Author Archives: Omar Hernandez Cano

Undine: Affected by Your Surroundings.

Posted on by
Reply

While there are many a siren and water spirit tales, the pattern tends to be the fact that there is a sense of betrayal and or seductive nature to them and after reading the section from Undine, it follows a similar structure to the other ones that have been included in “The Penguin Book of Mermaids.” Despite the common motifs, this specific section has more of an actual emotional complexity which makes the reveal that much more impactful compared to the other tales and this very depth is also explained by the overall atmosphere in which Huldbrand resides in.

Now, that is not to say that the relationship Sir Huldbrand and Undine was completely fabricated without any true intimacy, but should be mentioned that their environment and social status definitely made in impact on their lives. In instance in the tale where it is evident that their relationship was also shaped by their social status and atmosphere is when they are speaking about going their separate ways and Huldbrand is hesitant to do so, “‘remember, even if I wished to desert you, the church, and the spiritual powers, and the emperor, and the empire, would interpose and bring the fugitive back again'” (102). Considering that Huldbrand says this while they their is quite a significant flood going on, this as well could be an indication that he only stayed their and only planned it continue to be there because of the storm that was occurring in the meanwhile. As time goes on and Huldbrand begins to question himself and others, he continues to be a subject of his own environment due to how much he prioritizes what the people would say if they found out as well as the natural disasters that are impeding him from doing what he wants to do, which is to be his true self and leave the shore but once he realizes that he is a victim of his own mentality, it is too late.

Love at First Sight or Blinded by Lust?

Posted on by
3

There are a number of relationships that start to form slowly after a couple of nights out or social events being attended. However, there also seems to be a select group of bonds that immediately start to take course within the first few seconds of conversation or even just with a couple of glances back and forth. These very relationships that spark from the first altercation between one another is by no means “untrue” since there are in fact sacred bonds that form rapidly, but when someone decides to choose a companion after the first encounter it is quite a risk and after going over the reading and truly delving into the moments leading up to Raymondin and Melusine’s first altercation, it is quite evident that this was more so a lustful connection more than it was a passionate bond between to souls.

Although one may argue that what Raymondin felt towards Melusine was pure and that the betrayal was just a mere innocent mistake, one also needs to realize that Raymondin was also incredibly hesitant to initiate the bond right from the beginning. Now, this sort of reaction is something that is common in people that are under pressure (like Raymondin in this instance) or it could also be that he was truly infatuated with Melusine from the beginning which is quite odd seeing as how they have had no true interactions beforehand. This hesitancy from Raymondin’s part can be seen in when they converse about their future intentions,

“‘That is well Raymondin, but there is something else.'” “Surprised, he could not stop himself from blurting out ‘You have me at your mercy!'” (Lebey,Knight 27)

This sentiment Raymondin has is something that can be defined as an action driven by lust and pressure which resulted in him committing to something he was not emotionally prepared for, further showcasing the consequences of following through with a relationship after just one altercation between one another. Not only does this turn out to be true after Raymondi is adamant on Melusine becoming his bride, but it later officially establishes itself when he betrays Melusine and breaks the vow he did not even take as seriously as he should have to begin with; only proving that he rushed out of lust and not because of actual love.

The Legend of Melusina: The Consequences of the Inquisitive Mind

Posted on by
2

While the title is subject to be debated because it may imply that the nature of being curious is tandem out to negative effects or danger, there is still no doubt that the more one begins to question something, there is a tendency of that certain something turning into an issue on a larger scale with the final outcome taking a toll on the person that posed the questions or searched for answers. This curiosity is evident in the “The Legend of Melusina” and it can be seen in the character of Raymond where he is warned not to see her one day out of the week and although he was initially not disgusted or appalled by the hybrid aspect of Melusina, the very fact that Raymond was willing to break the promise just to glance is an allegory for the dangers of being in a relationship where one partner is inquisitive, and the other demands privacy.

