Pessimism

I have been doing some deep thinking today.

It was all set off this morning when I was listening to poetry while doing exercise. Poetry and exercise may seem an odd combination to most people but it is just as good as anyway of keeping your mind off the effort involved. Also I can compare my situation to that of the characters in the poems. To me ten more minutes of exercise may seem impossible but it's not like I'm the little daughter of the Sea Captain in the poem "The Wreck of the Hesperus" about to face a fate "on the reef of Norman's Woe!". It's good to keep things in perspective. 

Another poem I heard this morning which was a new one for me was called "The Pessimist" by Benjamin Franklin King Jr. I was very surprised to find out that King was actually writing in the 19th Century as this poem seemed so very modern to me. King is known for his satire and humor in writing so I wonder if he really believed in the darkness of this poem or if it satirical. Hmmmm... something else to ponder.
Here it is:

The Pessimist 

Nothing to do but work,

Nothing to eat but food,

Nothing to wear but clothes

To keep one from going nude.

Nothing to breathe but air

Quick as a flash ‘t is gone;

Nowhere to fall but off,

Nowhere to stand but on.

Nothing to comb but hair,

Nowhere to sleep but in bed,

Nothing to weep but tears,

Nothing to bury but dead.

Nothing to sing but songs,

Ah, well, alas! alack!

Nowhere to go but out,

Nowhere to come but back.

Nothing to see but sights,

Nothing to quench but thirst,

Nothing to have but what we’ve got;

Thus thro’ life we are cursed.

Nothing to strike but a gait;

Everything moves that goes.

Nothing at all but common sense

Can ever withstand these woes.

-King

I find it hard to have sympathy for the speaker in this poem. They seems so very apathetic and blasé. It is as if they are sitting back and pronouncing judgement on life without really making an effort to enjoy it. Get a wriggle on and stop complaining! Maybe life is dull because you are choosing to accept it that way.

Thinking about pessimism made me compare it to despair. This poem is obviously about
pessimism over despair as we can tell that from the title but am I being fair in being frustrated
by the speakers opinion? Is the speaker really having a bad time and should I feel compassionate
towards them? I am going to separate pessimism and despair and say that pessimism is being overly upset about a situation that could be changed, while despair is being overly upset about a situation that cannot be changed. I think the speaker in this poem has the ability to change their mindset. That being said there is a fine line between emotions and it can't always be cut and dried to say that one emotion is being felt without another mixed in with it.

I have collected some excerpts of literary characters either being pessimistic or talking about pessimism. But are they being pessimistic or is some other feeling?? so much greyness! but I really enjoyed coming up with this list.


I. Eeyore- Winne-the-Pooh

""Good Morning, Eeyore," said Pooh.
"Good morning, Pooh Bear," said Eeyore gloomily.
"If it is a good morning," he said. "Which I doubt," said he.
"Why, what's the matter?"
"Nothing, Pooh Bear, nothing. We can't all, and some of us don't. That's all there is to it.""
-A. A. Milne. 

II. Puddleglum- The Silver Chair

""I'm trying to catch a few eels to make an eel stew for your dinner," said Puddleglum. "Though I shouldn't wonder if I don't get any. And you won't like them much if I do."
"Why not?" asked Scrubb.
"Why it's not in reason that you should like our sort of victuals, though I've no doubt you'll put a bold face on it. All the same, while I am a catching of them, if you two could try to light the fire - no harm trying-! The wood's behind the wigwam. It may be wet. You could light it inside the wigwam, and then we'd get all the smoke in our eyes. Or you could light it outside, and then the rain would come and put it out. Here's my tinder-box. You won't know how to use it, I expect.""
- C.S. Lewis


III. Saruman - The Fellowship of the Ring

Saruman: The hour is later than you think. Sauron's forces are already moving. The Nine have left Minas Morgul.
Gandalf: The Nine?
Saruman: They crossed the River Isen on Midsummer's Eve, disguised as riders in black.
Gandalf: They've reached the Shire?

Saruman: They will find the Ring, and kill the one who carries it. 

Gandalf: Frodo-

Saruman: You did not seriously think that a hobbit could contend with the will of Sauron, there are none that can.
Saruman: Against the power of Mordor there can be no victory.
Saruman: We must join with Him, Gandalf. We must join with Sauron. It would be wise, my friend.
Gandalf: Tell me, "friend", when did Saruman the Wise abandon reason for madness? 

IV. Buzz Lightyear - Toy Story

V. Gussie Finknotle- Right Ho, Jeeves

""If there's one thing in the world I can't stand," proceeded Gussie, "It's a pessimist. Be optimists, boys.
You all know the difference between an optimist and a pessimist"...
"Now, there," boomed Gussie, continuing to point, "is an instance of what I mean. Boys and ladies and gentlemen, take a good look at that object standing up there at the back-- morning coat, trousers as worn, quiet grey tie, and carnation in buttonhole-- you can't miss him. Bertie Wooster, that is, and as foul a pessimist as ever bit a tiger. I tell you I despise that man, And why do I despise him? Because, boys and ladies and gentlemen, he is a pessimist. His attitude is defeatist. When I told him I was going to address you this afternoon, he tried to dissuade me. And do you know why he tried to dissuade me? Because he said my trousers would split up the back."

The cheers that greeted this were the loudest yet. Anything about splitting rousers went straight to the simple hearts of the young scholars of Market Snodsbury Grammar School."
-P. G. Wodehouse

You decide whether they are all being pessimists. I think I'm stretching it a bit far for Buzz and Saruman but who doesn't love a reason to watch more Toy Story and Lord of the Rings!