Do you believe in spirits?

As some of you may know, on weekdays I work as the librarian at my local middle school. In the library, I have a display of personally selected books on the front desk I recommend students to check out. If a student reads one of those books and gives me a satisfactory summary on it, I reward them by letting them spin a wheel for a prize. I switch out these books every few weeks, and when October began, I decided to put Halloween and horror-themed books on display. I always like to have a selection of nonfiction works as well as fiction. For October, I chose books that were about such things as Orson Wells’ infamous 1938 broadcast of ‘War of the Worlds’ and science books about about bones and archeology. The most checked-out of these nonfiction books, however, were those about the history of spooky events, like mass witch hunts, to the origins of monsters and spooks that haunt our culture today. When I came across these books, it made me think about how old superstitions and folklore have influenced our present society, and how some beliefs, though they may have changed, have survived the Age of Enlightenment.

To many, the 19th century may seem like an age long past. Even just thinking of a year that begins with a one and an eight may make us picture macabre things such as death masks and post-mortem photography, which were common at the time. Think of Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’. The book was published in 1897, and had a contemporary timeline. Nowadays, when someone reads this book, the Victorian-era setting seems to add a certain charm to the story that wasn’t in there when it was first released.

With that being said, it might sound strange for me to say this, but I feel that the 19th century is still comparatively recent, and events from this time still resonate here in the 21st century. I perceive it this way because this was the period in history that many centuries-old traditions began to get spun on their heads. It’s generally accepted by historians that the Industrial Revolution began in the late 18th century. With this new ideology emphasizing mass production and urbanization, philosophies regarding things like politics and religion were beginning to change drastically. Our world was changing at a pace that has never been reached before, and that pace is only getting faster. It’s this provocation of long-established philosophies and perceptions on the value of life that I find so interesting. This is why I have a deep appreciation for literary figures from this peculiar century, such as Dickens, Hugo, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky.

This era, commonly called the Industrial Revolution, is also called the Age of Enlightenment. Many people became realists as scientific theory was reaching new heights. As certain scientific phenomena became better explained, traditional beliefs of their causes having supernatural influence began to diminish. What used to be believed accounts of elves and fairies have become accepted as works of fiction (remember that the 19th century was the golden age of fairy tales). But have these beliefs really become extinct, or have they just been appropriated into modern philosophy? Since Halloween is approaching, the idea of ghosts and ghouls are constantly on our mind. According to The New York Times, a 2019 poll says that about “46 percent of respondents said they [believe in ghosts]. (1)” It’s not quite the majority, but it still is a high number. Interestingly enough, the percentage of Americans who believe in ghosts is on an upward trend. Gallup says that “in 2005, 32 percent of respondents said they believed in ‘ghosts or that spirits of dead people can come back in certain places and situations.’ When Gallup asked the same question in 1990, the result was 25 percent.”

But what do ghosts have to do with fairies? Actually, a lot. In fact, what certain unexplainable phenomena many of us associate with ghosts today, many people of the past have associated with fairies. Furthermore, fairies were oftentimes considered spirits. Take the Banshee, for example: it is common knowledge that the Banshee is a specter of a woman whose wail foretells a coming death. In our modern culture, we tend to depict her as a ghost, but not necessarily a fairy or an elf; yet Irish folklorist John O’Brien states that such entities are “she-fairies or women-fairies, credulously supposed by the common people to be so affected to certain families that they are heard to sing mournful lamentations about their houses by night, whenever any of the family labours under a sickness which is to end by death, but no families which are not of an ancient & noble Stock, are believed to be honoured with this fairy privilege. (2)” Lady Wilde (Oscar Wilde’s mother), another prominent Irish folklorist, says, when describing the Banshee’s appearance, that “it may… be intended to emphasize her state as a fairy creature (3)”, but yet she also refers to the Banshee as a “mournful spirit”. O’Brien and Wilde show us that the terms fairy and spirit can be used interchangeably in this context, though a ghost most-often refers to the spirit of a person who had departed life. Perhaps spirit is an umbrella term for any supernatural being? If this is true, and if many people today still believe in various types of spirits, then has the belief in fairies really gone extinct?

