"Edison, New Jersey"
Junot Diaz
"The best customers leave us alone until the bill has to be signed. Every now and then we'll be offered water in paper cups. Few have offered us more..." -page 123
What I found most interesting about this story was the point of view, that of a blue collar worker. My Uncle is a general contractor and I work with him on occasion, so I am quite familiar with being the "lowly" worker and stranger in someone else's home. Of course, there are greater issues of class and race at play in the story, of which I am not familiar. However, I can relate to how you feel when at work in another's home. In addition, I have experiences that greatly contrast that of the story.
The narrator of this story is obviously bitter towards those who employ him, and doesn't respect their property. Whether through vengeance or simply entitlement, he steals and occasionally vandalizes the homes in which he works. Additionally, he frequently steals from his own place of business. Of course, this can be justified by his need to make ends meet, but for the most part he seems driven by the idea of luxury, and by becoming those who he works for. It's true, when you are working on someone else's property you feel demeaned by default. It's uncomfortable knowing their in the house and scrutinizing your work on their property. In that respect, I agree with the narrator.
However, he does not seem to truly have pride in his work. My Uncle is unreasonably proud of his contracting work, not settling for any cut corners or damage to the home. He is only satisfied once his skills have been portrayed to the extent of his abilities. I doubt he could leave a home in peace knowing he had nicked the floor, or duped his employers. Of course, that doesn't mean we don't occasionally talk some shit. If the customer is rude and/or stupid, it's common for us to gossip with the taper about that state of their house or the ridiculous quirks the homeowner may have. However, most customers are not so insufferable, even the incredibly rich ones. I've worked for people who leak money from every orifice, yet still offer us lunch and cool drinks every chance they get.
Is this because we're white? Who knows. Is it because my Uncle works hard to achieve a standard of excellence? Maybe. There's thousands of factors to be considered, but you get out what you put in and see what you want to see. If you see an asshole, you're working for an asshole and it will show in your drive to please that person, who will in turn dislike you.
I could've analyzed the story itself more, but it was fun to go off on that somewhat irrelevant tangent.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Double Zero
"The Cariboo Cafe"
Helena Viramontes
"But God is just a man and His mistakes can be undone." - page 76
"The Cariboo Cafe" was one of the most intentionally confusing stories I have had the pleasure to read. My main concern about this blog post is that I will have misinterpreted information, leading to completely false conceptions about the story.
That aside, it was certainly intriguing. I chose the quote above because of its implications. "God" and "His" are capitalized, hinting that the woman still believes in God's omnipotence. However, the phrase "God is just a man" obviously implies that he is completely fallible, and it is directly stated that he makes mistakes. This, combined with the previous statements about men being pigs who "rape women then their rip their fetuses from their bellies", implies a blatant distaste for the higher power that should guide her so.
The entire part III is a mess of thought, perspective, and timeline. What can be gathered is that this woman has lost her son, and then replaced him in her insanity with Macky and his sister. The writing style of part II is indicative of the woman's feelings. There is no clear line of thought, and the point of view can change instantaneously. This illiterate mess metaphorically represents the woman's feelings. Driven to the loss of sanity, she finds Macky and forces herself to believe she has finally found her son again. We, the readers, experience this happening through broken thought processes and poetic, negative emotion.
Also intriguing is the place of the cafe owner in all of this scenario. From what I gathered, a man OD'd in his bathroom, and the resulting death destroyed the reputation and business of his cafe. Having lost his son JoJo and wife Nell, he is alone in a scarred establishment fit for nothing but the scum of the earth. The cafe owner is critical of everyone and everything, pissed off that he has no business but at the same time pissed when business presents itself to him. There seems to be no middle ground, and he finds himself the destination of many who have nothing to spare for tip.
It is clear right off the bat he likes Macky, but is unaware both children were kidnapped by the crazed woman. He considers himself above and outside the realm of both police and immigrants, refusing to get involved in many of the situations that may present themselves to him at his run down cafe. The "double zero", as many people call it represent just how low on the totem poll these people have fallen. All stripped from their family in one way or another, they find some kind of refuge here in a forgotten slum.
However, the cafe owner betrays them, much to his own distaste and calls the police for the stolen children. On one hand, he likes Macky and probably owes the children. However, he also hates police officers and feels no responsibility to the law. When he turns in the immigrants before the woman and kids come in, it is obvious he feels the shame from their stares. At the final end of the story, everyone is a complete emotional mess. The woman having lost her sanity at the sight of the police goes insane, and the cafe owner actions are described in horrific detail implying his own nervousness.
Regardless of what this story means, at least it was cool.
Helena Viramontes
"But God is just a man and His mistakes can be undone." - page 76
"The Cariboo Cafe" was one of the most intentionally confusing stories I have had the pleasure to read. My main concern about this blog post is that I will have misinterpreted information, leading to completely false conceptions about the story.
That aside, it was certainly intriguing. I chose the quote above because of its implications. "God" and "His" are capitalized, hinting that the woman still believes in God's omnipotence. However, the phrase "God is just a man" obviously implies that he is completely fallible, and it is directly stated that he makes mistakes. This, combined with the previous statements about men being pigs who "rape women then their rip their fetuses from their bellies", implies a blatant distaste for the higher power that should guide her so.
The entire part III is a mess of thought, perspective, and timeline. What can be gathered is that this woman has lost her son, and then replaced him in her insanity with Macky and his sister. The writing style of part II is indicative of the woman's feelings. There is no clear line of thought, and the point of view can change instantaneously. This illiterate mess metaphorically represents the woman's feelings. Driven to the loss of sanity, she finds Macky and forces herself to believe she has finally found her son again. We, the readers, experience this happening through broken thought processes and poetic, negative emotion.
