I have to say, I'm a little surprised at how Macon handled the call from the civil rights worker. It seems like he very easily blows up at people who question his ideas and it usually makes him look even more ridiculous. Being able to hold back his anger and answer the man respectably caught me off guard because it's so contradictory to the Macon we've seen thus far.
Macon Detornay is an interesting character for a hero narrative because he actually considers himself as a hero. I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with believing you're a hero (I'm sure the Avengers consider themselves heroes) but Macon doesn't seem to be anything very heroic in the beginning. In fact, reading about his muggings that he declared so heroic really annoyed me. It bothered me that he thought he was doing the right thing because his ideas gave him an excuse. With the cab muggings he was inadvertently making things worse, but he was walking around before thinking he had done a great deed and helped change the world. His arrogance is really too much for me. I would understand if he thought of Malcolm X as an idol, but thinking that they're at the same level? Seriously Macon? It's not that I don't think his ideas are valid, but the poetry reading should have been an indicator that he's being a little...much.
Ok rant over.
The interviews have been... slightly different though. I'm still not a huge fan of Macon because he seems to be basking in all the attention, and it's not really helping his ego. But, he actually managed to bite his tongue? For the first time since beginning this novel, his ideas seem logical and he actually seems quite logical. I think some of his ideas still aren't great and kind of weird, but now I can actually see some potential for him to be a hero. I'm still not thrilled with his personality and all that, but maybe we'll see him blossom into a hero.
(Then again, like someone else pointed out today in class, the prologue doesn't seem to show that he becomes this amazing guy, so we'll see I guess)
~~~
Friday, May 8, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Ma and Jack vs Athena and Odysseus
It was brought up in class sometime last week that Jack is the hero of "Dying" and Ma is just more like a helper, just like Odysseus was the hero and Athena aided him. I can see how this is the case (even though I didn't really see Odysseus as a hero) but now that we've finished Room, I think I view Ma as the hero of the first part of the book, and Jack as the hero for "After" and "Living."
Ma was the mastermind behind the escape plan, and though she didn't carry out the plan, she still came up with it all. Of course, Jack played a crucial role, but I still think planning it is certainly enough to deem Ma a hero. I also think that Jack is heroic in "Dying," but none of this would've happened without Ma. To me, she's also the hero of the earlier sections because she was selfless and able to carry on in this prison all for the sake of her son. Her strength allowed her to raise him as best she could.
For the majority of this book, I've considered Ma as the sole hero, but now I can see how Jack is a hero too. I think it's a little less obvious because he didn't plot the escape and in the later sections he basically just works on adjusting to the outside world, but I think it can be seen as a personal hero's journey. I'm actually surprised at how fast he adjusted. Of course after 3 and a half weeks, he still has to work on some manners and social norms among other things, but it's an incredible change from having to stand in the shower with Ma because the glass divided them too much. Ma's absence made Jack blossom has a hero, and he was able to work on the daunting task of transitioning into a normal life. For that, I think it's acceptable to consider him a hero.
I think the ending of the book showed how they were both heroes. They both were forced to go through a lot of change and emotional trauma, but they were both able to push past it and finally let go of their past. Jack finally stopped longing to live in Room, and Ma was able to accept what happened to her.
~~~
Ma was the mastermind behind the escape plan, and though she didn't carry out the plan, she still came up with it all. Of course, Jack played a crucial role, but I still think planning it is certainly enough to deem Ma a hero. I also think that Jack is heroic in "Dying," but none of this would've happened without Ma. To me, she's also the hero of the earlier sections because she was selfless and able to carry on in this prison all for the sake of her son. Her strength allowed her to raise him as best she could.
