Reflective View of Dillard's "Total Eclipse"

Reflective Assignment A

My life context helped me interpretation of the Dillard essay “Total Eclipse”.

To answer this question fully I must understand "who I am" as a person first that mean what is specifically my core values and outlook on life. Therefore, my answere is yes: my life context has helped me interpretate "Total Ecliple".

Has my own personal experience forced me to view ideas and life in a specific way? I would be in denial if I did not see some since of my background, life experiences, mind set, openness to new things, and perception as an influence. Yet, have I permitted these things to dictate or force a single though pattern? Have I been forced to think in the conventional mind set? No, therefore “Usually it is a bit of trick to keep your knowledge from blinding you” (164).

Therefore, I allow myself to see myself, life, and the world as it is. I allowed myself to ask why not. Is that being a troublemaker - as society sees one who does not follow the norm? I hope there were more people whom have the courage to ask why not. It takes a very special person to be in that category.

At this point, I now realized I allowed myself to see Annie Dillard writing as a work of Art. How can that be possible? ART? Wow! Yes, a non-traditional piece of work did not follow the norms of politically correct or regular essay. Does that make the essay wrong? I think not. It makes the essay different. It makes the essay a piece of work that was express openly and freely.

Could it be possible in writing her essay, Dillard realized “usually it is a bit of a trick to keep knowledge from blinding you” (164). Is it possible that Annie Dillard chose to be in the grasp of the norm? Yet instill, the choice she has made allow her to be set free.

Set free from the all knowing and the all-powerful knowledge of the world. It appears that the blinding allow Dillard to go beyond and slip into a place on the hilltop. While on the hilltop, she sees the town below doing mundane things of everyday life. A life that could be more in depth and complete if one chose it.

Is it more comfortable to have the safety of everyday life that gives no relief or time to slip into a place on the hilltop? For some it is and for other it is just not enough. Individuals have to find their own place. Would that place be on the hilltop or in town following what everyone else is doing?

My question is now, have I let my experiences, mind set, openness to new ideas, and perspective affect how I view the Annie Dillard’s essay? Well, I will let the reader be the judge.

My interpretation of Dillard is about Language, communication, or expression and how to link ideas and thoughts to the reader. The context of my life has been multifaceted with many experiences. A combination of all the experience has helped creates me as a person. In addition, many of my choices have had some influence too.

Confusion! Finding order in no order has been my motivator. I have seen confusion and experience confusion; therefore, I learned to look beyond. Look, further than the lie, I look for the purpose for the lie. Looking further than the gossip, I look for the purpose of the gossip. Within many situation communication is key. Communication can bring people together or separate them. Living in society, the lack of efficient expression usually causes discord. Dillard essay “Total Eclipse” appears disarrayed but the essay delivered multiple messages to various people. “usually it is a bit of trick to keep your knowledge from blinding you” (164).

Job well done!