I love you guys!!!!

Ok, so I know I am being sentimental since I am about to graduate (by the way, it never hit me until Friday during the McMurran ceremony.  While driving home from that, I got a little teary-eyed, not even gonna lie.)  Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone in the class know how much I enjoyed our class, our discussions, and the camaraderie.  It really has been a pleasure to be in this class, and I couldn't have asked for a better group of students to take this class with.

And of course Dr. H!  Even though I only took my first class with you last semester, I can safely say you, along with Dr. Messenger, are my favorite professors.  I feel so comfortable expressing my opinions, as I know you will always respect them even if you don't agree with them.  As Angela posted earlier, this is in no way an attempt to butter you up :)  I truly want you to know that your teaching habits have made me eager to come to your class. I have to wake up every M/W/F at 5:45 am to go to work, but I didn't dread those days since I got to partake in the class discussions in this class.  Please don't change anything, you are the bomb!

I know I have made jokes that I feel like everyone hates me in the class, but I knew I could play devil's advocate with you guys because everyone was passionate about certain topics.  It's been a fun semester, good luck to my fellow graduates!!  Hopefully I will see some of around campus next year :)

Give Me Something To Blog About :)

Yes, sorry, I had to do at least one Buffy reference this semester :) Angela's post inspired me to write a more reflective post that incorporates things I've learned all semester. We've read a lot of really great classics from Pride & Prejudice to The Sun Also Rises--texts some of us love and hate for various reasons--as well as shorter stories like "A New England Nun," Trifles, and "The Yellow Wall-paper." And Dr. H was right in class the other day when she said that she thought I liked everything we had read. Honestly, I think the only text I've absolutely hated with a passion was when I was forced to read The Hobbit in 7th grade...no offense to any hobbit-lovers out there. But I did find something valuable in everything...

- Oscar Wao will stick with me for a while. It was one of the saddest texts I've read, but I could definitely identify with his loneliness. The scene I keep coming back to--besides his death scene--was when he created the after school Sci-Fi club to get students involved with his interests...and no one showed up. It was heart-breaking to me that even the "nerdy" kids didn't want to engage with him. But on a deeper level, Oscar Wao was a great novel about cultural diversity and heritage that gives a different perspective into someone else's world and the struggles they face.

- The Awakening is something I will definitely read again. I liked Edna because she was trying to fight back against the norms of society, a world where women were shadows of their husbands and were identified by his last name. No, I don't agree with all of the decisions that she made about herself and her children, but I don't think she was a terrible mother--I've seen much worse. Having the privilege and prestige of a nanny, she simply didn't know how to fit them into her life because perhaps she never felt like a mother. However, I do recognize that her abilities as a mother could have been exercised more along with her ambitions of becoming independent.

All of the shorter works we've read in class, I have really enjoyed as well. I had never read Mary Wilkins Freeman before, nor Charlotte Perkins Gilman, two authors I have now added to my favorites list. Overall, I am able to easily distinguish masculine characteristics from feminine characteristics, and how they compell each other. Any time I think of such a debate, my mind automatically goes back to the old sporting event commercials that were popular in the 90's (Women athletes to male athletes: "Anything you can do, I can do better, I can do anything better than you.") Now imagine that saying applied to feminist writers back in the day against their masculinist critics--for any feminist, that should put a smile on your face :)

Last time, with Finality!

So this is going to be the last post. Kinda sad, but hey, last post right? This class has been a really awesome and I've really enjoyed the opportunity to discuss all of the texts with you guys.

Through the semester we have read a good number of "feminine" texts and several neutral texts but very few masculine texts. Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises was easily arguable as a masculine text because the focus is almost exclusively on the masculine issues of Jake, the narrator. The most pervasive issue is that of Jake's impotence and how that effects his relationship with Lady Bret. His war injury makes it difficult or impossible to  *ahem* rise to the occasion, and this makes a relationship with the sexually vivacious Bret an impossibility, lending to the airs of depression that happen whenever Bret is in the same city as Jake. However, whenever Jake is separate from Bret and, most notably while he is on the fishing trip, is happiest when in the company of other men.

