Good day, readers. Today is January 9th, the 9th day of the year 2024, with 357 days remaining.
Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.
Winston Churchill
Today in Literary History:
On this day in 1908, Simone de Beauvoir, a French existentialist philosopher, writer, and social theorist, was born. De Beauvoir’s groundbreaking work, The Second Sex, is a foundational text in feminist literature and philosophy, exploring the roles and perceptions of women in society. Her writings have had a profound impact on both the feminist movement and existential philosophy.
Notable Birthdays:
Richard Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994), the 37th President of the United States, was born on this day. Though his presidency ended in controversy, his memoirs and numerous biographies provide deep insights into the complexities of American politics during the Cold War and the Vietnam War era.
Today’s Readings:
From The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir: “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.”
Literary Fact of the Day:
On January 9, 1816, Sir Humphry Davy tested the Davy lamp for miners at Hebburn Colliery. This invention significantly improved safety in coal mines and has been the subject of numerous historical studies that examine the intersection of science, industry, and societal progress.
Poem of the Day:
“At Melville’s Tomb” by Hart Crane:
Often beneath the wave, wide from this ledge
The dice of drowned men’s bones he saw bequeath
An embassy. Their numbers as he watched,
Beat on the dusty shore and were obscured.
And wrecks passed without sound of bells,
The calyx of death’s bounty giving back
A scattered chapter, livid hieroglyph,
The portent wound in corridors of shells.
Then in the circuit calm of one vast coil,
Its lashings charmed and malice reconciled,
Frosted eyes there were that lifted altars;
And silent answers crept across the stars.
Compass, quadrant and sextant contrive
No farther tides . . . High in the azure steeps
Monody shall not wake the mariner.
This fabulous shadow only the sea keeps.
This poem delves into the enigmatic and often somber aspects of the sea as a final resting place, using the figure of Herman Melville to explore themes of fate and the unknowable depths of existence.
Advice for Writers:
Inspired by Simone de Beauvoir’s analytical approach, consider how your writing can challenge societal norms and philosophical assumptions. Exploring the “why” behind cultural constructs can open up new avenues for thought and discussion, enriching your work and providing readers with valuable insights.
Have an insightful and reflective day, dear readers. Until tomorrow, may your pursuits lead to profound understanding and personal growth.