Our Beloved Stories

In Beloved, stories are a fundamental part of how the novel is constructed and they reveal meaning to both the characters and the reader. Denver is able to connect with her mom through the stories she is told, even when she isn't given that much detail. Later, Beloved is "fed" by the stories she is told. The way Beloved is constructed has the plot greatly advanced by each story that is told or flashback that is experienced. This construction especially highlights the importance of oral tradition is human society.

In a more general sense, stories and storytelling have a profound impact on one's psyche, and they are essential to having a healthy mind and healthy interactions with others. By telling each other stories, humans are able to build empathy, which contributes to a Benjaminian formation of identity. Building empathy in this way can also occur with written works. Studies have found a link between literary fiction and empathy. Our society needs to keep reading and telling stories, we won't be able to survive if we stop.

Camus and Benjamin: Individuals

Albert Camus' existential outlook in the Stranger (and everywhere else) gives his writing a uniquely Benjamin-ian perspective. For the first half of The Stranger, everyone Meursault meets, he speaks to, interacts with, and assesses mentally. He sees them as individuals and seems to understand their identities, but his existentialism adds an unforeseen level: he doesn't care.

When people come to Meursault with their problems, he generally listens to them and takes in what they have told him, but goes no further. He doesn't form opinions or interfere in the business of others unless they give him no other choice. When old Salamano loses his dog, he goes to Meursault for help and comfort (which is an interesting choice) and is met with indifference. Meursault tells him to check the pound, then sits quietly for a while, barely listening to Salamano and yawning (44).

Meursault tries to maintain good relationships with others for the most part because he understands their role as individuals, but beyond that, he has little interest in their affairs and he shows it.

Men and Masculinity in Beloved

Throughout Toni Morrison's novel Beloved, it is clear that the relationship between the main and female characters of the story are somewhat strained.  The most apparent example of this would be the relationship between Paul D and Sethe.  At the beginning of the novel it seems as though Sethe might be filling a void left empty by her husband, Halle, when accepting Paul D into their family at 124.  However, once Beloved shows up on the stump in front of the house, it's clear that Sethe's first intentions will not follow through.  Beloved's main reasoning behind returning to 124 was to reestablish the relationship between herself, her mother, and Denver, which she felt had been strained by the existence of Paul D in the house.  Beloved presence in 124 competes with Paul D's domination over the household, resulting in a lack of mutual recognition between the two individuals.  Because Paul D can no longer assert his masculinity, he is driven out of the house, and eventually leaves Sethe and Denver.

Our Brains Store Memories: Traitorous or Signs of an Ally?

Beloved by Toni Morrison so far hits the mark for eloquent yet clear language, complex ideas, an intriguing story line, emotion, United States history, and more. One of the reoccurring ideas of the book I have noticed is conscious memory, or when people actively try to remember something. Although Morrison mostly paints a picture in Sethe's and Paul D's lives that rarely include conscious memory, the times where conscious memories are included, can highlight moments of humanity of slaves and ex-slaves.

In light of many dark realities characters in the book face, Morrison exposes readers to a dimension of slavery that can be lost in translation: the part of Benjamin's mutual recognition where individuals acknowledge themselves as individuals.

"The closed portion of his head opened like a greased lock" (49)
"She shook her head side to side, resigned to her rebellious brain" (83)

Although many involuntary memories experienced by Sethe and Paul D are related to the horrors of slavery such as the iron bit, Sweet Home, or labor camps, other separate memories are positive. After learning that Halle had been watching her milk get stolen, Sethe thinks about when she first arrived at 124, when Baby Suggs was the glue that held the house and the community together. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the passage about the Clearing and Baby Suggs's role as a preacher, a source of encouragement, and a realist. Men, women, and children use the safe space to laugh, cry, and dance. I think Morrison tries to break traditional gender roles in that crying is not specific to women, and the way she rotates the words men, women, and children in the passage made it feel like a true community that supported one another in the wake of bondage.

I think our brain's holding capacity for any thought, conscious or otherwise, is amazing. Traumatic events can lead to the opposite reaction and I can see why. Memories of the past have held back many characters in the book from taking the present day with both hands.

Do you think actively remembering a positive memory can alleviate the painful, triggered memories of harder times? Or maybe it is not that simple.

