Willy Martinez's Blog, page 50

How Weed Makes These 7 Writers More Creative

You probably already know they smoked weed. Either because you are a guilty casual smoker, or because society has led you to believe that extremely creative people are more subject to try psychotropic drugs – or, recreational drug usage.

Some people think it’s hearsay that marijuana makes you more creative. But a quick look at the history of literature, music, and philosophy would suggest otherwise. And so would a lot of modern-day stoners. Many literary and musical geniuses boast the special powers that smoking weed gives them when it comes to creativity. Somehow, smoking weed gives us access to the parts of our mind that are full of ideas, and it is from this place that artists bring us their creations. This article is a tribute the authors who smoke weed; those who brought us the books and plays that we bury ourselves in when we get stoned!

Hunter S. ThompsonWeed smoking Hunter S. Thompson

Why not start where American literature really counts? Hunter S. Thompson is one of America’s iconic writers, becoming famous for his book, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. This wasn’t his only literary masterpiece, but it’s clear that Thompson has an affinity for the herb (and other drugs) in this book – which is actually all about that. Despite being a connoisseur of drugs, Hunter S. Thompson was deeply respected for his literature, whether it was in the form of books or journalism.

Carl SaganWeed smoking Carl Sagan

Creator of the famous documentary series, Cosmos, Carl Sagan is another on this list of famous authors who smoke weed. “The illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world,” is the way that Carl Sagan describes the current legal situation in the world with respect to marijuana. Sagan said that marijuana inspired him creatively, giving him access to a library of thoughts and ideas that were otherwise unavailable to him. And no doubt, writing while high was a favorite pastime for Sagan.

If you are enjoying this article, check out our other Literary reads, here.

Stephen KingWeed smoking Stephen King

If you ever read a novel by Stephen King, then you definitely got the feeling he was smoking something every now and then… at the very least. In his biography, King admits that he spent a lot of the 80s using cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana. Even though he isn’t proud of his past drug addictions, there was a lot of fuel in there for his interestingly twisted stories. And though he doesn’t use cannabis anymore, Stephen King advocates its legalization.

Quentin TarantinoWeed smoking Quentin Tarantino

This writer, director, and actor has become an icon in the American film industry. He is well known for his non-linear storylines that are full of action and satire. Tarantino is open about his use of marijuana, although he doesn’t use it while directing. In an interview after the release of Django Unchained, Tarantino said, “You smoke a joint, you put on some music, you listen to it and you come up with some good ideas…I don’t need pot to write, but it’s kind of cool.”

Elevate my Thoughts

We promise not to spam you or share your information with unwanted users. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again. William ShakespeareWeed smoking William SHakespeare

Okay, this one has largely been speculation… until now. William Shakespeare never admitted to using cannabis, but there is evidence to suggest that he may have enjoyed a pipe every now and then. Some tobacco pipes were dug out of Shakespeare’s garden by a team of South African scientists. When they tested these pipes, which were over 400 years old, they found cannabis in eight of the samples. So, it’s entirely possible that while Shakespeare was busy being one of the most influential writers in the history of literature, he was also smokin’ the herb!

Maya AngelouWeed smoking Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou is one of the most celebrated writers and poets in the USA. When it comes to authors who smoke weed, the famous writer  also made it to our list of influential women who like the herb. In her autobiography, Gather Together In My Name, she goes into great detail about her experiences with cannabis. She talks about what it was like to smoke weed and eat her mother’s dinners or go on adventures around town.

If you are enjoying this article, check out our other Literary reads, here.

Alexandre DumasWeed smoking Alexandre Dumas

We’re finishing this list of authors who smoke weed with Alexandre Dumas, the French writer responsible for The Three Musketeers. His literature was so popular, it was translated into over 100 languages. Alexandre Dumas was a founding member of Le Club de Hashishins, literally translating to the Hash-Eaters Club. It was a Parisian group dedicated to exploring drug-induced experiences, and it seems that the group itself didn’t lack writers. Charles Baudelaire, who we mentioned earlier, was also part of the Hash-Eaters Club.

