Quote:
FUTURE, n.
That period of time in which our affairs prosper, our friends are true and our happiness is assured. (Bierce)
Summary:
This definition from Ambrose Bierce’s The Devil’s Dictionary, is basically saying that the future will never come, because we will always live in the present and, will always refer to the future as a time when everything will go accordingly to a plan, which will never succeed.
FUTURE, n.
That period of time in which our affairs prosper, our friends are true and our happiness is assured. (Bierce)
Summary:
This definition from Ambrose Bierce’s The Devil’s Dictionary, is basically saying that the future will never come, because we will always live in the present and, will always refer to the future as a time when everything will go accordingly to a plan, which will never succeed.
Response:
When we read some of the definitions of this Devil’s Dictionary in class, I was really captured by Bierce’s ability to find a pessimist side to most words. As I read some definitions in the dictionary I came across the definition of future, and I understood a little bit of how Bierce probably got inspired to write this book.
I think he got this definition from a general look to what everyone thinks the future will bring. I have often heard people say, and I have also said it myself, something like “In the future I want to study this” or “I will go here and I will do what I really like”. However, while we live in the present and keep dreaming about what is going to happen in the future, we forget that how we are living right now is our immediate future. I think, his definition of future was very influenced by this general characteristic that people have, but he also added his personal experience. Since he had a very bad ending to his marriage and both of his sons died, he realized that the hopes he had for the future never came true. Therefore, he gives us this definition, like a slap in the face, telling us to wake up because basically our dreams will never come true, which is why the future will never come. I do not agree with this definition, nevertheless, I was fascinated by the irony in his writing, because he is really mocking people’s feelings and dreams by talking about friendship that will never be true and happiness that will never exist.
When we read some of the definitions of this Devil’s Dictionary in class, I was really captured by Bierce’s ability to find a pessimist side to most words. As I read some definitions in the dictionary I came across the definition of future, and I understood a little bit of how Bierce probably got inspired to write this book.
I think he got this definition from a general look to what everyone thinks the future will bring. I have often heard people say, and I have also said it myself, something like “In the future I want to study this” or “I will go here and I will do what I really like”. However, while we live in the present and keep dreaming about what is going to happen in the future, we forget that how we are living right now is our immediate future. I think, his definition of future was very influenced by this general characteristic that people have, but he also added his personal experience. Since he had a very bad ending to his marriage and both of his sons died, he realized that the hopes he had for the future never came true. Therefore, he gives us this definition, like a slap in the face, telling us to wake up because basically our dreams will never come true, which is why the future will never come. I do not agree with this definition, nevertheless, I was fascinated by the irony in his writing, because he is really mocking people’s feelings and dreams by talking about friendship that will never be true and happiness that will never exist.
1 comment:
q20/20 I love it that so many of you love the Devil's Dictionary.
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