Song Lyrics

In the song “The River,” Bruce Springsteen uses the symbols and archetypes of water, marriage, and a journey to express the theme of life’s disappointment. According to Anthony Stevens, “The confluence of rivers into the sea symbolizes the union of the individual with the absolute” (Stevens 111). Progressing through life can be quite a journey: “leaving the familiar past behind and progressing into the unknown future” (Stevens 155). In some instances, marriage can become more of a mere obligation where “No wedding day smile no walk down the aisle” (Springsteen).

Archetypal Photograph

Quotes from Ariadne's Clue

Here are the three quotes that I find interesting/insightful:

"Let us learn to dream, gentlemen, and then we may perhaps find the truth."

"We are the people who live on the roof of the world; we are the sons of Father Sun, and with our religion we daily help our Father go across the sky. We do this not only for ourselves, but for the whole world.  If we were to cease practising our religion, in ten years the sun would no longer rise. Then it would be night for ever."

"The search for the source of religion calls for a more general perspective, beyond individual civilizations, which must take account of the vast process of human evolution within the more general evolutionary process of life... Cultural studies must merge with general anthropology, which is ultimately integrated into biology."

The quote that I find confusing is:

"Dreams are a shield against the humdrum monotony of life; they set imagination free from its chains so that it may throw into confusion all the pictures of everyday existence and break into the  unceasing gravity of grown men with the joyful play of a child."

Using each sentence

Dream

                Last night I had a dream about winning a two week vacation to the Bahamas. It’s exciting to win such a luxury, for not everyone has the pleasure to go on vacations. I want to take my best friend on the trip as well because she is a great friend and I would hope she would do the same for me. Even though it was just a dream, we had the time of our lives, and met a lot of new people on a much needed getaway.