Elevate my Thoughts

We promise not to spam you or share your information with unwanted users. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

The post How Weed Makes These 7 Writers More Creative appeared first on Mind on Fire Books.

Out To Burn Your Books! Even The Digital Ones.

The disturbing trend of school boards and lawmakers banning books from libraries and public schools is accelerating across the country. In response, Jason Perlow made a strong case for what he calls a “Freedom Archive,” a digital repository of banned books. Such an archive is the right antidote to book banning because, he contended, “You can’t burn a digital book.” The trouble is, you can.

Penguin Random House, the publisher of Maus, Art Spiegelman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the Holocaust, demanded that the Internet Archive remove the book from our lending library. Why? Because, in their words, “consumer interest in ‘Maus’ has soared” as the result of a Tennessee school board’s decision to ban teaching the book. By its own admission, to maximize profits, a Goliath of the publishing industry is forbidding our non-profit library from lending a banned book to our patrons: a real live digital book-burning.

Out To Burn Your Books! Even The Digital Ones.

We are the library of last resort, where anyone can get access to books that may be controversial wherever they happen to live — an existing version of Perlow’s proposed “Freedom Archive.” Today, the Internet Archive lends a large selection of other banned books, including Animal Farm, Winnie the Pooh, The Call of the Wild, and the Junie B. Jones and Goosebumps children’s book series. But all of these books are also in danger of being destroyed.

If you are enjoying this article, check out our other Literary reads, here.

In the summer of 2020, four of the largest publishers in the U.S. — Penguin Random House among them — sued to force our library to destroy the more than 1.4 million digital books in our collection. Their pending lawsuit, the publishers are using copyright law as a battering ram to assert corporate control over the public good. In this instance, that means destroying freely available books and other materials that people rely on to become productive and discerning participants in the country’s civic, economic, and social life. 

Out To Burn Your Books! Even The Digital Ones.

Copyright law grants authors and publishers a limited monopoly over the books they produce. The law also enshrines a host of socially beneficial uses the public may make of those books without permission or payment. The famously flexible fair use doctrine has allowed libraries to continue serving the public in the face of rapid technological and social change. 

If ever there was a moment of compelling “socially beneficial” access to books, it came in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person library use almost everywhere. In response to the unprecedented crisis, more than 100 libraries holding critical books they could not lend signed a statement supporting the Internet Archive’s establishment of a temporary National Emergency Library. The NEL allowed patrons controlled digital access to those collections that were locked away physically. It was a lifeline to trusted information for parents, teachers, and students around the world.

An Extreme Overreaction?

Yet, in an extreme overreaction to the facts, the publishers sued in June 2020 to shutter the NEL, along with our book lending practice as a whole. And in addition to demanding millions of dollars in monetary damages and fees, the lawsuit is calling on the Internet Archive to destroy all the digital books in our collections. It’s a digital book burning on a massive scale.

If the publishers prevail, much more than the future of the Internet Archive will be at risk. What publishers want is to end libraries’ ownership of their own collections. Instead, publishers want to rent digital books to libraries, like landlords. They want to control our cultural commons for their own commercial benefit. 

If you are enjoying this article, check out our other Literary reads, here.

Think about what just happened with Maus. When a local government entity banned this book, the publisher decided to pull it from a digital library’s bookshelves, restricting our patrons from reading it in order to extract maximum profits. Whether through corporate bullying or government banning, digital books are not immune from censorship.  

A Digital Ebook Anthology

The Internet Archive’s lending of a digital version of the book did nothing to diminish Maus‘s recent surge in sales. Even so, the publisher decided it had to do everything possible to remove the book from our library. It turns out you can burn a digital book.

This article has been reshared with permission. Originally printed at ZD Net.

