I love these words, do you think there is an element of truth in them?

Question

His face is turned toward the past... But a storm is blowing from paradise... This storm irresistibly propels him into the future to which his back is turned, while the pile of debris before him grows skyward. This storm is what we call progress.

From: Walter Benjamin on the angel of history.
'Thesis on the Philosophy of history' in illuminations 1950

Short, and to the point screamin,
Thanks for your answer!

clalifo,
Well, for instance, before WW2 , people were told, time and time again that there was a build up of weapons in Germany. But the powers that be had their back turned, while before them, was a such a build up of debris (getting ready for war)

Thank you, towanda...

Meaning only beautiful words?
Ricketyoldbat...

Your words make sense, silkie 1
I enjoyed reading your answer.

Thank you...

Answer 1

I think there is, for we cannot underestimate the power of longing in us, deep I our mind, for the best, something we left somewhere in time, some ultimate seat of bliss and excellence in existence that we still remember subconsciously. The paradise here most probably is the state of perfect truth and beauty that we often turn our backs towards when we learn to define our earthly existence in worldly terms of our pursuits of comfort and happiness through material means. I think this does sound like piling upon our past, or building upon what we have already gathered in this world. The 'storm blowing from paradise' is a very unique phrase indeed, and yes why not, if hell fire can burn in its fury for the hunger of human soul, then why should paradise not rage in its claim to win us back in its folds, the rightful place for mankind.

The concept of progress in a direction we are not looking I both interesting and also most revealing. For the state of paradise could be the ultimate discipline for an ideal world that we only dream about. In general it is as if we are progressing unwillingly towards a direction that we do not want to go, or even look towards; this is highly meaningful. Perhaps this is an illustration of the presence of powers in this universe far greater than our own will, that however hard we may try to progress the we like, in the direction we are looking at trying building upon our past, there will always be ‘storms’ to turn our plans upside down. It is as if some heavenly being has it own plan for the entire world in which merger lives matter but only so little. It seems that the world will ultimately progress, along with us in it, the way that is to progress within a much wider frame of things.

Answer 2

REPHRAZING:
He is standing facing the past, his back turned to the future, in front of him, where the past lies, there is a growing pile of debris, and a storm throws him into the future. The storm is progress.

ANALIZATION:
His face is turned towards the past. Why?

1. Perhaps he is not sure about the future; therefore he dwells on the past. Evidence supporting thins interpretation is the mere fact that he is already facing the past and the emphasis by using repetition; “to which his back is turned”.

2. He is learning from the past for having a better future. It is a possibility, nevertheless lacks the evidence.

The pile of debris before him grows skyward. What does this pile represent?, more likely past bad events, and less likely consequences of such events.

The heavenly storm irresistibly propels him into the future. Why? Perhaps, to force him away from the past and all that happened therein. However, where is the present implied in the passage?; him being in the present looking at the past, which could mean dwelling on the past, or a desiring for learning therefrom.

CONCLUSION:
1. Mr. Screamin… answered, piece o’ crap. Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it.

I may support his answer. The storm blowing from paradise, to propel him into the future, is disregard of the past and the events lying therein. Future stems from the present which stems from the past. Present technology can not be achieved without the past achievements.

But again, I think the author, by repeating meanings like “His face is turned towards the past “ and “the future to which his back is turned”, is giving a warning that dwelling on the past and ignoring the future is bad. He spoilt his intention, though, by limiting the past to nothing but a pile of debris.

IN A NUTSHELL:
The assage is stylish, may be picturesque and impressive, but as far as the accuracy of conveyance of **** message is concerned, I am NOT impressed. To me, passage sounds like a big drum causing a loud sound, but once you scratch its skin, you find nothing but hollowness.

Answer 3

Man needs to keep an eye on the past and remember, in order to create a better future.

I guess Walt saw progress as a Storm.

You could call the Past a kind of paradise or a simpler place, ignorant of the future!

The pile of debris was his way of dealing with a complicated future.

Dont read much into the fine print.
Words have more meaning to the person who wrote, unless you want to be a writter!

Good Luck!

Answer 4

Deeply symbolic, near poetic in his choice of words, though somewhat lacking in a clear definition - perhaps, deliberately so, in an effort to elicit a response, possibly even action, from the reader (in this respect, it's a sort of self- negating statement - he points out the nature of mankind's folly knowing that mankind's folly, amongst other things, is to ignore that which he points out).
I think that it's pretty clear what he probably meant and seems to sum up history as it cares to unfold in human affairs.
Man drifts on destiny's tide, unable or unwilling to decide for himself until his debris builds so high as to come toppling on to his head when he is forced into action in the ensuing new environment considered as a progression of the old.
Need for clarification:-
Is the storm an inherent part of the fabric of the universe, like entropy, that will always just happen? why from paradise?
If you are travelling backwards, in which direction would an object be that stood before you?

Answer 5

You are so far away and I was here in the dark of my loneliness. The only sound was the gentle lapping of the waves combing the shore. Bits of sunlight started to glitter through the morning fog as I walked along the waters edge. I turned my face into the mist and felt your hand touch my lips and I was weak kneed with passion and I knew that at that moment you were thinking of me too.
RicketyOldBat, from 'moments of myself'

Answer 6

If it wasn't for progress you couldn't ask this question on Yahoo! Answers.
Marxism didn't do any good to anyone except for the heads of the communist parties who got to control everything while the people lived in poverty, without freedom of speech and other human rights.

Answer 7

Writer me speaking:
This is always the dilemma with beautiful words.
And those are sounding beautifully.
However, help! If this is true.
Not everything is to be blast and discarded about progress.
Think of the people you love who have been saved by technology...
Nurse me speaking...

Answer 8

i dont understand the part "while the pile of debris before him grows skyward"..

i like the rest, tho.

Answer 9

It depends on how you take it , do you understand it literally or metaphorically? Do you personalise it or just overlook it? This how you can understand whether it has an element of truth or not.

Answer 10

Keep your hand on your heart and your eyes close,
And if you feel as though you are going to dose,
There is no truth in them.
If not its the other way round!!!!