Free Will or Determinism: What Does Camus Think?

Free will is the idea that people are in control of their own behavior and their actions result from a conscious decision. The free will ideology also states past events will not implicitly influence present or future actions. Finally, free will says that we are wholly responsible for our actions.

Determinism is that idea that everyone’s course of action is predetermined. Determinism would mean that if we were to go back in time and relive what we have already experienced, no events or conditions would be altered. Conversely, determinism says if we were able to gather substantial information, we could accurately predict the future.

What does Camus think?
Albert Camus believes in a person’s ability to have free will that within what is predetermined and has a novel hypothesis about consciousness. In his essay on Sisyphus he writes, “If this myth is tragic, that is because its hero is conscious” (2). His argument says by maintaining the illusion of free will we are able to avoid tragedy. There are certain things we are fated to do; certain toils we must endure, certain successes we will have, certain journeys we will go on. But how we get from point A to point B—what music we listen to while we do our chores, what color pen we will use on the science test we are about to ace, whether to take I-290 or side streets to get downtown—is where we can exercise our freedom. The major plot points are already laid out, but we get to write in the details.

We must be careful, he implies, of getting too caught up in the things we cannot control, because by doing so we will find ourselves disheartened and stagnant. We must find where freedom hides and savor it when we do.

Who is Beloved and What Does She Represent?

Right now in the Novel "Beloved", we are not quite sure who the character Beloved is, or what she represents. She is a grown women who has baby like tendencies in terms of the way she walks and talks, but she also has the strength to lift a rocking chair with one arm. Beloved may be a ghost in the story because she knows secrets of Sethe (the diamond earnings), and Denver that would be impossible for anyone to know.

Beloved may be a baby that Sethe had, and then died at a pretty young age. Beloved is allowing Sethe to re-access her memories from being enslaved and is actually making her more comfortable with rethinking about her past. Beloved is having both a positive and negative aspect in the families relationship, because she is giving them the power to talk about their old lives, but Beloved also put her hands around Sethe's neck.

Beloved being placed by the river I think is symbolic of Sethe's water breaking, and the symbolism of water that is prevalent throughout the book.  Not being sure who Beloved is in the story us creating a sense of suspense in the story. Beloved may be the mother of Sethe because Sethe says she remembers who her mother was by a burn mark on her torso. Right know we do not know the answer of who Beloved is, but I'm sure through more past experiences we will get our answer.

Animalism in Exit West

"...in these trees now were dark bodies too, children who climbed and played among the boughs, like little monkeys, not because to be dark is to be monkey-like, though that has been and was being and will long be slurred, but because people are monkeys who have forgotten that they are monkeys, and so have lost respect for what they are born of, for the natural world around them..."

Throughout Exit West animal analogies are prevalent. From comparing Saeed and Nadia's love to a fox or migrants to hunted animals, Mohsin Hamid relies on a comparison between humans and animals. On the one hand, comparisons to animals dehumanize characters perhaps reflecting the way in which they are received by natives after arriving through the doors. However, often Hamid uses animals in order to demonstrate a greater depth of the human experience.

This seemingly contradictory function of animal analogies in fact provides the key to a theme of the story. Rather than dehumanizing people like the traditional usage, it instead provides readers a greater understanding of the characters as human beings. In the response of the natives to the migrants is the lack of recognition of them as human beings in need of help but rather an unwelcome threat. This fundamental lack of compassion in the response of natives to migrants must be solved through a recognition of humanity. For example, as Saeed and the preacher's daughter grow closer, or Nadia and the cook, we can see the power of developing relationships and recognition. In the same way by turning the purpose of animal analogies on its head, Hamid supplies readers with an element of human connection otherwise missing from the story.

Does Meursault have Emotions or is He a Sociopath??

