|
|
Post by Brian on Sept 23, 2005 16:14:58 GMT -5
I think that Handler did like George Orwell. There were a couple more allusions in the series to him - like the doorman in TEE saying he didn't know whether there were 48 or 84 floors in the building. Orwell wrote 1984 in the year 1948, the title being an anagram of the publication year to say that the horrible "future" was really the present. The doorman not knowing the difference was Handler's way of agreeing, I think. Plus, mind-control did play a big part in both 1984 and Animal Farm, so Dr. Orwell being a hypnotist was apropriate, evil or no.
Also, the von Bulow trial was out of the 1980s, not the 1800s.
Anyway.....
Queequeg was a character in Melville's Moby Dick - he was an islander and was covered with tattoos. Hmmmm....
|
|
|
|
Post by Sugary Snicket on Sept 24, 2005 12:33:51 GMT -5
'Quagmire" is a word meaning "Marsh-like ground" or "A problematic, difficult-to-escape situation." I think you can tell which is the correct defenition.
|
|
|
|
Post by Linda Rhaldeen on Sept 24, 2005 18:33:37 GMT -5
Queequeg was a character in Melville's Moby Dick - he was an islander and was covered with tattoos. Hmmmm.... Also, if I'm not mistaken, Hurricane Herman is alluding to Herman Melville as well. |
|
|
|
Post by euro on Sept 24, 2005 19:55:02 GMT -5
Anna Karenina is an allusion to quite possibly the worst book ever written: Anna Karenina.
|
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Sept 24, 2005 22:09:03 GMT -5
Anna Karenina is an allusion to quite possibly the worst book ever written: Anna Karenina. How can you say that? I'm guessing that it was just a little tough for you to get through...  |
|
|
|
Post by euro on Sept 25, 2005 10:59:12 GMT -5
Anna Karenina is an allusion to quite possibly the worst book ever written: Anna Karenina. How can you say that? I'm guessing that it was just a little tough for you to get through... yes. Yes it was. The book was horribly boring and the dialogue very bland. Wretched Tolstoy... |
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Sept 25, 2005 15:14:21 GMT -5
Well, everyone's entitled to my their own opinion.  I thought I remembered an allusion to The Count of Monte Cristo, one of the best books ever written, but I forget what it was. I like to think of the strict rules and punishments of the Village of Fowl Devotees as an allusion to the Puritans who lived in Salem during the infamous witch trials. I know that in Salem they hung the alleged witches instead of burning them, but the Baudelaires' fate in TVV was very much like the fate of these 'witches' - they were framed by a misguided/evil person and had to die for it because of the law, unfair though the law may be. |
|
|
|
Post by Sugary Snicket on Sept 27, 2005 15:25:31 GMT -5
Oh yah, the Salem Witch trials. The Burning at the stake thing made me think of that.
Count Olaf's title always for some reason makes me think of Count Dracula. Probably because both are evil, bloodthirsty monsters, although Dracula probably didn't mean to be.
|
|
|
|
Post by LBeall on Sept 27, 2005 16:50:54 GMT -5
I think there may be an allusion to the Library at Alexandria running throughout the series. For anyone who doesn't know, the library burnt down and much ancient knowledge was lost. Libraries, burning, knowledge. A possibility, anyway.
|
|
|
|
Post by volunteer23 on Sept 28, 2005 18:47:23 GMT -5
There was a very large murder trail in the 1800s where somone named Klaus killed his wife Sunny and his lawyers name was Violet. How odd, are you sure your not getting that mixed up with the VonBulows?? That happened in the 80s. |
|
|
|
Post by Juan Roberto Montoya De Toledo on Sept 29, 2005 6:11:23 GMT -5
I think there may be an allusion to the Library at Alexandria running throughout the series. For anyone who doesn't know, the library burnt down and much ancient knowledge was lost. Libraries, burning, knowledge. A possibility, anyway. A question about the lost library of Alexandria was in today's task. |
|
|
|
Post by Skeleton Key on Sept 29, 2005 11:26:04 GMT -5
The vorpal blade went snicker snack,
He left it dead, and with its head,
He went gallomping back.
-The jabberwocky, Lewis Caroll
Snicker snack= Snicket? Hmmmm...
|
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Sept 29, 2005 19:23:43 GMT -5
Oh yah, the Salem Witch trials. The Burning at the stake thing made me think of that. Count Olaf's title always for some reason makes me think of Count Dracula. Probably because both are evil, bloodthirsty monsters, although Dracula probably didn't mean to be. I dunno. I got about halfway though Bram Stoker's original Dracula - he seemed pretty malicious to me. |
|
|
|
Post by The World Is Quiet Here on Sept 30, 2005 2:29:12 GMT -5
I like the Salem Witch trials theory, the play about it 'The Crucible' in my opinion supports this. Crucible meaning - A melting pot. Which would involve fire heat etc, another meaning is "A severe test, as of patience or belief; a trial." Make of it what you will.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rowan on Oct 2, 2005 17:15:55 GMT -5
Damocles Dock in TWW is an allusion to Greek mythology.
According to the Encyclopedia Myhtica:
Damocles was a courtier of Dionysius the Elder. According to a legend, Damocles on one occasion commented to his ruler on the grandeur and happiness of rulers. Dionysius soon thereafter invited his courtier to a luxurious banquet, where Damocles enjoyed the delights of the table until his attention was directed upward and he saw a sharp sword hanging above him by a single horsehair. By this device Dionysius made Damocles realize that insecurity might threaten those who appeared to be the most fortunate. (Sword of Damocles: symbolic potential disaster.)
|
|
