Dobby... is... freeeeeee!

Plot

"The Bicentennial Man" had some crazy... not... chronological... business going on. It begins with Andrew requesting that another robot perform a mysterious surgery on him. We don't find out until near the end, however, that the surgery is one that will complete his transformation from robot into man. It's also divided into chapters, which seem to pertain individually to specific phases of Andrew's life. For instance, in chapter two, which begins on page 247, Andrew begins his life with the Martin family, and his focus is primarily playing with Little Miss, for as she put it, she "order[ed him] to play with [them] and [he] must follow orders." Then, in chapter three, the next phase of Andrew's life begins, in which Andrew's goal becomes fulfilling his role as the unique robot with the skills: "Strange. Of course, we're attempting generalized pathways these days.... Really creative, you think?" - p. 250

Point of View

The narrator is third-person omniscient. The story is Andrew's, so the narrator chronicles his life more closely than anyone else's, but the narrator also knows everything about all of the characters. For instance, on page 250, "[Little Miss] never forgot that the very first piece of wood carving he had done had been for her." Little Miss never speaks these words aloud, but the audience learns it from the narrator. Also, it is in third-person because the words "you" and "I" are only used in direct quotes from the characters. Also also, the story isn't told from the perspective of one of the characters involved in the story, but rather from a third party who knows everything about them.

Characterization

The story was awash with a healthy mix of both direct and indirect characterization, I think. For instance, on p. 249, the narrator, drawing on Andrew's observations, says "[Merton Mansky] had drawn features and a lined forehead and looked as though he might be younger than he looked." The part about the drawn features and lined forehead are merely observations that lead the reader to conclude that he looks kind of old. The second part, however, is a subjective observation on which the reader can have no comment but to accept it; thus, it is direct characterization. Vital to the story is the progression of Andrew's character as he grows slowly more and more human. In the beginning of the story, Andrew's range of facial expression is almost nonexistent. By chapter fourteen, on page 276, we see Andrew exclaim "Paul!" and have it described as "in concern." Then, by page 22, Andrew smiles as he shakes hands with the President, who declares him "a Bicentennial Man."

Setting

Usually, when I think of setting, I think of place first, and then time as an unimportant secondary element. In "The Bicentennial Man," however, the more important thing to note is that the story is science fiction; it takes place in the somewhat foreseeable but still significantly distant future, when robot technology is taking a leap forward. As far as geographical location, I feel like the main point emphasized is that it did indeed take place on Earth. For instance, on page 256, at the end of chapter 7, it says "[The decision] was eventually upheld by the World Court." Also, the bit in chapter 5 when it describes how "Ma'am had joined an art colony somewhere in Europe, and Miss was a poet in New York" as well as the robot Andrew's emphasis on freedom indicate strongly that the story is set in the United States of America, but not in New York. That Little Miss went there and came back indicates to me that probably, the Martins lived somewhere northeast.

Theme

I think the major theme was that freedom is invaluable, and bigotry is a crime. One sentence that jumped out at me was on page 254: "Freedom is without a price, Sir," said Andrew. "Even the chance of freedom is worth the money." The Court doesn't want to give him freedom, though, because they want to maintain human superiority over robots. Then, when Andrew wants to become a human, they don't want to allow that either. This was because, as stated on page 288, "They cannot tolerate an immortal human being, since their own mortality is endurable only so long as it is universal."

Another item that jumped out at me as a possible minor theme was this: "With great power goes great responsibility." - p. 266

That probably only jumped out at me because either Isaac Asimov or Stan Lee is a plagiarist, but... yeah.

Andrew is freeeeee!

Plagiarism?

All the world's a stage.

I think Miss Brill watched a little too much Toy Story. Necklets don't cry. Although I guess this one did have eyes, which is disturbing to me.

I also think she was projecting. Right there at the end, when she's gone home and passed the baker's because she's sad, she thinks she hears something inside the box crying, but it can't be. She is projecting her sadness onto inanimate objects.