Chris Freeland (@chrisfreeland) is a librarian and Director of the Internet Archive’s  Open Libraries program . 

Elevate my Thoughts

We promise not to spam you or share your information with unwanted users. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

The post Out To Burn Your Books! Even The Digital Ones. appeared first on Mind on Fire Books.

Haunted by Spirits: Poem by Thor S. Carlsson

Better let her write a rosy death letter,
Fanatic phantoms are trying to get her,
Spirits have haunted her ever since you met her,
She brushes possessions off like they don’t matter,
Mechanically magical, she tends to go manic and feral,
Eyes dilate and her smile will fade
Loving growls barked not through hate
This is the woman you married
The one you always wanted to date
Fictitious and studious, verbal but mute
She saunters through pagan woods, destitute
Leans towards the dark and less traveled route
Mohawk rangers slip in and out of cover
She cries silently for help to you, her lover

If you enjoyed “Haunted by Spirits,” we have more at The Ritual Blog.

Thor S. Carlsson is an Icelandic writer, poet and musician. Thor is listed as an Amazon author with a short story collection called, “Somnambulist Sonata,” and with a short story listed in Writers in Lockdown. You can read more of his poetry at at Instagram, here.

The post Haunted by Spirits: Poem by Thor S. Carlsson appeared first on Mind on Fire Books.

The Most Difficult Book to Finish, By Teresa Decker

Finally, a reason why us book lovers have a larger bookstack than we can keep up with! We alsways wondered why some books we can read quickly, while others seem to take a bit longer despite our high level of interest in the book.

Thanks to Teresa Decker, we can finally stop beating our selves up over those books we love, yet don’t seem to finish.

The Most Difficult Book to Finish

I love books. I love to read. Depending on length, I can finish a book in a week. I think this is true for most readers. However, there is one book that will take me longer to finish. 

The last book in the series. The end is in sight. The plot is wrapping up and the character arcs are nearing completion. I’ll start strong. But once I’m halfway through, I slow down. I’ll read a few pages here and there. I’ll do literally anything else. Except finish the book. 

The Most Difficult Book to Finish by Teresa Decker

I organized my kitchen cupobards. I worked on crochet projects. I picked up another book. I played video games. I played with the dogs. I checked out more books in the kindle store. I scrolled through social media. I did anything and everything but fnish the book. 

I have a hard time letting go of these characters. I have a hard time saying goodbye. I know I can revisit these worlds any time I want. Reading a book a second time is not the same experience as reading it the first time. Once the series is finished, it is finished forever. The experience is over. I am reluctant to say goodbye. 

If you are enjoying this article by Teresa Decker, check out our other Literary reads, here.

These characters have become my friends. Their struggles become my struggles. Sometimes, I find myself understanding the villain. I don’t agree with their methods but I can follow their logic. Yes, there is a longing to see how it all ends. But I’m not ready for it to end. I’m never ready for it to end. The end feels so…final. So, I walk around without closure on this story because I don’t want this story to end. 

It’s a lot like life, isn’t it? We prolong the stories we want to last because we’re not ready to say goodbye. We have such a strong reluctance to let go. Yet, there are so many other stories to read. There are so many wonderful, colorful, deep, and complex characters dying to meet us. All we have to do is finish our current story. Finish the book, put it down, and pick up a new one. It could be a romance. A thriller. A coming of age tale. Once we experience the next story, we’ll ask ourselves, 

“What took so long to read this story?”

Don’t let fear of letting go stop you from finishing your story. Don’t be afraid to say goodbye. Because each goodbye to one character turns into the introduction of a new character. A new character that has a new story to share. 

Teresa Decker is an independent writer and Tarot reader. You can often find her blogging on her Medium channel about personal experiences, gaming and helping her readers grow spiritually with her positive encouragement to those overcoming traumas. Soulful, creative, and expressive, we highly recommend you check her out here.