A sociopath is a person with a personality disorder that manifests itself as extreme anxiety and a lack of conscience. Throughout The Stranger, Meursault consistently shows little emotion towards the things around him. In the most recent chapters when Meursault goes to prison for murder, he does not seem to feel emotion about it and just wants to pass the time in whatever way he can. Even though he has a serious girlfriend, when she comes to visit, he is happy to see her, but after she is gone, rarely thinks about her. This shows that even though he has these relationships he only sees life as something that he has to get through. Furthermore, unlike the other prisoners, he is able to get used to prison life and almost doesn't understand how bad it is supposed to be. He does not feel extreme misery towards everything and instead thinks that everything is basically normal. He doesn't miss the people in his life outside of prison and seems to leave everything behind, rarely thinking about them. Relating to the definition of sociopath, Meursault has not shown any sadness about being in prison and does not even begin to feel guilt about the murder that he committed. A sociopath shares similar thoughts, almost seeing the world as a black and white place where nothing truly matters.

Bojack Horseman: The Modern Existentialist

When someone mentions existentialism, some very serious figures come to mind: Sartre, Camus, and Kierkegaard. However, it is often through the lens of comedy that themes of existentialism bleed into the cultural conversation. “Bojack Horseman” is one of these pieces of art that represent existentialist ideas in their modern form.

The show focuses around a washed up actor who struggles to find the meaning in his life while repeatedly ruining friendships, his own career, and a few cars. The title character is meant to represent the modern existentialist to the audience. Bojack continues to search for things to make him happy but always arrives at the conclusion that there is nothing in this world that has inherent meaning, which often results in either a profound realization and development in his character, or a turn back to objects and the comfort of drugs and alcohol. This pattern of existential dilemmas followed by anxiety and resolution is repeated throughout the show.

This anxiety exhibited by Bojack is what gives people ultimate freedom, argues Kierkegaard, the grandfather of existentialism, and what causes so much anxiety and depression in the human experience. The idea argues that anxiety is caused by the knowledge that we as humans have so much freedom and are free to make any decision that we can that we often lose ourselves in the possibilities and over analyse. Bojack repeatedly has panic attacks throughout the show based on his decision making and will turn back to the objects, mainly drugs and alcohol, to cope. This is often followed by a deep depression and regret that Kierkegaard also argues is an essential part of the human existence. Humans will only act to live and regret those decisions. Only when we can accept the absurdity of our world and decisions, he says, will we ever find happiness. The first episode addresses this dilema when Bojack remarks, “I’m responsible for my own happiness? I can’t even be responsible for my own breakfast!” This declaration reflects the views of the existentialists that it is up to us as individuals to define our own happiness rather than have it be assigned to us by external forces. This philosophy is also shown through Bojack’s old friend Cuddly Whiskers who informs Bojack that, “It takes a long time to realize how truly miserable you are, and even longer to see it doesn’t have to be that way. Only after you give up everything can you find a way to be happy.”

Despite Bojack Horseman’s somber music and themes of meaninglessness, the show is ultimately optimistic. Bojack again and again does not give up on his search for happiness, and continuously chooses to live his absurd life rather than give up. It is this, “leap of faith” that Bojack takes, that things can truly be better, which provides the most hopeful note in the show. So if talking animals, colorful animation, and deep questions about the meaning of life interest you, take a little time and watch Bojack Horseman.

What do White People ACTUALLY Know About Black People?

The thing about a book like Citizen is that in theory is a nice book. But in actuality it isn’t. The book give a light glimpse of black life. It it only feeds into the one negative the black women live this side life filled with filled with racial adversity. And as a black women, I believe I can say we are more than this. What about your first love? Your first heartbreak? First swim of the summer? Failing a test? All of this thing make up a person and I do not believe this book helps capture this much need picture. Growing up I never saw this images of black women.

This thought bring up one question for me, What do non-black people actually know about black people? The answer to that is very little if anything. The one lens they are shown in classrooms and in the media is a stereotypical. Black people are never aloud to be well rounded characters. Instead they are the butt of jokes about how "ghetto", that character is. Where are the black girl next door characters? Where are the dark skin black characters? Where are the 'strong black leades' (as Netflix calls them)? What lacks is lacking in Citizen is the ability for black people to be who they are, people.

