This the end, My only friend, the end.

Matilda’s Two Saviors

In Lloyd Jones’s novel, “Mister Pip”, he presents two characters that, at the outset, could not appear more different. Matilda’s mum is Delores Lamio, a realistic woman who does not have a place for fiction or nonsense. Mr. Watts is Matilda’s teacher and a dreamer with a grand imagination, who has little use for the truth other than as it relates to a good story. Matilda is presented with these two worldviews at the formative period in her life when she is internalizing adult influences. She thus becomes the protagonist in a classic bildungsroman. She is Pip from “Great Expectations”, or any other hero in a coming of age story. The story of Matilda’s two savior figures is stunning; they give their lives to save her and are literally torn to shreds in order to bring about Matilda’s salvation. The savior is necessary in coming-of-age stories. Their death is a right-of-passage, or breaking point for old thinking. After this death the hero is fully responsible for her own actions and has no one to lean on to get answers. It takes several things to satisfy the role of savior in literature: the first is to impart some knowledge to a pupil or community. The second is to take upon them the sins of an individual or community (Scapegoat). The third is to be sacrificed (literally or figuratively) in some manner that allows for the sins of the individual or community to be redeemed. In the story of “Mister Pip” both Mr. Watts and Matilda’s mum function as savior figures.

            It is clear that Matilda learns a great deal from Mr. Watts. For instance, he shows her how to listen for the voice that only she can speak in (p. 124). He shows Matilda the power imagination has to reshape reality and the power of story to function as a weapon for survival (p. 256) He also says:

“It is hard to be a perfect human being, Matilda, … Pip is only human. He has been given the opportunity to turn himself into whomever he chooses. He is free to choose. He is even free to make bad choices.” (p. 71)

 

 In his role as a Mister Pip, his story of the spare room and the battle for the contents of its walls becomes a set of proverbs for the community (p.185). His six-night “Sermon on the Mount” to the gathered townspeople and Rambos also provides several parables regarding the importance and power of dream, most acutely the story of the mayfly (p. 192). In these revelations Mr. Watts imparts wisdom onto both Matilda and the community. He even has his own scriptures in the form of “Great Expectations”, which he both rewrites for the children in class and wholly reworks and inhabits for the Rambos.

            Less obvious than Mr. Watts’ proverbs are Matilda’s mum’s teachings. She passes on her practical wisdom in the classroom also in the form of a stories “which have a job to do (p. 86): regarding the behavior of crabs as it relates to weather      (p. 44), a parable of the devil trying to tempt her with the offering plate at church (p.86), and a story about how God and the Devil are intertwined like the pleats of a braid (p. 80). She instills the value of tradition, faith and family. Her lessons focus on the practical side of life in the world of here and now. Abstract thought is potentially ruinous (p. 42). But, in spite of how they are negatively cast in Matilda’s mind, her mother’s lessons are heartfelt and genuine. She also has a set of scriptures to which she adheres, “ The Good Book”.

If both Matilda’s Mum and Mr. Watts have her best interests at heart why must they come into conflict? Matilda states:

“I knew that orphaned white kid and that small, fragile, place he squeezed into between his awful sister and lovable Joe Gargery, because the same space came to exist between Mr. Watts and my mum. And I knew I would have to choose between the two.” (p. 47)

 

Some conflict between their ideologies seems inevitable, and comes in the form of Mrs. Lamio stealing Mr. Watts’ copy of “Great Expectations” and hiding it in a bedroll in the rafters of her house (p. 108). She believes she is protecting Matilda from the unsavory influence of the fictitious Pip.  This is the sin that sets the stage for all future woe.  When Matilda discovers the theft and stays quite she becomes a co-conspirator, thus sinning herself and requiring redemption (p. 109).