The other masculine text is our most recent one, Junot Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. This entry is very interesting as I would call it masculine not because of it's content but the way it is presented, partially anyways. Most of the story is told by Yunior, and his style of storytelling is completely soaked in the unique Dominican hyper-masculinity that we discussed in class. This is embodied by the way Diaz describes female bodies, with the special emphasis on breasts. This is interestingly countered by the times that the story is told by Lola, which gives the story another perspective that compliments the hyper-masculinity by showing the repressed femininity that results from the pervasive masculinity that is essentially Dominican. 

Last Thoughts…Last Blog…Last Semester

This is my final blog post as a Shepherd student.  I have enjoyed a lot of the texts we have covered this semester.  I would like to take a moment to briefly reflect on my favorites.  I love Fanny Fern!  I have read her before and always enjoy her humorous approach to the male/female dyad.  One of my favorite lines is from Fern’s “Hints to Young Wives” when she states “that too much of a good thing is good for nothing” (Fern 2101).  It is so true!  I was fascinated by Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s piece “The Yellow Wall-paper.”  I had read it before in Dr. H.’s class but was not so drawn into that time (sorry Dr. H).  This time I could visualize the room and the characters and the ending sent shivers up my spine when I pictured her “creeping” around the room and over her husband body. My favorite book for the semester was originally “The Awakening,” but then I read “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.”  Both are brilliantly written and easily readable.   I will say that I felt more pity for Beli then for Oscar (I know many disagree).  I think it is because I could relate to the young Beli.  I remember, as a young teenager, sitting outside of my parent’s home dreaming of the day I could escape.  I had unrealistic fantasies, just like Beli, and I think that is why I identify with her character so much.  It could also be that I am just more sympathetic to female characters in not-so-great situations (sorry guys).

Dr. H- I met you for the first time in Advanced Comp (Buffy class) and Intro to Literary Study.  These were two very different classes and I wasn’t sure what to make of you at first.  It was during that semester that I realized just how versatile and multi-dimensional you are!  You are an awesome professor and definitely one of my top favorites.  What I love most about your teaching style is your ability to get respect from a classroom without having to belittle students, or assert your superiority and knowledge over them.  You value and welcome everyone’s opinion even if it conflicts with yours.  You attempt to convey the value of every text we have read even when we don’t realize its value at the time.  You transmit a warmth and friendliness that puts people at ease.  I want you to know all these things, not because I want a better grade, but because I think it’s important for you to know all the things you do RIGHT!  There are a number of professors (whose names I will not mention) that could learn a lot from you on how to be a better teacher.  Anyway, before I contribute further to your cranial expansion, I want to say that I have enjoyed this class and think your choice of reading selections gave me a better understanding of Literature and the Sexes.  See you at graduation!

I hope everyone has a great summer!

Is gender on its way out?

Throughout this semester, we have been questioning texts in their male or female contexts. We've been constantly discussing role reversals and rejections as well as gender being the source of dis-empowerment. While these are all extremely interesting to talk about within their historical contexts, I wonder if the importance of gender is on its way out. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not intending to beat the "I can wear dresses and be a construction worker if I want" theme over the head. I think that there are many inequalities in our country that are based on sex differences. There is still a glass ceiling and it seems like a female's reproductive rights are on everyone's mind right now(which is totally weird hearing a bunch of old dudes discuss ovaries). This being said, I am a firm believer that throughout history and today, things get their worst before they get better.

 I feel like society is in a place right now that is very feminine focused, for better or for worse. I think that the issues of men get ignored and discounted. No one talks about how damaging things like promiscuity and gender roles are onto the men of our society. There aren't countless magaznes dedicated to how men can learn to like themselves more and break societal norms. Many women are lashing out against the stereotype of the male sex addict by trying to make it mean less to them. We've all heard the old "have sex like a man" or "do business like a man" or for God's sake "THINK like a man". These are so harmful to both genders, and I believe that like many problems in our society (race, class, sexual orientation) the only way to make things better is to stop insisting that there are inherent differences. There is no weaker, smarter, more sensitive, talented or sexually active sex. I believe that our genders and all of the things that they represent are being edged out slowly. Does anyone believe that our society needs gender roles to function?