For the majority of this book, I've considered Ma as the sole hero, but now I can see how Jack is a hero too. I think it's a little less obvious because he didn't plot the escape and in the later sections he basically just works on adjusting to the outside world, but I think it can be seen as a personal hero's journey. I'm actually surprised at how fast he adjusted. Of course after 3 and a half weeks, he still has to work on some manners and social norms among other things, but it's an incredible change from having to stand in the shower with Ma because the glass divided them too much. Ma's absence made Jack blossom has a hero, and he was able to work on the daunting task of transitioning into a normal life. For that, I think it's acceptable to consider him a hero.
I think the ending of the book showed how they were both heroes. They both were forced to go through a lot of change and emotional trauma, but they were both able to push past it and finally let go of their past. Jack finally stopped longing to live in Room, and Ma was able to accept what happened to her.
~~~
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Slightly Changed Opinions
Wow. (would not recommend reading any further if you haven't finished "Dying")
I finished "Dying" last night, and that was intense. In my last post, I talked about how I don't really see Jack as a hero but just a normal five year old, and he's making everything more difficult for Ma, who is definitely a hero for just being able to raise him. A lot of things are going through my head right now, so this post is really just going to be about a bunch of different things, sorry.
Well I guess for starters, I see how Jack is a hero now. Well actually, I can see how he's able to perform a heroic act. I still see Ma as the hero of the story. Jack executes the plan, but it was all Ma's idea. So I guess I consider both of them to be heroes, but just because Jack carried out the escape, doesn't diminish my belief that Ma is the hero of Room.
I also said that I don't find Jack's narration to be annoying, but now that he has to communicate with other people to execute this dangerous plan, he's becoming more and more annoying to me. He doesn't understand how dangerous their situation is and how it's imperative that he listens to Ma, his first experience with the outside is so overwhelming he's incapable of talking to the police officers so they can save Ma. I'm constantly forgetting that he's a 5 year old, but reading his thoughts ("I'm hating her again a bit"), I understand Ma's frustration when he continually refuses to take part in the plan. I'm finding it very difficult to kind of put myself in his position to understand why he doesn't want to go through with the plan, or why he can't talk to the police officers properly. (By the way, I'm incredibly impressed with the police officer's patience with Jack. I would've been as exasperated as the male officer) It's bad, I know I should be taking his upbringing into consideration, but it's kind of difficult. The one thing that helps me understand is his line, "'I've seen the world and I'm tired now.'" (p. 155) I'm glad Jack was able to pull off the plan, but now that they're free, I can tell that his confusion with the rest of the outside world is going to make him seem even more annoying.
Is Jack more annoying to you now, or do you know enough about him that his actions are understandable?
~~~
I finished "Dying" last night, and that was intense. In my last post, I talked about how I don't really see Jack as a hero but just a normal five year old, and he's making everything more difficult for Ma, who is definitely a hero for just being able to raise him. A lot of things are going through my head right now, so this post is really just going to be about a bunch of different things, sorry.
Well I guess for starters, I see how Jack is a hero now. Well actually, I can see how he's able to perform a heroic act. I still see Ma as the hero of the story. Jack executes the plan, but it was all Ma's idea. So I guess I consider both of them to be heroes, but just because Jack carried out the escape, doesn't diminish my belief that Ma is the hero of Room.
I also said that I don't find Jack's narration to be annoying, but now that he has to communicate with other people to execute this dangerous plan, he's becoming more and more annoying to me. He doesn't understand how dangerous their situation is and how it's imperative that he listens to Ma, his first experience with the outside is so overwhelming he's incapable of talking to the police officers so they can save Ma. I'm constantly forgetting that he's a 5 year old, but reading his thoughts ("I'm hating her again a bit"), I understand Ma's frustration when he continually refuses to take part in the plan. I'm finding it very difficult to kind of put myself in his position to understand why he doesn't want to go through with the plan, or why he can't talk to the police officers properly. (By the way, I'm incredibly impressed with the police officer's patience with Jack. I would've been as exasperated as the male officer) It's bad, I know I should be taking his upbringing into consideration, but it's kind of difficult. The one thing that helps me understand is his line, "'I've seen the world and I'm tired now.'" (p. 155) I'm glad Jack was able to pull off the plan, but now that they're free, I can tell that his confusion with the rest of the outside world is going to make him seem even more annoying.