I personally believe in the existence of spirits, but in things like ghosts and fairies, I can’t say I do or I don’t believe in them; though I know many people who do believe in literal ghosts. I feel inclined to say that just because a truth exists in one perception, it doesn’t mean it isn’t true in others. Science only explains how things happen, not why. If there is some nonhuman intelligence influencing certain phenomena, are they not the fairies and ghosts some of us perceive them as? Say that you hear an eerie cry in the woods one night, and as you go to investigate it, you see a pair of ghostly glowing eyes staring back at you. One may know that it’s only an animal, while another may perceive it as a spirit. With this in mind, it could be understood that animals are the causes of some of our beliefs in spirits. If that’s the case, are they not the fairies and spirits that shape cultures? Perhaps I’ll elaborate on this in next month’s post. Until then… Happy Halloween!

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Sources:

(1): Kambhampaty, Anna P. (28 October 2021). Many Americans Say They Believe in Ghosts. Do You? The New York Times.

(2): O’Brien, John (1768). Focalóir Gaoidhilge Sax-Bhéarla. Nicolas-Francis Valleyre, Paris.

(3): Wilde, Jane (1887). Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland (Vol. 1). Boston: Ticknor and Co. pp. 259–60.

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If you enjoyed reading this post, be sure to leave a like. Please check out my books in the links below. Thank you for your support!

Rise of the Dragon – book one (click here)

The Six Pieces – book two (click here)

Fairy Tales, Fables & Other Short Stories – Collection 1 (click here)

Fairy Tales, Fables & Other Short Stories – Collection 2 (click here)

Thoughts on ‘War & Peace’ and Classic Literature

On January 6th of this year, I found the book ‘War & Peace’ at the library and checked it out. Later that day I consulted my calendar to predict how long it would take me to read the book of about 590,000 words. I figured it would take me a while, perhaps several months to read; I mean it took me four months to read ‘Gone With the Wind’, which is close to 420,000. However, for various reasons, I had more opportunities to read ‘War & Peace’ with a more stable schedule, and I finished the entire book on 7 February. Granted, ‘Gone With the Wind’ was a book my parents owned, so I had no obligation to read it quickly. I’m generally a slow reader, anyway.

During and soon after finishing Tolstoy’s “philosophical discussion”, I considered reasons why classic novels are my favorite novels to read. It’s not that I dislike more modern novels; I like to read those, too. But concerning classics, I like them best of all because they’re immortal for good reasons. I like to see how writing in English, whether or not it has been a translation from another language, evolves overtime, especially from the 19th century to the 20th. I notice how most books pre-1900 have some different conjugations, like how in dialogue tags it’s not uncommon to find dialogue tags that read “said he” rather than “he said”, though the latter can be easily found as well.

I don’t bother trying to sound whimsical or archaic in ‘The Tales of Draco’ (unless it’s dialogue from certain characters), mostly because I feel it would get a little annoying after 100,000 words or so since I’m a 21st century author and such conjugation isn’t popular anymore. However, I like to add such word arrangements in my fairy tale books (I started doing this in my second book); in that case I think it fits better in short stories meant to resemble the whimsies meant for a younger audience. But it depends on the story, also.

Getting back to classic novels, I’ve also taken note at how most of these novels were first published. If you look up the history of any of the staples of the 19th century, you’ll find that they were often first published in serialized form in magazines, sometimes under different titles. They are only published as complete novels several months after the final issue in the magazine. Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo, and Carlo Collodi (The Adventures of Pinocchio) have published novels this way. ‘War & Peace’ was first published under the title ‘1805’ in ‘The Russian Messenger’ from 1865 to ’67 before appearing in full form in 1869 under its current title (and no, Tolstoy never considered calling it ‘War, What is it Good For?’).