Last (Belated) Thought on the Yellow Wallpaper

After thinking about what Kyla had said in her blog post about "The Yellow Wallpaper", I thought I'd give one last thought on the matter. I reject the reading of "The Yellow Wallpaper" as being a feminist text, particularly after hearing Ryan say that the rest cure was also prescribed for men. To my mind, Gilman's story is not about the mistreatment of a woman by the patriarchy (and unfortunately, I used that as part of my final paper--please don't fail me, Dr. Hanrahan), but rather the ignorance of the medical world at the time as well as the indifference of "professionals" to the patient's own input. Horrifying medical practices, far worse than the rest cure, have appeared throughout medical history, even (relatively) recently. The practice of lobotomizing patients, effectively killing who they were, began in 1935 (37 years after The Yellow Wallpaper was written, so there was not a massive improvement in the medical profession as a whole in that time), and electroshock therapy began three years after that.

It is worth noting, however, that women were the recipients of these practices more often than men. So, were there discriminatory practices, intentional or unintentional, against women in the medical world in those days? Most likely. Would John have treated his patient with more respect and listened to her complaints more carefully if she had been a man? Maybe. But that doesn't mean that "The Yellow Wallpaper" was written to decry the mistreatment of women. The lessons in the story can be applied to male patients just as easily as female. It seems not to argue against the patriarchy so much as against harmful medical treatment. And believe me, the medical world is still evolving, and mistreatment or misdiagnoses of patients, male and female, still occur today.

Because we just haven't talked about Beli enough

There has been a lot of discussion in class about Beli and I thought I would throw in my two cents. I am actually in defense of Beli. Most of the class has held a negative opinion of her, but I see her as a good mother; maybe not the nicest or most compassionate, but good in her intentions.

As far as her lass then kind attitude with her children, I think it all is her method of “tough love.” It’s been suggested by others in the class that Beli’s surly approach to parenting is her attempt at doing the complete opposite of what La Inca did. Because La Inca was not very strict and allowed Beli to get away with inappropriate behavior, Beli ended up getting pregnant, beaten up, and abandoned. Though it was not all La Inca’s fault Beli could have seen it that way, so her controlling manner is just an attempt to save her children, especially Lola, from her own mistakes.

Beli’s relationship with Lola is probably the most controlling between her two children. When Lola runs away to be with Aldo, it would be natural for Beli to connect that to her past when she left to be with the gangster. She wanted to save her from that future in any way possible. Also, when Beli sees Lola for the first time in fourteen months she says “Cono, pero tú sí eres fea.” (Díaz 208). This is a very harsh and disheartening statement from mother to daughter. However, was Beli’s beauty not the thing that got her in so much trouble? Possibly, she was trying to keep Lola’s self confidence low so she would not use her sexuality like Beli did.

Also, I think Beli was ultimately trying to help them deal with the fukú in their future. She knew they would have to face the curse of their family, so she tried to prepare them. Beli was not the best mother, but she was just trying the best she knew how. Did she not do a pretty good job in the end? She did put both of her children through college on a single mother’s wages. I never questioned her love as a mother, just her capability of kindness.

Last Blog Post :(

I was wondering if anyone had found any intersting articles on Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" and or the feminism in the short story. I am writing my critical essay about "The Yellow Wallpaper" and the feminism in it. I am mainly focusing on Gilman's life and comparing it to the story. Also I am going to focus on John in the story and try to explain how understanding John will help us better understand Gilman's feminist message in the story.

If anyone has found any articles I would greatly appreciate knowing about them. Also, if anyone needs a book on Gilman and feminism, I have a great one that I borrowed from the library about it. It's been very helpful for my paper and I would not mind sharing it with anyone.