Elevate my Thoughts

We promise not to spam you or share your information with unwanted users. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

The post The Most Difficult Book to Finish, By Teresa Decker appeared first on Mind on Fire Books.

Six Spectacular Ukrainian Books You Can Read Now in English

With the international spotlight on the Ukrainian crisis, we are doing our part to highlight the arts and literature produced by this former Soviet-era country.

Ukrainian literature has struggled through centuries, oppressed and censored by autocratic regimes.

The Russian Empire and the Soviet Union banned the Ukrainian language, seized books, eliminated cultural organizations and politically repressed those who dared to disobey.

Thanks to dedicated writers, Ukrainian literature grew to be rich in genres and themes. And since Ukraine gained independence, the development of literary writing has been moving onwards and upwards.

“The Forest Song”

(Lesya Ukrainka, 1911)

Six Spectacular Ukrainian Books You Can Read Now in English

This fairy tale play, known in Ukrainian as “Lisova Pisnya,” is a classic of local literature. Considered one of the foundational works for future Ukrainian fantasy, the poetry play is often described as an anthem to nature and love, purity and beauty.

It’s the work of one of Ukraine’s most prominent writers, Lesya Ukrainka, whose real name was Larysa Kosach. The author wrote it inspired by her own observations of nature and the local folklore she explored as a child, ever since she first heard about various creatures in Ukrainian mythology. She secretly ran to the forest at night in hopes to meet mavka, a female mythological creature similar to a mermaid.

Mavka is the center character of “The Forest Song,” which portrays the complexities of an unlikely love between the forest creature and young man Lukash.

The author puts a sharp philosophical conflict at the forefront of the story: the incompatibility of a person’s high vocation with the humiliating, slavish conditions of their daily life. The play praises the unprecedented strength and grandeur of a free man.

Get a hardcover copy of “The Forest Song” in English on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3M8hSFa

If you are enjoying this article, check out our other Literary reads, here.“The Hunters and the Hunted”

(Ivan Bahrianyi, 1944)

One of the most fascinating adventure books in the history of Ukrainian literature, “The Hunters and the Hunted” was initially published in Ukrainian under the name “Tiger Trappers.”

Six Spectacular Ukrainian Books You Can Read Now in English

It is a multifaceted book, but first and foremost, it’s an expression of protest against human rights violations, portraying the striking tragedy of the Ukrainian people under the totalitarian Soviet regime. Ivan Bahriany portrays the life and traditions of Ukrainians exiled to the northern taiga. The plot follows Gregory and Natalka, whose love is put to the test.

The author shows the impact of Joseph Stalin’s terror on the fate of an individual and depicts the cruelty of the ruling elite’s servants. The novel is partly autobiographical — Bahrianyi himself was repressed for trumped-up charges of anti-Soviet activities. The original text of “The Hunters and the Hunted” was seized by authorities, but Bahrianyi rewrote it from memory after emigrating to Germany.

Although the novel has a specific time frame, it raises many eternal issues: good and evil, life and death, justice and punishment, moral choice, will to live and purpose, the relationship between a human and nature, family relations and, of course, love.

For the immeasurable impact on the Ukrainian culture, the book received the Shevchenko National Prize, the country’s highest state prize for the works of art.

You can purchase a copy at Amazon, here.

“The Grand Harmony”

(Bohdan Ihor Antonych, 1967)

Six Spectacular Ukrainian Books You Can Read Now in English

Bohdan Ihor Antonych is one of the most prominent and offbeat poets in the Ukrainian history. His exquisite inventive poetry is believed to have influenced generations of the future artists in Ukraine.

In the collection of poems “The Grand Harmony,” Antonych celebrates the unity of nature and man — a dominant topic in his works. The poet often compares himself to the animals and plants of his land, seeing himself and the whole human race as a small atom of the planet. Antonych’s peculiar religious views are often compared to the Buddhists’ interpretation of eternity: after six reincarnations in plant and animal forms, a human soul becomes a star in a constellation.