            Mr. Watts becomes the scapegoat in the community in several ways. The town burns all his belongings in a fit of mob-rule (p. 115). But, more subtly, by assuming the name Pip to the Rambos he makes himself the target of the Red Skin captain’s wrath. He has essentially assumed the guilt of the entire community’s deception. Mrs. Lamio knows he is guiltless of this deception, but no longer posses the evidence necessary to exonerate him.  She takes responsibility for her and Matilda’s sins and declares herself “God’s Witness”. After her rape, Matilda’s mum offers her life in order to save Matilda’s. Now both Mr. Watts and Matilda’s mum have taken on someone else’s guilt.

            Having acquired the sins of both the community and Matilda and having paid for their own sins, the scapegoats are led away and ignobly dismembered and fed to pigs. Matilda, whose new life is bought and paid for by the bloody sacrifices of her two saviors, is then baptized by the flood in the river, and clutching to “Mr. Jaggers”, is reborn into her new world as a young woman of “Great Expectations”, ready for her anagnosis.

“But at this point I am always reminded of what Mr. Watts once told us kids about what it is to be a gentleman. It is an old fashioned view. Others, and these days I include myself, will want to substitute gentleman with moral person. He said that to be a human is to be moral, and you cannot have a day off when it suits. My brave mum knew this when she stepped forward to proclaim herself God’s witness to the cold blooded butchery of her old enemy, Mr. Watts.” (p. 210)

Earnezzzzzzzz... Sorry fell asleep

I finally finished the "Importance of Being Earnest". I'm not sure exactly what sweet magic this little volume posses but it has the amazing property of nearly instantly rendering me unconscious. No kidding, I fell asleep three different times, just this morning, trying to finish it. Not those brief cat naps you have while driving. But the fully comatose, couch imprint on cheek, stupefyingly dead to the world, sleep of pre freezing to death in the arctic . But I persevered. I even enjoyed the play. So there is really no accounting for the drool stains all over almost every page. What a mystery. 

Also, Dr. Sexon mentioned how tidy the plot was.  I noticed, however, that there was never a resolution to Algy's name change subplot. Cecile was ready to dump him because his name wasn't Ernest, Algy pledges to be re-christened to remedy the problem, then...  -POOF- subplot disappears. It turns out that Jack really is an Ernest but what about Algy? What happened to wrap that up? Did I miss it? 

But this was the only flaw I found, and truly had a great time reading this little gem.(Yes, I even frequently dreamed about it.) I Enjoyed it so much that I went out and rented both versions that Movie Lovers carries. The one we saw in class is very faithful to the plot in Mr. Wilde' s original play. But the characters are a bit over the top melodramatic. Although, The delivery of the I was found in a handbag scene was the better of the two. The newer movie included a whole subplot about Algy being arrested for unpaid debts of Earnest's from a hotel in London and how Jack tries to use prison time as blackmail to get Algy to leave his ward alone. Also it broke up the scenes and had the action take place all over London and countryside of 188_. It didn't really make any sense, and seemed to be a good example of a movie trying to chew up its budget. However, the acting was far less painful to watch all around, except that Dame Judy Dench was pretty disappointing, and was the only character out acted by those in the older movie. Which is odd because she normally walks on water as far as I'm concerned.

So, mystified by the addition of the arresting of Algy subplot I began an Oedipus style investigation... online. It turns out that Mr. Wilde originally wrote the play in four acts, the third of which included that and some other Bunburying in the country between the four principles. It was cut from the original production by the director for time's sake in order to include a musical interlude in the performance: with Mr. Wilde's consent. So the newer movie is evidently based on the older four act version of the play. The Older movie, conversely , is based on the three act play that first made its run in London. So, I hope you found that as confusing as I did. Fantastic. Anyways good night all.

And another thing

Steve, that thing with the unicorn was really funny man. Actually I'm still trying to dry my eyes I was laughing so hard. Thanks man its been awhile since I have laughed like that.

Line of Literature

"Call me Ishmael" 

Just kidding, I don't get why everyone loves that line so much. I didn't even like Moby Dick that well, Billy Bud either, Herman Melville in general for that matter. I did like one of his lines in Billy Bud. He Says " The might have been is but boggy ground upon which to build." I believe he was referencing the commercial failure of Moby Dick. But Dr. Sexon asked us to quote something that wasn't a proverb so that one is out. And Medina all ready took the first line of Mister Pip. (Damn you, Medina!)

