Passing By Nella Larsen

This book is about a woman who decides as an adult that she wants to “pass.” Passing is what a black person, who skin is light enough to be considered white, leave behind everything they know and assimliate into the white community. I find the whole basis of this book to be disturbing and tragic. It is terrible that people back in the 20’s had to do this in order to get ahead in life. It  is sad that people had to do stuff like this. I suppose that this book is a sort of eye opener for those of us who knew nothing about this. For example, I had no idea that black people did stuff like this and I had no idea that it was so dangerous to do such a thing.

As a whole I did enjoy this book. In parts it was dry and nothing happened. But then it would pick up and  something inspiring or some conflict would arise. I did not however like the ending of the book. Without giving away the ending, I do not like books that are so ambigious. You had to decide for yourself who did what. You never really know what happened. That to me is incomplete, it leaves you with a sense of non closure. This book could have had a little more to it. For example, at the end of the second chapter and the beginning of the third, it is all about an internal conflict with Irene, no action, just talking to herself.

I have enjoyed working with my group very much. I think that the dynamic between us works very well and all of us are willing to take on responsibility. We are all very willing to do what needs to be done in order to be successful in this project. Not to mention that we all seem to be very driven in school work, making it much easier to assign tasks and get the job done.

End of The Sound and the Fury

What is one to think about Faulkner? I am a little undecided myself. I am not a huge fan of this book because I like book to paint pretty pictures in my head that I can imagine and see. Colors and all!!! Isn’t that the whole point of reading? To use your imagination and have your very own TV in your head? Well it is for me anyways. Faulkner is under the delusion that we as readers have to search and find and dig for a pretty picture. And they aren’t even that pretty!! Suicide, sex in the fields, castration, incest, and impotence!! Yes let me please imagine this on the TV in my head.  But lets face it, half of us had no idea that castration happened until it was pointed out to us. Is that the way anyone wants to read… I want to read a book and be hanging on the edge of my seat wanting more. Not sitting there obsessing over the same two pages trying to figure out what the hell it means!!! I don’t even want to discuss the time crap Faulkner is trying to pull with the furture and past and present and past again and hey lets forshdow but not really… UGGGG

On the other hand, I did find myself wondering waht happened to the Compson family, NOT THAT WE EVER REALLY FIND OUT!!!, which may make him a genuis. I mean the reaason people keep buying and reading all the Harry Potter books is beacuse you want to know ultimatley how it all ends. Can’t fault Faulkner for doing the same thing. After I got used to the way he wrote in a specific chapter, I was enthralled and had to finish said chapter.

So overall what I think about The Sound and the Fury, I guess my opinion is that for something like this, a literature class it is a good selection. But for everyday fun, I am going to sit under a tree and sun bathe…. no thanks… I would much rather read Patricia Cornwell or Chuck Palutnik (however you spell, the guy that wrote Fight Club).

Close Reading Dilsey Chapter

Jason told him, his sense of injury [from the Quentin chapter when he was going to kill himself and Caddy, injure oneself to punish for actions] and impotence [reoccuring theme throughout the book about the impotance of the Compson men] feeding upon its own sound [Quentin's mind essentially "fed" on itself util he was driven to suicide], so that after a time[time reoccuring in all the chapters] he forgot his hate[hates his niece for what she has put him through and its obvious that he hates her because she is like Caddy, irony that everyone loves/ed Caddy, Benjy and Quentin, and he absolutly hates her and her daughter]  in the violent cumulation of his self justification[Jason needs to be justified in all his actions; ex mad at Caddy because he didn't get the job at the bank or hitting Benjy because he was being to loud; he has a reason for everything he does] and his outrage[Compson men seem to have emotional problems, whether it be suicidal, retardation, or just plain old angry]. The sheriff watched him steadily[doesn't trust him as he shouldn't because he knows he is a thief, its quite strange that someone with a job is a thief, especially someone who wants a job at a bank so bad.. coincidence?? I think not] with his cold[refefence to having no sympathy or compassion just like Jason shows none of these for anyone else] shiny eyes. “But you don’t know they done it,” he said, “You just think so.” “Don’t know?” Jason said, “When I spent two damn days[of his vauble time that he uses as a hard working citizen that contributes to society?? Two days is a lot of time to him apaprently, again a reference to time] chasing her through alleys,[seems to have a "hero" complex; he had to chase after Quentin because she didn't know what she was doing and he was the only person who could save her] trying to keep her away from him,[controling nature of Jason rearing its ugly head again; 'her with him' again with the blame game] after I told[notice he didn't ask politely he TOLD her, men are so bossy, expecially Jason] her what I’d do to her[reference to violent nature of Jason; also to the impotence of Jason, what he would do, but never actually does it; also a reference to what men do to women: what Dalton did to Caddy or what Herbert did to Jason when he didn't give him the job] if I ever caught her with him,[shows how the author wants the women to come off as permiscuous, look at the wording 'her with him' it wasn't 'him with her' it was automatically her fault because she was a Compson woman] and you say I don’t know that little b—”[ironically Jason feels the same way about women that the boy did that Quentin tried to beat up; reoccuring theme of women being bitches and manipulators; Again shows the violent mean nature of Jason]

