Thursday, September 11, 2003
Dr. Epstein's analysis
posted by Eric
Andrew Epstein HC '92, Professor of English at Florida State Univ., who is an authority on American poetry, has responded to my request for more context on the source of The Pang. Here is an excerpt from his reply.
I have now had time to study thoroughly your inquiry about Browning and the Pang, and I must tell you, as a professor of English who specializes in poetry, who once wrote a 30 page graduate school essay on Robert Browning, I have absolutely no fucking clue why that quote would be on the cornerstone of a Haverford building.
Except that: browsing around the web, I see that this particular stanza is a very famous one (it's in Bartlett's quotations, and it's frequently cited and thrown about) -- and one could only assume that it was much more famous in the late 19th century, when people actually read and revered poets like Browning and knew and used famous quotes like this one regularly. I think this "Pang" line might be similar to Browning's most famous passage: "A man's reach should exceed his grasp; else what's a heaven for?" That is, both seem to be inspirational quotes about human striving and ambition. At the same time, I'm having a hard time parsing what it is actually saying, since the grammar is so weird: "Learn, nor account the pang," where that "nor" is very strange, as is "account." But given the context of the stanza, the wise speaker, the Talmudic scholar Rabbi Ben Ezra, seems to be urging the reader to keep on learning, no matter how much pain or strife it causes you. The stanza as a whole tells us not to shrink from things that are hard or painful -- to welcome each rebuff, each sting, to recognize that joy is mostly made of pain, that we should strive and think little of the strain it takes, and to dare, even if it causes us throes of pain. ("Throe" and "pang" are synonyms for a spasm of pain or anguish). So we also are being told to learn and keep on trying to learn, even if it hurts ... a lot.
So I'd have to deduce that the learned, literary-minded builders of Haverford's auditorium probably reached for a pretty famous, high-brow quote about the importance of ambitious, heroic seeking after knowledge, even in the face of difficulties. (Little did they know it would be all but incomphrensible a century hence, alas). The fact that the speaker is Jewish seems less important to me than the fact that Browning admires the great Rabbi as a model of learning, devotion, faith, knowledge, wisdom, and perserverance. But it does make me happy.
I'm glad you asked your question, young Becker. I have noted your curiosity and have marked you down for extra credit. Keep up the good work!
-- Dr. Epstein
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I have now had time to study thoroughly your inquiry about Browning and the Pang, and I must tell you, as a professor of English who specializes in poetry, who once wrote a 30 page graduate school essay on Robert Browning, I have absolutely no fucking clue why that quote would be on the cornerstone of a Haverford building.
Except that: browsing around the web, I see that this particular stanza is a very famous one (it's in Bartlett's quotations, and it's frequently cited and thrown about) -- and one could only assume that it was much more famous in the late 19th century, when people actually read and revered poets like Browning and knew and used famous quotes like this one regularly. I think this "Pang" line might be similar to Browning's most famous passage: "A man's reach should exceed his grasp; else what's a heaven for?" That is, both seem to be inspirational quotes about human striving and ambition. At the same time, I'm having a hard time parsing what it is actually saying, since the grammar is so weird: "Learn, nor account the pang," where that "nor" is very strange, as is "account." But given the context of the stanza, the wise speaker, the Talmudic scholar Rabbi Ben Ezra, seems to be urging the reader to keep on learning, no matter how much pain or strife it causes you. The stanza as a whole tells us not to shrink from things that are hard or painful -- to welcome each rebuff, each sting, to recognize that joy is mostly made of pain, that we should strive and think little of the strain it takes, and to dare, even if it causes us throes of pain. ("Throe" and "pang" are synonyms for a spasm of pain or anguish). So we also are being told to learn and keep on trying to learn, even if it hurts ... a lot.
So I'd have to deduce that the learned, literary-minded builders of Haverford's auditorium probably reached for a pretty famous, high-brow quote about the importance of ambitious, heroic seeking after knowledge, even in the face of difficulties. (Little did they know it would be all but incomphrensible a century hence, alas). The fact that the speaker is Jewish seems less important to me than the fact that Browning admires the great Rabbi as a model of learning, devotion, faith, knowledge, wisdom, and perserverance. But it does make me happy.
