Monday, March 23, 2009
1st Impressions of Fat Woman Next Door...
In The Fat Woman Next Door Is Pregnant, by Michel Tremblay, the structure of the novel makes it a unique read. By creating the narration of the novel through third person omniscience, Tremblay is able to illustrate the inner thoughts of everyone in an entire neighborhood. Tremblay allows us to know the truth of the inner workings of each household allowing the audience to have a better understanding of the neighborhood than the characters do. It’s difficult to say whether the novel is better this way or if it was narrated from a more limited perspective. But while most authors who narrate their novels through third person omnipotence limit themselves to switching narratives between chapters or a small number of characters, Tremblay excesses in switching back and forth between the characters sometimes spending only a couple of pages in one narrative. I think he does this for two reasons, one he adds character and insight to everything in this one neighborhood, two it allows the reader to move from character to character in real time so we can see internally how characters react to each other, and the events that lead up to these actions. We even see the novel narrated from Duplessis’s point of view, which seems to be given narration to show how disillusioned Marie-Sylvie is about his affection towards her, regardless of the fact that she drops everything to be with Duplessis when he eats. While this structure makes Tremblay’s novel unique, I cannot figure out why paragraphs are nonexistent or why Tremblay has decided not to separate the dialogue of the characters a little better. It makes me feels as if I’m reading a novel that has not been edited by a publisher yet. While there is an obvious purpose for this lack of grammar, it takes away some of the readability I think.
The Fat Woman Next Dorr is Pregnant
The division on the text, the lack of chapters, creates an interesting flow to the novel. Each section appears to build or interact with the other—each a clip or picture of events in the town. With all this at hand, each clip finishes the story before in an indirect way. An example of this, the cat’s reaction to the difference in Marie-Sylvia’s behavior after he has ran away for three days. Additionally, the story appears to build in a way that allows the author to see all points of views rather than a select few or just one main character. The novel appears more interested in characters’ actions; building each character through what they do, not what surrounds them.
Each section of the novel builds, or is told in a manner that could exist as, an individual letter or moment separate of the rest of the novel. It is almost as if each section creates an interesting overlapping that at times does not relate but is there for some context or idea—such as the women knitting in the first section of the book. The women (although they appear later) are a mysterious group. I have struggling in understanding where/how they play a role. Additionally, the women do not appear interested in the world around them; rather their sole existence is there for the children. I find it rather odd that someone would make socks for a baby they do not know (but it could also be the day and age we live in).
Finally, I am interested in finding out why the cat is named after a hated man from Canada.
Each section of the novel builds, or is told in a manner that could exist as, an individual letter or moment separate of the rest of the novel. It is almost as if each section creates an interesting overlapping that at times does not relate but is there for some context or idea—such as the women knitting in the first section of the book. The women (although they appear later) are a mysterious group. I have struggling in understanding where/how they play a role. Additionally, the women do not appear interested in the world around them; rather their sole existence is there for the children. I find it rather odd that someone would make socks for a baby they do not know (but it could also be the day and age we live in).
Finally, I am interested in finding out why the cat is named after a hated man from Canada.
Josh Wilk Blog 6
Josh Wilk Blog 6
This is a very interesting book in the way the author switches between narrators and is still able to not have them blend a similar style of talking or thinking. But I do have some questions about certain things. The biggest of these is why he choose to give a cat a speaking role unless it is a personification of Marie-Sylvia's boyfriend or lover. Until I thought of this, (and if it is indeed the case) this just seems like an attempt at humor which doesn't really do it for me (if this is a realistic fiction, then make it realistic). Adding to that, the three sisters and the mother who are sewing aren't real or ghosts or something of the like and this isn't revealed until close to ninety pages in. And even after reading, I still can't figure out their relative purpose to anyone int the text. Thirdly (and this should not be construed as criticism but a simple discussion) is the advanced nature of the children in the novel. I have read stories with kids as pivotal characters and am always finding their presence similar to the paintings of children in the 17th century and back (children's faces on adult bodies). Though Tremblay makes a very good effort to in the patterns, interactions, and speech of the kids, there is the the matter of the internal monologues which are far too complex and outreaching for most their age. A perfect example is when Marcel gets to say the word poop. It is a great context and the event itself is genuine when he feels robbed when the poop isn't there so the word has less meaning at least in his mind but even though the chapter is from Therese's point of view, I feel there is to much analysis like what I'm doing now. It should be Marcel's reaction and a couple line's of dialogue and that's it. Simple words for simple subject matter and the reader can infer a lot from the passage anyway. But all in all the book is strange and familiar at the same time which makes it a good read.