Is Jack more annoying to you now, or do you know enough about him that his actions are understandable?
~~~
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Jack: A Little Hero?
I think Room is definitely an interesting change from Memory of Running. I've been trying to write this post all weekend but I feel like we still don't really know enough yet.
I think I like Jack. His narration can be a little weird, but I don't have a problem with how he talks and I think it's an interesting perspective on the whole situation. I haven't gotten annoyed (yet?) at him, and we've been able to figure out the basic story from his explanations of his daily life. I definitely like his narration more than Vardaman (maybe even Smithy, also Jack and Smithy aren't as similar, so maybe that comparison isn't the best). With that being said, I can't understand how a 5 year old boy who has no understanding of the world would save the day.
Jack's actually inadvertently been making things even harder for Ma. As of right now, I wholeheartedly consider Ma the hero of Room. I am incredibly impressed with how she has been able to raise Jack in this tiny room and keep him out of Old Nick's way and keep him safe by muting commercials that would let him in on information about the outside world. Even while trying to keep him sheltered from what they are locked away from, she still tries every single day to get them out, with Scream and flickering the lamp. Like Gillian said in class, Ma is a saint. She's gone through hell and is still able to pretend to be happy for her child. Ma is incredibly strong; if I were locked up in a room like that I would've already gone crazy, but she's able to keep going for Jack. Maybe Jack can be seen as beneficial to Ma too, by keeping sane, but for the most part, I can't really see him as doing much more than that.
I know we can assume from the excerpt before the table of contents (from the story of Perseus) that Jack is, or is going to be, the hero of Room. At this point in the story, I can't really see how he could end up being the hero, but Ma is certainly a hero to me.
~~~
I think I like Jack. His narration can be a little weird, but I don't have a problem with how he talks and I think it's an interesting perspective on the whole situation. I haven't gotten annoyed (yet?) at him, and we've been able to figure out the basic story from his explanations of his daily life. I definitely like his narration more than Vardaman (maybe even Smithy, also Jack and Smithy aren't as similar, so maybe that comparison isn't the best). With that being said, I can't understand how a 5 year old boy who has no understanding of the world would save the day.
Jack's actually inadvertently been making things even harder for Ma. As of right now, I wholeheartedly consider Ma the hero of Room. I am incredibly impressed with how she has been able to raise Jack in this tiny room and keep him out of Old Nick's way and keep him safe by muting commercials that would let him in on information about the outside world. Even while trying to keep him sheltered from what they are locked away from, she still tries every single day to get them out, with Scream and flickering the lamp. Like Gillian said in class, Ma is a saint. She's gone through hell and is still able to pretend to be happy for her child. Ma is incredibly strong; if I were locked up in a room like that I would've already gone crazy, but she's able to keep going for Jack. Maybe Jack can be seen as beneficial to Ma too, by keeping sane, but for the most part, I can't really see him as doing much more than that.
I know we can assume from the excerpt before the table of contents (from the story of Perseus) that Jack is, or is going to be, the hero of Room. At this point in the story, I can't really see how he could end up being the hero, but Ma is certainly a hero to me.
~~~
Friday, April 3, 2015
Golden vs Glass
In my group's class discussion (which was a while ago but I really want to get my thoughts down), the writing prompt was to compare Dr. Golden vs Dr. Glass, and I didn't really say anything at the time but I definitely have some things to say about the two psychiatrists.
So Dr. Golden. He is a jerk. I guess I kind of understand why he wouldn't want to invest himself too much in Bethany's life and might not want to become best friends with her or anything, but at the same time he's her doctor. He has a job to do, and he doesn't seem to be doing it very well. In this way, I guess is the opposite. She quickly befriends Bethany, and although she cares more for Bethany's well-being, this also seems to skew her judgement and cause bias. Neither doctor really seems to be helping her like they should be. Bethany doesn't improve with Golden, who really couldn't care less, and it sort of seems like Glass helps her get a bit better, but we kind of already know how it's going to end.