I'm glad you asked your question, young Becker. I have noted your curiosity and have marked you down for extra credit. Keep up the good work!
-- Dr. Epstein
Sunday, September 07, 2003
And here in Boston....
posted by Eric
Vanessa and I have Isabelle, who just celebrated her 4th B-day and Cedric, who celebrates his 1st this week. I will save my experiences of parenthood for another post, but suffice it to say that I'm very much in love with my family despite sleep challenges and feeling over my head now and then.
This past June marked my 10th anniversary at my current job -- portfolio manager and equity analyst at Trillium Asset Management , a socially responsible investment firm. Since I majored in comparative religion with a concentration in "intercultural studies", all my experience in the field has come from on-the-job training. Basically I lucked into the job (they liked the fact that I printed "hiremehiremehiremehireme" in 5-point type at the bottom of my resume).
I started as part-time production manager on the company's newsletter, anticipating that I would get to do some social research, leading to a job in the social research department. I quickly started doing both social and financial research, and found that I had a knack for the latter. One thing led to another and here I am with people putting their life savings in my hands for safe keeping.
I must say it is very satisfying work, though I have recurring feelings that I am too far from the front lines in making a difference in the world. But my colleagues do amazing work, convincing companies to adopt more progressive policies on a wide range of issues.
My work schedule is totally reasonable and very flexible, leaving time for a life outside of work, which of course is mostly family time. I retain my obsession with the Red Sox and wonder about the healthiness of being a fan when your emotional state is dependent upon the results of the previous night's game. I have been occasionally active in Save Fenway Park , a citizen effort to preserve one of the great shrines of the game. So far, so good.
I have also been a bit obsessive about a series of 20 seafaring novels by Patrick O'Brian. I know Grantley has also been a fan of the books. My high school friend Terry Park, who some of you know (and who is marrying Iris Lee BMC '91 next month), turned me on to the series. I just started the 19th book, and have mixed feelings. I don't want the series to end, because it is so rich and has expanded my horizons dramatically, but I also look forward to finishing so that I can start over with the first book, Master & Commander .
Anyhow, enough about me! More about you!
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This past June marked my 10th anniversary at my current job -- portfolio manager and equity analyst at Trillium Asset Management , a socially responsible investment firm. Since I majored in comparative religion with a concentration in "intercultural studies", all my experience in the field has come from on-the-job training. Basically I lucked into the job (they liked the fact that I printed "hiremehiremehiremehireme" in 5-point type at the bottom of my resume).
I started as part-time production manager on the company's newsletter, anticipating that I would get to do some social research, leading to a job in the social research department. I quickly started doing both social and financial research, and found that I had a knack for the latter. One thing led to another and here I am with people putting their life savings in my hands for safe keeping.
I must say it is very satisfying work, though I have recurring feelings that I am too far from the front lines in making a difference in the world. But my colleagues do amazing work, convincing companies to adopt more progressive policies on a wide range of issues.
My work schedule is totally reasonable and very flexible, leaving time for a life outside of work, which of course is mostly family time. I retain my obsession with the Red Sox and wonder about the healthiness of being a fan when your emotional state is dependent upon the results of the previous night's game. I have been occasionally active in Save Fenway Park , a citizen effort to preserve one of the great shrines of the game. So far, so good.
I have also been a bit obsessive about a series of 20 seafaring novels by Patrick O'Brian. I know Grantley has also been a fan of the books. My high school friend Terry Park, who some of you know (and who is marrying Iris Lee BMC '91 next month), turned me on to the series. I just started the 19th book, and have mixed feelings. I don't want the series to end, because it is so rich and has expanded my horizons dramatically, but I also look forward to finishing so that I can start over with the first book, Master & Commander .
Anyhow, enough about me! More about you!
