Introduction
From the days of “The Age of Faith” to the modern era of the Scientific Revolution and now to the post-modern era of Economic dominance, the themes of power, meaning, and purpose have been explored and re-examined. This shift in power structures has been explored through literature, such as Waiting for Godot, where economic salvation is questioned, and Miguel Street, where the difference between space and place is explored. In Sylvia Plath’s poem “The Applicant”, the idea of the need to fill an empty void is evident. Even Spotting the Missing Ball in Miguel Street is a story that touches on the notion of power and control. In all these works, the idea of transcendent power and the need for absolute truth is examined and questioned. These works of literature provide insight into the transition from the Age of Faith to the Age of Science and now to the Age of Economics and how power, meaning, and purpose have changed over the centuries. In my essay, I will discuss the relationship between the four quotes, their similarities and differences.
Discussion on the relationship between the four quotes and the question prompt
The main similarity between Waiting for Godot and the shift from the theological period to the economic period is that, in both cases, the characters are left in a state of uncertainty and confusion about their purpose and fate. In both cases, the characters search for meaning and purpose but cannot find it. In the case of Waiting for Godot, the characters are waiting in vain for the arrival of Godot, never knowing if he will arrive. In the case of the shift from the theological to the economic period, the characters are searching for meaning and purpose in a world where science and technology have been replaced by economics and politics as the dominant discourse. In both cases, the characters are left confused and uncertain, unable to find meaning and purpose in their lives.
The balcony quote addresses the crisis outlined in the question/prompt by illustrating the power of discourse in the post-modern age. The Judge recognizes that his identity, and thus his power, is predicated on the Thief’s identity as a “thief” and the dynamics created by that status. I am because you are. By recognizing the Thief can “refuse” to be who they are and thus deny the Judge his identity and power, the Judge is forced to confront the implications of the post-modern shift in power dynamics and discourse. The quote shows how power is no longer predicated on a centralized entity or a transcendent force in the post-modern age but is an effect of relationships. It also demonstrates how “meaning” is now seen as an artificial construct used to make sense of what remains and how discourse ultimately determines the degree to which actions can have agency.
The Applicant by Sylvia Plath addresses the shift from the dominance of Scientific discourse in ‘the modern’ to the dominance of Economic discourse in the post-modern by showing how society treats those who do not fit the mould of the ideal (O’Connor et al., pg. 105). The poem shows how those who are “different” are seen as “inferior” or “undesirable” and are excluded from the economic opportunities available to those who do fit the ideal. The poem also speaks to the devaluation of individual worth and shows how those who are “different” are seen as nothing more than objects to be acquired or discarded. This speaks to the idea of “power” being an effect of relationships, where those who are seen as “outsiders” are denied any power or agency. The poem also speaks to the idea that “meaning” is an artificial construct, as the speaker of the poem is offering a “hand” as a “last resort” to acquire something that is deemed valuable by society, even though this hand is of no use to the speaker.
Additionally, Plath speaks to the post-modern crisis of a lack of meaningful purpose by depicting a desperate situation in which one is forced to settle for any scrap of hope that can be found in an open, empty world. Through the speaker’s words, Plath illustrates how the search for meaning has become increasingly futile, as the speaker offers a “hand” of desperation, suggesting that the only thing left to do is to “marry it”. The speaker’s words also speak to the shift from a transcendent power or the scientific method to an economic system as a saviour, as the speaker emphasizes the need for any “last resort” that can provide some solace in an otherwise empty world. This illustrates how the post-modern era has seen a shift from faith in a higher power to a reliance on economic systems, as well as the desperation that comes with such a shift.
The story in Miguel Street explores the notion of searching for meaning in an increasingly complex and chaotic world. In the question/prompt, the search for meaning has shifted from a spiritual/theological period of faith in God to a modern period of faith in science and then to an economic period of faith in the market and capital. In the story of Miguel Street, the protagonist is searching for meaning in a game that appears to be a metaphor for life, as he devotes excessive energy and money to a competition that he is ultimately unable to win. In both cases, the search for meaning is fruitless, as the protagonist needs help finding a sense of purpose or direction in the increasingly chaotic world. From the story in Miguel Street and the question prompt, I conclude that the search for meaning is ultimately futile, as the protagonists cannot feel satisfied in their respective pursuits.
Similarities in which the four quotes address the question prompt
The four quotes provide insight into the shift from an “Age of Anxiety” to an “Age of Economics”, as described in the question prompt. In all four quotes, the characters are searching for something that is missing or that will provide them with stability and meaning. This search is emblematic of the shift from a focus on the essence and the soul to a focus on the self and the economic world.
In Waiting for Godot’s quote, Lucky tries to make sense of existence by describing the works of Puncher and Wattmann and the labours of Testew and Cunard, but he finds his words short. He is searching for something that is missing, something that will provide him with stability, but he cannot name it. This reflects the shift from the theological period and the focus on the essence and the soul to the modern period and the focus on the self and the scientific method.