I have very much enjoyed this class and reading everyone's posts and hearing what everyone has had to say in class. I'm going to miss my Monday, Wednesday, Friday morning class. Good luck on exams, everyone! See you tomorrow :)

Will the family curse ever end?

We talked a little in class about whether Oscar's death ended the curse that seems to have fallen on this family. It seems the answer is no.  Yunior gives a dreaded premonition that it will carry on to the next generation affecting Lola's daughter. Lola's daughter wears a necklace to protect her from harm "But on a string around her neck: three azabaches: the one that oscar wore as a baby, the one Lola wore as a baby and the one that Beli was given by La Inca" (329). Yunior implies that this necklace will only be able to shield her for so long. He says "One day, though, the Circle will fail," (330) and when it does Isis will be exposed to the No Face Man. But Yunior also is hopeful in that she will be able to stop the misfortune that has fallen the family "And maybe, just maybe, if she's as smart and as brave as I'm expecting she'll be, she'll take all we've done and all we've learned and add her own insights and she'll put an end to it" (331). Yunior's insight gives the book a very ambiguos ending leaving the reader to question if this family will ever break free from this curse.  It has affected every generation of this family. It didn't end after Abelard was tortured to death at the hands of Trujillo. It didn't end after Beli was nearly beaten to death. It didn't end after Oscar was beaten to death. So what will Isis be able to do to put an end to it?

Last Thoughts I Wanted to Share

For my last post, I'd like to get some thoughts about my paper on here. I'm talking about the female embodiment in texts by Fanny Fern and Lucille Clifton. Both of these women were awesome. They used writing to deal with life situations in their own ways.

Fern manipulated societal rules in order to accommodate her own comfort and health and to help fight social injustice. She was a cross-dresser. She wore men's clothes not only for her own comfort, but also to challenge the laws stating that women could not wear pants. Her article "A Law More Nice than Just" chronicles a time when she stepped out in her husband's clothes rather than sitting at home or catching "a consumption dragging round wet petticoats" (Fern 2106). She went against social norms to protect and comfort her own body. 


Clifton's poems reveal a powerful exploration of the female body. Her poems were progressive even for readers in the late twentieth century. The poems “to my last period” and “poem to my uterus” establish the female body as the core of the female identity while managing a distinction between that core and the woman as a whole. She wrote these in response to her upcoming hysterectomy which was being performed to induce menopause. She was coming to terms with her impending loss of "womanhood." 
 

These women used personal situations in their writing to comfort themselves and other women experiencing similar situations and discomforts. Without their contributions to literature, people might not feel the same way toward female embodiment. These women are my heroes. 

Hatin on Abelard

Dr. Hanrahan asked us about why we hate Beli so much and why there is so little for Abelard. This got me thinking and while Abelard is generally likeable, I have decided to hold him in contempt.

Abelard, as we know, is a genial man. He has friends, he's intellectual, he's well off, and he is Dominican. He has a mistress in whom he confides and (apparently) loves. We keep saying that with each evidence of the fuku the person brought it on themselves, Beli with messing around with a married man, Oscar with returning to the DR, Abelard had escaped out notice. It seems like he just had the bad luck to have Trujillo's eye fall on his daughter, but he did bring it on himself. He dithered. He wasted his time when he could have acted boldly and saved both himself and his family from the fuku that befell them. In short, he Hamlet-ed in a grand way. He did it twice; once initially when Trujillo notices the absence of his wife and daughter and a second time when he knows the doom is coming. Diaz says "For the next three months, Abelard waited for the End." (223) Instead of acting, even when he knows the doom is coming, he simply waits. It's not for lack of options, his mistress suggests they flee to Cuba, they could have left for the States, gone back to Mexico, any number of things. He worried about it before his first real contact with Trujillo and he simply waited for the end after.

Rather contemptible, don't you think?