This is somewhat ironic because, from all of her Sunday people watching in the park, she seems to be something of an expert at interpreting people's reactions. She's in denial, however, about her own. It's also possible, though, that she's projecting in the other instances as well because she can never know, for sure, how the strangers in the park actually feel about things, as she never interacts with them.

On a side note, "Brille" means "glasses" in German, but I didn't see any other evidence that led me to believe Miss Brill to be German.

Single malt whiskey

6. Analyze the story's final paragraph in detail. How does it help to elucidate the theme?

The theme I gleaned from this story was that suspicion only breeds more reason for suspicion. When the narrator wakes up in the night, her suspicion of ne'er do wells turns out to be rash and unfounded. In fact, since she lives above a mine, it could be argued that waking up and causing a ruckus actually causes more danger for her.

Similarly, each time the dream sequence characters took action to prevent vandalism or other breaches of security, the attempts to invade their property grew more severe. The final paragraph illustrates the severe injury or possibly death--it's sort of ambiguous--of the story's stock adorable little kid. If the family had shown a little more compassion for the intruders, the tragedy could have been avoided.

The family was really sheltered, too, I think. The mom means well--she wants to help the people, but she doesn't know how. Also, she wants to shield her son from even the worry that his cat might be impaled upon their newly purchased spiraling stabby fence adornment of doom. This could be a call to the audience to just really think through actions before they are taken.

Her eyes were blue with age?

2. Apart from the story's major theme, can you isolate minor themes that help give the story richness and depth? List as many as you can.

I CAN, in fact, isolate minor themes. Although I ought to admit that I do not know what the major theme is, so that might slip in there as well.

In paragraph fourteen, Phoenix says "I wasn't as old as I thought," which creates several possible themes:

- One is capable of anything when one puts one's mind to it. One one one.

- Live life to its fullest. (Or if you're Tim McGraw, live like you were dyin'.)

- You're only as old as you feel.

Then, in paragraph fifty-four, I noted a theme of "What do you do when no one is watching?" Also, age is wisdom. Sometimes.

Also, in paragraph sixty-two, it says "In the paved city, it was Christmas time." That implies that it's only Christmas time for those who are well-off, so I thought there might be a theme of the difficulties of the underprivileged.

Then, in paragraphs sixty-five through sixty-seven, there's some sentiment toward the importance of respect for elders.

And when in paragraph seventy-eight, the medical workers assume Phoenix has come for medical attention for herself, the theme "Don't judge a book by its cover" appears.

Also, after that, the actual nurse arrives and informs her that she can have the medicine as long as she comes for it, and then she gives her a nickel. This is sort of a "Be kind to your neighbor" theme, with a sprinkling of Christmas spirit.

Aaaaand finally, in paragraph one-oh-four, Phoenix informs her audience that she's going to also go fetch a little paper windmill. If that's not dedication/love, I don't know what is.

Country music. Oi vey.

The end of song is raving madness.

6. To what extent is Eveline's refusal to board the ship based on her judgment and will? Has she decided not to go?

I'm fairly certain she neglected to make any such decisions. I would characterize her refusal to board the ship as a paralysis brought on by fear of making the wrong decision.

Near the end of the second paragraph, Eveline says "Everything changes," and I think that's a central theme in the story. She's unhappy with the state of her life, but she's too terrified of change to let it transpire, even when the opportunity presents itself.

I related to Eveline a lot because I'm a veritable indecision addict myself. For example, I've been avoiding deciding between IU and Butler next year because I've assumed I would go to IU all my life like the rest of my family, but Butler, as it turns out, would probably be somewhat more tailored to my interests, but it's also way more expensive. The early action application deadline for Butler was on Monday though, and I didn't ever finish my application, not because I didn't have any time, but just because I was sort of avoiding thinking about it. So I guess I'm going to IU. That makes me sound disappointed, but I'm not actually; I know I like Bloomington.

Let it snow...?

I, like others, would like to point out the humor in the South Park parallels to "Hunters in the Snow." I have actually never seen an episode of South Park--crazy, right? But even I have heard enough to appreciate the similarities when I hear about them.

[I was going to post a link to some South Park mash-ups here, but... having now seen more South Park than I ever have previously, I think... maybe not.]