An Endless Romantic Opportunity

 What is romanticism? To boil things down a little, romanticism is a style and mindset that seeks to celebrate emotion, individuality, and rejects established ideals and systems for nature and its guidance.

Romantic artists would look almost solely to nature as their muse, finding that they are able to find the most beauty and individuality with the trees, grass, breeze, flowers, and sun. Why was this? Would they feel the same way today? Much of the romantic movement was focused on moving away from the way society existed as it was, returning to a natural perspective, free from judgement, able to live the way one saw fit. Nature was infinite beauty, and once entered, no one told you who to be or how to do what you liked except yourself. Romantic writers would take this idea and run with it, escaping from many of the previous writing conventions for poetry, even believing that their writing would change the world. Their movement evokes freedom at its core. Uninhibited freedom.

So what else do we know that is nearly infinite, allows for strong emotion, individuality, free thinking, and change? If it takes you more than like five seconds to come up with the answer I have in mind, let me ask what you're reading this post on. The internet. Beautiful, dangerous, ugly, safe, and unimaginably vast. The internet itself embodies humanity. It is a record of the collective consciousness of our entire species. Even those who are not directly online are reflected in one way or another. This echo chamber that we love so much is the new romantic landscape. Introspection and individuality come rising to the top for people as soon as they hit social media. Anonymity lets people be themselves, regardless of how ugly or beautiful that self may be. People can try to tell others how to be or what they should do, but all one has to do is look the other way. Romantic artists were judged for sure. People who chose to live in the woods all day and write long winded poetry for a living are going to get looked at funny. They chose to look away and stay true to themselves and carry on. The same goes online. Even those who do cave to peer pressure can learn a ton about themselves and further understand who they are and how they fit into the landscape of the universe. What about nature itself? The trees, the sun, the rain, and the flowers? Just google it. Just typing in nature is more than enough to conjure images of decades of travel. While it may only appeal to sight, and maybe sound if you watch a video, nature can be largely captured still. If you need the complete experience, congratulations, the internet will follow along in your pocket.

The internet is the second coming of nature. Our second teacher who just learns more and more, and learns to teach even better about ourselves. Hunching over our cell phones in our own little bubbles may seem closed off, but what is a screen other than a window to the knowledge and experiences of centuries of people? So is romanticism dead? What would the old romantics think of today? For some final context, the romantic movement took place before humans even had radios. Television did not exist. People were limited to the thoughts and ideas of those immediately surrounding them. If you did not fit in there, you were alone. There really weren't many other people, and it would be hard to see other perspectives like we can today. How would people not look to free themselves from that kind of system? I think romantics would find the internet just as liberating as we do, even with all of the problems it brings.

MineMineMine

They all own each other, they all own themselves, they all are one.

Three of the chapters in part two of Morrison's Beloved consist of a stream of consciousness from Sethe, Denver, and Beloved. Each of these chapters begin with the word Beloved, and then use a few words to describe the character's relationship to Beloved. The phrase "she is mine" is repeated many times throughout the perspective of each character; Sethe and Denver feel ownership over her, and Beloved feels ownership over herself.

But, there is a fourth chapter. It begins in Beloved's perspective, and Beloved uses the phrase "she is mine" not to describe herself as she previously did, but to describe her feelings about Sethe. However, the perspective shifts in the second part of the chapter, the prose section. Though a clear dialogue between the characters takes place in this section, it is sometimes hard to tell which women's point of view the lines are from. The seamless weaving between perspectives represents a connected and shared consciousness that Sethe, Denver, and Beloved feel. It almost feels like a dialogue is happening through the minds of the characters. They are communicating in a way that is much deeper than speaking orally.

