Is my idea of people's interpetations correct ?

[Comic_book_guy]

Hello everyone.

My name is Comic_Book_Guy, nice to meet you.

I am a big fan of this website, and now I am happy to be a member of it's forum.

I want ask you about my idea of people's interpretations and wither each one interprets things differentially or the same:

I truly believe that each individual interprets things differently and each one will have his or her own interpretation and meanings.

For example, If we read Hamlet one person will say that its about the troubles of having a step father, and

others will give their own interpretation.

What do you think ?

If I am wrong, then please correct me.

[YesNo]

Welcome, Comic_book_guy!

I think we use different interpretations to distinguish ourselves from others. This helps improve our understanding since the interpretation will likely change as we get more information. When we challenge someone's interpretation we are punctuating the equilibrium, to use an idea from paleontology.

We also accept, often without realizing it, other people's interpretations in an uncritical way. When we accept common sense, we are part of the equilibrium, a lazy, floating boat hoping a big wave doesn't come to upset us. Although I can't remember the source of the quote, I remember someone saying you might as well make up your own mind or your culture will make your mind up for you.

So, as I see it, we do both. We accept (too readily) interpretations others have formulated and when we get inspired we challenge some of them.

Hopefully someone will challenge that idea and correct it as well.

[Pompey Bum]

Hello CBG, and welcome to the site. :)

For me, there is a unique relationship between writer and reader. The writer creates something, and the reader brings to life through the voice and vision in his or her own head. That experience is unique to the reader, but it cannot be said to be (only) the reader's interpretation since individual readers are reacting to the same original creation. So Shelley's Ozymandias may strike you as a blow at the arrogantly powerful or me as an assertion of the futility of works theologies or someone else as a lament at the pointlessness of doing anything; but it is NOT about how all things come to those who wait, or how only the strong survive, or how cool the ancient Egyptians were. Everyone who is paying attention (and not just reading Wikipedia) will have an interpretation, but that doesn't make it a free-for-all.

Did that help?

[YesNo]

Ah, so that's why you like Shelley's Oxymandias. It illustrates the futility of a works theology. That makes sense actually and makes the poem more interesting for me.

[Pompey Bum]

:)

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