I really do like how they end up obliviously going the wrong way at the end of the story, though. I felt really awkward throughout most of the reading of that story because the characters just kept being so open, and there was the guy freezing and bleeding and talking to himself in the back of the truck, and.... I suppose getting lost didn't help matters at all, but I still liked it better.

Also, our small group wondered why on earth Tub's parents chose to name him Tub. I mean, we know the author was being clever, but why did he rationalize that his parents would name him that? Or maybe it was a nickname? Whooo knows?

I need some kind of media in order to be content. Ummmm....

I really like Christmas. Also, it was cold in the story.

Mildly Cadaverousness

I'm not sure why anybody does anything in "Bartleby the Scrivener," to be honest, so I'm choosing to answer the question that's entirely opinion-based and personal.

14. Trace your emotional reaction to Bartleby as he is revealed in the story.

My initial reaction was that he was a hard worker and a lot less quirkily annoying than Turkey, Nippers and Ginger Nut. Also, his name was not as weird as theirs, even though it reminded me vaguely of Beedle the Bard and Rufus Scrimgeour combined.

Then when he started saying he would prefer not to do things, I was startled by the backbone this guy who seemed dead to the world was showing. I mean, on page 660 and at the end of paragraph 110, he is actually described as "mildly cadaverous." How is one "mildly cadaverous"? A cadaver is a dead body. Goodness.

Then he got increasingly creepy, and I stopped liking him altogether and started hoping that everybody else would just evacuate the premises or something and forget about him because he was scary scary scary, and he was probably just creepy enough to end up in my nightmares. I'll keep you posted.

Also, just so everyone knows, I read these things aloud to myself in order to ensure that I don't fall asleep while reading them because I always fall asleep when I read things because I am always sleepy, and I sound really grouchy and am sorry, and now I am hoarse because this story is VERY LONG, and I guess I just admitted that I hadn't read it yet in class today, which is embarrassing but I had read a third of it.... I like long sentences. Only writing them, though. Not reading them. Then I get mad.

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn.

4. Does the mother's refusal to let Dee have the quilts indicate a permanent or temporary change of character? Why has she never done anything like it before? Why does she do it now? What details in the story prepare for and foreshadow this refusal?

I got the impression that the refusal was a temporary change. She seems like a loving mother, in general, and I just don't think she could refuse her daughter forgiveness like that. She wouldn't have done anything like it before because Dee had been away from home for a while, and before she left, she wasn't quite so... pretentious. I use that word a lot. I think it's because anything that gets put under the heading "literature" has a tendency toward that, but that is a generalization, and oh well. Anyway, she did it when she did because she wouldn't stand for Dee/W-thing hurting Maggie, who was always well-mannered and never presumptuous like her older sister.

Some details foreshadowing the refusal include all the accounts by the narrator, who is the mother, of Maggie's more sympathy-inducing qualities. She envisions Maggie's awkwardness upon Dee's arrival and mentions Maggie's burns and her feelings of shame about them repeatedly. These accounts show the mother's protective nature, which wouldn't lend itself to allowing anyone to hurt Maggie, even if Maggie said she wouldn't mind.

Hufflepuffs are particularly good finders.

8. The final plot twist comes in the last two sentences of the story. here the narrator speaks directly to the reader, giving us information the characters don't know. How is this an appropriate conclusion to the story? What final statement does Wolff seem to be making here about his characters?

This is an appropriate conclusion to the story because it confirms what the reader probably already suspects. Although Frank and Kenny and Tub may seem to have changed, their respective epiphanies do not make them dynamic characters. Wolff seems to be telling the reader, "Don't worry. They are all still bumbling idiots. They just feel a lot more content about it now."

I really shouldn't say that about them, as I get lost nearly every time I endeavor to find a new place, but I know I'm a bumbling idiot when it comes to that, so it's okay. Not very Hufflepuff-ish at all. Therefore, what I draw from this story is as follows:

• Frank, Kenny and Tub will use their newfound insights into themselves to make an even greater mess of their lives than they have already made.
• If a friend points a gun at you, don't shoot. Just duck or something.
• Frank and Tub are definitely not Hufflepuffs.

