Symbiotic - definition

Symbiotic - definition

A Sentimental Journey

Biology. Association of two different organisms (usually two plants, or an animal and a plant) which live attached to each other, or one as a tenant of the other, and contribute to each other's support. Also more widely, any intimate association of two or more different organisms, whether mutually beneficial or not.

"symbiosis, n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, February 2020, www.oed.com/view/Entry/196194. Accessed 14 February 2020.

Liza Egorova

I find this word particularly interesting in the context of A Sentimental Journey. Sterne makes a point in the story itself as well as in his sermon "The Prodigal Son" that he believes its important for a traveler to exchange emotions and sentiments with people they encounter. In class, we discussed that that is called a symbiotic relationship. After looking up the OED definition for the word, I found it interesting that symbiotic can also refer to an unhealthy and negative relationship. I think that this fits in well with the Sterne's novel as there are a few characters, like the monk, with whom Yorick did not behave well.

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