Things I learned in 16th Century British Literature: lesson 2

Synecdoche In Burke’s A Sentimental Journey

From my Class notes:
Sentiment: an equivocal doctrine of virtue: spontaneous, especially resulting in Virtue.
The book is trying to curb male desire.
Sterne is more realist. There has to be some kind of euros. Metonymy of Synecdoche all over. Communication often the means of exchange. Snuffbox.

Where Rasselas said that “let all prevalence of fantasy over Reason is insanity” Sterne is just the opposite!
Takes pulse of woman. Fever associated with feeling.
French woman not concerned about having to relieve themselves while riding in coach. Escaping a prudishness.
Chambermaid. Coins in the purse. A joke, vulgar.?
Starling shouts “I can’t get out”
Yorick exchanges wet handkerchief with Maria.
Gloves. Swords.
A story about a male constantly diverting sex.

What I learned: So much of life is that existential problem that we are only us. One of our greatest desires is to close the gap between our experiences and that of others. What do we have but shared experiences and symbolic gestures. Sex may be the first act that comes to mind in this vein, but there are others, which Yorick ridiculously proves. A shared handkerchief, Cigar, Meal. These things can mean more than their conjunctions. Something in these things are beautiful. So it is sad when institutions of “morality” say that these things are immoral- like Jesus eating with sinners. How can you not see the beauty, even if it is, so often, a tragic one.