One aspect of The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao no one brought up during these past couple of weeks was that Oscar actually chooses teaching as his profession. I find this incredibly ironic (as does Yunior who even proclaims "Oh, the irony!) (263). So what does make Oscar go back to Don Bosco High to teach. Is it because, after "doing nada for almost seven months" he felt like he had to earn a living? (263). Or was there some unexplainable attachment that drew Oscar back to the place he was ridiculed endlessly at?
I think that the subbing Oscar did at Don Bosco was just to earn some extra money. However, Yunior reveals that when Oscar was offered a full-time position, "He could have refused, could have made a 'saving throw' against Torture, but instead he went with the flow" (263). Oscar obvioulsy knew he was stepping back into the place that caused him so much pain in the past. So why did he do it? Why would he sit back and watch "his horizons collapse" (263)? Yunior also reveals that nothing has changed in the high school from the time Oscar left, so I have a hard time understanding what brought Oscar back to Don Bosco.
Sadly, his time at Don Bosco as a teacher is just as unpleasant as it was as a student. Yunior paints scenes of Oscar being ridiculed by the students, making fun of his nerdom and unluckiness with the ladies. Even the other teachers look at Oscar as an outcast (264-6). Oscar clearly does not fit in at Don Bosco, as exemplified by the excruiatingly sad scene in which no one came to his science fiction and fantasy club (265). I just have a hard time understanding why Oscar would go back, unless he truly believed that the only way out is back in.
This may be somewhat insignificant, but I'm curious on what others think of Oscar's choice of profession. Is this just another instance in which Oscar has to go back in to get out? Or is Oscar simply in it for the the money? Or, is it possible that something is drawing Oscar back into Don Bosco even though it is a place in which he clearly does not fit in?
Any opinion/comments would be much appreciated.
It's difficult to say why, exactly, Oscar went back to teach at his old high school. And he's not even a full-time faculty member; he's a substitute, so he only works when one of the other teachers is sick or something. It's not as if Oscar went back to try to change the way that nerds like him were treated by the students at Don Bosco High. Yunior doesn't really give us any insight to or speculation about Oscar's motivations. Yunior just seems to pass judgment on the decision itself. But then, Yunior himself goes on to "teach composition and creative writing" (326).
ReplyDeleteAt first he was a sub, but up to his death he was a full time teacher after accepting a position (refer to my second paragraph). I'm curious as to why he accepts a full time position even though it must be torture.
ReplyDeleteI'm just surprised that the students were allowed to get away with that. Firmer discipline in schools would have corrected that little defect (I don't mean beatings, jeez).
ReplyDeleteI think that Oscar goes back because he doesn't know anything else. He knows the school, it's familiar (if unpleasant) and I don't think that Oscar would notice if he were unhappy; considering that he is always unhappy.
I think that Oscar subconsciously recognizes that he did not meet his full potential in high school. Clearly, there was a social status that he yearned to reach, but because he never reached it, it seems that he left high school feeling unfulfilled. I think Oscar is pulled his high school as a teacher because of the desire for control and domination in a place where he was once out of control and dominated. What do you guys think?
ReplyDeletePossibly Matt, but Oscar just seems too much of a submissive character to actually try to achieve his full potential. Interesting perspective though, I hadn't look at it from that angle.
ReplyDeleteAs they will likely put on my headstone someday: I agree with Matt Myers. Also a little bit with Ryan and Rebecca too. I do think the High School is familiar; I do think he wants to attain some mastery of it and I think teaching, for a lot of people who choose the profession, is the best way to learn something really well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Matt in his blog comment. I think that Oscar did not ever reach the status that he wanted to in high school and becoming a teacher in his high school did enable him to have the "control" he wanted over or in the school, even though the control is not over the kids he went to school with. He still might have felt fulfilled after.
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