Welcome to Gaia! ::

Reality: Resurrection!

Back to Guilds

relax with us 

Tags: contests, games, variety 

Reply 6: Pansophic Polls
Word for the Wise, December 3

Quick Reply

Enter both words below, separated by a space:

Can't read the text? Click here

Submit

Uadzit
Crew

Ghostly Shapeshifter

PostPosted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:17 am


Topic: Joseph Conrad & Dr. Christiaan Barnard

Not only is today the sesquicentennial of the birth of writer Joseph Conrad, but December third also marks the 40th anniversary of the first human-to-human heart transplant. We don't have the heart to resist linking together the 150th birth anniversary of the author of Heart of Darkness with that pioneering medical event, so we'll dive right in to the heart of the matter.

We'll begin by admitting the coincidence of the events is more superficial than deep. Doctor Christiaan Barnard, who gave a dying man the chance to live with the heart of a young woman, had a fundamentally optimistic view of heart; his surgery was oriented toward helping the essential or most vital part of something—the hollow muscular organ of vertebrate animals that acts as a force pump—flourish.

Joseph Conrad, in contrast, titled his novel heart of darkness after the idea that at the very heart or core of man lies a dark depravity. "The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary," wrote Conrad; "men alone are quite capable of every wickedness."

But the deeply tormented writer—who died of a heart attack—did retain some hope. He wrote, "Woe to the man whose heart has not learned while young, to hope, to love – and to put its trust in life."

Questions or comments? Write us at wftw@aol.com Production and research support for Word for the Wise comes from Merriam-Webster, publisher of language reference books and Web sites including Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.
PostPosted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 2:46 pm


heart

Nechbet

Nuclear Hipster

12,000 Points
  • Grunnyland Dabbler 50
  • Grunnyland Collector 150

Rosenfall

7,050 Points
  • Bunny Spotter 50
  • Team Edward 100
  • Team Jacob 100
PostPosted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 7:29 am


mrgreen
PostPosted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 5:04 pm


mrgreen

HarlequinGoddess


Ahja the Azure

PostPosted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:45 am


eek
PostPosted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:58 pm


mrgreen

Eggy-Egg

Reply
6: Pansophic Polls

 
Manage Your Items
Other Stuff
Get GCash
Offers
Get Items
More Items
Where Everyone Hangs Out
Other Community Areas
Virtual Spaces
Fun Stuff
Gaia's Games
Mini-Games
Play with GCash
Play with Platinum