(WARNING: THIS PARAGRAPH CONTAINS SPOILERS!) What intrigued me the most with ‘War & Peace’ is that Leo Tolstoy did not consider his book to be a novel. “[It is] not a novel,” he said, “even less is it a poem, and still less a historical chronicle”, but a philosophical discussion as I (Jolley) have mentioned above. I’ve especially taken note in certain passages in how Napoleon or Alexander would treat the war like a game of chess. On the other hand, Pierre, who had been taken prisoner by the French, is forced to evacuate with his captors, and along the way he witnesses soldiers and civilians alike fighting over provisions found in abandoned houses, forced to feed on horseflesh, and prisoners getting severely sick and die. Prince Andrei Bolkonsky is severely wounded by a bomb and is taken to the Rostof house, where he falls ill with fever and dies a slow, painful death. I especially liked the implication Tolstoy makes in how the men in command like Kutuzof and especially Napoleon love the idea of war and strategy, while the men on the front lines constantly face uncertainty, suffering, pain, loss, and possible starvation. War is either a gameboard or Hell depending on where you are on the battlefield. I also think of World War I in how for four years young men were forced into unthinkable circumstances that no person deserves to endure. But did the monarchs of Europe think the same way? When Germany was being forced back and on the verge of defeat, some commanders would order their regiments to charge even though there was no chance of victory. Why? Because of national fatalism. Most soldiers hated this idea and turned on their commanders. Why send us to death? they asked. What’s the point of dying for national honor? It’s irrational. And also in these current times, how is violence depicted in fantasy books and video games? It’s all a for fun. You can play ‘Fortnite’ with all comfort in the world because if your character dies, you don’t, and your character respawns. Death means nothing other than an annoyance in these cases. I’m not saying every player of such games has no senses, but rather, if you do play these games, consider the perception of war to the man in comfort to the man fighting for his life. Napoleon versus the infantryman. I’ve mentioned this subject twice already here and here.

Chances are the majority of the “great works of literature” you have read were a part of class assignments. Because of this many students grow to dislike these books, which I think is sad. It’s not that you can’t have preferences; even I don’t like every book of previous centuries (‘Moby Dick’ for instance). To be honest, I understand why some students don’t like assigned reading. I’m not against it, but I feel I don’t get much out of it when I have to read a certain section and simply recount what I’ve read. It wasn’t until after I graduated from high school when I took a real liking to classics. Reading these books on my own, I could take my own time pondering what I have read, considering the themes, and taking notes if I find it necessary. When I do these things personally, I get much more out of the book. And also, I see memes here and there when they make fun of ‘War & Peace’ or ‘Les Miserables’ by how there are many passages that talk about random subjects. Keep in mind these are translated works, and literature is perceived differently in other languages.

I love classic literature because there are good reasons why they are still popular today. Many of these novels don’t just tell stories; they force the reader to think and ponder about the ways of the world. These authors are long dead, but their voices are still heard, and what they have said remains immortal.

‘Theme’ in Fiction & Why It is Necessary

Fiction’s number one goal, obviously, is to entertain. If that fact is not clear enough, I don’t know how to make it any more-so. When it comes to discussing my reasons for writing fiction with fans and/or at presentations, I like to begin by giving reference to pretty much any folklorist’s remarks about how such stories have come to be, and how it evolved to what we see of it in the present. One funny thing I hear critics say about this is that fiction is pointless, and that indulging in fictional literature is a waste of time. My response to this is: firstly, everyone indulges in entertainment–that’s how we live in society; secondly, fiction can do much more than entertain. When done correctly, any work of fiction can teach us a great deal of subjects–this is done through Theme. It is this second reason that I’m going to address today…

It’s almost expected of a fictional writer, aspiring or experienced, to admit that the reason why they create such stories is because their minds are bloated with thoughts, ideas, and personal impressions of the world. Sometimes (in my case, for instance), fiction is the best way we can demonstrate concerns we wish to address to our audience. One of the best examples of this is through George Orwell’s ‘1984’. You don’t even have to have read the book to have an idea of what the story is about: It is set is in the dystopian future, where the government (nicknamed Big Brother) has complete control of her citizens–so much so that any single thought outside of Big Brother’s control is not tolerated in the slightest.

