Making a Decision

This is a picture of a stupid Thomas Kinkaid painting, but I searched for images of "classical nature" and this ridiculous thing came up. So it'll just sit there for giggles.

My week began with a meeting with my thesis director. Last semester I drafted a prospectus about plants in Paradise Lost and their human relationship with Adam and Eve before and after the fall. I felt alright about it, but I was still interested in an earlier idea I had had concerning Milton's A Mask at Ludlow Castle and the Krewe of Comus at New Orleans's Mardi Gras. So last week I sent an email to an Early modern professor at Tulane University asking for words of wisdom concerning this second topic. His prompt and thorough response really made me feel like a professional and gave me the courage I had needed to go and talk to Dr. Dobranski about my wavering allegiance to the nature idea.

In the course of our discussion, Dr. Dobranski encouraged me not to worry so much about what I didn't know and worry about what I wanted to know. This is the same thing that I was told by Dr. Christie, so it must be correct. However, it is much easier to talk about not worrying than to actually do it. So I have decided not to think of this project as one huge thing anymore. Instead, I am setting small, managable goals for myself.

Goal for this weekend: decide whether or not I want to write about nature or 19th century American reception of the works of Milton. I have no idea what the next goal will be, but I'm not going to think about that until later. And everytime I start worrying, I'm going to punish myself by staring at that horrible Thomas Kinkaid painting.