 The line that sticks with me through all the books that I've read is one from Les Miserables "Is it true that they let me go?" For those of you who have read the book you will know where it happens, if you haven't then my describing it won't help you get it. But this moment of pure transcendence, baptism almost, for Jean Valjean comes to me often as I move through life.

Um I think I'm a bit behind on these blogs

Alright I'm a bit behind I guess. I need to take a look and see what we are supposed to be writing about.

Ok then.

First impressions of Mister Pip

I appreciated the premise for this novel, I wont reiterate it here but the Idea of juxtaposing these two worlds upon each other is brilliant. 19th century England and a 20th century South Seas Island in the midst of a rebellion, genius. Also the constant interplay between reality and the dream world of imagination that are beautiful. I also get the sense that the author must have spoken to many pacific islanders in order to glean all of the oral folk wisdom that he passes on. I also wonder at the decision to write from the point of view of a girl. I have not seen vary many authors pull the gender switch off, and this one is only marginally successful. Thought at times it is easy enough to forget that Matilda is not a real person. She seems to lack some of the animus  of a real pre-teen. Also there is almost no mention in this novel of her changing into a sexual being of any kind. Odd for a coming of age story. I know that at her age in the book an obsession with girls almost dominated my life. Odd to think this young woman has absolutely no gender related feelings.

Sonnets

Puzzle

I heard somewhere that "Solitude is ever

a silent storm, that tears away the dead

branches of the self." I think, however,

alone is more the hidden ore of lead.

It suddenly becomes acutely known,

the burden of rock and soil above;

The scree was always there, shadow of stone

but now pressed close by Vulcan's black glove.

Also, every direction I ignore

seems to be a maze that brings me back to

myself, I wonder if there is a minotaur

at the center of my labyrinth's rue.

But perhaps its an avatar's source,

with wings and compass, needing soul and course.

I don't know what to say about this, other than to reiterate that; I hate sonnets and would rather write my own poetry, free of these useless restrictions. For instance here is how that same poem goes without the sonnet form.

puzzle

I heard somewhere that: "Solitude is a silent storm

that tears away the dead branches of the self."

I think, however, that solitude is more like

suddenly realizing I'm a worm.

I know I've been living underground,

but I become acutely aware of the 

weight of the rock and the soil above me.

It was always there but now I can feel it.

Also every direction that I run, 

seems to be a maze that brings me back to myself.

I wonder if there is a minotaur at the center of my labyrinth,

or maybe it's just me.

But perhaps;

its a different me

with wings and a compass

only needing a soul and a course.

Anyways, let me know what you think of the two versions in class.

Sonnets, Smoking and Sinning (Yes that is an alliteration)

Ok, my general feelings on sonnets have been well broadcast in class. However the specific thing that drives me crazy about them is a little harder to put into a snippet blurted in class. The reason I hate sonnets is not their obscurity, difficulty, structure, meter or restrictive boundaries. No, the reason I hate them has to do with the fact that these ridiculous poems of an antiquated and outrageous style are shoved down the throats of every beginning english class, when in fact the only people capable of stomaching these poet poopings are scholars and the poets intended victim. Further, they have the effect of causing the mildly curious enquirer into the field of literature to flee with the horrors of iambs lodged into there minds eye where they will spend their remaining days doing the very scorning of the sonnet that Anne Fadiman asks us not to (not to mention a lifelong effort to poke out their minds eye). While there is nothing wrong with obscure literature, nor is it beyond starting students, it is just that this bastard abortion of literature should be saved for those who find it quietly after seeking it, like the hidden shimmer of a valuable coin lost in the woods.

I quit Smoking seven weeks ago last friday, I quit cheating about quitting four weeks ago. There was no real point here, its just that I wanted people to know, and I'm starting to feel pretty smug about it. Now if I can avoid lying to myself about having just one more i might be able to actually quit. Yeah!