OAK PARK/austin

I think that we, as Oak Parkers, are pretty proud of our town. We are a relatively affluent, progressive, and active community. As the first suburb west of Chicago, we are also proud of our closeness to one of the country's greatest cities. When I go out of town and someone asks where I am from, I quickly respond with, "Chicago," knowing that whoever I am speaking to is imaging the lakefront and monumental skyscrapers that characterize downtown.

However, when we say "Chicago" I don't believe we include the whole city. Areas like Englewood, Hyde Park, and Austin are forgotten about or dismissed. And yet there is only one street separating Oak Park from Austin. If you are standing in the middle of Austin Ave and you look east down Madison, you see cracked pavements, crooked signs, and peeling paint. Looking west, you see boutiques and cute Italian Restaurants. East of Madison is the Congo River and west of Madison is the Thames.

High schoolers venture into Austin to do volunteer work, to share their knowledge with others who are less fortunate, which is by no means a bad idea. We all want to help others around us to be the best we can be. However, I'm not sure we see Austin as a place that can better us, teach us new things, and allow us make new connections.

Cell One: Locked Up Great Ideas

"Cell One" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a page-turner. Two robberies are introduced within the first paragraph. Readers quickly learn about the relationship the narrator has with her brother, parents, and readers learn about what school life is like. Her brother Nnamabia I believe is the central character in the story, and his persona and actions dictate what we learn about the people around him. For example, his persona as a popular and outgoing person, led me to assume that the narrator is not as popular as he is, or wishes to be. Also, when ends up in jail and his parents visited him everyday with food, I learned that his parents care about him and don't want him to suffer the full consequences of his actions. I was surprised that the parents never asked why he got in jail in the first place. I think that shows they couldn't imagine their son getting into so much trouble.

The text also introduced many binaries, explored by Benjamin, throughout the story. The first one I noticed was one of race: fair skin verses darker skin. The line, "Hey! Madam, why did you waste your fair skin on a boy and leave the girl so dark? What is a boy doing with all this beauty? And my mother would chuckle, as though she took a mischievous and joyful responsibility for Nnamabia's looks" exemplifies that the narrator is held against the standard of fair skin as beautiful and feminine. Another binary I noticed was between university professors and government workers or police. The police think the university faculty members are oblivious to the misbehavior their children are capable of. A third binary I noticed is between the narrator and her brother. After I read the whole story it was clear to me Nnamabia is the favorite child. The narrator clearly shows her opposition to the jail visits when she throws a stone at the car windshield, but at other times it wasn't as clear to me. After Nnamabia is described as having infectious sores across his forehead, and having survived a couple days in jail, the narrator still uses the adjectives, "worldly", "handsome", and "charming" to describe him. When she said her "worldly" brother was breaking down I don't know if she was being sarcastic and mean-spirited, or genuinely upset at the toll jail time had taken on her brother.

Transitioning from Benjamin to Nabakov, according to Nabakov, a good reader is someone who does not try to relate to the characters or the story. As a Nigerian American young woman, I have eaten jollof rice, seen Okadas, and have heard many stories of life at university from both of my parents. It was hard to not picture the last time I was in Nigeria (last summer) and how the story overlaps with my experience. Nevertheless, for the most part I tried to read the text as a true outsider.

Overall, I like how detailed the text is in describing life on campus, interactions with police, and cult culture that develops. It is sad how many of the acts of violence are not uncommon. It is interesting how our country's influence doesn't stop at "rap music and swagger" but extends to cults and guns.

Life Is Full of Binaries, Isn't it?

In the short story "Barn Burning" there are a variety of examples that embody the characteristics of the model that Benjamin discusses. For example, the relationship between Mr. Adner Snopes and his wife is completely of the Freudian model as the father is the Subject and the mother is the object. However, the relationship between Young Colonel Sartoris Snopes and his father is the one complicated because in the very beginning Sartoris does as Freud says and agrees to submit to his father but as the story progresses he realizes the difference between right and wrong and changes the dynamic. This story also makes several judgements regarding the relationship between rich people and poor people. It seems as though Adner has become a serial arsonist is due to the inferiority that he feels especially when he is belittled by his "employers". "Barn Burning" makes many statements regarding class and personal relationships that are also directly discussed in Benjamin's article.

How to tackle your own narrative: Hightower, Christmas, or Swift

Going off of what Mr. Heidkamp said in class, everyone has their own narrative. This narrative can be good or bad, and it is up to you how you choose to live with that narrative. In Light in August alone, we see several examples of characters addressing their narratives very differently. There is Reverend Hightower, who refused to be ashamed of his narrative despite society's attempts to drive him out of town. Rather than stand up to his narrative or leave town and escape it, Hightower does nothing, accepts it, and tries to go on with his life ignoring the stigma attached to his name. Then we see Joe Christmas  and after recieving his backstory, we realize has quite the narrative, but doesn't even know himself what it is yet.