There is also repetition of the idea of a shared face: "You are my face, I am you," and Your face is mine." They recognize parts of their own identity in the faces of each other. This is partly because a mother passes down features to her daughters, but it goes further that that. They are combined as one, and their recognition further highlights the connection that the three of them share.

Finally, the fourth chapter ends with a verse: "I waited for you/You are mine/You are mine/You are mine"(256). The first line can be seen from all of their perspectives. Sethe and Denver have both waited for Beloved, and Beloved has waited for Sethe. "You are mine" is repeated three times-- once for each women. Seth and Denver claim Beloved, and Beloved simoltaneuosly claims herself and Sethe. Though they are three separate women, the ownership they feel over each other connects them as one being.

Slavery in the Mind

Throughout the first couple chapters of beloved, I have noticed the theme of slavery and how it destroys a persons identity. Slavery is no doubt one of the worst things that can happen someone and while slavery has an affect on someone through the endless labor that is required, perhaps its biggest influence is on someone's family, mind, and self esteem. Sethe, Paul D, and Baby Suggs all experience the effects of slavery on their families and in their minds.

In particular, we can see the effects of slavery wearing off on Sethe throughout the beginning of the book. In slavery, Sethe was treated as subhuman and seems to be alienated from herself and filled with seth-loathing. For example, when Paul D is rubbing the back of Sethe she becomes very insecure. All throughout slavery, a tree of whips has been growing on the back of Sethe and she feels relieved when Paul D comes to rub her back. When Paul D was rubbing her, Sethe says, "What she knew was that the responsibility for her breasts, at last, was in somebody else's hands"(21). Sethe was experiencing the aftermath of slavery ever since she escaped and now she was happy that Paul D is there to help take the responsibility. Also, later on in the book, Paul D says, "For a used-to-be-salve woman to love anything that much was dangerous, especially if it was her children she had settled on to love"(54). Because Sethe seems to be full of self-loathing, she sees the best part of herself through her children. Paul D realises this and calls her out on it. Sethe says that she will be able to protect Denver when she is alive and when she is dead. While this is not possible, Sethe believes that Denver is a part of her and she needs to take care of her forever, even when she is not a child.

Slavery has also affected Baby Suggs and destroyed her family. Baby suggs self conception has been shattered through the loss of her family members which permitted her from being a caring mother. Baby suggs says that "men and women were moved around like checkers"(27). Nobody was safe slavery and it can take away anybody at any point in time. Baby Suggs children were all sold away or taken before she had a chance to see them grow up. She says that the longest one of her children stayed with her was for 20 years. Baby Suggs could not do anything about her children leaving and that takes a toll on a mother let alone one whose eight children were all taken. This must be why Sethe takes such good care of Denver as if they are the same person. Sethe does not know when the endless game of checkers is going to end especially when her own child might be a checker one day.

A Working Definition of Trust

When I look up "trust" on google, I only see financial websites popping up. I thought it might be a good idea to look over some and try to analyze the financial definitions and connect them to the real world (emotionally, not financially like they already are):
Revocable Trusts: A trust that can be changed by a person throughout their life time, whether it be completely altered or revoked entirely.
Real world (emotional) application: Don't our own personal truths change and alter due to our memory and beliefs? Possibly, this financial term could be another way to describe the fact that people consistently change their own beliefs and truths to match their own actions, and possibly that is why the truth is "revocable".
Charitable Trusts: A trust that is attributed to a charity or the public in general.
Real world (emotional) application: Sometimes, we decide to trust people not simply because we know them well, but because we think that they can handle the weight of us depending on them. Charitable trust could be choosing to rely on someone who has let you down before.
Constructive Trusts: A trust that is implied and established by a court.
Real world (emotional) application: An implied trust...could be someone that society has nailed into your brain as someone you should be dependent upon. Like a parent, or a sibling, or a spouse. Isn't that a pretty short list? Isn't that creating an internal struggle for the trustee, if they don't have a trustworthy "constructed" group of people?
Totten Trusts: A trust that is a gift from the trustee to someone else, and can only be received after the trustee's death, or when the person the gift was given to has fulfilled some action that the trustee requested.
Real world (emotional) application: Conditional trust is something we see a lot. Particularly with parents trying to discipline their children. "Do this, and you will receive this from me." Sound familiar? Is this the proper way to go about gaining trust, though? In my experience of being a child trying to receive something, and even today as an 18 year old, no one is intrinsically motivated to gain trust. They may want something else out of the situation or transaction, if you may.

