Hey group, I'm definitly enjoying this book =) I think it's mostly about David's forced journey out of childhood because of the events that took place during 1948. In the first chapter there is a lot of background information, but what I found most importand was that David's grandfather was the sheriff of the town because he wanted power. To keep this power, he gave the position as sheriff to his son. As we learn later in the novel, David's father, Wesley, is always in the shadow of his brother. He's not as good looking and is far from a war hero. Therefore, his job as sheriff is the only scrap of power he has left, and his job is the only way he can gain respect and recognition from his father. I think the relationship between Wesley, Uncle Frank, and the grandpa is very interesting. When David's mom and dad are talking about what Marie told them about Uncle Frank, Wesley says, "I don't want this getting back to my father" and then David goes into a narration about how his dad "declared absolute fealty" to his earthly father. This proposes that he is protecting his father from the information about his supposedly heroic son, but I am confused as to why he would want to do that? If he told his dad he would ruin the image his father has of Uncle Frank, making him the better son. But on the contrary, it seems as if the grandfather knows Uncle Frank is interested in Indian women and finds that acceptable and manly in some way. Ultimately, I think Wesley fears his brother will hate him if he tells their father, which shows how much he cares about his brothers' approval, and how much he is intimidated by him.
Moving on to David's character, I thought the scene after the dinner at his grandfathers' house was interesting. David gets to ride around with a gun and he basically shoots the gun just to hear it and get all of his aggression out. This shows how much tension there is building up inside of him because of the weight he is carrying. I thought the quote "looking in the dead birds eye, I realized that these strange unthought of connections-sex & death, lust & violence, desire & degradation- are there, deep in even a good hearts chambers" (82) shows how much David is maturing from the situation he is in. The quote also points out that no one is all good or all evil, but that everyone has weaknesses that they can either ignore or succumb to.
David's mom is also a huge part in this section of the novel. She obviously knows the truth and always reminds her husband in their conversations to look past the fact that Frank is her husbands brother, and see him for who he really is. She kind of gets annoying when she doesnt actually DO anything about Marie. At the end of chapter 2 you can see when she talks to Daisy that she regrets not doing something more, because she definitly could have. The way Watson portrays women in this novel is weak and passive. Once one woman actually takes charge, she meets the worst possible fate. The grandfathers' wife is a pansie and Gloria, Franks wife, seems like she is really nice but puts up with all of Franks B.S., making her a push over. The women are WET BLANKETSSSSS ;) and need to start sticking up for themselves.
I was really shocked and disappointed when Marie dies (hope I didn't give that away to anyone) because I liked her character and I wanted to learn more about her past. Anyhoo, I can't wait to read everyones blogzz and I hope you liked mine! MoNtAnA is where its aaattttt. peace and loveeee, Andrea
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5 comments:
Sweet Post!
In response to your comment about the women, I somewhat disagree. Although Gail was unable to ultimately save Marie, she did make the strong decision to keep Marie in their home where she could look after her. In the novel, David, as narrator, makes it clear that his mother had the final word on this: "if my mother said it, it was so"(43). In addition, Gail was a working mother. This greatly strayed from the typical woman in 1948 because most women then were housewives and did not produce income for the family. Straying even further from the female stereotype was a scene later on in the novel that was mentioned in the Prologue. Gail grabs a shotgun and has every intention of using it. This portrays strength and courage on her part too because in the spur of a moment Gail is forced to learn how to fire a shotgun in the defense of her family. In that respect, not all of the women characters in the book were "wet blankets."
~EE
daymm i feel a tension. ANYHOO; i liked yo post; i have to agree however with andrea's commetn on the "wet blankets" - although EE you form a good argument; i think overall watson does want to show that the men are Far more powerful in the novel however, then again; relating back to andreas commenting on how wesley may be in fact, intimidated, by his father and brother. HOWEVER,, I believe that the men may be weaker in this novel than the women because despite their deceiving power, they are terrified inside. why would frank fooll around with indie women if he was completely satisfied with his life? or if he was even happy? clearly he has low self esteem and feels the need to use women to help him gain confidence. wesley is also a coward as he tries to deny the fact that his brother is GROSS. all the evidence is right before his eyes and yet something compels him to keep his feelings locked up inside...he is forced to portray this manly figure when inside he is trapped and insecure.
-GHETTOLADAY (RACHELLL)
oh and QUIT WRITING NOVELS. I TOOK EXTRA TIME WHEN I COULD HAVE BEEN CLUBBING TO READ THE WHOLE THING. CHILL OUT
-rayray (ghetto laday)
ghettoladayyyyyy i do think that the men are actually weaker, thats a good point. Watson wants to make the women seem passive while the men are truly the passive ones. I think this further shows how the men put up this "im so tough" front to protect their stance in society.
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