Also intriguing is the place of the cafe owner in all of this scenario. From what I gathered, a man OD'd in his bathroom, and the resulting death destroyed the reputation and business of his cafe. Having lost his son JoJo and wife Nell, he is alone in a scarred establishment fit for nothing but the scum of the earth. The cafe owner is critical of everyone and everything, pissed off that he has no business but at the same time pissed when business presents itself to him. There seems to be no middle ground, and he finds himself the destination of many who have nothing to spare for tip.
It is clear right off the bat he likes Macky, but is unaware both children were kidnapped by the crazed woman. He considers himself above and outside the realm of both police and immigrants, refusing to get involved in many of the situations that may present themselves to him at his run down cafe. The "double zero", as many people call it represent just how low on the totem poll these people have fallen. All stripped from their family in one way or another, they find some kind of refuge here in a forgotten slum.
However, the cafe owner betrays them, much to his own distaste and calls the police for the stolen children. On one hand, he likes Macky and probably owes the children. However, he also hates police officers and feels no responsibility to the law. When he turns in the immigrants before the woman and kids come in, it is obvious he feels the shame from their stares. At the final end of the story, everyone is a complete emotional mess. The woman having lost her sanity at the sight of the police goes insane, and the cafe owner actions are described in horrific detail implying his own nervousness.
Regardless of what this story means, at least it was cool.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Seventeen Syllables
Seventeen Syllables
Hisaye Yamamoto, 1988
"...Rosie fleetingly felt the older of the two, realizing a brand new power which vanished without category under her recognition...kissed by Jesus, Rosie fell for the first time entirely victim to a helplessness delectable beyond speech." - pages 29-30
I chose the quotes above for their proximity coupled with stark contrast. As Jesus is nervous about kissing Rosie, and nervous about her feelings for him, she feels a sense of power. It usually takes a good deal of romantic comfort for each parties power over the situation to become equivalent. In this case, Jesus is making the first moves, leaving him with room for error and giving Rosie the power.
What I find intriguing is the sudden shift. As Jesus kisses Rosie, she becomes helpless, naive in a situation she undoubtedly has no experience with. However, not only is she helpless but she enjoys being helpless. "Delectable" is one of those words saved for only the most savory of feelings. The delectable helplessness references the gender stereotype of male domination and female submission.
What's curious to explore is the relationship between Rosie's mother's love life and her own. Rosie is young, exploring a sense of forbidden love just like her mother did close to her age. Of course, her mother was held back by more serious circumstances, but Rosie's parents are traditionally Japanese and it is obvious she has some restrictions placed upon her. That being said, their early love experiences are similar, and Rosie's mother's experience ended up condemning her to an unsatisfied life. Her views on marriage are skewed due to her own experience, and she pushes that negativity on Rosie in attempt to "save" her.
In the middle of all this is Rosie's father. Straightforward and hardworking, he does not share his wife's artistic intrigue. Instead, he prefers traditional simplicity. When met with his wife's haiku obsession, he easily becomes perturbed, either due to intellectual barriers or simple disinterest in the arts.
I cannot discern one clear theme from this story. There are so many sub plots, happenings, and symbolic characters/events that any specific analysis could take me down a line of thought completely irrelevant to the story. However, love is a clear theme of this story, and coupled with the obvious Japanese cultural influence it analyzes romance through a window we ourselves are likely not very familiar with. Is the story demonizing love, or the culture that mocks in? Both? "Seventeen Syllables" is a window into a foreign culture and thus a foreign form of romance, and thus a different world entirely.
Hisaye Yamamoto, 1988
"...Rosie fleetingly felt the older of the two, realizing a brand new power which vanished without category under her recognition...kissed by Jesus, Rosie fell for the first time entirely victim to a helplessness delectable beyond speech." - pages 29-30
I chose the quotes above for their proximity coupled with stark contrast. As Jesus is nervous about kissing Rosie, and nervous about her feelings for him, she feels a sense of power. It usually takes a good deal of romantic comfort for each parties power over the situation to become equivalent. In this case, Jesus is making the first moves, leaving him with room for error and giving Rosie the power.
What I find intriguing is the sudden shift. As Jesus kisses Rosie, she becomes helpless, naive in a situation she undoubtedly has no experience with. However, not only is she helpless but she enjoys being helpless. "Delectable" is one of those words saved for only the most savory of feelings. The delectable helplessness references the gender stereotype of male domination and female submission.
What's curious to explore is the relationship between Rosie's mother's love life and her own. Rosie is young, exploring a sense of forbidden love just like her mother did close to her age. Of course, her mother was held back by more serious circumstances, but Rosie's parents are traditionally Japanese and it is obvious she has some restrictions placed upon her. That being said, their early love experiences are similar, and Rosie's mother's experience ended up condemning her to an unsatisfied life. Her views on marriage are skewed due to her own experience, and she pushes that negativity on Rosie in attempt to "save" her.
In the middle of all this is Rosie's father. Straightforward and hardworking, he does not share his wife's artistic intrigue. Instead, he prefers traditional simplicity. When met with his wife's haiku obsession, he easily becomes perturbed, either due to intellectual barriers or simple disinterest in the arts.
I cannot discern one clear theme from this story. There are so many sub plots, happenings, and symbolic characters/events that any specific analysis could take me down a line of thought completely irrelevant to the story. However, love is a clear theme of this story, and coupled with the obvious Japanese cultural influence it analyzes romance through a window we ourselves are likely not very familiar with. Is the story demonizing love, or the culture that mocks in? Both? "Seventeen Syllables" is a window into a foreign culture and thus a foreign form of romance, and thus a different world entirely.
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