Get “The Grand Harmony” on Amazon here.

Elevate my Thoughts

We promise not to spam you or share your information with unwanted users. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again. “The Moscoviad”

(Yuri Andrukhovych, 1992)

Yuri Andrukhovych is a modern writer, whose style stands out with its unrestrained irony, allusion, parody and black humor.

Six Spectacular Ukrainian Books You Can Read Now in English

His postmodern novel “The Moscoviad” portrays a day in the life of a student of Moscow Literary Institute set in what appears to be the 1980–1990s. The dormitory, in which he lives, turns out to be a coven of writers from around the world who fritter their lives away, drinking, frolicking and exploring the crumbling city around them.

Using travesty and phantasmagoria, the author shows the devastation and emptiness that prevailed in the post-Soviet society in the waning days of the Soviet era.

The reader will be gripped by the depiction of grotesque and surreal rumors swirling around the forthcoming collapse of the Soviet empire. But the work is also full of realistic details of the time like huge lines to stores and countless rallies.

Get “The Moscoviad” on Amazon.

If you are enjoying this article, check out our other Literary reads, here.“Sweet Darusya: A Tale Of Two Villages”

(Maria Matios, 2004)

Six Spectacular Ukrainian Books You Can Read Now in English

Another winner of the Shevchenko National Prize, this novel portrays the pre-war and post-war periods of the Soviet occupation of western Ukraine.

At the center of the book, contemporary writer Maria Matios put the unfortunate fate of Darusya and her parents, who were terrorized by NKVD officers in the remote mountain village of Cheremoshne. The novel follows all the troubles of the family thrown in a whirl of cruel historical events, mixed with contrasting picturesque descriptions of local life and customs.

Combining indelible human evil with indestructible good at the same time, the story highlights the importance of solid family connections, as it condemns the horrific methods of totalitarian regimes.

Get “Sweet Darusya: A Tale Of Two Villages” on Amazon.

“Mesopotamia (The Margellos World Republic of Letters)”

(Serhiy Zhadan, 2014)

Six Spectacular Ukrainian Books You Can Read Now in English

“Mesopotamia (The Margellos World Republic of Letters)” is an award-winning book of one of Ukraine`s most acclaimed post-independence writers Serhiy Zhadan.

The collection of stories and poems is set in the eastern city of Kharkiv, where Zhadan has lived most of his life, calling the piece his most personal book. “Mesopotamia” transfers the story of Babylon onto the life of Kharkiv, where through the years, characters fight for their right to be heard and understood.

The book conveys the culture of the Kharkiv life through philosophical digressions, fantastic images, exquisite metaphors and humor. The author touches on the subjects of admission and betrayal, escape and return, tenderness and cruelty.

Get “Mesopotamia (The Margellos World Republic of Letters)” on Amazon.

If you are enjoying this article, check out our other Literary reads, here.

Elevate my Thoughts

We promise not to spam you or share your information with unwanted users. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

The post Six Spectacular Ukrainian Books You Can Read Now in English appeared first on Mind on Fire Books.

Timpani Abrasions: A Poem by Thor S. Carlsson

The girth, the mirth, the barren terraformed
satellite-turned second earth,
devolved, deformed split species mirror-human birth
Nonsurgical fixtures gleam on crescent fang
Dental textural, non-gender explosive bang
Immaculate leper gestations abound in timpani abrasions
Inside a cosmic elder giant’s molecule
Within a planetary, Mercury sized space station
Sobriquets and amulets, Montagues and Capulets
That’s how the new generation acts out elation
Sleep-like window walker vanishes
At the blink of a one-eyed neuro-stalker
That advances in choreographed cubensis
Symbiotic dances, each step, slowly leapt
Violently performing parasitic stalking
Curses and uvulas, labias dark union kept
The undead walking, mutes are talking
Jagged, hesitant, like Christopher Walken
Neptune beckons, beacons shine, Balkan sea
Screams at me, calls my name, calls out to me
Now is not my time. I can’t swim so leave me be
Laboriously oratorical front headline editorial
Darkens the shaded tears of passing at my memorial

If you enjoyed this poetry, we have more at The Ritual Blog.