So what are your working definitions of trust?

Re-Memory and Identity

The idea and essence of identity is a tricky thing to define, and is, of course, the basis for many philosophical questions. Is our identity comprised of a soul inside of us or does our sense of self come from our experiences and memories that we gather over our lives? Throughout Toni Morrison's novel Beloved, both the ideas of soul and memory and how they can compromise identity are discussed, and perhaps even an intersection between both of these ideas. 

The idea of the soul becomes apparent with the discussion of ghosts and spirits throughout the novel. The characters in Beloved clearly believe there is some sort of "life after death." Nowhere is this more exemplified than in the emergence of the character Beloved. Although it is unclear where exactly Beloved came from, she did move from being a ghost to becoming a physical being once more. This transition signals that there is something other than just a physical body that compromises a person, but perhaps something intangible. However, what is it that gives shape to Beloved? It is here where the ideas of a soul and memory intersect. Beloved is greatly characterized by her memories when she was young such as the knowledge of Sethe's earrings, the song she hums that Sethe recognizes and even her awful memories of when she was in the "other place." 

In addition to that of the soul, the idea of memory is especially important, in particular the idea of re-memory. Sethe remarks poignantly about how re-memory causes something to be transfixed in time, trapped no only in the mind of the person who experienced that memory, but also permanent for anyone else to see. This idea of re-memory demonstrates how our experiences are truly beacons of ourselves, and while they might seem mere shadows in the present, they will always linger on, defining us. The haunting ability of memory has a great effect on Sethe especially, as she is constantly being drawn back to the awful and traumatic experiences at Sweet Home. In many ways, Sethe is attempting to flee her memory, although it seems in vain. This does not mean to say that Sethe's identity is trapped within the confines of her past, but rather, there is of course another side to the coin. When Sethe begins to acknowledge the past instead of running away from it, there are moments of true, sometimes hidden, happiness that demonstrate the beginning of an process. These moments include when Sethe spoke to Paul D on the front porch, or when Sethe finally realizes Beloved's true identity. In this moments, Sethe and others can work through the past, leading to new memories and experiences. 

No Emotion

While reading The Stranger the main thing that came to mind was the mental detachment of Meursault to the outside world. It is sort of haunting the little guilt he feels for the crime he has committed. As expressed when Meursault thinks to himself, ¨It was then I felt a stirring go through the room and for the first time I realized that I was guilty" (90). Although Meursault has been in prison for a while now he is just beginning to understand that he is guilty for killing an Arab. This is a prime example of his emotional detachment as he isn't feeling any of the emotions he should be. 

Another example of this is his odd relationship to Marie. When I was first introduced to Marie I felt that she was just a casual lover that would come and go. As the novel progressed she plays a much more prominent role in the plot however. Although Marie as strong feelings for Meursault and definitely shows them he is not expressing the same feelings towards Marie. She greatly wants to get married, but Meursault doesn't see a purpose in getting married. Additionally he feels that it wouldn't matter who he marries. 

I really don't even know what to think when it comes to Meursault. It seems that every situation he's given he  is emotionless towards. His entire thought process is super bland and he doesnt't think too deeply into every situation. Yet, the question is does he truly feel nothing or does he feel it all?

What do you think?