This sort of longing on only one end of a relationship is something that mostly leads to unease and trouble for the most part because like it is mentioned towards the end of the tale, “Raymond died as a hermit” (86). It is with this very line that the reader realizes that all it took was one act of defiance from a partner to ruin not only the relationship, but ones entire life-leading to bitterness. While it is not blatantly stated that this is tale is a symbol of the trials and tribulations that comes with being in a relationship or friendship, it is heavily implied by the way the narrator explains Raymond’s feelings toward Melusina being completely infatuated with her, despite her unique traits. These are the consequences of someone (which in this case is Raymond) not upholding boundaries their partner has set which is typical in certain situations where one partner feels the need to get answers from their significant other even if said person is uncomfortable answering those questions. This shows how the inquisitive mind will sooner or later end up in a moment in their lives where they regret committing an action or saying a comment that offends people and or separates them, then leading them to become isolated just as Raymond did.

Connection Through Water (All Forms Of Water)

Posted on by
1

There is no denying that artificial borders constructed by society divide nations and people both geographically and culturally. However there is one defining aspect that serves as a symbol of unity between people regardless of their background, and that is the Ocean. Water is never truly stable in nature; constantly moving and providing for different forms of life both inside and outside of the sea in terms of habitat and food source. While this is something that may seem obvious to the majority of the population, it is something that caught my attention and after reading “A poetics of planetary water: The blue humanities after John Gillis” By Steve Mentz, it was evident that not too many people legitimately understand the tremendous spiritual and biological impact ALL forms of H2O has on our planet .

We as humans often times enforce limitations on others through walls, barriers, and creating chasms between ourselves due to different viewpoints. It is because of these boundaries that one does not respect or consider each and every aspect of water as referenced by Mentz, “To surge over boundaries and encircle the globe requires us to embrace not only each bay and basin but also comparatively smaller bodies of fresh water, including both solid ice and water vapor” (139). It is only after I read this section that I began to look at all different forms of water (i.e. clouds, glaciers, snow, vapor) and this information opened a new viewpoint for me that I never considered, that of which is the ability to interpret various forms of water differently or just blatantly not being able to certainly define the structure of said forms which Mentz mentions when discussing cloud shapes or lack thereof. Water is abundant in the wild and within ourselves and in places where water is scarce, just the tiny bit of water droplets attracts organisms and although this may seem apparent, people should indeed take notice of the various forms of water as Mentz said, its the main reason we are alive both through connections of the spiritual and the physical.

The Perception and Ambiguity of Creatures from the Deep

Posted on by
Reply

While we may have just started the topic of Merpeople and we can already make some assumptions of what is to be expected as we expand our knowledge of these sea deities (or monsters), the truth is that this just the surface and of course an introduction. However, what seems to be a motif in the subject of mermaids is the fact that these “creatures” tend to instill an extreme feeling in others whether that be a feeling of displeasure (Homers version), or a completely opposing feeling pertaining to femininity and the dangers of lust (Christian Church version that borrows from Pagan views).

Delving further into Merpeople: A Human History by Vaughn Scribner, it describes the appearance (or more so the descriptions) of deities and religious figures in Paganism consisting of androgynous features and attributes. This to me also goes to show how humanity is always interested in the topic of hybrid creatures or hybrid characteristics in humans, which is prevalent in pop culture with superheroes having animal powers while still remaining in their human state superficially as well as in myths such as the Minotaur, and now after completing this weeks reading, a mixture of female and male features, “Even more interestingly, because pagan gods could be both male and female” (Scribner 30). Not only does this further prove that civilizations no matter how ancient or where they originated, there will always be a common interest between cultures regarding animal-human hybrids, as well as mixed features in general.

Image is everything to most societies and it still is to this day, but one thing that is certain is that this way of thinking can lead to misunderstanding which is clearly apparent in mermaids. With their appearance showing the downsides of lust and sex, it explains why civilians where advised to not sing “with a maiden voice” to not lure any dangerous creatures (Scribner 44). Although the sea is vast, diverse, and majestic, there is no doubt that the sea is also mysterious and will continue to be for the rest of time.