When such a powerful narrative is written about you, there are several things you can do in response to it. Maybe you are like Joe and don't know what your narrative is yet. Maybe you choose to take Reverend Hightower's path and keep it looming in the past. But maybe, you embody it, alter it however you choose, and, like Taylor Swift, look awesome doing it.

From the moment we heard her music would no longer be categorized as country, we knew to expect something new from Taylor Swift's new album, 1989. This is exactly what she was going for. She creativity changed directions as an artist and in doing so, sends valid messages relevant to many of the topics we have recently discussed in class, such as changing one's own narrative and reversing Benjamin's MALE/female binary, as she does in her music video for "Blank Space."

As Mr. Hiedkamp was saying in class, Taylor Swift is actively trying to change the well known stigma, or narrative, that comes along with her music and character in the media world. She's the girl obsessed with guys, leaving them left and right, and compiling these dramatically deep emotions into heartfelt songs that serve to personally attack the poor past lover who was stupid enough to fall into her trap. From one guy to the next, Taylor Swift is known for lashing out at small things and over reacting to every situation. While addressing her own narrative, Swift remarks that male artists in the industry do this all the time, but that somehow because she is a girl, this lashing out of heartbreak is not okay.

While simultaneously destroying her own narrative, Taylor Swift also challenges the binary of the typical MALE/female relationship. In her newest music video, we constantly see the guy chasing her around and sitting patiently long enough for her to paint his entire portrait. While discussing her video, an interview lead into a discussion of feminism, where Swift spoke of how she wishes she was taught the real definition of feminism earlier as a child- that feminism is a fight for equality, not a bashing of men. She says that in general and on many different scales, people can get uncomfortable with women doing things that men are "supposed to do." This sort of binary can be seen in Light in August in the relationship between Joe Christmas and Miss Burden. Joe is uncomfortable with the fact that Miss Burden is successful, and when she offers to share this success with him, he doesn't accept it.

In the video for "Blank Space," rather than taking a Reverend Hightower approach and pretending that the stigma doesn't exist, she embodies her narrative. The video serves as a satire of herself, and mainly of the story associated with her character. Rather than defending herself, she embodies it, makes fun of herself, and owns it. When she runs around like a maniac, she is not only smashing the car, the painting, and the house, but smashing the narrative itself.

What We've Learned About Fractions In Math Is Wrong.

In math class you are taught that a/b = b/a. Jessica Benjamin has taught us that that is actually false. Benjamin's math is more like a/b could never equal b/a, because switching the two would change life as we know it. Benjamin writes about how binaries dominate our society (BINARIES/society). So if we were to take a binary and flip it then life as we know it would be drastically different.

Faulkner has taken binaries to another level. Whether it is MASTER/slave, WHITE/black, PARENT/child, they are everywhere throughout Light in August. One binary I thought was pretty cool was MALE/female. I thought that it was cool because Faulkner flips this very important binary.
It is evident that most of the relationships in the novel adhere to the MALE/female binary (such as McEathern and his wife). Faulkner decides that it is not very interesting to conform to social constructions so he takes Joe Christmas, and Mrs. Burden's relationship and flips the binary.

When Joe describes his relationship with Mrs. Burden he explicitly states that he feels as if Mrs. Burden has more control or dominance then he does. Joe's lack of power in a typically male dominated binary may contribute to the his killing of Mrs. Burden. If it does play a major role then we see first hand how flipping a binary drastically changes the reality of the situation.

Faulkner's Light in August is truly layered and confusing work, but it is a work of art and must be interpreted as such. His discreet and not so discreet violations of social code at the time are magnificent. I think Jessica Benjamin and William Faulkner would have gotten along well.

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.

BROWN/christmas

During that time period media portrayed African Americans as “Brutes.”  Whenever they were featured in movies they were antagonists who often caused violence or the death of an innocent and pure protagonist.  For example in the film clip we saw the black man chased the white virgin woman to her death.  This portrayal of Black people in media influences how society views them in novels and in everyday functioning.