Jeff's Fate

Escape from Spiderhead ends with a bittersweet note. Jeff had an enormous sense of guilt over his crime, to the point where the only thing that could bring him any solace was the assurance that he could never kill (or even hurt) anyone ever again. I believe his decision to kill himself stems from the realization that it's the only feasible option to attain the solace he desires. The entire flying scene was a visualization of the relief he had just attained. He didn't have to worry about who was getting the Darkenfloxx, or if he still possessed the capacity to kill. He was free, above it all, as shown by his flight with the birds. Is any of this really happening? No. In reality, he's probably laid down in the Spiderhead, Verlaine giving him CPR while he slowly dies. It's rather depressing, especially when one considers that the euphoria that Jeff is experiencing will slowly fade away to be replaced by... nothing. Which I guess he preferred to being alive and miserable, experiencing brief but convincing bursts of love before having it ripped away again. Most don't have the courage to take matters into their own hands like that.

A Modern Proposal

Daniel Tosh is a comedian who has a show on Comedy Central called Tosh.0 and he also does stand up. Tosh's stand up show Completely Serious is a great example of satire. While on stage he acts like an entitled rich celebrity, but is actually down to earth and really smart.


Tosh's comedy is a little twisted and inappropriate, but it does have a purpose. Tosh gets people to look at how stupid some stereotypes are and how outrageous some things people do are. A lot of his skits on Comedy Central dig deeper into problems dealing with the government, race and feminism. It isn't obvious at first, but when you start to read between the lines you can see that Tosh is trying to teach people that stereotypes aren't always true and are usually just hyperbole.


Tosh himself is an example of how unreliable stereotypes are. On his show he hints at being gay, but then hints at being straight. Maybe he is just bisexual, or maybe he is trying to make a point. I think that he is trying to show how people automatically stereotype others even when they do not know the first thing about them.


Tosh is just one of many satirical comedians in today's day and age. Him along with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are paving the way for satirical humor.

Communities : Label Makers

A community is a world of its own.  It may have different opinions than those surrounding it or it may have similar beliefs but either way it is held together in a union of beliefs that are passed on to newcomers and imprinted into childrens malleable brains.  In society different communities have different cultures that establish language, opinions, and stereotypes that everyone is assumed to follow.  Some community’s work to dissipate the idea of stereotypes.  For example in the New Haven community they have a workshop for children to raise awareness of what stereotypes are and how to get rid of them.  According to an article in The New Haven Register, “The workshop will focus on how negative stereotypes of black people are hurting the children, how and why stereotypes were invented, and what parents and other caregivers can do to destroy those stereotypes and help heal the wounds they inflict.” In other instances communities hold on to the stereotypes given to race or gender and pass them on to their children, only to continue the vicious cycle.

Within Light in August community plays a significant role in shaping the thoughts of its persons.  In the town Jefferson, the two stereotypes passed down throughout the community are Racism and Gender relations.  In Light in August what I find interesting is the demonstration of how if one believes differently than the community how they are exiled.  Hightower believes and acts contrary to how the community believes and acts.  Hightower is said to have relationships with his black servants and has a unsuccessful relationship with his wife.  Both of these make an impression on the community and they respond by trying to make him leave.  Why does he stay?? Hightower is threatened, attacked, and shunned, yet he stays in Jefferson.  I think that his place in society has become his identity.  

Hightower takes on the identity of the outsider of the town, just as other identities are given to the different members.  When Lena arrives the community deems her the bad woman, just as when Christmas’s true racial confusion is addressed he is deemed as the violent black man. Both Lena and Christmas were judged upon only their physical appearance, Lena arriving with a pregnant stomach and no man, and Christmas with a slightly darker skin tone.  In Lena’s case her identity was less desirable whereas Christmas was struggling to accept an identity being racially mixed.  I think that Hightower, even though chosen to be an outsider, was comfortable in Jefferson because he was given an identity which is something that people strive to gain.  Within a community one might be searching for their identity however, once it is given sometimes it is less desirable.  Communities are organizations that label people with identities and stereotypes, it is hard to deviate from the path that a community has chosen for you if you remain there.

1930s or 2014?