Words.

Heeey, diditwork?

I just typed "letter" into YouTube. That is how I found this song. I had never heard it before ever. That is all.

I am sort of baffled by the question of where to go with this now that I've blogged about all three of the short stories, but I keep coming back to how the first two short stories, "How I Met My Husband" and "Interpreter of Maladies" included the element of waiting for a letter that's never sent.

Is there always just that one letter that somebody expects but never gets? Is that universal? I myself am a compulsive letter writer. Consequently, I can think of multiple occasions on which I have waited on one of those stupid letters from seemingly obscure people, but I didn't realize other people worried about such things. I thought I was just exceedingly neurotic.

But it sounds like Edie waited for that letter from Chris for an awfully long time. I don't think we get a specific time period, but my guess is at least a few months. That's a rather long time to be in denial about such things.

Where are your husbands?

A Rose for Emily

In an interview, Faulkner said that "A Rose for Emily" was a kind of "ghost story." Compare it to other ghost stories you have read.

"A Rose for Emily" reminded me quite a bit of the story of Annie Palmer (who, incidentally, haunts our Band room clock and causes various other types of mischief). Annie, too, got away with murdering her lover--three of them, in fact. Both managed it because they were otherwise relatively alone in the world. Also, they both were the subject of local gossip. Legend has it that Annie still haunts the old plantation, now a tourist site that I visited in Jamaica on the band trip a year-and-a-half ago.

There are some noteworthy differences as well, however. For instance, there is no literal "ghost" in "A Rose for Emily." The story itself is haunting, yes, but neither Emily nor Homer Barron live on as specters. Also, while Annie allegedly killed her husbands out of sheer boredom, Emily poisoned Homer, I suspect, out of a sort of crazed grief. Despite all her best efforts--the monogrammed toilets, the nice clothing--Homer doesn't want to marry her.

It's Wednesday.

Interpreter of Maladies

How does Mr. Kapasi's job as an "interpreter of maladies" relate to the action in this story? Does he have the occasion to use his diagnostic ability in his interactions with the Das family?

Mrs. Das evidently has had a hard time living with this secret about the origin of Bobby festering inside of her. When she learns that Mr. Kapasi is an interpreter, she begins fantasizing, apparently, about telling him her secret, as is evidenced by the following:

"'Tell us a typical situation.' She settled back in her seat, her head tilted in a patch of sun, and closed her eyes. 'I want to picture what happens.'" - p. 153

Mrs. Das is under the impression that she suffers from some sort of figurative malady of the heart, and she thinks Mr. Kapasi will help her out just for kicks. I sort of think this part is satirizing American culture. Early on in the story, the author mentions the tourist maps and cameras that the Das family has brought along with them. Now, he depicts Mrs. Das as self-centered and a little condescending, I think. Although Mrs. Das compliments Mr. Kapasi, going as far as to call his profession as interpreter "romantic," she just assumes he has nothing better to do--would like nothing more, perhaps--than listen to her troubles.

Mail Time

How I Met My Husband

Discuss the effectiveness of the surprise ending. How does Carmichael differ from Chris Watters? Can it be argued that the surprise ending is also inevitable and appropriate?

The surprise ending was effective to an extent.... The story was structured to lead up to that point because we knew from the title that the girl was going to meet her husband. We were deliberately misled by the author, at first, to believe it was going to be Chris Watters. Then, we're introduced to the mailman, and we think, "Well, the pilot guy is gone, so this must be it." We were inevitably going to meet her husband, and it's appropriate that the story is structured in such a way that the story isn't merely what happens in the title. Instead, it becomes a story about overcoming a loss that is difficult to accept and then eventually finding happiness in someone else.

Carmichael is different from Chris Watters in the obvious--that he is a mailman, and Chris is a pilot. But also Carmichael is more proactive in his pursuit of Edie than is Chris. He calls her at the Peebleses' when she stops coming to fetch the mail. Chris, on the other hand, only ever waits around for Edie to come see him, at which point he takes advantage of her naivete, then makes empty promises.