Final Thoughts on Oscar Wao

I was hoping this story would have a happier ending for Oscar, but was foreseeing the ultimate end way prior to its fruition. I actually found the non-traditional style Diaz took in telling the story of this family, through many different lenses, enhanced the effects of the text. I felt it also aided in getting to know this family as a whole. I enjoyed the insertion of Spanish dialogue into the text (and enjoyed looking it up in the translation app I have on my phone- there are some BAD words!). I want to take a few moments to discuss my views on two of the complex characters within this story even though I know, through class discussions, that some of you may disagree, but that's okay.

Oscar had been chasing girls since he was in preschool. He was described as a "preschool loverboy who was always trying to kiss the girls" and give them "...the pelvic pump" (Diaz 11). As he grew older, his weight became the obstacle between him and the girls. He still remained intrigued by them and in continual pursuit of them. He ultimately sacrificed his life for one, Ybon. Was it an act of true love or his one opportunity to get laid that he couldn't pass on (even though it would bring death)? I believe that Oscar's choice to return to Ybon was a conscious suicide. He knew he would be murdered, but didn't care. I believe he wanted to die but could not die a virgin so he went to the place where he could accomplish both objectives: get laid and die. I felt sorry for Oscar but would have liked it if he had been strong enough to resist the hyper-masculine views of his culture and embrace himself as an individual. It's idealistic, I know, because we all suffer the same dilemma but I would have liked to see Oscar's character mature and emerge from the stereotypes and Diaz didn't give that to me.

 Beli is the character I attached with the most. Maybe it is because she is a mother and I am a mother, maybe it is because we both suffered traumas as a young person. Whatever the case, I admired her ability to break away from her country and start a new life. It wasn't an easy life and she wasn't always the best mother (I would NEVER say those horrible things to my children), but I understand the motivation behind it. As I said in class, I believe that when you become a parent you strive to bring your children to the finish line in the best possible position for life. Sometimes, you look back on your own life for guidance. In witnessing the choices Beli makes in parenting her children, I believe that Beli feels that if La Inca had been harder on her the outcome would have been different. It may not have been different, and I certainly don't advocate abusing children, but both of her children went to college and had a brighter financial futures then Beli ever did. Does that make her a success as a mother? I don't know, but somehow I respect her for her strength and overwhelming love for her children. She didn't always show it, but I never questioned whether it was the fuel to her fire.

My Final Post (One Last Look at the Identity Crisis Present in Modern Texts)

            For my final blog post, rather than talk sully about The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, I will also incorporate the theme that my research essay revolves around.  As I mentioned in my previous post, and in class on Friday, I believe that Oscar’s family is suffering from the loss of identity.  This loss, I believe, is represented in both fuku and the faceless man.  Coincidently, I am also writing my paper on the loss of identity that is present within The Sun Also Rises.  This realization of loss in a character’s life is largely present in a number of texts that we have read this summer.  When analyzed thoroughly, it is generally the main catalyst or issue of the story.

            According to author Daniel J. Singal, “Modernist thought represents an attempt to restore a sense of order to human experience under the often chaotic conditions of contemporary existence.”  Not since the time of the Enlightenment had a time period brought forth so many major changes as did the 20^th century.  Events such as World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II left individuals feeling lost, confused, and often times angry.  The years 1914 through 1945 proved to be an emotional rollercoaster for many, with ideas of nationalism being crushed by the Depression, only to be reignited with the start of another war.  These historical events clearly played a large role in literature.  Due to authors feeling out of touch with the zeitgeist, they reconciled by crafting characters who were desperately searching for their place in the world.

On the issue of modernity and its importance in literature, literary critic Martin J. Plax writes:

“Modernity was an interest in change and the measurement of change.  To speak of Modernity, therefore, means to speak of two novel ways of perceiving, thinking, and judging.  While the sciences seek certitude about Nature, the novel investigates the existential and aesthetic truth about human experience” (Plax 275).