I think it is incredibly fascinating, as well as massively off-putting, that as we read Faulker's Light In August, the world around us is experiencing the same racial binary that Faulkner emphasizes in a story written in the 1930s. The Ferguson story, as well as the death of Eric Garner in New York, have taken over media channels. News channels cover the story on repeat, and it has become the most prominent feed in some of my favorite shows, political satires like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show, in the last couple of months. Although I do acknowledge the fact that these stories deserve national attention, I feel as if the media has exacerbated the stories and brought upon an even greater level of frustration, especially in the case of Ferguson.

The riots that have destroyed the city of Ferguson, and have ignited protests all around the United States have been indicative of one belief-- that the racial binary continues to exist. The racial binary has expanded from just the typical WHITE/black binary to the LAW ENFORCEMENT/black individuals binary that has even received personalized attention in Soledad O'Brien's CNN documentary "Black and Blue", which covers the increasing sense of mistrust on behalf of black individuals towards law enforcement. Regardless of whether or not you believe the verdicts have been just or not, I think that most people can agree that it is disturbing that there exists a sensation that there continues to be such a widespread belief in the racial binary that Faulker illustrated in an early twentieth century novel.

Ultimately, the events of the past couple months have been unsettling because not only has the nation's racial dilemna been uprooted, but because there exists a strong connection between an early twentieth century novel and America today.

Individually Isolated

While reading Light in August by William Faulkner I began to really think about Joe Christmas and what he was feeling. When I think of Christmas' experience, isolation immediately comes to my mind. I can't imagine how he felt being biracial in a town that was so racially divided. It seems as though Christmas felt like he would never fit in with either race and the only place he felt comfort was alone in the forest.

While analyzing this further, I found that Joe Christmas is similar to many characters that we have studied from past novels. He embodies the popular theme that individualism often times leads to isolation. Just like Meursault and Edna, Joe Christmas feels like he can't fit in with anyone and everyone views him as a psychotic outcast. He does not live up to society's expectations just like Edna and Meursault. While individualism is initially invigorating, after awhile characters feel the pang of isolation. Isolation is hard to come back from and I think Joe Christmas is beginning to realize this. He knows that he will never completely fit in with the white neighborhood or the black neighborhood and I think this takes a toll on him. This inner struggle and realization that isolation is bound to happen fuels Christmas' reckless actions and frequent outbursts.

Unwarranted Nicknames: How Rory "Ice Cream Queen" Gilmore and Joe "Homicidal Negro" Christmas Got Screwed Over By Their Community

William Faulkner's novel Light in August takes place in Yoknapatawpha county, Mississippi in the 1920's. Amy Sherman Palladino's TV series Gilmore Girls takes place in Stars Hollow, Connecticut in the 2000's. Against all odds, these two literary masterpieces have a lot in common. The narratives and binaries involved with a closely-knit community of people have been the same for decades, apparently.

In chapter 4 of Light In August, the reader hears Byron's account of recent happenings in relation to Miss Burden's murder. Joe Brown, in pursuit of a reward, has told the Sheriff that Joe Christmas is responsible for Miss Burden's death. As a reader, we can pretty much make the assumption, having read to chapter 12, that Christmas is, in fact, Burden's killer. However, when the sheriff hears Brown's story, the only real facts he knows is that Brown was in the burning house, pleading that no one goes upstairs, where Burden's body was found with her head barely connected to her body. He really has no reason to suspect anybody else but Brown committed the crime, and he remembers that, that is until Joe Brown mentions some essential proof. Joe Christmas, previously innocent man, is biracial. This changes everything for the Sheriff and others listening. "I believe you are telling the truth at last"(99) he says. Immediately an entire narrative of Joe Christmas is created. He's a murderer, a liar, and a dangerous man. Nothing has been witnessed to really prove that by the town, but they know for a fact he has those characteristics based on Brown's story. Regardless of his probably nonexistent innocence, he shouldn't be convicted solely based on his race.