Thor S. Carlsson is an Icelandic writer, poet and musician. Thor is listed as an Amazon author with a short story collection called, “Somnambulist Sonata,” and with a short story listed in Writers in Lockdown. You can read more of his poetry at at Instagram, here.

The post Timpani Abrasions: A Poem by Thor S. Carlsson appeared first on Mind on Fire Books.

Your Name is Perfect for Screaming in Despair: Poem by Thor S. Carlsson

Detuned barren wombs within non-therapeutic mirror rooms
Infectious death looms above doom-filled graveyard tombs
Your name is perfect for screaming in despair
Believe me, I heard it, I was there, I am always near
I am fear and I am dread and I am the sickness in your head
Red walls become green become black become see through
Then I attack, I see you, actually, I now have perfect view
A harrowing tale through the eyes of a sparrow blinking in allegro
Perception’s minefield is home to my perceived unkind yield
Mindsets upon sanity upon infinite grips of the world’s reality
You are a casualty lighting up my consumption plague fertility
Within me is a blood distillery, mental refinery, and both align for me
Grinding the sick into jewels that adorn me as jewelry
Bow your head and be afraid of me, I will come for you eventually

Art in main feature image is photographed by Christopher Campbell.

If you enjoyed this poem, “Your Name is Perfect for Screaming in Despair”, we have more at The Ritual Blog.

Thor. S. Carlsson

Thor S. Carlsson is an Icelandic writer, poet and musician. Thor is listed as an Amazon author with a short story collection called, “Somnambulist Sonata,” and with a short story listed in Writers in Lockdown. You can read more of his poetry at at Instagram, here.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. And when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life seems too good to be true.

Buy Now at Amazon

The post appeared first on Mind on Fire Books.

Like Two Skies For The Same Map: Best Flash Fiction

This flash fiction piece, “Like Two Skies” was recently written by Willy Martinez, in response to the accompanied artwork by Rob Hakemo on Instagram, here.

Like a map with two skies, as if two worlds overlapped on the same dimensional frequency, collapsing on one another.

The space purveyor had immersed from the disastrous collision. Thrown thousands of miles, even leagues across time, they survived. Fully understanding that they had become the parent of all mankind!

Finding themselves stuck between two worlds – up becomes down and down becomes up.

In the north sky? – a cast of hawks materialize while still in flight. Gliding in their path, a murder of crows is flying towards the hawks, growing louder and louder.

All nature will collide in time.

If you enjoyed this 100 word Sci-fi flash fiction piece, check out our poetry and flash fiction at the Ritual Blog.

“Like two skies” flash fiction at Mind on Fire Booksamzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0";amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true";amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "mindonfire0c-20";amzn_assoc_search_bar_position = "bottom";amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search";amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";amzn_assoc_region = "US";amzn_assoc_title = "Shop Related Products";amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = "flash fiction";amzn_assoc_default_category = "All";amzn_assoc_linkid = "cf0fa54ab6e4832fdc38fd9f9d46c57a";

Because 100 pieces of this stunning artwork titled ”Who We Are” by @hakemo is now available at andyokay.com

The post Like Two Skies For The Same Map: Best Flash Fiction appeared first on Mind on Fire Books.

How Important are Traditional Burial Rites in “Antigone” by Sophocles

In the famous Greek tragedy, “Antigone,” written by Sophocles, we learn about the importance of ritual and traditional burial rites.