A seemingly recurring theme in the novel Light in August is the use of Racism in the southern town.  When a murder is committed in town all of the evidence suggests that a white man named Brown is the most likely suspect, however, when the questioning of his roommate, Christmas, race is involved fingers are suddenly pointed in a different direction (toward the black suspect).  In the novel the sheriff is questioning Brown about the murder and the situation at hand.  Brown’s story remains unclear and his facts never seem to add up causing continuous suspicion on the sheriffs point of view.  On page 98 in the novel it says, “‘You better be careful what you are saying, if it is a white man you are talking about,’ the marshal says.  ‘I dont care if he is a murderer or not.’”  This quotation to me points out that a white man killing someone is a completely different concept than the idea of a black man killing someone.  This point of view is the reflection of racism.  According to dictionary.com racism is “a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among thevarious human races determine cultural or individualachievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race issuperior and has the right to rule others.”  In this southern town it is obvious to me that the white community feels as though they have superiority over the black community. After the sheriff finds out that Christmas is part black he then says, "'Well,' the sheriff says, 'I believe you are telling the truth at last. You go on with Buck, now, and get a good sleep. I'll attend to Christmas.'" (pg. 99). The sheriff lacks evidence that is against Christmas, but believes Brown because of the skin tone presented on his body.

Earlier in the year we read an article by Jessica Benjamin who explained that there are psychological set ups in relationships of dominance rather than mutual recognition.  She also brings to light the creation of social binaries.  For example MEN/women or POWER/weakness.  I think that her idea binaries connects to Light in August.  I think that most obviously the binary WHITE/black can be applied but I also think that CIVILIZATION/savage, TRUSTWORTHY/deceiving, and JUST/unjust are great

examples

of lack of mutual recognition in the southern community.  In the case of the novel the white community believes that they are civilized, trustworthy, and just as opposed to the savage, deceiving, and unjust black community.  Benjamin also points out that enable for whites to consider themselves the upper binary they must have an inferior binary to compare themselves to and that is the black community. These binaries and comparisons of these two societies (white and black) support the theme or racism that is offered as a continuously appearing conflict throughout the novel. With the support of the media, conversations between characters, and articles from outside sources, such as Benjamin, racism in the novel is criticized and made more apparent.  

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.

The Circle of Life (and Camus)

“Sisyphus, proletarian of the gods, powerless and rebellious, knows the whole extent of his wretched condition” (Camus 3).

Okay perhaps this is a stretch but bear with me here. I’m going to take us back to Benjamin and then go full circle.

Benjamin talked about two major concepts: binaries and mutual recognition. I believe that our discussion of what gives life meaning today in class, Camus’ theory of Sisyphus, and Meursault of The Stranger himself all tie back to mutual recognition, particularly self-recognition, and a key binary: authority versus the individual. As an initial clarification, the authority in this binary is not necessarily a government or physical entity, but rather some higher power enacting conditions on an individual’s fate.

Today during class, we reached the conclusion that what gives life meaning is life itself. This, to me, refers to the actions we make as individuals; everyone has a responsibility for anything they do that causes any sort of change, be it seemingly insignificant and temporary such as planting a flower, or one with more weight. It’s those actions, generally speaking, that give our lives any sort of meaning. How we live our lives and value what we do results in the meaning we believe our lives possess.

A counterexample to that kind of thinking is Meursault. He chooses to ignore his own actions, for the most part, and act purely on physical desire; anything that ties him to an action that would spur a change, significant or otherwise, he avoids like the plague. Marriage? Love? Job opportunities? All useless agents of change that he treats with a cavalier wave of his hand. The only catalyst that sparks any wavering in his existentialist lifestyle is death, which is a rather inevitable cause of change. He follows a general philosophy that “[t]o stay or to go, it amounted to the same thing” (57). Refusing change is Meursault’s way of avoiding individualism altogether, but removing his life of meaning.

Which leads to Camus’ philosophy of Sisyphus, the poor mythological rock-pusher. Most would think his incessant task of pushing a rock up a hill repeatedly for eternity would be a punishment, but Camus, among other points, argues that Sisyphus is happy because he is aware of himself and his past experiences, as well as his contribution to his own fate. He may be pushing the rock, but he is pushing the rock because of his own actions, not because the gods have put him there. This turns his fate into not a punishment, but a choice, where he has triumphed.

He has triumphed over the authority versus individual binary by utilizing self-recognition.