This is a very interesting book in the way the author switches between narrators and is still able to not have them blend a similar style of talking or thinking. But I do have some questions about certain things. The biggest of these is why he choose to give a cat a speaking role unless it is a personification of Marie-Sylvia's boyfriend or lover. Until I thought of this, (and if it is indeed the case) this just seems like an attempt at humor which doesn't really do it for me (if this is a realistic fiction, then make it realistic). Adding to that, the three sisters and the mother who are sewing aren't real or ghosts or something of the like and this isn't revealed until close to ninety pages in. And even after reading, I still can't figure out their relative purpose to anyone int the text. Thirdly (and this should not be construed as criticism but a simple discussion) is the advanced nature of the children in the novel. I have read stories with kids as pivotal characters and am always finding their presence similar to the paintings of children in the 17th century and back (children's faces on adult bodies). Though Tremblay makes a very good effort to in the patterns, interactions, and speech of the kids, there is the the matter of the internal monologues which are far too complex and outreaching for most their age. A perfect example is when Marcel gets to say the word poop. It is a great context and the event itself is genuine when he feels robbed when the poop isn't there so the word has less meaning at least in his mind but even though the chapter is from Therese's point of view, I feel there is to much analysis like what I'm doing now. It should be Marcel's reaction and a couple line's of dialogue and that's it. Simple words for simple subject matter and the reader can infer a lot from the passage anyway. But all in all the book is strange and familiar at the same time which makes it a good read.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
The role of women in Player Piano
The role of women is highly limited in Player Piano, and the few women who are highlighted prove that point.
Few women are featured in the novel, but we are first introduced to Anita, Paul's wife. The novel suggests Anita is a character who we aren't necessarily supposed to like, but she is a good example of the role of women in this highly advanced society.
Though women are limited in what they can do, Anita proves she is still ambitious. She's always pursuing Paul's advancement to Pittsburgh, and in that sense she's living her ambition through Paul, because that is the only way she can do it. Explained later in the novel, if it weren't for her marriage to Paul, and his career, she would be part of the "lower" world, of which she now resents.
Anita doesn't seem to have many friends, and she understands there is a reputation to live up to. She's stuck in the society the way it is, and she never questions it. It's almost as if she is brainwashed by the idea of the society.
Women are seen as virtually unnecessary. The high-ranking jobs are all filled by men, and the novel portrays a very hierarchal society. Even the stereotypical "jobs" a woman is supposed to have, such as cleaning, cooking and doing laundry, have all been easily replaced with machinery that can finish these jobs in seconds.
This novel is very different from the others we have read, which have been heavily weighed on feminism of some sort. Player Piano gives us an insight that we have not seen in our prior novels.
Few women are featured in the novel, but we are first introduced to Anita, Paul's wife. The novel suggests Anita is a character who we aren't necessarily supposed to like, but she is a good example of the role of women in this highly advanced society.
Though women are limited in what they can do, Anita proves she is still ambitious. She's always pursuing Paul's advancement to Pittsburgh, and in that sense she's living her ambition through Paul, because that is the only way she can do it. Explained later in the novel, if it weren't for her marriage to Paul, and his career, she would be part of the "lower" world, of which she now resents.
Anita doesn't seem to have many friends, and she understands there is a reputation to live up to. She's stuck in the society the way it is, and she never questions it. It's almost as if she is brainwashed by the idea of the society.
Women are seen as virtually unnecessary. The high-ranking jobs are all filled by men, and the novel portrays a very hierarchal society. Even the stereotypical "jobs" a woman is supposed to have, such as cleaning, cooking and doing laundry, have all been easily replaced with machinery that can finish these jobs in seconds.
This novel is very different from the others we have read, which have been heavily weighed on feminism of some sort. Player Piano gives us an insight that we have not seen in our prior novels.
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