The Breakdown
Two aspects of Scarry’s The
Body in Pain presented itself to me; (1) the psychological and physical
inescapability of torture, as well as (2) the opposing groups of words deriving
from the Latin root, “hos.”
Like the Latin root “hos” is capable of going in two opposing
directions, so is one’s attitude towards the body. “ ‘Hos’ meaning house,
shelter, or refuge,” is comparable to one’s own image of the body as a sanctuary; however,
that is juxtaposed with the root's dual meaning, “hostility,” or being a "hostage" in one’s
own body.
Throughout the reading, Scarry emphasizes and delves into
the meaning of inescapable torture. The thought of being physically incapable
of escaping torture by being held captive behind prison bars is taken one step
further when Scarry writes “…the person in great pain experiences his own body
as the agent of his agony” (47). The body is therefore thought of as another
form of prison. What was once seen of as a blessing, a mouth to eat with, feet
to walk with, ears to hear with, eyes to see with, are now potential avenues
one can inflict torture on another. The body is a burden by allowing torture to
be felt and experienced.
Erin- I like how you've taken a slightly different approach and emphasised on how the body is a burden by allowing torture to be experienced. This shows the psychological inescapability of torture, which I found comparable to Jean Paul Sarte's "The Wall" in which a prisoner is informed of news of his execution. Just the mere knowledge that he was going to die, was a form of pyschological torture that he could not escape. It destroyed not only his sense of self, but also his world and his loyalities. At one point he debates whether it would make a difference if he died, or his friend did. The destruction of his world was a torture that long haunted him even after he ironically escaped his execution.
ReplyDeleteI also like how you have compared the two meanings of "hos" as the body can give us shelter, but at the same time hold us hostage to our pains.