Merfolk: A Sign of Misfortune or Beacons of Hope?

Posted on by
2

Traveling back to a time where the only form of communication was through word of mouth and written forms/letters, it seems almost impossible not to have any historical accounts of mythological creatures such as dragons, unicorns, and cyclopes. However, one mythical creature that catches most peoples attention and continues to trend in various forms of media and art itself is none other than the mermaid.

There are many reasons as to why this specific creature (mermaid) is arguably the most popular one out of all of the other ones and after reading Merpeople: A Human History by Vaughn Scribner, one of the many reasons that stood out to me which I never really took into consideration was the fact that the mermaid/man is a combination of an animal and a human. This hybrid characteristic something that although may seem tame in the world of myths due to the fact that there are many other creatures that are more otherworldly and supernatural (e.g. Phoenix, Wyvern, Cerberus, etc.) while simultaneously having features from actual animals, it still goes back to the hybrid characteristic of merpeople that makes that specific creature so interesting and compelling.

Further understanding of merpeople makes one truly appreciate the complexity of their origin and initial perception which is symbolic in religion, “..these half-women, half-fish served as ideal symbols of wonder and danger for Church leaders” (Scribner). With more information being showcased in this section of the reading, one begins to realize just how different the media has portrayed merpeople – more specifically mermaids – in a wondrous light with an actual functioning society and hierarchy when in reality, the early depictions of mermaids were shown to, in a way, criticize lust and sexuality in a manner that would leave the viewer shocked and repulsed due to the lack of clothing and complete fish form below the waist. While the theological portrayal of the mermaid is associated with lust and the danger of said feeling, one would have to also take into account the historical background of the mermaid through the lenses of sailors, and as the rise of explorers became a huge contribution to the reports of these mythological creatures, it also makes one wonder whether the “sightings” were either just completely fabricated or a misinterpretation of an actual marine organism for a mermaid.

As one continues to research the subject of mermaids and just how common it was to encounter one throughout the Nineteenth Century, it almost makes one ponder about the legitimacy of these accounts, and when one begins to question said accounts, one piece of information that is important to mention is that the ocean is so vast and so diverse. Although this fact is obvious, it does beg the question, why is the concept of merpeople included in the “fantasy” category? This is not to say that such a creature exists, but after completing the reading, the concept of the mermaid does not seem completely absurd especially after viewing various different marine organisms that do seem fictional like the colossal squid.

With the many different interpretations of merpeople existing throughout the years, there really is no true answer to whether they are a sign of good luck or meant to serve as a cautionary tale. However, I view the mermaid as a misunderstood being; a creature that is not accepted on land nor in the sea which is entirely relatable if one is in a transitional phase in their lives. Although this is just the introduction to merpeople, I am already intrigued and hoping to expand my knowledge on the correlation between merpeople and the environment.

Hello Everyone, I’m Omar

Posted on by
1

I am an English and Comparative Literature Major and I am in my Junior year. I immediately went into the construction field after High School and worked specifically in cement work, landscape, interior/exterior painting, and later as a construction consultant. I used to only work with fellow Hispanics so I always had to translate instructions, ask the GC (General Contractor) what needed to be done, and explain to the laborers the plans of a certain project.

It was then that I started to fall in love with reading and writing which made me want to go school and major in English with the goal of teaching English in High School or teaching an ESL class. When I am not in class, I enjoy planting and gardening in general, playing guitar, going for walks (really long walks), reading, and watching and reviewing films. I genuinely love being in a classroom with others that can express themselves as well as doing that through literature which is something that incredibly important, especially in an age where deep social interactions/conversations are getting increasingly rare.

I am very excited to expand my knowledge on the environment (and more specifically mermaids) as well as how literature continues to change over time which often times reflects society. Looking forward to reading all of the posts.

A photo my family took of me with my acoustic

Here I am running CAT6 cables for a LARGE TV wall.