figuring Things Out Slowly Instead of Jumping into Conclusions but doesn't Mind the Dave Brothers' Craziness, Especially Crazy Dave's.

Audrey (Patrice's Mother & Crazy Dave's Younger Sister) is Very Brave and Skilled but also Generally Kind, Cheeky, & Cheerful Who Doesn't Care What the Entire Town Thinks of Her Brother's Craziness since She Loves Him and Often Looks Up to Crazy Dave, She Can Also Fight Using Martial Arts since She was More of a Karate Fighter of a Tomboy than a Ballerina of a Girly-Girl despite the Fact She Loves Flowers but Never Really Considers Them to be a "Girly" Plant.

Jim and Audrey Met When They were Tweens Did They Started Hanging Out When Their Mothers were Working Together in the Same Job Often Hanging Out to Help Each Other Soon Becoming Lovers Did They End Up Having Patrice. Of course, Much like with Their Daughter and Brother/Brother-In-Law, They Too Despise Zomboss for Trying to Take Over Their Town.

Nate's Parents: Harry & Liz

Harry (Nate's Father) Works at a Pizza Place and is Another Eater Challenger Which is What His Son Inherited from His Big Love of Food Which is What Harry is Mostly a Fan of. A Very Goofy but Sweet and Nice Guy with a Fun Personality, He Also Works in Other Food Places Other Than Pizza like Tacos, Burgers, or Ice Cream but is Also a Kind of Game Challenger, Not Just on Food, but Also in Other Challenges He's Signed into. Hence, that's Why Nate Looks Up to Him as His Own Hero.

Lizanne (Nate's Mother), Sometimes Known as Either "Liz" or "Anne" is a Very Hardworking Woman Catching Things Up on Her To-Do List While Trying to Take Care of Nate. Doesn't Have Too Many Jobs like Her Ex-Husband and Only Relies on Two Being that She's Also a Real Estate Agent and Works at a Certain Jewelry Store but She Does Help Her Son on Her Homework but Also Puts Him into Pressure to do His Chores Before He Could Go Out Freely with His Friends Because She Wants Her Son to Learn on How to be Independent Someday When He's Much Older. She Even Makes Nate Go on a Diet with Healthy Foods such as Salads since She Doesn't Want Nate to Relay Too Much on Junk Much to His Father's Dismay on His Love for Food.

Harry & Liz Met When They were Kindergarten (Way Longer Compare to Patrice's Parents) but They Did Fell in Love in High School When Harry Asked Liz if He Could Take Her to the Prom. Although Overtime Soonly After Having Nate, Their Love Started to Turn Sour as Harry & Liz Divorced When Nate was Only Around 8 Years Old was it Hard for the Boy to Choose on Which Parent He Should Live with More as Nate Now Lived with His Mother. Their Relationship Started to Heal when Nate was Around 9 but They didn't want to Live with Each Other as Harry Now Lives in a Van with Liz Taking Her Son to Visit Her Ex or Sometimes His Job Places which makes Nate Happy to Grow Up with His Divorce Parents.

Jimmy "Jim", Audrey Blazing (My Take on Patrice's Parents), Harold "Harry", & Lizanne ("Liz" or "Anne") Timely (My Take on Nate's Parents) (c) Me

Plants vs. Zombies (c) PopCap Entertainment & Dark Horse Comics

[pestinfestati0n]

yapping about Watcher Lore

Okay, so, i've recently gotten really interested in Life Series, and my favourite part about it all has just got to be Watcher lore. I have very specific interpretations of the Watchers and also of Grian, as he's my favourite Lifer- so i'm about to do some yapping about my headcanons and thoughts.

Spoilers ahead for Life Series and the ending of the EVO SMP.

The question I've always had is: in the lore, why was Grian specifically the one picked as a Watcher?

Of course, in reality we know it was because of him joining Hermitcraft and becoming a viewer of the EVO series, the Watchers originally being a stand-in for the audience of his youtube channel. But with the addition of Life Series and Martyn's Watcher lore expansion, the question comes back up again as a lore thing.

And I've got an interpretation of it that I just find really narratively satisfying.

Let's start with my idea of the Watchers in general. My thoughts are that their whole memo is something along the lines of "have reign over a server filled with lesser beings- players, create an illusion of peace for them, observe them, and then throw a wrench in everything by doing something drastic to screw everyone over, for entertainment."

Which is where we get to what exactly they noticed about EVO Grian, and what they commented on in the edited credits scene- how he always just trolled everyone and caused chaos. They found him to be a chaotic prankster, a force to be reckoned with, and yet... saw a Watcher in him.

