Monday, October 28, 2013

Boredom in Rambler 191

What are some examples of these "incitements" in Rambler 191?

"Boredom, however, includes as a component the "need for intense mental activity," a need that in the bored person cannot find gratification by generating its own impulse but seeks "incitements" from the outside world as a means of decreasing tension" (Reading, Writing, and Bored, 4).

"Those vacancies of time which are to be filled with books, I have never yet obtained; for, consider, Mr. Rambler, I got to bed late, and therefore cannot rise early; as soon as I am up, I dress for the gardens; then walk in the park; then always go to some sale or show, or entertainment at the little theatre; then must be dressed for dinner; then must pay my visits; then walk in the park; then hurry to the play; and from thence to the card-table..." (Rambler 191, 2)

When reading Boredom Chapter 1, I was especially struck by the fact that the word "bored" didn't exist until much later, and that it is a modern construct used to describe this state of mind. I was particularly interested in the descriptions of boredom in Chapter 1; I know what the word bored means -- I have been bored before -- so when I see it written in texts I don't need a further explanation of how the person is acting. The descriptions Spack includes in the chapter came before the word existed, though, so it's not written anywhere in the texts, which leaves one to figure out the tell-tale signs of boredom.
For example, in the description of the Medieval Monk, he "look about anxiously," "sigh," "goes in and out of his cell" and "frequently gazes up at the sun, as if it was too slow in setting." In other words, he keeps looking around to find something to do, sighs because he can't find anything to occupy his mind, starts pacing to pass the time, and frequently looks at the sun to see if time has passed.

In Rambler 191, we see similar "incitements" as those above. The girl has been confined to the house for three months and is not allowed to pass her time in the ways that she used to (mentioned above in the quote). Bellaria feels the need to constantly be busy ('the "need for intense mental activity") but she cannot occupy her mind on her own,  and must look to the outside world to occupy her mind, hence all that she does in her day -- it keeps her away from boredom.

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