This story-line is well-known in our modern culture; but if you read the book thoroughly and with an open mind, you will see how exact Orwell’s messages are to the reader. George Orwell had much wisdom in the realm of society, social classes, politics, and the nature of Man’s mind when involved in such things. All this was from his experiences observing these matters; the most notable of which was his involvement with the Marxist division of the Republican Army during the Spanish Civil War (mentioned in his book ‘Homage to Catolonia’). During this time, Orwell was introduced to what he saw as the indignities of authoritarianism (both in fascist and Stalinist forms). With his ideas from such exposure, he took up the challenge to express his political agendas through the art of fiction. Toward the end of his life, he devoted all his literary writing to addressing the issues he saw in the world.

George Orwell is easily not the only writer to include strong themes in his works. Dickens did also, so did Hawthorne, Hugo, Tolkien, Rowling, and hundreds more. In my case, the themes I include in my books are one of the two main reasons why I write in ‘The Tales of Draco’ and even ‘Fairy Tales’, the other being the point that I simply wish to entertain the reader. Theme is what makes a fictional story vital, what makes it be discussed, and what makes it memorable even centuries after it has been written. Besides, it is under entertainment when the audience is more open-minded. When writing a treatise or an essay, you are targeting a specific audience; and you are able to expand on the concerns your audience is seeking in the first place. In fiction, however, you may not be able to be as clear and concise in addressing your points (except when you have that one character who explains it all in a multi-paged monologue). But when you tell a story, and your audience has their minds open and ready to be entertained, you can introduce them to your agenda and reel them in.

So now you know that fiction isn’t pointless. Entertainment alone isn’t pointless in the first place if indulged moderately! But when you add themes to your work, to discuss a matter as well as to entertain, your story will have much more depth, and that is how stories stand the test of time.

(Read more about Orwell in ‘The Cambridge Companion to George Orwell’. https://books.google.com/books?id=x8-fnamQuUkC&pg=PA133#v=onepage&q&f=false)

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I’m Jordan B. Jolley, author of ‘The Tales of Draco’ and ‘Fairy Tales, Fables & Other Short Stories’. These books go into the depths of folklore and display to the reader what life is really about. Magic spells and creatures of legend are only the beginning of what you may find within their pages. I promise you that if you read these books, they will change the way you see your world. (Click here if you are interested in ordering a signed copy.)

The Tales of Draco – Rise of the Dragon – book one (click here)

The Tales of Draco – The Six Pieces – book two (click here)

Fairy Tales, Fables & Other Short Stories – Collection 1 (click here)

Literary Critiques: Oliver Twist

It seems I have neglected to announce the next book critique in my Watership Down post. This has been a trying time for me these past few months, but I’m finally back on track. I was pondering on which book to critique next these past few months, and I’ve decided to go over Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. Of the four books I have currently read by Dickens, I must say this is my favorite alongside A Tale of Two Cities (which I may go over in the future). After reading Oliver Twist, I’ve gained much respect for Charles Dickens and his social commentaries. He is now one of my favorite authors. But why is that? Why did I like Oliver Twist so much when I was reading it? It has been a while since I have read it; and the more time passes, the more I ask myself this question.