It’s really a matter of perception, of thinking about one’s own life in terms of oneself instead of in terms of being a subject, but it’s enough to allow him freedom from one of the most difficult binaries there is. The gods did not choose his fate; he did, and he recognizes that he did via his own actions. This agency is essential in the escape from the binary and the possession of meaning in life.

Our in-class discussion concluded that actions, in other words, the agency of the individual, give life meaning. Sisyphus’ life, although seemingly the most pointless struggle known to man or god, has meaning. All lives have meaning, but in order to escape the binary and realize it, we must recognize ourselves as agents of change for our own lives. Sisyphus succeeded; Meursault has found a cheap way out. He chooses to completely avoid the binary altogether by not even attempting to be an individual. The only agent of change brought on by whatever higher power life brings that can force him into the mercy of the authority portion of the binary is death, but other than that Meursault has managed to avoid acknowledging any consequences or effects of his actions whatsoever. Denying change gives no reason to contemplate a cause for said change, leaving the authority and the individual obliterated from any significance, thus eliminating the binary.

As for us, well, we will have to abide by Benjamin’s philosophy and struggle to see ourselves as individuals, realize our own agency and give our lives meaning, and break free of the authority grip of the binary. Unless being like Meursault seems like a good idea, but I would wait until we find out his fate in Part 2 of the book before choosing his path.

Am I abusing my dog?

When we were discussing Benjamin's thoughts about binaries I thought of the relationships in my life that I value, and whether or not they were a harmful binary. I thought about my relationship with my parents, which is definitely questionable, but that is an entirely different post. I thought about my relationships with my friends, which for the most part I think we at least try to mutually recognize each other. But then I thought about somebody who is very valuable to me, and yet is probably the worst relationship I have, by Benjamin's standards. That somebody is my dog, Tucker. He is a 3-4 year old borador whom I love very much.

Maybe our relationships with our pets do not have to follow the same standards as our relationships with people. Obviously, since I am not a vegetarian, I can't really preach too much about animal rights. However, sitting here with Tucker at my feet, I can't help but think I'm mistreating him when I don't think of him as an equal. Even though an owner/pet relationship already suggests a domination in the name, I think it's possible to have that while having mutual recognition. Similarly to a parent/child or teacher/student, someone can have the upper hand while still respecting the other. When I ignore my dog's pleas for attention in an attempt to teach him not to whine when he wants something, I can't explain to him that I would give him a belly rub if he would just calm down for a second. Or when I pull on his leash when he's taking a long time to sniff a pole because I'm in a hurry, I am blatantly prioritizing my needs over his. I always feel guilty, as Benjamin expressed, after I dominate my beloved pup like that. At the same time, although such occasions are much more rare, he feels guilty when he eats my food or vomits on the carpet. Although we have a very beneficial relationship to both sides, I think it is ME/him, and I am trying to change that. However I'm also trying to change that in my head my relationship with my dog is more valuable sometimes than with humans. Do you feel you treat your pet as an equal, or even that you should?

Mutual Recognition? Could it be the work of aliens?

Today, along with a couple fellow football players, our wonderful classmate Patrick Flanagan and I got extremely philosophical. We pondered what life after death would be like as well as what "nothingness" would be like. Eventually we landed on the topic of aliens after having a laugh about the absurd show, "Ancient Aliens." Obviously I believe that aliens and other life-forms exist, but the question is how do they live? Do they mutually recognize each other as Jessica Benjamin would hope? Or do they life in a world of submission and dominance?

Somewhat along the lines of nothingness, I believe that it is impossible to fathom a utopia where there is 100% mutual recognition. Since we live in a world where binaries define how we live it is almost impossible to imagine how the dynamics of society would flow with 100% mutual recognition. A government would nearly be impossible to form if no one could dominate another person. Maybe one day we will discover a planet where the natives live under mutual recognition but for now we are stuck wondering.

Dominance of Men in "The Language of Men"

It does not surprise me that Norman Mailer is notoriously sexist. In "The Language of Men," he establishes a sexist and rather stereotypical MALE/female binary. The protagonist Carter struggles to fit into the social environment of the army until he discovers his niche as an army cook. As Carter takes on the traditionally feminine role of working in the kitchen, Mailer creates a contrast between Carter, who is characterized as sensitive and feminine, and his tough, masculine peers. He references stereotypical gender roles when Carter mutters "the age old laments of the housewife" as his confidence is shaken by the soldiers' lack of acknowledgment of his hard work. The MASCULINE/feminine binary is exemplified when Taylor, the epitome of a masculine soldier, attacks Carter's stereotypically feminine vulnerabilities, particularly his sensitivity to how much others appreciate his work.

