English Language & Usage Asked on December 18, 2020
Non-native speaker here, can’t understand the nuance of this sentence:
“Fully aware as he is of the social unimportance of his creative activity, he looks upon it as a way of working out his own development”
Here is what I think, probably wrong, need guidance:
He’s full aware that his creative activity does not have any social importance, (doesn’t affect society in any important way), he simply uses it for self development
I’m so confused what is “as he is of” mean?
Similar post: Alternatives to "He is of the opinion"?
You're parsing it incorrectly.
Fully aware [as he is] [of the social unimportance of his creative activity], he looks upon it as a way of working out his own development
He is "aware" of the "social unimportance". The prepositional phrase beginning with "of" modifies "aware".
"As he is" also modifies "aware", independently of the "of" phrase, and is basically a "parenthetical". One can get into arguments about whether "as" is an adverb or a conjunction or a preposition. I'd argue for preposition, but that would likely get some folks here Pist.
Correct answer by Hot Licks on December 18, 2020
Your understanding is correct.
Let me continue with another example:
(1) Experienced in the use of English, I perceive this as a difficult question.
(2) Experienced as I am in the use of English, I perceive this as a difficult question.
(3) Experienced as I am in the use of English, I perceive this as an intriguing question.
(1) is a plain statement.
(2) uses as I am to imply that I find the question difficult, despite my experience.
(3) uses as I am to imply that I find the question intriguing, because of my experience (or even despite it).
This example suggests that the phrase as I am introduces an implication that depends on context or content. The implication is that there is a causal or similar conceptual connection between my experience and my perception of the question. There is some sort of balance to be made between despite and because of.
In your case:
(A) Fully aware of, ... he looks ...
(B) Fully aware of as he is ... he looks ...
(A) is the plain statement.
(B) may imply that despite (or because of) his awareness, he looks ...
Answered by Anton on December 18, 2020
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