Stuck behind a paywall is the film, "The Age of Innocence," Martin Scorcese's tour de force film of for me, a deplored book, by Edith Wharton who just can't give her characters a break, giving them gruesome slow deaths of attrition which have more than once caused me to hurl her books across the room.
But I recall the film well from memory, as it was one of those movies frequently re-rerunning at night, which is when I am more active. The Age of Innocence is particularly focused on characters of the titled and statured who have everything to lose, therefore risk nothing, and in risking nothing they gain nothing. They don't grow but instead vy for power, property, posessions and people are just more chattle in circles valuing only appearance. If they alter at all it is in their increased prowess for deceit -- mostly of themselves.
If "we are special" is their mindset and by rights and birth more special than others, someone forgot to inform Winona Ryder. There's an entitlement and haughtiness, an icy center in the so-called privileged class who are shielded from consequences therefore unfamiliar with reality. A sense of right or wrong or common decency does not exist in a Socratic but demands absolute surrender of the individual to the laws of this community, which are cutthroat and dangerous.
No one can escape their fate in an Edith Wharton tome, everyone is just too attached to their echelonic superiority to break free from it and here is a real indication for the trap of wealth unearned or understood: If it starts to define you, you will crater. As too much success can kill the magic of many a great artist, becoming comfortable can cause stagnation and there's little more damaging to the soul than self-inflicted stagnation.
Daniel Day-Lewis plays the ULTIMATE wuss, a eunuch who won't take the reins and direct his destiny one way or another. Instead he waits, bound most sincerely by propriety. He is in earnest and wishes to think himself a fine specimen of strength and goodness, worthy of the titles and wealth into which he was raised.
In comes the cryptic and seemingly lost cousin Ellen (Michelle Pfeiffer) who reminds him that, at least at some time in hiis life, he remembered he might have wanted other things, might have felt a longing for freedom, before he was euniched into this ball-less wonder who truly thinks he's doing the right thing.
Ms. Wharton has a special place in hell for her earnest characters because they're the only ones who have a shot of getting out of whatever the torturous circumstances' particulars but, NO, if she can't get out, NO ONE'S GETTING OUT. Cousin Elle has swept in attemping to leave a disastrous and abusive marriage, but, perhaps I've spoken too soon. More later.
Since the tribe conducts itself honoring but appearance, anything goes! when no one's looking. Because these people live so du-plicitously, they assume everyone is like them so, as DDL's character and Ellen do all they can to restrain their impulses towards one another, it's already assumed they're having a torrid affair because certain people jump to the worst conclusions and want to believe the worst about others which says more about them then their objects of gossip and ridicule.
If DDL's character understood better the venality of his peerage he could ignore them, play the game as he wanted and live knowing of his "confines" but not being restricted by them. That he's never able to make a single move on his own autonomous behalf is true tragedy.
He resigns himself to his trapped life and tells himself it's "a good one." He forgets and suppresses his once greatest passion and during a trip with his son wind up in Paris where the Countess has settled since the long years of their parting. He has the opportunity to see her but OF COURSE he doesn't go because he ALWAYS stops himself and this lack of growth has derailed many pieces of literature that could be considered otherwise great.
HOWEVER, back to the Countess Elenska, Ellen did manage to get out of the grips of those merciless social circles, eluding a bad marriage and having her independence in Paris. I'd like to believe she was supremely happy and Wharton hadn't the bandwidth to describe happiness. She may not have united with who might have been the love of her life, but he wasn't worth it anyway. You have to fight for the good things and here was a man who gave up, perhaps tricked into it, but who would have given up anyway.
To certain sociopathic people, those adhering to principles are "suckers born every minute." P.T. Barnum may have been right but, the REAL suckers are those dumb enough to believe there aren't any principles at all and who lie to themselves that living that way means they've won. They're LOSERS and they haven't a clue the karma they're creating for themselves, the self-castration they've caused, who personsify the imbecility that substitutes playing games for living life and living it well.
Age of Innocence, my a--. Yes another title from Wharton attempting glibness when there's no better title for these people than "pathetic."
(Now, don't get me started on House of Mirth! UGH.)
This class of superfluous
But I recall the film well from memory, as it was one of those movies frequently re-rerunning at night, which is when I am more active. The Age of Innocence is particularly focused on characters of the titled and statured who have everything to lose, therefore risk nothing, and in risking nothing they gain nothing. They don't grow but instead vy for power, property, posessions and people are just more chattle in circles valuing only appearance. If they alter at all it is in their increased prowess for deceit -- mostly of themselves.