The Plot:

“‘Oliver Twist’ The Parish Boy’s Progress is a book in which Oliver Twist is a nine-year-old orphan boy who doesn’t know who his parents were. He escapes from a workhouse to London where he meets the ‘Artful Dodger'(Jack Dawkins) ,leader of the gang of the juvenile pickpockets.” – (Taken from wikibooks.org)

The Impact:

So why did I like this book when I read it? I believe it was the way Dickens had written it. As I have said above, Dickens is one of my favorite authors. The reason I like his works so much is because of his social commentaries; and he has much to say in Oliver Twist. We see this innocent young boy, whose only crime was being an orphan. I remember reading about how he worked for an undertaker and a chimney-sweeper, while living in the orphanage. But, because of his crime for being an orphan, he his constantly bullied and abused by the so-called “good” Mr. Bumble. Because of this poor treatment, Oliver runs away and joins a gang of pickpockets. He enters this life of crime; and why?

When I read this book, I can’t help feeling sorry for Oliver, and most especially for the real people who live like he did. This is exactly the point Dickens makes. Usually when we see someone living a life of crime, we “Mr. Bumbles” of society  might look upon these “Olivers” of society as nothing more than vicious troublemakers who ought to be locked up. We choose not to see anything beyond that trait in these people. But why did Oliver enter this life of poverty and crime? Did he choose to live like that, or was it given to him? Oftentimes, people live a life of crime because of their mistreatment. Think of all the people on the streets now! Why are they out on the streets? Is it because of mistreatment at home? Is it because they have no home at all? What do you think?

My favorite books are those that have commentary, and I think Dickens makes a commentary in Oliver Twist that should be pondered upon even today. Our human society has many flaws; should we just lock up the impoverished and pretend they do not exist? Or do we try to express love and friendship to everyone so that nobody lives like Oliver did? Are you more like Oliver? Or are you more like, say, Mr. Bumble? Think about it.

Next month I’ll be going over Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling.

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I’m Jordan B. Jolley, author of The Tales of Draco and Fairy Tales, Fables & Other Short Stories. These books go into the depths of folklore and display to the reader what life is really about. Magic spells and creatures of legend are only the beginning of what you may find within their pages. I promise you that if you read these books, they will change the way you see your world.

The Tales of Draco: Rise of the Dragon (click here)

The Tales of Draco: The Six Pieces (click here)

Fairy Tales, Fables & Other Short Stories: Collection 1 (click here)

Keep Your Head Forward…

Discouragement is a common emotion to feel in the writing field. It can happen to any author or aspiring writer. We have big expectations. It is easy to envision yourself as the next Charles Dickens or J.K. Rowling. When you begin your rough draft and you come across your first writer’s block, you may begin to doubt your primary expectations. You realize that it won’t be an easy journey. When you finish your manuscript, you try to have friends and family read it and critique it so you can get honest feedback. But those who say they would help you end up giving a mediocre response or don’t even finish reading your manuscript at all. Then you try to get your story published only to get rejected time and time again. And even if your story is published, you go through it only to find printing errors.

The writing process is difficult. Writing is no stroll through a daisy field, nor is it a trek through thorns. The path consists of all kinds of terrain. When things don’t go exactly as planned, you may feel discouraged. The trick is to not let it get to you. I would say that if you try hard enough, you’ll eventually fulfill all your goals. But that is sadly not always the case. However, you won’t get your best chance if you don’t try. Whatever is holding you back in your writing, find ways to overcome it. One of the best ways to do this is to take a little break. Go on a walk or talk with loved ones. Letting yourself go for a little bit can help you clear your mind. This is especially true if you are stuck in a writer’s block. Taking a break can help you sort things out in your mind.

Just remember, J.K. Rowling’s first novel has been rejected many times. During that time of her life, Rowling had many challenges. She was very discouraged by this. But she kept her head forward. She used her setbacks to her advantage. Her novel was eventually published and now it is one of the most successful books in history. Now your luck may differ from Rowling’s. You may reach all your goals, or you may not. But remember to keep your head forward. You’ll never know what you can accomplish unless you try. Don’t let your trials uphold you.

 

If you want to find help overcoming some common writing trials, click here to read about tips and benefits by Ryan Lanz.