Discussion Group: Confession's of J.J. Rousseau

[Buh4Bee]

A few people will be reading the above mentioned text. We will read the introduction and Book One by next Wednesday, June 17th. E-version text to Introduction linked below:

http://www.online-literature.com/rou...of-rousseau/0/

Happy Reading!

[alexar]

here's Book 1:

http://www.online-literature.com/rou...of-rousseau/1/

Don't let the introduction, written in 1896 by someone else entirely, put you off!

[Buh4Bee]

No kidding, it's a little dense, but makes sense with a good reading. Good background information.

[alexar]

the Rousseau is so clear though, could have been written yesterday in terms of theme, psychological insight and pace. Style is the 1890s translators but it's clear too. More than half way!

[Buh4Bee]

I agree. I'll be done by Wednesday. I have a sister visiting and that can mean getting nothing done, but maybe a little!

I did it! Finish book one and I loved it. I hit a few rough spots, and looked up a ton of vocabulary, but completely identified with Rousseau and his sorrowful disposition.

Ok, I'll stop there and save it for tomorrow. I hope you liked it as much as I did!

[alexar]

Yes I did enjoy it. Interesting self-presentation - free of the you-know-that-I-know ironies that would now make any such writing either coy or solemn. Maybe it's the confession tradition that allowed this openness. What I mean is, if you sat down to write your life story now, you'd be in the very familiar genre of the memoir or autobiography, and constantly making adjustments so as to let your readers know that (for example) your modesty wasn't false, etc etc. But Rousseau wasn't doing that because he didn't have those genres to worry about - as he understood it he was writing a secularised confession - so out it all comes.

And just as religious confession is meant to cleanse the soul, secular confession celebrates the individual. Rousseau's sins are redeemed by their contribution to his individuality.

[acdouglas92]

Hey guys, do you mind if I join in the discussion? I got the link for the Introduction and Book 1 - I'll be racing to catch up! Finished the Intro - looks good so far!

[alexar]

Hi ac - join in, do.

[Buh4Bee]

And just as religious confession is meant to cleanse the soul, secular confession celebrates the individual. Rousseau's sins are redeemed by their contribution to his individuality.

Well said sir! Rousseau's introspective self-examination was sincere and honest. His perspective on situations wins you over and makes you want to support him as his audience.

More coming!

Welcome AC, I'm glad the invite on the thread caught someone. Hope you enjoy the discussions.

[Buh4Bee]

What do you think about Rousseau and his overly sensitive nature? I was trying to find a quote that pointed this out, but I'm still looking. He struggled as a 'scraper' in the town clerk office and then later was bound as an apprentice to an engraver. In both circumstances, he felt extremely oppressed and developed some interesting coping mechanisms. I believe another interesting facet of his sensitive nature was the deep affection he developed toward Miss Vulson. I empathized with Rousseau and accepted the idea of him being the victim or better yet oppressed by his master. What do others think?

[Buh4Bee]

I think I'm supposed to put all this in one post, so sorry for the long list.

I wanted to return to Alexar's earlier point about the Confession being written as an original autobiography. I think he makes a well founded argument. Since Rousseau was one of the first to write in this genre style, he did have any other works to compare or model himself after. This affected the authenticity of the writing style. So true! And the other idea that he is not writing a religious confession, allows himself to not have to sensor anything that he writes. So Alexar's right, it all come out.

We should talk about the humor too. Rousseau is funny. I grew up in New Jersey, outside of NYC. He would be categorized there as a "nut-job" or "lunatic". His humor would redeem him, if he had to make friends there.

[Buh4Bee]

If everyone agrees, we will continue reading Book II for next week, Wed., June 24. We will continue to blog over the week about Book I. Good start so far! High Five, all fingers up!

Here is the link to Book II:

http://www.online-literature.com/rou...of-rousseau/2/

[acdouglas92]

What do you think about Rousseau and his overly sensitive nature? I was trying to find a quote that pointed this out, but I'm still looking. He struggled as a 'scraper' in the town clerk office and then later was bound as an apprentice to an engraver. In both circumstances, he felt extremely oppressed and developed some interesting coping mechanisms. I believe another interesting facet of his sensitive nature was the deep affection he developed toward Miss Vulson. I empathized with Rousseau and accepted the idea of him being the victim or better yet oppressed by his master.

Well, I'm only a little into Book 1, having just met Miss Vulson. But so far, I can tell that perhaps his nature is not so much overly sensitive, but rather, self-pitying. He seems to place himself over ordinary men from the beginning, telling them to "listen to my confessions...blush at my depravity...tremble at my suffers...and, if he dare, aver, I was better than that man" (1).

So I think what we have her is a man who is constantly trying to justify his actions - the whole idea of placing himself before a judge seems to follow this - and perhaps even place him above others. Therefore, I think self-pitying may be a better word choice.

It's rather dense, but so far I'm enjoying it! Thanks to whomever started this discussion! Cheers!

[alexar]

I can see that, ac - he's so pleased with himself and his general specialness - but somehow I find him quite disarming. It's this strong impression of honesty, just letting it all out, all the human stuff, all the things we normally keep to ourselves. Including self-satisfaction. There's something childlike about it, in a good way.

[Buh4Bee]

I went back and reread the beginning. I believe part of the purpose of Rousseau's introduction is to proclaim to the reader that he is trying to present his life as objectively as possible through this self-reflective process. We can be the judge, but better yet, in the end God will be the judge.

I also think part of the writing style is somewhat similar to other philosopher at the time. I did read Fear and Trembling by Kierkegaard (Hong) as well as Civil Disobedience by Thoreau and both reminded me of the writing style found in Rousseau's autobiography. Although both Fear and Trembling and Civil Disobedience were written in the mid 1800s. They seemed to call the reader into the essay in the introduction by asking them bare witness to the following arguments and to judge the ideas according to one's own conscience. I don't agree that Rousseau is trying to put himself above others, but trying to be sure he is presenting an accurate and balance narrative of his life by asking the reader to judge his writing and story.

I think Rousseau is charming and sentimental, but another way to perceive this may be self-pitying. One could hear a whiny tone in the writing, which I can detect. I think I am prone to empathize with Rousseau's maladjusted character, because he grew up without a mother.