I strongly disliked Dr. Glass because of how she treated Smithy, but after discussion, I don't dislike her as much (still not her fan though). Smithy does come off as a sketchy character, and probably only looked at her chest every time they met. I personally don't see Smithy as too creepy, although I do remember once he told Dr. Trivitch that he used to think he loved his sister. I don't really know how to interpret that, but it does make Smithy seem a little more creepy. I guess what I'm trying to say is I can see why she might think he would be creepy, but still, the whole scene to me was just frustrating, especially with his response to the allegations.
~~~
So Dr. Golden. He is a jerk. I guess I kind of understand why he wouldn't want to invest himself too much in Bethany's life and might not want to become best friends with her or anything, but at the same time he's her doctor. He has a job to do, and he doesn't seem to be doing it very well. In this way, I guess is the opposite. She quickly befriends Bethany, and although she cares more for Bethany's well-being, this also seems to skew her judgement and cause bias. Neither doctor really seems to be helping her like they should be. Bethany doesn't improve with Golden, who really couldn't care less, and it sort of seems like Glass helps her get a bit better, but we kind of already know how it's going to end.
I strongly disliked Dr. Glass because of how she treated Smithy, but after discussion, I don't dislike her as much (still not her fan though). Smithy does come off as a sketchy character, and probably only looked at her chest every time they met. I personally don't see Smithy as too creepy, although I do remember once he told Dr. Trivitch that he used to think he loved his sister. I don't really know how to interpret that, but it does make Smithy seem a little more creepy. I guess what I'm trying to say is I can see why she might think he would be creepy, but still, the whole scene to me was just frustrating, especially with his response to the allegations.
~~~
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Hero's Journey?
I guess one of the big questions at this point in As I Lay Dying is: Is the Bundren journey heroic?
I'm not really sure if I consider this a heroic journey for Anse. Not so much because he keeps talking about how he wants teeth (which I really don't think is a big deal because everyone wants something from town, so whatever), but more so because he's not really doing anything.
He's not carrying the coffin, his life isn't put in danger. Meanwhile, Darl, Jewel, and Cash are made to cross a dangerous river and Cash breaks his leg in the process and loses some of his tools. Even Vardaman is taking a role in this, and he's 6 or something like that.
Something we talked about yesterday was if Anse is a hero because he's doing all of this for Addie, who made this request just to spite him, as she hated her life and cheated on him. This makes sense, since Anse isn't interested in moving at all, but insists on burying her where she wants to be buried.
(Side note: At the beginning of the book I really felt bad for Addie because.. well she was dying. Reading her chapter has definitely changed my thoughts about that.)
Then following that idea, it makes the Bundren children even more heroic as well. I think going to Jefferson is a heroic journey for the kids, who are spending their time going on a dangerous journey to bury their mother, who didn't really love them anyways (except Jewel). Yeah, I think it's nice that Anse is doing this for Addie, but making the decision doesn't really mean anything because all he's doing now is ordering his children to complete the task while he watches (and spending all their money too). The situation with Addie makes me sympathize with Anse a lot more, but just making the decision isn't enough for me to think of Anse as a hero.
I don't know, I feel bad for Anse and all, but I'm not really seeing him as heroic. To me, the heroes of this story are the Bundren children.
Do you see Anse as a hero?
~~~
I'm not really sure if I consider this a heroic journey for Anse. Not so much because he keeps talking about how he wants teeth (which I really don't think is a big deal because everyone wants something from town, so whatever), but more so because he's not really doing anything.
He's not carrying the coffin, his life isn't put in danger. Meanwhile, Darl, Jewel, and Cash are made to cross a dangerous river and Cash breaks his leg in the process and loses some of his tools. Even Vardaman is taking a role in this, and he's 6 or something like that.