The Greek Tragedy Goes …

Antigone is a tragedy written by Sophocles in the year 441 BCE and is a play about the aftermath of a civil war in which the two sons of Oedipus, Eteocles and Polyneices, kill each other. Although Eteocles is the next in line to receive power to the throne after Oedipus, Eteocles takes over and banishes Polyneices from Thebes. Polyneices then gathers an Army and attacks his brother. Polyneices succeeds in killing his brother, while simultaneously being killed by his brother in battle.

After their death, their uncle Creon came to power; he buried Eteocles in a glorious ceremony, but left Polyneices’ corpse to rot and be eaten by animals, as Polyneices had marched against the city. The story of how Polyneices was buried by his sister who was then incarcerated, is told in this tragedy by Sophocles.

How Important are Traditional Burial Rites in “Antigone” by Sophocles

Once King Creon decrees it illegal to “bury him [his son, Polyneices], even mourn him,” Antigone takes it upon herself to bury her brother in secret to abide by the law of the Gods. And it is the law of the Gods that Creon is in direct violation of.

Before she goes and buries her brother, she discusses this task with her sister who will not take part in this illegal action. Antigone then tells her sister, “do as you like, dishonor the laws the Gods hold in honor,” since Ismene [Antigone’s sister] will not join Antigone on her mission to bury her brother. Clearly, Antigone is aware of the law that Creon is violating as a mortal.

Robbing the Gods in Antigone PlayHow Important are Traditional Burial Rites in “Antigone” by Sophocles

In a later debate between Creon and Antigone, Antigone demands that “Death longs for the same burial rites for all.” Once again, we see the importance of the traditions that the Gods expect and demand from them. Whether the mortal was just or a fool, his body should still be given back to their creators; if not “then you’ve robbed the Gods below the Earth, keeping a dead body here in the bright air, unburied, unsung, unhallowed by the rites.”

Antigone is caught burying Polyneices and is condemned to death. Her fiance and Creon’s son, Haemon, learns about this and tries to convince Creon to change his mind. It’s only then that the seer Tiresias appears. After a long discussion, he finally persuades Creon that the gods want Polyneices buried. By then it’s too late — Antigone has hung herself, Haemon kills himself when he finds her, and Creon’s wife kills herself when she learns about her son.

If you are enjoying this article, check out our other Literary reads, here.

Even Haemon, Creon’s own son tries to point out to his father his foolish sense and tells him that the whole city is mourning for Antigone after Creon has buried her alive, but Creon is only worried about his power and his rights, so Haemon then tells Creon, “Protect your rights? When you trample down the honors of the Gods.”

Finding Morality in Antigone

Set in the past where values then differ from values today, Antigone sheds light upon conflicts with morality. She is faced with Creon’s decision of how her two brother’s deaths will be memorialized. Is it fair that one brother receives a proper burial and the other one does not?

Doing what is right, is not always doing what is legal. And we learn this in the Greek tragedy, “Antigone.” Unfortunately, this outcome ended in tragic fasion.

The Three Theban Plays: Antigone; Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus">Antigone by Sophocles:

Towering over the rest of Greek tragedy, the three plays that tell the story of the fated Theban royal family—The Three Theban Plays: Antigone; Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus">Antigone, Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus—are among the most enduring and timeless dramas ever written.  

Read it now.

Antigone, on the other hand, believes that family is more important, as she secretly sets out to hold a proper burial for Polyneices even if it means risking her life and going against the law. “I’ll still bury him. It would be fine to die while doing that…you can show contempt to those laws the gods hold in honour.” (89-96)

If you are enjoying this article, check out our other Literary reads, here.

By giving Polyneices a proper funeral, Antigone is obeying the morals set by the gods the Greeks honor and follow; in this case is that the dead should be given proper burial. Although Polyneices may have caused harm to Thebes, as a relative of a family who cares about him, Antigone’s decision to have a proper funeral for him is the right and respectful thing to do.

Elevate my Thoughts

We promise not to spam you or share your information with unwanted users. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

The post How Important are Traditional Burial Rites in “Antigone” by Sophocles appeared first on Mind on Fire Books.

