Role of Time in Classical Literature: Analysis

Role of Time in Classical Literature:

Analysis of Three Classical Literary Works

The role of time in many classic literary pieces does much to convey its timelessness as well as its relevancy to the human condition. Dante's Divine Comedy (specifically The Inferno), Rabelais' Gargantua and Pantagruel, and Hobbes' Leviathan, are clear examples of this. All three classic tales convey a narrative which seems to exist out of time, yet each take often uses allegory or symbolism in referring to specific periods in human history in order to contain relevance to the plight of the reader. Through making time oblique, the authors create a form, which allows them to illustrate the politics of their age as well as attach a timeless quality to their work, making their tales relevant to future generations.

Dante's Inferno is one such tale that combines the ambiguity of time with its occasional specific references. Many of the issues identified in The Inferno are generally relate to Renaissance Italy: "factionalism, violence, the volatile mixture of mystic Christianity and hardheaded mercantile activity, conflict with other cultures, aristocratic notions of honor and revenge, the combination of Church and State..." (http://www.gradesaver.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/inferno/about.html,2). These specific references to persons of note in history keep Dante's tale grounded in time all the way through the narrative. Given the surreal subject matter, the references of real people in history assist in conveying its relevance to the reader. Also, due to the specific reference to moments in Man's history, it is easier to observe the progress of the main character's personal development as he travels deeper into hell. His journey becomes a personal pilgrimage to enlightenment.

In The Inferno, Dante gives shape to time. "He appropriates that past and transforms it into remarkable poetic images or stories." (Johnston, 2002, 8-9). Another reason why time is ambiguous is because in hell the concept of time does not apply, unless it refers to eternity (http://www.*****/dbase/ae3/tmw55.shtml,2).

Rabelais also employed various 'time' techniques to convey the same mystique about his work, Gargantua and Pantagruel. Gargantua and Pantagruel is fundamentally an anthology of tales written in 1554 about Pantagruel, the giant son of Gargantua. Rabelais' tale provides an embellished portrait of the Middle Ages (Brians, 1998, 1).

Through his use of ambiguous time, Rabelais explains that "generation after generation, the individual's soul is refined and elevated. His knowledge and wisdom is passed on. Although there seems to be deterioration from Adam and Eve but eventually they reach perfection after the hour of judgement with the return of Jesus Christ. This has some similarities with the myth of the Golden Ages. The golden age being Adam and Eve and then deteriorating until the hour of judgement. What makes Rabelais' interpretation unique is that he brings this macro viewpoint to a single person's life. He is born young and innocent in the golden ages and dies old and frail but he is young again in his children (rebirth of the golden ages). In this way, each generation surpasses the last. The elevation of the soul is passed from generation to generation passing on wisdom and knowledge. In this sense, Utopia for him is a process to reach a stage of development or time." (Brians, 1998, 2).

Rabelais conveys the education of Pantagruel through his various mentors, Gargantua and then Panurge. The struggle for learning is played out just as natural time progresses, slowly but surely. So, not unlike Dante's The Inferno, the struggle for enlightenment is reinforced by the application of time references and expressing a systematic chronology of events.

Hobbes' Leviathan possesses a narrative dissimilar to the two works previously investigated. Leviathan strenuously posits that civil harmony and a united society are best accomplished by setting up a commonwealth supported by a social contract. Hobbes depicts the commonwealth as a huge human shape composed of the bodies of its citizenry, the ruler as its head. Hobbes names this figure the "Leviathan," a term that originated from the Hebrew word for "sea monster" as well as the name of a hideous sea creature in the Bible; the image embodies the Hobbes' ideal government (http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/leviathan/summary.html,1).

Leviathan reads more like a class lecture or a textbook rather than a fictitious tale. It certainly exists out of time. There are no references to famous people and famous periods in time. Hobbes provides a dissertation on the problems of society and his proposed solution. Hobbes does not employ allegory or symbolism to convey his meaning. Its relevance to people is more direct in the instructions and advice Hobbes provides in creating a better society. Therefore, the struggle for learning is not regulated by people and events that have impacted on a main character. It is only regulated by the systematic method Hobbes employs in supporting his proposition: