Red Herring: Mystery’s Secret

December 16 2020

A sense of achievement comes with unveiling a book’s twist before the author reveals it. Therefore, the temptation to solve riddles is what makes the suspense genre so popular. Often, there is a common factor in the success of mystery novels. It is a literary device called ‘red herring.’

This article contains spoilers for Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban; And Then There Was None by Agatha Christie; I Am Watching by Emma Kavanagh.

What’s a Red Herring?

Literally, it is a small fish, turned red and dry by smoke. As an idiom, it means something irrelevant intended as a distraction. It has many connotations, including political.

In literature, a red herring is a misleading clue that throws-off the readers. It sends them down a false path and fuels the suspense of the book. A pretty famous red herring is found in J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban. Everyone believes Sirius Black is the villain, but that turns out untrue.

An expert on this technique would be Agatha Christie. Many of her works include misleading hints that snowball into twisty revelations. In murder mysteries, authors drop red herrings to keep their readers guessing until the last page.

Intentional versus Coincidental:

There are two types of red herrings:

1- intentional:

An intentional red herring is a false clue that a character has created to mislead the rest. A famous novel by Agatha Christie includes an example of this type, actually.

“And Then There Were None” follows 10 strangers on an island, with a killer among them. Justice Wargrave eliminates himself from the list of potential-murderers by faking his own death. It turns out, he tricked everyone because he was the killer all along.

2- coincidental

A coincidental red herring is placing deliberate, false clues to mislead the audience.

Take Alex Michaelides’s The Silent Patient. The red herrings in this book are the characters. The unbalanced shift of points of view works as a distraction. And, the ambiguous characters sway suspicion until the revelation of the twist. In retrospect, that serves as the biggest indicator for it, actually.

A detailed example of a Red Herring:

This example is from the novel that struck me enough to write this article. Emma Kavanagh’s I Am Watching is a continuous development of red herrings.

The book revolves around a serial killer who strikes again after twenty years, despite supposedly being behind bars. And one of the points of view belongs to an original survivor. It is later revealed the wrong person was arrested, and the author begins leaving clues that hint toward the real killer. For instance, evidence tampering that points to the protagonist’s father. Suspense follows this character in mind for a while.

Meanwhile, the author gives devastating insight into that one survivor’s mind. Until sympathy forms with him. Consequently, this bond is a red herring.

In hindsight, it is obvious the real killer is the survivor. As you sympathize with his struggles, you never see the twist coming — feeling sorry for him distracts you from that conclusion.

Done correctly, red herrings provide a satisfying shock at the end. They make mysteries compelling. That is why people appreciate this genre.

Author: Nachoua NAIT ALI

Separating the Art from the Artist: A Debate

October 12 2020

art, artists

The recent article by a fellow member of Algerian Black Pearl: ‘Is Cancel Culture Canceling Free Speech?’ made the debate over whether you can separate the art from the artist come to mind.

The article briefly mentioned the backlash author J.K Rowling received this summer. A lot of Harry Potter fans took to social media to express their disappointment at Rowling’s transphobic comments, with most agreeing that she had now ruined their love for the series. Buzzfeed asked their community how their relationship with Harry Potter changed following the incident, with the majority of the answers deplorable.

J.K Rowling wasn’t the first person whose art became questionable.

J.K Rowling wasn’t the first person whose art became questionable after a controversy. Roman Polanski and Woody Allen, once considered brilliant movie directors, had their credibility tarnished amid sexual abuse accusations. People were reluctant to show their appreciation for their works. The same thing happened to singers R. Kelly, and XXXTentacion whose music was bitterly received following their controversies — their accusations were sexual misconduct, and domestic abuse respectively. Streaming service Spotify had even stopped promoting, and recommending their music on their platform.

There are many other artists whose works arose the same, repeated question: can you separate the art from the artist?

To some, it is imperative.

Many people believe that separating art from the artist is mandatory. The quality of art should not depend on the artist’s character. Once it is out there, it stops belonging to the person who created it. It takes on a life of its own. When this question was asked on Reddit, one user commented: “great art is bigger than the artist who created it.” Meaning people’s interpretations of it should not be held down by external factors, such as the artist’s private life.

Reading up the context of a given piece — a novel, a song, a movie — is favorable. It gives you a contextual insight into the creator’s thoughts when delivering their art. It helps you understand how it came to exist. Though it shouldn’t force you to view it a certain way when consuming it. People react differently; what sparks up emotions in one person doesn’t necessarily mean the same for everybody else. And so: the art should not be boycotted if the artist is. In her essay, philosophy professor Jenna Thompson concluded: “We should expose the wrongdoing of artists and but we should not be prevented from admiring their works.”

Not everyone holds this same view, though. To so many others, art is an inseparable characteristic of the person that created it.

It is not possible to consider art a piece of its own, without thinking of the person who created it. Even if subtly, it will always hold undertones of its creator. This is what the opposing argument is. One cannot orchestrate an entire body of work without peppering smudges of their personality into it. It is impossible to be entirely unbiased. As one Twitter user explained it: “the work an artist creates is directly tied to their morals as a human being; one’s work and one’s values are not separate.”

Keeping an artist’s terrible character in mind will undoubtedly reflect how you consume their work. And if the artist is a terrible person, then there is no reason to give them a platform for more harm. The backlash against J.K Rowling was justified as such. The fact that she is still actively profiting from Harry Potter should be an incentive to stop supporting her work. Fans, since then, opted out of the series’ merchandise.

Their general consensus is: art does not function as a redeemable quality. People should not be excused because the art they are making is good.

An alternative: a case-by-case basis.

There is a third view of this debate, however. One that does not lean too far into either side.

A suggestion that separating the art from the artist should be done case-by-case. The artist should be censored (and boycotted) if their art directly causes harm. If their art is an expression of their beliefs, then their work as a whole should be rejected. Take Pablo Picasso for example. Considering his misogyny, his paintings of women become difficult to separate from his identity. His art directly correlates with his beliefs, and so should not be glorified. The key, therefore, is to be critical.

Sometimes, the debate even becomes futile if the artist is dead. Some people believe that since the artist is no longer benefiting from the engagement, then it is safe to consume it. Financial support is important. If you are not boosting this horrible person’s income, separating the art from the artist becomes relatively easy.

At the end of the day, art is expression. It all comes down to your own perception of it. How you individually react to its context, and the artist’s biography; whether their values represent yours or not.

Author: Nachoua Nour NAIT ALI

The Three Daughters of Eve: a Modern Woman With a Spiritual Crisis

April 4 2020

book review, elif shafak, the three daughters of eve

An Introduction to the Novelist and Her Background

Elif Shafak has proved to be a highly influential author through her controversial novels. She has lived in different areas in the world. Needless to say that she is from Turkish origins. A nation that is diverse and politically conflicted. So this rich background explains her ability to move between different identities and societal roles for her characters. In one of her latest works, The Three Daughters of Eve, she manages to combine opposing standpoints in one novel. She masterfully filled the gap between the secular and the religious, the rich and the poor, the past and the present. She has built a cosmopolitan world in which different characters meet to make a great and relatable story, trying to find the similarities between them regardless of their backgrounds and world views.

The Three Daughters Of Eve tells the story of a Turkish woman, Nazperi Nalbantoğlu, nicknamed Peri, in a dual timeline and place, the present in Istanbul and the 1990s in Oxford. The plot moves fluidly between these two times without disturbing the reader to show Peri’s journey with her spiritual crisis.

Warning: Spoiler Ahead

The Unstable Background that Shaped Peri.

The plot takes place in 2016 on a spring day in Istanbul. Peri is a modern Turkish mother facing a religious crisis. She is on her way to a party, but a disturbing incident almost kills her yet she miraculously survives it. When she makes it to the party, the incident makes her mind wander back to the memories of her past.

Through these memories, we can learn more about her history and the development of her character. Peri was raised in the shadow of a religious mother and a liberal father who are in constant conflict. Her parents symbolize the clash between Istanbul’s mix of modernity and religiosity, liberalism and conservatism, and in their heated interactions, we see the struggle Turkey itself is going through.

The nature of the relation between her parents prevents her from taking a stance about God. So she is always looking for answers. “She had come to believe through some twisted logic of her own that if she were to bring together her mother’s Creator and her father’s Creator, she might be able to restore harmony between her parents,” Shafak writes. We can see how she leans towards her father, though there is still a wide gap to fill.

Oxford: a New Phase with the Same Religious Crisis.

Peri makes it to Oxford after high school, But a scandal prevents her from finishing her higher education after a sequence of events. Oxford itself is a symbol for the quiet Peri longs for, so vastly different than the city she grew up in. “The first thing that struck Peri about Oxford was the silence. That was and would remain for months to come, the one peculiarity she found hard to get used to—the absence of noise. Istanbul was unashamedly boisterous…” Shafak says.

In Oxford, she befriends two girls who are as polarized as her parents were. One who was more of a hedonistic atheist, and another who was a religious Muslim. Again she finds herself stuck between a passionate believer and a passionate non-believer as Peri refers to them. These three daughters from different parts of the world jokingly refer to themselves as “the Sinner, the Believer, the Confused.” Despite their differences, they establish a strong bond. The author tries to show that coexistence between people is possible if they transcend their limited identity and see the ”other” from the lenses of humanity.

Dr. Azur, Could He Be the Solution to Peri’s Dilemma?

These three girls are captivated by a handsome religion teacher, Dr.Azur who imagines that he can create a new conversation about faith that will transcend sectarian conflicts. His confident attitude made it seem like the hero who would help her solve her spiritual crisis. It was natural for him to enchant a naive girl who writes in her journal words like:’’ I would love to change God… Wouldn’t everyone in the world benefit from that?’’

He’s a classic master teacher in the Dead Poets Society mode: mysterious and confident; glazed with intellectuality but essentially narcissistic. With time she starts falling for her teacher and discovers his controversial opinions about God and faith which leads her to other problems later on.

What Is the Aim of The Three Daughters of Eve?

I felt that The Three Daughters of Eve was not meant to give answers to the readers since it does not present a final solution or an answer for the spiritual crisis that Peri, and a lot of Shafak’s readers, may be facing. It seemed to me as a way for the author to express and reflect her conflicted ideas about ”God”, societal differences, and her shattered identity behind the mask of the protagonist.

Shafak also emphasized the importance of ignoring the different social and religious differences when connecting with others to maintain peace. Peri was trying to find her own conceptualization of God that is different from her parents and her friends. That is clear through the countless debates that the characters are involved in. Even her love for Dr. Azur was not in a romantic frame but rather an intellectual attraction. Because of the serenity and the inner peace that he would offer to her chaotic mind and spiritual crisis, which served the plot.

Author: Hibat Errahmane Hadjadj.

How to Write a Book Review

April 2 2020

book, book review

The main aim of book blogging is to share your opinions and thoughts about a certain book you have read. Those opinions and thoughts are what a book review mainly consists of. Being able to review books is the most important thing one needs to set a book blog, after creating a platform of course. If you still do not know a lot about book blogging and you want to get into it, you can check my brief guide to Bookstagram.

Back to book reviewing now. Besides the academic way of writing a book review, there is no conventional pattern of writing a book review to later post on your blog. In this article, I will provide you with 3 main points in order to put your thoughts about a certain book in a decent review.

1- Things to Consider Before Reading the Book.

The first things we notice about any book are the cover and the title. Do these give you a certain overview or suggest any idea about the book? What about the preface and/or introduction? Do they reveal anything? If you have answers for these questions, you can certainly put that as an introduction in your book review.

2- Things to Pay Attention to While Reading the Book.

As you read the book, make sure that you are paying attention to the narrator’s point of view. Does the content of this book fit in its genre? Is the author’s style formal or informal? Is the used vocabulary accessible to a wide audience, or does target a certain audience only? Is the language clear and convincing? Are the ideas well-developed? You can try to find the answers for these questions while reading the book. Taking notes whether by using sticky notes or writing directly on a notebook can be essential for your review as well. The notes can be your favorites passages and quotations, or thoughts that recur while reading a certain passage. You can use them later in your review.

3- The Book Review’s Structure.

Usually, you can start your book review by inserting a quote from it. One you loved, or a quote that would contribute in convincing your audience to read the book.

Second, you either write a summary of the book along with general information such as the author’s name, date of publication, publisher’s name and (if there is any) prizes it won, or include the synopsis that is on the back of the book.

Third, you proceed with your own thoughts. These can include what you have liked and what you disliked in the book. The answers to the questions mentioned in points 1 and 2, and avoid spoilers!

Finally, do you recommend this book or not? Say why and whether you recommend it to a certain audience or not! You can also include a star rating.

Now I believe that you can start writing a review of the book you are reading or have just read. Again, writing a book review to post on your blog is completely different from an academic book review. You can use informal language in your blog in order to maintain engagement with your audience, and you do not have to follow any conventional structure. The structure I have mentioned above is just a suggestion. You can structure your review however you want as long as it stays relevant to the book. If the only thing that was stopping you from starting a book blog or a bookstagram was the book review, I hope you can start now!

Author: Imad Moussaoui

Book Review: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

March 18 2020

book review, Frankenstein

Brief Summary:

First published in 1818, Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel by renowned English author, Mary Shelley. It tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young student passionate about science, who brings to life a body assembled of parts stolen from graveyards. Once the monster becomes alive, Frankenstein is repelled and disgusted by its appearance and abandons it. Since then, a journey of rejection, hatred and revenge starts between both the young scientist and his creation.

The Making of Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus:

Mary Shelley came up with the story at the age of 18, while she was reading German ghost stories translated into French from the book Fantasmagoriana with her husband-to-be, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Byron. It was in 1816, otherwise known as the Year Without a Summer because of the climate abnormalities that cause a severe decrease in temperatures. So they could not be out, and had to find ways to distract themselves and keep time moving. As an attempt to find a distraction, Byron proposed that they “each write a ghost story.”

It was a sort of challenge, Lord Byron and Percy Shelley being experienced writers did not find any difficulties in starting a story. Unlike Mary Shelley, who was unable to think of one, she became very anxious: “Have you thought of a story? I was asked each morning, and each morning I was forced to reply with a mortifying negative.” She stated in the introduction. One evening, they started discussing the nature of the principle of life. “Perhaps a corpse would be re-animated”, Mary thought, “galvanism had given a token of such things”. After midnight, she was possessed by her imagination. She was unable to sleep as she beheld the “grim terrors” of her “waking dream”:

“I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life, and stir with an uneasy, half vital motion. Frightful must it be; for supremely frightful would be the effect of any human endeavor to mock the stupendous mechanism of the Creator of the world”

She then started her story encouraged by her lover until it became what is known as Frankenstein.

Form, Narration and Major Themes

The novel is written in the form of a frame story. It starts with Captain Walton’s letters to his sisters, which contains Victor Frankenstein’s narration. The narration of the Monster is also included. It is set all over continental Europe as most Gothic novels. Mary Shelley fuses the elements of gothic literature and the romantic movement that made her novel a classic of 18th century English literature as well as Gothic literature.

The Theme of Grief:

Mary Shelley explores multiple themes. Major ones are grief, life and death, alienation, rejection and revenge. The theme of grief is displayed by Victor. After the death of his mother, he plunges in grief which isolates him and alienates him from human society with hopes of finding a way to bring back life to a dead corpse. Perhaps he thought he could play God’s role and solve the mystery of life and death in order to bring his mother back to life. With this theme, Shelley illustrates a certain degree of grief, how it affects the human psyche and leads them to commit unimaginable acts whether against nature or against other individuals.

The Theme of Rejection:

Rejection, on the other hand, is displayed by the Monster. It started in the night in which Victor infused the assembled corpse with life. Left it abandoned because of its hideous appearance that he chose himself. In confusion, without any basic knowledge and in search for its creator, the Monster brings fear and horror wherever it goes because of its “hideousness”. The Monster later learned how to read and understand a lot of things because of the books it took from Victor’s laboratory the day it came to life. Also by hiding in a small hut next to a cottage, it observes its inhabitants, and learns how to read thanks to these observations.

Time passes and the Monster gets attached to them and regards them as his “friends”, then it decides to reveal itself to them. The cottage inhabitants get equally terrified and horrified, that they run away directly from their home. Heartbroken and devastated, the Monster swears to chase and take revenge against its creator for he created it and then abandoned it in a cruel world. With this theme, Shelley conveys how cruel humans can get, how superficial they are and how these two affect their subject in the most negative way.

It is believed that the novel is a reflection of Mary Shelley’s life, the grief that accompanied the death of her mother and her own children and being a woman in the 17th century. The novel also explores numerous other minor themes that are psychological, social and historical to make it an outstanding work of literature that holds a considerable place in English literature that keeps inspiring writers, movie directors and other people for centuries. It would take a lot of time and pages to talk about why this book is essential in fiction, but the best way to discover and relish it is to read it.

Author: Imad Moussaoui

Bookstagram 101: A Brief Beginner’s Guide to Bookstagram.

February 29 2020

books, bookstagram, instagram

If you have been on the internet for some time, you have most likely heard of the terms “Book Blogging” and/or “Bookstagram”. I do not think you have wondered about their meaning because it is pretty obvious! Something related to Books! I will explain them briefly though. Book Blogging is an activity in which a reader shares their thoughts, book-related ideas and reviews of the books they read on their online platform. Bookstagram is a form of book blogging. What makes it distinct is the use of an Instagram account as a platform, unlike standard book blogging which requires a website (like WordPress, Blogspot and other blogging platforms).

I have created my account back in 2018 after stumbling upon a Bookstagram account during one of my aimless scrollings on social media. I was instantly lured into the idea of creating an account because it seemed very motivating, interesting and fun. A very useful way to use social media in a productive way, I thought. I would share my reviews, engage with readers from all around the world and make friends who love reading. It was the case indeed.

If you are a book reader who wants to share their ideas and reviews with other readers, you should consider joining the Bookstagram community. In this article, I will share some tips and advice, and everything you need to have to spend a good time on Bookstagram. All of what I will share is based on my experience as an Algerian Bookstagrammer,

1- Are You a Person Who Loves Reading?

You cannot start a Bookstagram if you are not a person that does not love and enjoy reading. That’s the essential rule (Regardless of the language in which you read, of course). You do not need to be the most prolific and avid reader; reading a book, and posting a review once in a while is completely fine as long as you have the passion to read books and write your thoughts, and sharing them with other readers.

2- Do Not Worry About Getting an Audience and Followers.

You do not need to worry about having a small number of followers or none at all. We have all started from nothing, and it came with time. Bookstagram definitely requires a certain audience or followers, but it certainly does not come into existence overnight. In order to build an audience you can:

– Follow Bookstagrammers whose content might interest you and motivate you to read.

– Engage with other readers by commenting on their posts, especially if they have asked a question or for an opinion.

– Participate in reading challenges. There are a lot of them, with different themes and concepts. They can be weekly, monthly or even annually.

– Join a book club! Joining a book is not only a chance to make new friends share opinions with, but it also allows you to know what to read next! There are multiple book clubs such as: Diverse Classics, Because We’ve Read, Diverse Spines, Belletrist, Our Shared Shelf, and more!

– Use #bookstagram hashtags. There is a lot of book related hashtags that you can use under your posts to make them appear other users’ feeds or search results of a certain hashtag.

3 – Do Not Force Yourself to Read What You Would Not Enjoy.

Reading books that you would not enjoy might lead you into a reading slump. How to know if you would enjoy it or not? Simple. You can check other people’s reviews, ask someone who has read that certain book for their opinion, or you can simply give it a try. In case you did not like it, you can stop and put it aside. It is completely normal too. You might also want to read a certain book that seems enjoyable to you, but you are a little bit anxious because it is deemed too “mainstream” by some of your friends who might judge you for reading it. Just read it! You do not have to feel bad about anything you enjoy reading. Bookstagram should be all about fun and enjoyment, not forcing yourself to read books that cause the exact opposite.

4- Book Photography and Editing.

Being a Bookstagrammer requires taking photos of books or anything related to books because photos are the main point of Instagram after all. It also plays an important role in attracting a certain audience. You do not need something spectacular to take great photos. A smartphone is enough, and of course books!

For the background of your photos, anything can do the job. A white bedsheet, wall or table; a bookshelf, whether in your house or at some library and the landscapes around you. For props, a cup of coffee or tea can be perfect. You can use anything you have as a prop. Or you can take photos of multiple books using the same setting. You do not need to constantly worry yourself about that.

You can always carry a book or two with you, maybe you will stumble upon a perfect setting to take a photo of your books. It can be a cozy and cute coffee shop, a beautiful building infrastructure or just a calm and green garden. I usually do not recommend using filters on photos, but I use Snapseed and the Instagram editing tools just for brightness, contrast and structure. It is all very simple.

5- Thinking of Captions.

Captions play an important part in Bookstagram but do not stress yourself too much while thinking for an appropriate one. A Bookstagram post caption can mainly be a review, as it can be a reading update, book recommendations, To Be Read list, or just an inspirational quote. Do not forget to add a question to your followers in your posts, it helps maintain engagement and can start discussions with them.

6- Beware of Temptation.

The Bookstagram community is very large and has people from all around the world in it. Whenever you see fancy bookshops, bookshelves, cozy coffee shops and the large choice of books other readers have, do not feel upset. We are all aware that different people have different privileges, but do not let that stop you from enjoying your passion for reading and reviewing books.

