ddotcole

ddotcole OP t1_j9fqms6 wrote

> By means of ejaculations and prayers he stored up ungrudgingly for the souls in purgatory centuries of days and quarantines and years;

This is near the start of chapter four, read with a modern sensibility it sounds like Stephen has began to jerk it in repentance.

The first time I came across 'ejaculate' defined as 'something said quickly and suddenly' was in Zane Grey's 'Riders of the Purple Sage'. While a few cowboys were standing around, the story claimed one of them 'ejaculated' which sent me into a fit of hysterics for about ten minutes. After than I calmed down and looked up how it was meant to be understood. Now I have seen it used multiple times in different books that were mostly written over a century ago.

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ddotcole OP t1_j9bgg9m wrote

I tend to not research literary classics before reading them, thus I was unsure how this book fit within the literary world. I felt the rejection of religion within the book would have stood out at the time it was written as well while reading it (only half way though currently). I also like how it shows the juxtaposition of the churches teachings versus how people tend to (or want to) live. It shows the struggle of Stephen's actions and thoughts versus religions beliefs of how one should act quite well.

Its interesting how you say the Indian filmmaker would have the actor's kiss an apple in leu of kissing each other to get around laws about showing such stuff. Goes to show people will find a way to circumvent dumb, thoughtless laws, creating art in the process.

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