The traits a Watcher was meant to have- create a sense of normalcy and then disturb it, create tension. Throw a wrench in plans to get a reaction out of people. This sort of sadistic chaos streak, seeking entertainment, is what they'd like. It was all there, all within Grian.

Which is why, in my opinion, they chose him.

In Martyn's Watcher lore introduced in Life Series, they seem to still be set on Grian, saying he "wasn't meant to be" a player. In my opinion, that is because Grian wouldn't end up being a picture perfect Watcher like they'd imagine, still showing more compassion and genuine humanity, still closer to a player than a detached, observant god. So they'd decide to punish him for his flaws by making him a player in a new game, putting him at a crossroads between becoming one permanently and staying a Watcher... They'd definitely be disappointed in Grian, seeing perfect Watcher traits in him and making him one of them only for him to misbehave while joining a server as a member, a player, instead of just sticking to his purpose of watching over EVO.

I also find it super interesting that in the EVO ending, the Watchers show a lot of emotion, almost like a fondness for the players, but more so in a way of looking back at it like a nostalgic memory, observing it, never participating.

And Grian as the third Watcher says "I look forward to watching you all", while in the same breath remarking that he's sad this is how it has to end for him.

I think that deep down, he found the idea of being a Watcher really appealing, cause it aligned perfectly with big parts of his personality... but he was sad about the fact that this'll remove him from the others, from his humanity, from himself. And yet he was looking forward to it, in some twisted way, the Watchers were right with it being perfect for him.

The Watchers are always detached from humanity and the players, which is a thing that Grian, despite his traits being perfectly Watcher compatible, could just never do. For him, his humanity was part of the fun, something the Watchers would never understand. These gods weren't capable of understanding that he's actually serious about the connections he made on Hermitcraft, that he was never happy to just watch, that he didn't want to feel that separation from players that the Watchers have.

And, now onto something I really love about this idea- that this interpretation heavily influences why exactly Life Series is a death match.

As I mentioned, they'd seemingly make it for him to be punished, but also to try to appease him and get him to behave as a proper Watcher again- tailoring their new game perfectly for him when noticing a sadistic streak about Grian (cause Grian often tends to get a lot of people killed in his chaos, seemingly revelling in the deaths too), making a death match almost to say "see how fun it would be to look at this and play with this? You want to be above them, you love to watch people die a painful death, you want to be above humanity like us"... while he'd still be so deeply human.

And they'd pick up on it, sort of "testing" if he'll pick his humanity over the satisfaction of observing a death match.

They'd pick specific contestants from their enemies, like people close to the Listeners such as Martyn (who gets referred to as "more of a Listener)... putting them there against Grian who they still saw as a potential perfect third Watcher.

They'd create a crossroads. Like an "us over them" type of deal. Like "will you go for these players, our ENEMIES, simple beings, or for us, gods, like you should be, when we're perfectly matching your personality?"

Eventually, seeing their efforts aren't leading to him sticking to his Watcher duties, their view of Grian would sour, saying he wasn't ever meant to be a player but chose it... and yet he's still a Watcher, they didn't toss him aside, they still focus on him- because they can't help seeing the perfect traits in him, having a sort of "soft spot" for him cause of seeing how his humanity could be removed and fixed.

Basically, Life series from Grian's perspective would be like a choice- a punishment if he chooses to be a player, or a reward in the eyes of Watchers if he chooses to behave and watch with them, observing what they feel like he'd love the most, to appease the parts of him that make him a perfect Watcher. Grian chooses to play, and yet to use his Watcher privileges, being stuck as both, every side trying to push him to be fully like them.

And as a big Grian fan i just love to characterize him like this. Inherently flawed, not good, not bad, never picking a side, always tethering on the edge of both, pissing off everyone and yet being liked by them- chaos, disorder, that's what he likes, neither perfect submission nor perfect dominance... cause neither the players nor the Watchers can really understand him, creating tension. Grian is messy, and I love the fact that he just has a love-hate relationship with both sides of the conflict- the players and the Watchers. Being neither and yet being both.

That's all- hope this makes sense... enjoy :)

[riri3i3i]

I love music interpretation because I have about fourteen ships, all in different scenarios and universes, being envisioned to every single song ever.

Oh heartbreaking song about losing a loved one? One of u bitches is dead

Love song about finding the romance you desperately craved? HA yes give me about seven more and play it four times on loop

A song that has nothing to do with romance? I'll make it work don't try me

The people in my head that I have decided are soulmates throughout every galaxy and every star will, in one way or another, be heavily romanticized or be associated by whatever song has came upon my clutches.