In the quote from The Balcony, the Judge is trying to make sense of his existence and relationship with the Thief. He finds himself dependent on the Thief and recognizes that if the Thief refuses to be who he is, the Judge will cease to exist. This reflects the shift from the focus on the essence and the soul to the focus on the self and the economic world. The Judge is dependent on the Thief for his stability, and this dependence is symbolic of how economic forces can be used to manipulate individuals to the benefit of a powerful few.
In the quote from “The Applicant” by Sylvia Plath, the speaker asks the protagonist if they are “our sort of person” and if they are wearing false teeth, a crutch, or any other item that suggests something is missing. The speaker suggests that if the protagonist is not “our sort of person”, then there is nothing they can do to help them. This reflects the shift from the focus on the essence and the soul to the focus on the self and the economic world. The speaker suggests that the protagonist is only valuable if they can be manipulated to benefit the speaker. This is symbolic of how economic forces can be used to control individuals and exploit them for profit.
Finally, in the quote from Miguel Street, the protagonist is obsessed with finding a missing ball in the Guardian newspaper. He spends all of his money trying to spot it and even goes so far as to beat up a sub-editor when he fails. This reflects the shift from the focus on the essence and the soul to the focus on the self and the economic world. The protagonist is searching for something that will provide him stability and meaning, but he ultimately fails to find it. This is symbolic of how economic forces can exploit individuals and manipulate them for profit.
Overall, the four quotes provide insight into the shift from an “Age of Anxiety” to an “Age of Economics” described in the question prompt. They illustrate how individuals search for something that is missing, something that will provide them with stability and meaning, but ultimately fail to find it. This reflects the shift from the focus on the essence and the soul to the focus on the self and the economic world and how economic forces can be used to manipulate individuals and exploit them for profit.
Differences in which the four quotes address the question prompt
The four quotes presented above, taken from Waiting For Godot, The Balcony, “The Applicant”, and “Caution”, offer a unique perspective on the question prompt that provides a comprehensive insight into how the transition from the “Age of Anxiety” (modern) to the “Age of Economics” (post-modern) has shaped our current understanding of power. In centuries past (up until the 16th century), society had a collective belief in “essence” or “the soul”, a structure that allowed one to determine the difference between what is meaningful and what is not, what matters and what doesn’t, what is wrong and what is right, and what the purpose of life on this Earth is, and what it is not. This concept of the eternal soul “pings” outward, from within a mortal body, to a cosmic, unwavering orientation point.
The first quote from Waiting for Godot conveys the confusion and chaos that has arisen due to losing faith in a higher power. The characters in the play suffer from an extreme lack of direction and purpose, as they seem to be waiting endlessly for something that will never come. This quote reflects how the transition from the “Age of Faith” to the “Age of Economics” has left many people feeling lost and uncertain about the future.
The second quote from The Balcony paints a vivid picture of the power dynamics that have emerged in the “Age of Economics”, as the Judge and Thief realize that the Judge’s power to judge and punish is dependent on the Thief’s willingness to continue to be a Thief and accept their position of inferiority. The Judge’s plea to the Thief, “Say it, my child, my love, you won’t refuse?” reflects how the power structure of the modern era has been replaced by one of economic domination, in which power is no longer seen as emanating from a centralized source, but rather as an effect of relationships.
The third quote from “The Applicant” by Sylvia Plath is a poignant reminder of the arbitrary nature of power in the “Age of Economics”. The narrator’s sardonic request for the applicant to “marry” a hand, although it offers nothing of value, reflects how pursuing money and material possessions have become the new measure of success and worth. The quote reveals the emptiness and pointlessness of this pursuit and the desperation of those with nothing but an empty hand.
Finally, the fourth quote from “Caution” in Miguel Street highlights how the power structure of the modern era has been replaced by one of economic domination. The protagonist’s obsession with finding the missing ball and his willingness to spend hundreds of dollars in the process reflects the desperation of those caught up in the pursuit of money and the false hope they cling to that they will find some fulfilment in reaching their goal.
Taken together, these four quotes illustrate how the transition from the “Age of Anxiety” to the “Age of Economics” has profoundly impacted our understanding of power. They reveal how power is no longer seen as emanating from a centralized source but as an effect of relationships and the pursuit of money and material possessions. They also show how the power dynamics of the modern era have been replaced by one of economic domination and how this has left many people feeling lost and uncertain about the future. Ultimately, these quotes help illuminate and enrich our appreciation of the complex times in which we live and the need to reflect on the implications of this transition for our lives.
Work Cited
O’Connor, Cailin, and James Owen Weatherall. The misinformation age: How false beliefs spread. Yale University Press, 2019.
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