In season 4 of Gilmore Girls, episode 1, Rory struggles with the narrative her town has created for her as well. Taylor, owner of the local grocery store and old fashioned soda shoppe, has named Rory the official "Ice Cream Queen" for the opening of the shoppe, without asking her first. Almost exactly like how the sheriff named Christmas the murderer without evidence, only with slightly different consequences. Rory, unlike Christmas, is able to confront her maker and change the narrative created for her. Taylor defends himself, saying "I assumed you would be thrilled, based on your past participation record" Taylor had no evidence for his assumption other than Rory's previous attendance and participation in town affairs. He created a persona for her without her permission. Rory later speaks at the grand opening in a small mental breakdown, saying:"I love this town, I will be back in that ridiculous pilgrim outfit next Thanksgiving, so everybody just get off my back!" Clearly, she's in a much different position in relation to her community than Christmas is.

It's clear that in these small towns, it's almost impossible to create your own persona and have all the residents accept that and treat you based on your actions and not the words of others. However, especially in groups, people will create an identity for you without solid proof. While it's more obvious when it's the possibility of prison over the possibility of a mascot for a cheesy event, this is harmful. It takes away an individuals agency to create their identity.

P.S.- I'm #TeamJess

Binaries as Categories

A pretty big theme in William Faulkner’s Light In August is identity, especially in the case of Joe Christmas. Throughout the novel, he seems to struggle a lot with whether he should consider himself black or white: on page 254, Christmas tells Ms. Burden that he identifies himself as black, and says, “If I’m not, damned if I haven’t wasted a lot of time”. This quote gives us the impression that there is a sort of demand for Joe to know what he is, which brings us to the concept of binaries.

Jessica Benjamin explains binaries as a type of set up where one person or idea is more dominant over the other: MALE/female, FATHER/son, POWER/weakness are all good examples. However, binaries also serve as categories that define people based on specific attributes or differences. I am male, therefore I am not female; I am powerful, therefore I am not weak, etc.

This is why Joe Christmas has a difficult time deciding which race to identify with. Even though he is part black and part white, the WHITE/black binary only allows him to fall under one category.

A Chauvinistic Christmas

In Faulkner's 'Light in August', Joe Christmas struggles with his identity. Although appearances may be deceiving, Christmas knows himself to be a negro. Given that this story takes place in post- Civil War south, being black entails a sense of inferiority, as if a curse. Christmas grows up aware that his race places him on the subordinate side of the power struggle, or binary, that existed between people at the time. This sense of submissiveness in relation to the dominant white man has engraved a belief of shortcoming causes Christmas to find an outlet in which he can expend these feelings and obtain power, even if only for a moment.

For the most part, Christmas finds this through sex. Throughout the novel, Christmas pays prostitutes for sex, and often times, these relations with women end in violence. When Christmas has an affair with Ms. Burden, this inferiority complex is indirectly explained via the times he assaults her with relentless blows. Because Christmas is unable to assert his dominance and control over his white male peers, he uses the opportunity to control women through sex. This opportunity arises from Christmas's desire to flip the binary and, for once, be in total control of his counterpart. This is why any display of love and affection from a women, which is especially clear in Christmas's relationship with Ms. Burden and Mrs. McEachern, pushes Christmas away and usually causes Christmas to use violence and disrespect in the relationship. Any display of affection and love is seen as a threat to his dominance. At one point, Christmas hopes that Ms. Burden will have left him a note that says that there affair is over and is to be forgotten, yet Christmas finds himself the subject of Ms. Burden's desire to hand over her wealth and power. Faulker writes that Joe Christmas  always wanted to have something kept a secret from the women in his life, whether it is with the rope and Ms. McEeachern or the whiskey and Ms. Burden. This shows that Christmas desires to be in greater control than the women not only in sex, but in knowledge. Because of this desire to flip the binary that he is a part of, Joe Christmas portrays himself as a very male chauvinistic individual that will fight to assert dominance over any female counterpart.