I believe these are the most essential advice I can give but do not limit yourself to these. Let your creativity and originality give you new ideas and concepts to make your Bookstagram a better place for you and for your followers.

Stoicism: A Timeless Life Philosophy

February 22 2020

Marcus Aurelius, meditations, philosophy

In life, humans have been fighting the different factors around them that caused negative feelings like fear, irritation, failure, and despair and that has not changed since the beginning of humanity. The new technology and modern life with all that it offers could not liberate humans from these aspects of life. This dilemma drove one of the greatest emperors of Rome, Marcus Aurelius, to write his diary that survived against all odds of two millenniums. Because the lessons that it presents to this issue are still applicable nowadays. Especially that life is getting more complicated with the materialistic development of the new world. This book is ‘’Meditations.’’ It prompts the readers to review their relationship with themselves, the others, God and life itself.

The Philosopher Emperor and The Book of Life:

Marcus Aurelius was the Emperor of the greatest civilization back in 180 AD: the Roman civilization. He is the only historical figure that was introduced as an emperor and a philosopher. He proved the theory of Plato that every ruler has to be a philosopher to succeed. In spite of his daily duties and personal problems, he managed to keep a diary. Surprisingly, he did not intend to publish it, but just as a means to keep reminding himself of the rules and principles that he learned through life. Little did he know that these instructions would remain till the 21st century and inspire lots of other people in their lives including myself. His diary was published as” Meditations”.

This book constitutes the bedrock of what is known as Stoicism or the philosophy of indifference. It is an ancient philosophy that was one of the most popular disciplines in the West. Practiced by both the rich and the poor, the kings and the slaves in the pursuit of The Good Life. I was impressed to know that great historical figures like George Washington, Emmanuel Kant, Thomas Jefferson, etc. I have followed this philosophy that defeated the frames of time and place.

How Can We Attain Peace Of Mind?

When you go through the different passages and pages, you can sense how Marcus was addressing himself. So his words were genuine, realistic and show a level of wisdom that a lot of preceding emperors could not attain. He did not utilize complex terms or deep philosophical notions, but simple and relatable words of truth that we all could understand if we open our minds and hearts. Each quote made me stop and think about how compatible it is with my life. I was personally influenced by this philosophy. It encouraged me to delve myself into introspection. It taught me how to meditate on my thoughts and behaviors towards different matters.

Meditations made me grasp the fact that I have no control over anything external in my life, not my body, not calamities, not how people judge me. The only thing I can control is the way I perceive those things like he said: ” If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.” that was helpful with dealing with anxiety and stress.

Through his pages I learned to be present at the moment, for the past is already gone, and the future has not come yet. They are both a result of human thoughts so why worry about it? We only live once, and the future that we anticipated yesterday is ”now” so why do we keep escaping it? As he said: ” Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it if you have to, which the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present”.

The Subjective Perception Is Not Reality

He praised gratitude and highlighted a very important idea which is our judgmental nature. We are too oblivious to the fact that we filter life through our own opinions and judgments without observing it for what it is in reality. According to him, whatever happens in life is neutral, but the way we respond to it depends on our subjective view. For instance, Some may see hardships as a negative experience that would make their lives miserable and fall into the victim trap. While others may view them as a positive experience, a challenge, or a test from God…etc

Marcus states that it is misleading to label anything in life as positive or negative. Instead, we should observe it the way it is and react to it based on virtue and honesty. As I quote:” Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” So the only thing we can do is to alter the way we see and react to life, then everything will change accordingly, just as he said:” You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.’’

Follow Your Virtuous Nature

In addition to many other important lessons mentioned in the book, he emphasized the most important rule: virtue and nature. He helped me answer a question that baffled me for a long time: what is the meaning of life? Marcus simply answers that by Nature. He argues that humans are naturally virtuous and they should pursue this characteristic no matter what. To subside to their nature that requires them to work and do their duties for the common good. And get rid of laziness, selfishness, and fear of life and death. To seek honesty and authenticity, to do good and avoid vices and live in peace with one another.

This may seem Utopian, but it is indeed realistic if we think about it thoroughly. It is also mentioned in most religions in spite of the fact that ”Meditations” did not hold a religious or conceptual theme. Stoicism is a practical philosophy that people with different ideologies and beliefs could apply.

Author: Hibat Errahmane Hadjadj.

Literature & Arts