This search for aesthetic truth is still present in 21^st century literature, which Junot Diaz clearly demonstrates.  This feeling of loss is something that has lingered, and in some ways grown, since the 1930’s.  An individual’s loss of identity is now a common theme amongst many novels.  Even in our own lives as college students we are searching for our place in the world.  Perhaps by reading texts such as what we have read this semester and in previous classes we will have a better perception of this struggle?  Either way, the issue of an identity crisis never ceases to craft an interesting character for readers to indulge.

The Oscar also Rises

During class, it once occurred to me that Oscar behaved somewhat like Jake from Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises. After giving it some more thought, I found that the two have a great deal in common. In general, throughout each book, I found there to be overhanging feelings of despair. With Oscar, the feeling was probably the fatalistic concept of Fuku. For Jake, sorrow was fostered by the acceptance of problems and the unsettling characteristics of city life. In both novels, we can observe a descending morale near the end. It is almost as if the authors wants to soothe the readers into their depressing conclusions. 

Personally, I found the ending of Junot Diaz's book to be somewhat depressing. Although the conclusion of the work is made rather clear by the title of the work, there are certainly better ways in which Oscar could have lived. I think that the word “Wondrous” is used strangely. A childhood filled with such abuse and maltreatment can hardly be called wonderful.

It is also notable that the direct feelings of both Oscar and Jake is withheld from the reader: we are only given outside perspectives and accounts of events. I think both Hemingway and Diaz are intending to achieve a certain connection with the main characters through this disconnect. When we are not given the deep personal reflections of the main character, we are observing the story as if it would happen in real life. This realistic approach to literature is what engages the reader because of the overhanging mystery (the question “what are the true motivations and feelings of this character?”). 

Lola and Lydia

It seems that even after two hundred years and even in two very different cultures, one act is still unacceptable: a young girl running off with a man of questionable reputation. I’ve been thinking about Pride and Prejudice a lot because of my critical essay, and I realized that the situation surrounding Lydia’s running off with Wickham bears some resemblance to the circumstances surrounding Lola’s running away to be with Aldo.

Lola’s and Lydia’s trips both have to do with their mothers. Lola runs away to Wildwood get away from – and possibly spite – Belí: “All my life I’d been swearing that one day I would just disappear. And one day I did” (Díaz 61). Lydia, on the other hand, goes to Brighton to obtain “every possibility of earthly happiness” (Austen 153) and knows that the trip is “the delight of Mrs. Bennet” (150). Indeed, Mrs. Bennet sees Lydia’s vacation as an opportunity to live vicariously through her daughter: “Lydia's going to Brighton was all that consoled her for the melancholy conviction of her husband's never intending to go there himself” (152). Thus Mrs. Bennet and Belí see their daughters’ journeys in totally different lights. Mrs. Bennet is thrilled for Lydia, but Belí probably wants to keep Lola from going through the same abuses that she herself has experienced.

Both families end up going after their wayward daughters. Mr. Bennet and Lydia’s uncle Mr. Gardiner try to track down Lydia and Wickham. Oscar comes to meet Lola and ends up bringing Belí, an aunt, and an uncle with him – much to Lola’s chagrin. The Bennets want to protect their reputation. In addition to wanting to protect Lola in her own inimitable way, Belí is probably motivated by the desire to control her daughter: “Ya te tengo [I have you], she said, jumping triumphantly to her feet. Te tengo” (Díaz 70).

And both girls are in need of money from their families. Lola asks Oscar for it (“Just bring me the money, Oscar” [Díaz 68]); she probably doesn’t earn enough money from her job at the boardwalk. Lydia is entitled to a tiny inheritance from her father, but she doesn’t have nearly enough money to pay for a wedding and to pay off her careless lover’s debts. Neither Mr. Bennet nor Mr. Gardiner can afford to pay off Wickham, but Mr. Darcy - Lydia's future brother-in-law - steps in. Although Lydia and Lola have tried to make breaks for independence, ultimately both girls are still dependent on their families for protection and financial support.