Faulkner.. To read or not to read

So, the whole Quentin wanting to kill Caddy scene is probably the most interesting scene in this chapter. First of all, the fact that he lies to her about “doing it with lots of girls,” show that he is trying to be a man that he is not. He feels that in order to be this big burly hulk of a man, so he lies, lies to himself and to his family. So the idea of impotence is extremely apparent here. As him and Caddy lie on the bank of the pond, he holds a knife to her throat and suggests that they slit their throat in a kind of Romeo and Juliet fashion. At this point you read a very provacaitive passage that is the point at which Quentin thinks he commits incest with Caddy. Then he drops the knife and cannot kill her. This again shows the idea of impotence in Quentin. I find it especially annoying that Caddy is like ok I am a bad girl.. you can kill me and believe that it was because I want to be with you. Then he can’t do it and she is all like ok Im going to go inside now. I believe that as a sister, she should have noticed right there that something was wrong and done something. At that point she knew the extent of his obsession and it needed to be addressed, before he killed himself. She was permiscious, there was nothing wrong with her mentally besides that, she should have and most likely did notice it.

This passage makes me think about Faulkner himself. As I pointed out in my Hemingway blog, you are a little bit of what you write, well what is Faulkner? First of all he was confusing himself when he wrote this book. He has to keep a timeline in order to purposly confuse the readers and make them work for the answer. He was either a very brilliant man or a very messed up man. I am guessing a little bit of both. As much as I hate having to fish for the answers and go back and reread passages, it sort of gives you a sense of “oh my God i figured it out.” Making the reader feel not so impotent. I am little on the edges about whether or not I would like to have read this on my own time. He has many different underlying themes going at one time which can be awfully confusing, however, digging deep and figuring it out does have its own rewarding qualities. This makes me very interested in Faulkner and his personal relationships. He is a very inappropriate writer, both in his story and in his form. What exactly is he trying to tell us?

Hemingway

Not my favorite person, although as I am trying to read Faulkner he is not my favorite person either. I think Hemingway has some serious issues he needs to work through. I guess personally I believe that you are little bit of what you write. It you write romance novels, you are probably a little bit of a romantic. If you write murder myteries, then there is something about solving the problem that tickles you on the inside. Right? Well pardon me but, what the hell is Hemingway trying to get through to us? Is he bipolar? Or a schizo? Because frankly his characters are weird and plain old mean.

Can we also talk about for a second how he makes women depend on men. What kind of crap is that? “Oh you are a dumb rich bitch woman”… “I just wanna please you sweety please don’t say that I know you love me.” WHAT?!?! Not to mention what is with Hemingway making all his characters whores? I am sorry I think this man has some deep threaded issues that need to be addressed.

Why is this a canon? So I am still no completly sure about the whole canon thing. I get the ideology, values, aesthetics stuff. I suppose I am having a hard time seeing what kind of values and ideology Hemingway is trying to get across to us. Perhaps that he is saying you can go through women and live you life mooching of people who want to sleep with you, then find a woman and blame the fact that you hate your life on her, and then call her a bitch and expect her to be with you till the last second you die… oh and make you a drink? I just don’t get it. Nor do I like the you have to figure it all out for yourself aspect, if I wanted something to make me think hard, I would read my textbooks for my other classes, thanks anyways though Hemingway. Its safe to say that beyond this class, I will never read another piece by Hemingway… or at the rate this book is going, Faulkner either.