If "we are special" is their mindset and by rights and birth more special than others, someone forgot to inform Winona Ryder. There's an entitlement and haughtiness, an icy center in the so-called privileged class who are shielded from consequences therefore unfamiliar with reality. A sense of right or wrong or common decency does not exist in a Socratic but demands absolute surrender of the individual to the laws of this community, which are cutthroat and dangerous.
No one can escape their fate in an Edith Wharton tome, everyone is just too attached to their echelonic superiority to break free from it and here is a real indication for the trap of wealth unearned or understood: If it starts to define you, you will crater. As too much success can kill the magic of many a great artist, becoming comfortable can cause stagnation and there's little more damaging to the soul than self-inflicted stagnation.
Daniel Day-Lewis plays the ULTIMATE wuss, a eunuch who won't take the reins and direct his destiny one way or another. Instead he waits, bound most sincerely by propriety. He is in earnest and wishes to think himself a fine specimen of strength and goodness, worthy of the titles and wealth into which he was raised.
In comes the cryptic and seemingly lost cousin Ellen (Michelle Pfeiffer) who reminds him that, at least at some time in hiis life, he remembered he might have wanted other things, might have felt a longing for freedom, before he was euniched into this ball-less wonder who truly thinks he's doing the right thing.
Ms. Wharton has a special place in hell for her earnest characters because they're the only ones who have a shot of getting out of whatever the torturous circumstances' particulars but, NO, if she can't get out, NO ONE'S GETTING OUT. Cousin Elle has swept in attemping to leave a disastrous and abusive marriage, but, perhaps I've spoken too soon. More later.
Since the tribe conducts itself honoring but appearance, anything goes! when no one's looking. Because these people live so du-plicitously, they assume everyone is like them so, as DDL's character and Ellen do all they can to restrain their impulses towards one another, it's already assumed they're having a torrid affair because certain people jump to the worst conclusions and want to believe the worst about others which says more about them then their objects of gossip and ridicule.
If DDL's character understood better the venality of his peerage he could ignore them, play the game as he wanted and live knowing of his "confines" but not being restricted by them. That he's never able to make a single move on his own autonomous behalf is true tragedy.
He resigns himself to his trapped life and tells himself it's "a good one." He forgets and suppresses his once greatest passion and during a trip with his son wind up in Paris where the Countess has settled since the long years of their parting. He has the opportunity to see her but OF COURSE he doesn't go because he ALWAYS stops himself and this lack of growth has derailed many pieces of literature that could be considered otherwise great.
HOWEVER, back to the Countess Elenska, Ellen did manage to get out of the grips of those merciless social circles, eluding a bad marriage and having her independence in Paris. I'd like to believe she was supremely happy and Wharton hadn't the bandwidth to describe happiness. She may not have united with who might have been the love of her life, but he wasn't worth it anyway. You have to fight for the good things and here was a man who gave up, perhaps tricked into it, but who would have given up anyway.
To certain sociopathic people, those adhering to principles are "suckers born every minute." P.T. Barnum may have been right but, the REAL suckers are those dumb enough to believe there aren't any principles at all and who lie to themselves that living that way means they've won. They're LOSERS and they haven't a clue the karma they're creating for themselves, the self-castration they've caused, who personsify the imbecility that substitutes playing games for living life and living it well.
Age of Innocence, my a--. Yes another title from Wharton attempting glibness when there's no better title for these people than "pathetic."
(Now, don't get me started on House of Mirth! UGH.)
This class of superfluous
With ToNT.oRg!
Today, forage around and find the nourishment you need. Your Spirit will always provide when you ask sincerely, are open with love, and accept what divine intelligence brings.
Today, forage around and find the nourishment you need. Your Spirit will always provide when you ask sincerely, are open with love, and accept what divine intelligence brings.
The moment we cling to thoughts serving the past our minds become like stagnant pools of water. In order to have a healthy mind we need new thoughts, full of love, to stimulate and nourish our souls' growth.
(Please remember you can play our cafe music as you're reading along!)
Can't go out to eat??!
Stay in with us & feed your soul.
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Your inner life is fed on the diet of your usual thoughts and emotions. Direct them to what is beautifully positive and your life transforms. Mastery and expansion bring lasting happiness; more growth means more fun out of life! Therefore, embrace the valuable lessons of tough times and go within so you can have more love and a greater appetite for the world "without"!
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