Something we talked about yesterday was if Anse is a hero because he's doing all of this for Addie, who made this request just to spite him, as she hated her life and cheated on him. This makes sense, since Anse isn't interested in moving at all, but insists on burying her where she wants to be buried.
(Side note: At the beginning of the book I really felt bad for Addie because.. well she was dying. Reading her chapter has definitely changed my thoughts about that.)
Then following that idea, it makes the Bundren children even more heroic as well. I think going to Jefferson is a heroic journey for the kids, who are spending their time going on a dangerous journey to bury their mother, who didn't really love them anyways (except Jewel). Yeah, I think it's nice that Anse is doing this for Addie, but making the decision doesn't really mean anything because all he's doing now is ordering his children to complete the task while he watches (and spending all their money too). The situation with Addie makes me sympathize with Anse a lot more, but just making the decision isn't enough for me to think of Anse as a hero.
I don't know, I feel bad for Anse and all, but I'm not really seeing him as heroic. To me, the heroes of this story are the Bundren children.
Do you see Anse as a hero?
~~~
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Carpenter Cash
After yesterday's class, I've been thinking a lot about Cash, and if he cares the most for Addie or if his work on the coffin is simply because he likes being a carpenter.
Grief comes in many different forms, and Addie Bundren's death seems to affect the other Bundrens, even emotionless Cash. When I think of grief from a death, I think of a reaction like Jewel's or Vardaman's. Both are confused and don't know what to do. This causes Jewel to be angry about everything. Vardaman is so young that he doesn't know how to deal with death and drills air holes in Addie's coffin. Cash's grief isn't as easily detectable as theirs, but that doesn't mean he's not mourning.
Cash definitely has an insane work ethic and a clear passion for carpentry. He pays so much attention to small details and focuses on everything he does. But he seems to focus even more on the coffin. Of course his hard work could just be because he really loves being a carpenter but I feel like it's more than that. He seems to be channeling his grief into Addie's coffin by making something for his dying mother. There's really not much Cash, or anyone in the family, can do about Addie dying, but he knows he can make her a coffin, so he gives it his all. He builds it right outside her window, which Jewel hates, but it can be seen as act of love for his mother. He wants to show Addie that he's putting a lot of time and care into making her coffin and that he's making sure everything will be perfect just for her. I'm sure he could act like the other Bundrens when Addie dies, but he's putting any emotion he has aside to finish his work and making sure it's all complete.
Cash made a piece of art for his mother as she lay dying, and it seems like he's the child who has put in the most effort for his mother, even if it doesn't seem like he's reacting at all to her passing.
~~~
Grief comes in many different forms, and Addie Bundren's death seems to affect the other Bundrens, even emotionless Cash. When I think of grief from a death, I think of a reaction like Jewel's or Vardaman's. Both are confused and don't know what to do. This causes Jewel to be angry about everything. Vardaman is so young that he doesn't know how to deal with death and drills air holes in Addie's coffin. Cash's grief isn't as easily detectable as theirs, but that doesn't mean he's not mourning.
Cash definitely has an insane work ethic and a clear passion for carpentry. He pays so much attention to small details and focuses on everything he does. But he seems to focus even more on the coffin. Of course his hard work could just be because he really loves being a carpenter but I feel like it's more than that. He seems to be channeling his grief into Addie's coffin by making something for his dying mother. There's really not much Cash, or anyone in the family, can do about Addie dying, but he knows he can make her a coffin, so he gives it his all. He builds it right outside her window, which Jewel hates, but it can be seen as act of love for his mother. He wants to show Addie that he's putting a lot of time and care into making her coffin and that he's making sure everything will be perfect just for her. I'm sure he could act like the other Bundrens when Addie dies, but he's putting any emotion he has aside to finish his work and making sure it's all complete.
Cash made a piece of art for his mother as she lay dying, and it seems like he's the child who has put in the most effort for his mother, even if it doesn't seem like he's reacting at all to her passing.
~~~
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