Coming of Age as a Writer

We had the privilege of visiting the British Library's Propaganda exhibit earlier this week.  We learned that unlike art, propaganda does not allow for various meanings.  The way that propaganda works is similar to the way Briony behaves.  As she performed her plays and came of age as a writer, we saw that she desired complete control.  She had a very distinct way of doing things and wanted her peers to agree with her.

This poster was characteristic of propaganda in the 19th century.  The famous New York Statue of Liberty serves as a lookout for American police to observe in the poster.  It mocks American freedom and attacks the ideas that promoted democratic freedom in the West.  This example of propaganda affects Pathos as Americans because we feel a sense of Patriotism for our country.  

On Wednesday we visited the HMS Belfast.  The Belfast gave us insight as to what it was like to live and work on board during the Second World War.  Many of the challenges our class identified aligned with Robbie Turner's war experience in Atonement.  Fortunately for Robbie, his literature background allowed him to live in his head, which provided an escape during his hopeless days.  

One of the biggest challenges while away at war was the food provided.  While the portions were adequate, the variety was limited.  This was largely due to the rationing that was going on at the time.  This exhibit illustrates the procedures implemented by the government to limit quantities of food. This resulted in a shortage of imported foods.  These procedures affected soldier's standard of living and is vastly different from the way we live today.  

We finished up the week at the Florence Nightingale Museum.  This museum is dedicated to a generous and driven woman who paved the way for modern nursing.  Florence grew up with a strong faith and felt that God had "called" her to be a nurse.  This exhibit highlights her faith and the notes she made throughout her life.  Briony and Florence both encountered challenges that required them to have a voice and the confidence to use it.  These fearless women's travels and experiences abroad gave them a better perspective.  This overall allowed them to come of age as writers. 

Coming of Age as a Skeptic

On Tuesday we had the opportunity to visit Oxford.  This photograph was captured just outside Christ Church near the living quarters.  The college was founded in 1525 by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and was originally called 'Cardinal College.  Christ Church is one of thirty-eight colleges within the University of Oxford and is one of the oldest and most well known.  It was fitting that Sebastian and Lord Marchmain attended Christ Church due to their social status.  

This fountain was situated in the quad area outside Christ Church.  The large stone fountain has Christian ideals and verses engraved on it.  This is reminiscent of the fountain that sits outside the Brideshead estate.  The fountain represents faith and religion in Brideshead revisited and helps Charles come of age as a skeptic. 

This photo was taken outside Eltham Palace.  Eltham Palace was home to Edward the second where he lived for 250 years.  Over the last 100 years the palace has been restored by Stephen Courtauld.  It embodies three main styles: Art Deco, Baroque and Meidevil.  These three styles are evident throughout the architecture and pieces in the house.  In Brideshead Revisited, the Art Deco style is what caused Charles to prefer the Baroque style.  

The Entrance Room is the first room encountered in Eltham Palace.  The visitor can identify Art Deco in the Australian Black Bean wood that lines the walls.  This style was popular at the time period but it was often seen only in public places.  The geometric shapes featured around the room were also an element of the Art Deco style.  The style and pieces in this room are examples of the way Brideshead was decorated. 

This photograph was captured outside Hampton Court Palace.  The palace was home to William III and Mary II and later Henry VIII.  Over many years and several renovations the Palace includes the Tudor and Baroque styles.  In Brideshead Revisited, Charles recounts that his visit to Brideshead was his "conversion to the Baroque."  While both styles are vastly different, they are unique to the Palace.

Coming of Age as a Traveller

Earlier this week we had an opportunity to visit the John Soane Museum.  John Soane was a distinguished architect who devoted his life to collecting European antiques and other works of art.  Soane established a taste for European art during the Grand Tour, which inspired his collection later in life.  Similar to Lucy, Soane learned to appreciate culture, history, beauty and democracy while coming of age as a world traveller. 

This photograph was captured in the Library of the John Soane Museum.  The library housed countless paintings, busts and favorite books.  The rich colors and works on display revealed his deep appreciation for Italian, French and Latin cultures.  This appreciation for beautiful things is a characteristic that Lucy acquires during her European travels.  

This painting, A Regatta on the Grand Canal, was painted by Canaletto around 1740.  It can be found in the National Gallery in London.  Canaletto's work reveals a picturesque and idyllic scene that a traveller might witness on the water in Italy.  This picture is similar to the "Room with a View" that Lucy and Charlotte expected upon arriving in Italy at the beginning of the novel. 

This painting, An Old Man holding a Pilgrim-Bottle is featured in the National Gallery.  It was painted around 1650 by an unknown artist.  The wise man in the picture is holding a pilgrim bottle which was a marker of travel during this time.  Although Lucy may not have the exposure the old man has had, they have both gained experience and a new set of eyes through their travels.

We returned to the Tate Britain this week to learn see what it meant to come of age as a traveller for JMW Turner.  The Tate featured a wing dedicated to Turner's extensive work.  Turner spent much of his time painting idyllic landscapes in Venice as well as countrysides in Rome.  The viewer was able to see how his style and inspiration changed over his life.  The change was especially evident in his painting, Venice with a Salute in 1840.  This unfinished work was a complex painting for the insider that focused on using effective light.  

Coming of Age as a Worker

The Foundling Museum was an institution that housed children in the 19th century.  This place helped orphans to come of age as a workers by providing them with marketable skills and various job opportunities they may have not had otherwise. 

These words perfectly capture the life of a governess coming of age as a worker in 19th century England.  The monotonous structure of their daily lives explains how lonely and hopeless their lives could be. 

Once the governess had finished educating the children for the day, she would often spend her leisure time in her bedroom.  While often small, these quarters were uniquely hers and served as an escape from daily life. 

This plush red chair is standard of something that would be featured in many upper class 19th century homes.  While coming of age to women and children meant spending their days reading,  the servants were coming of age as workers and were instructed to keep the house in spotless condition.  

This picture captures a working class citizen coming of age in the 19th century. Her stance and facial expressions indicate the sadness and hopelessness she feels. She is most likely a lower class servant and will never be able to move up in society.