Yunior: The Complex Character

If there was something that stood out to me while reading this book it was Yunior's slow progression from the stereotypical hyper masculine maschismo to a more well rounded character. This was interesting developement that kicked off just like any: simply by watching/participating in something new. Considering that it seems like the rest of the book Oscar seems to be catering to and trying to become like the guy that Yunior is.

This adds a new level of complex thinking and character developement to the mix. The stereotypical guy is trying to, pardon the cliche, find himself and to have hobbies that wont give him herpes. Not that there is anything wrong with sex (there isn't), it's just interesting to see the slow one sided switch; considering that Oscar himself never actually turned into a hypermasculine Dominican male. Which was probably for the better, considering that it allowed him to live longer than he would have if he started having sex at fourteen or something.

While Oscar is trying to essentially fufill his lifes mission of getting laid (without any success), Yunior is slowly trying out new activities in life, such as: reading, writing, gaming and all the nerdy things that some misguided people tease others about. I wonder if Yunior ever played Dungeons and Dragons? That would be awesome, I'd totally play in his campaign. But I digress, now I also believe it was interesting that Yunior tried to help Oscar get some tail.

He did not have to do that (I know it was for Lola, but look what happened to that relationship) and one of my favorite lines was when Yunior talked about how he was stuck with Oscar for life. Perhaps it was for selfish reasons, such as trying to make Yunior feel better, or perhaps there was more than that. Maybe instead of Yunior just wanting to get into Lola's pants, he actually wanted (deep down) to help out poor old Oscar. That, my friends, is when I believe that the conversion started. Slowly, Yunior began to pick up more Oscar-isms than Oscar was Yunior-isms. This showed the differences in emotional maturity between the two, and perhaps just shows why Yunior had more success as a nerd than Oscar as a masculine playboy.

Maybe that is what it comes down to, they both did help each other out; but Yunior, I believe, benefited the most from knowing Oscar.

Abelard's Infidelity

Meant to write this a little while ago and I kept forgetting.

In class and some of the blog posts I've been hearing a lot of scorn towards Abelard for having an affair. To be honest, I never really thought much of it, so I was kind of surprised that some people held it against him. To me, infidelity is an excusable flaw in a person's character, depending on what the person is like and the circumstances of the affair. A perfect example would be the movie Henry & June, which Dr. Cantrell's class watched on Tuesday.

Anais Nin, the protagonist, had affairs with several men while maintaining affection for her husband, and he was none the wiser. She seemed to fall in love with someone, then tire of them and fall for someone else, then feel love towards her husband again, and so on. Honestly, it didn't much bother me that she did so, because she seemed like a decent, kind-hearted person otherwise, and strove to keep her husband's feelings undamaged by it all.

June Miller, on the other hand, had a similar situation of multiple affairs, and I completely hated her. She was cruel, cold, manipulative, and emotionally damaging towards her husband. I didn't excuse her affairs because they didn't have the same qualities as Anais', nor did she have other redeeming qualities.

To me, Abelard falls into the Anais category of infidelity. I excuse his affair because he otherwise seems like a good man, and I suppose--if I'm going to be perfectly honest--because his wife doesn't find out. If she had, and had been hurt by it, I might have felt differently about him. As it stands, I consider it an excusable transgression.

Oscar the Teacher??

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.

questions that I forgot to bring to class

1) Why does Oscar knowingly place himself in mortal danger by returning to the Dominican Republic and romancing Ybón?

2) Why does el capitán view Oscar as such a threat? Ybón is, after all, a prostitute, and Oscar is not exactly a Casanova.

3) Why does the American Embassy do nothing to help Oscar, nor make investigations after his death? Or the US Government? (bureaucrats, that's why)

4) What's the significance of the lost novel of Oscar?

Discussion Questions for April 11, 2012

1. Now that we have finished the entirety of the novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, what is your final opinion about Beli? After the discussion on Wednesday, the 9th, I think I have decided that my opinion about her has changed from bad, to 'not so bad.' So I was wondering if anyone else's opinion had changed as well.

2. What do you think the importance of the golden mongoose was throughout the story? Explain.