The Most Rugged Carhartt X Field Notes to Be Produced

In this guest post, Field Notes partners with a heritage clothing brand, this time iconic workwear brand Carhartt of Dearborn, Michigan. 

Earlier this year, Field Notes did a collaboration with L.L. Bean. These books with Carhartt are a step up from those books. The Bean books were essentially kraft books with a couple different cover designs. These Carhartt books are heavier and heartier, with a full complement of retro-y goodness on the back covers.

Starting with the front covers, each one is a different color and utilizes the Carhartt “C” logo in an interesting way. It reminds me of the start of the Yellow Brick Road in the Wizard of Oz.

Reviewing The Carhartt X Field Notes by Michael Hagan

Each back cover has a different outdoor theme on it. Red has hunting, blue has fishing, and green has camping. This seems odd to me that something similar wasn’t done to the L. L. Bean books, because providing clothing for these 3 things are what they have built their company on. This is not to say people don’t wear Carhartt to hunt, fish, or camp in…but they bill themselves as tough clothing for workers.

Reviewing The Carhartt X Field Notes by Michael HaganMaking a Tough Carhartt Notebook For the Field

The covers are 100# cover stock. This heavier weight along with the 60# paper they’re now using in the kraft books make for a heavier book built to stand up to some outdoor beating. It remains to be seen if they hold up like the Shenandoah-level heavy books, but they are beefier than a kraft book in every way. Also, cheers to FN for changing the standard kraft books from 50# to 60# paper. Now if they would change the covers to 100# from 80#, we might have a durable pocket notebook. If you are enjoying this guest post, check out some of our other Literary reads, here.

No one is happier than I am to see an all-lined edition. I love line ruled paper in my pocket notebooks, so seeing that all three are lined was a great surprise. Seems to me that graph is king in the pocket notebook world, but I always gravitate towards lined books when I’m trying out a new brand. For the way I write and the way I like to use these, ruled rules.

Reviewing The Carhartt X Field Notes by Michael Hagan

I didn’t do a pen or pencil test for this edition. It is the same 60# paper that is currently in the kraft books, so you should have an idea how your favorite writing tool performs.  

A quick note about the shipping: I don’t think Carhartt knew what it was getting into when they launched these books. Over at the Field Nuts FB group, a lot of people have been complaining about the way these are being shipped to them. Some coming in a plastic bag that clothes normally ship in, others coming in boxes way too big for the books with nothing to hold them in place. Essentially, people are worried about the corners being bent/beat up and using them for collecting and later trading.

Placing Your Order

Carhartt’s shipping methods aren’t really conducive to that. There have been quite a few people in the group either get their money back or get new books as a result. Mine were shipped in the plastic bag. While I was not pleased with this method of shipping, the 3 packs I ordered were just fine. I had to really study each pack to see which one was the “worst” for opening and using. But I understand why people were upset: the shipping was very expensive for these books. It seemed different across the board for most people, but on an average about double what they’d expected.

This wonderful Alice in Wonderland Interactive edition includes a whopping 101 quotations from the Alice In Wonderland saga! Each of these 101 Alice Quotes are linked to the stories. This means that you can easily and quickly find the quote in its original context.

Only $9.99 for a limited time!

When I ordered mine, the shipping was going to be $7, regardless of quantity, unless I spent over $100, then shipping was free. I did not get sucked in there. Regardless, these shipped very fast and I was surprised I see them in the mail the same day I got the shipping notice. I basically received them less than 48 hours after I ordered them. I live 90 miles away from FNHQ and that’s never happened with them! These books are only available in Carhartt retail shops or on their website.

If you enjoyed this guest post, check out some of our other Literary reads, here.

This article was originally written by Michael Hagan at Lead Fast.

Elevate my Thoughts

We promise not to spam you or share your information with unwanted users. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

The post The Most Rugged Carhartt X Field Notes to Be Produced appeared first on Mind on Fire Books.