This supposedly feminine weakness of Carter's invokes Jessica Benjamin's concept of mutual recognition. Carter yearns for recognition and is hurt when the other soldiers fail to recognize him for his work. In this scenario, Carter is the object in the SUBJECT/object binary. By defining his self worth by how much others appreciate him, he allows himself to be dominated by the soldiers.

Carter becomes a man when he forbids Taylor and the other soldiers from taking oil from the kitchen and attempts to fight one soldier in order to prove his subjectivity. By demonstrating his ability to dominate as a subject, he becomes a man by Mailer's definition. Although the story does not necessarily promote the ambiguous and somewhat combative "language of men," it implies a MALE SUBJECT/female object binary that is inherently sexist.

The Cycle of Dominance in "The Language of Men"

In "The Language of Men," the main character Carter struggles to fit in with his fellow soldiers. He finally found success in the kitchen, and took great pleasure in creating wonderful meals, always adding that extra something to the dishes. He found however, that his efforts went unnoticed, and he began to feel unappreciated. He was an honest man. Everything he did was to make better food and help the soldiers. The soldiers did not recognize his attempts at winning their praise. Instead, they saw him as the stereotypical angry army cook, a role Carter once despised. Carter had assumed a role similar to that of an unappreciated housewife. The troops even had the audacity to accuse him of stealing from them and dealing food on the black market, when Carter refused to give them oil. In response to their outrageous lies, Carter retaliated and served them terrible food, showing them the true value of his efforts. The soldiers finally realized they had taken Carter for granted, and all they took pains to shower him with complements on his meals, whether deserved or not.

I believe that this story lends itself well to Jessica Benjamin's ideas on subjectivity and dominance. When Carter has just started out as a cook, he is happy because his fellow workers recognize him as a good cook, and he recognizes them as hard workers. However, after time passes, he realizes that the soldiers don't appreciate him. They exclude him from activities, and make jokes at his expense. They exercise their dominance over him, and he continues to make them specially made eggs. He is an object in their eyes, and they do not see that he can be worthy of their respect. To them, he is the angry army cook. After the soldiers confront Carter about not giving them oil, he realizes that he should be in the position of power, not them. Carter exercises his dominance by serving them bad food. Once again, neither side his happy; Carter feels guilty for serving bad food, and the soldiers feel sick. When the soldiers and Carter recognize each other as mutual subjects, as prescribed by Benjamin, they become better friends. The soldiers realize that Carter does do a lot for them, and Carter realizes that he can lend them oil sometimes. They see each other as subjects, and respect each other. Though Carter may still struggle with speaking the language of men, he has at least earned their respect.

The Cycle Only Continues

Since we were not able to get to it in class, I thought it was important to evaluate the ending of Barn Burning, specifically focusing on how Colonel Sartoris feels regretful about turning his back to his family and specifically his father. At the end, after Snopes has been shot, he reaches the hill and Faulkner writes, "At midnight he was sitting on the crest of a hill. He did not know it was midnight and he did not know how far he had come. But there was no glare behind him now and he sat now, his back toward what he had called home for four days anyhow, his face toward the dark woods which he would enter when breath was strong again, small, shaking steadily in the chill darkness, hugging himself into the remainder of his thin, rotten shirt, the grief and despair now no longer terror and fear but just grief and despair" (Faulkner 157). It is important to notice how Faulkner focuses on describing the setting as dark and gloomy. He describes the time being midnight and how he saw "no glare," it is pitch black, he also describes it as cold. One is led to believe that breaking out of the horrible oppression under his father's domination would be later described as happy. Thinking back to Jessica Benjamin, she says that when someone breaks out of the binary they typically end up not knowing what to do with their new found power and turn into their old oppressor. We see this start to sprout in the last paragraphs.

Faulkner, towards the end, uses pronouns such as "he" and "him" when talking about Colonel Sartoris to show how he in himself is his own self. By using pronouns, it seems as if Sartoris is a whole new person since his disengagement with his father. He separates himself from his father but then defends him and says "he was brave!" (Faulkner 157). This example reinforces Benjamin's statement that after a revolution, the rebels then scramble to find a form of government or power and end up resorting back to the only thing they know, the previous form of power, and thus the cycle only continues.

Why the Woman was Secret

According to Colette women think more like men than society lets on. However is it really women thinking more like men than it is women admitting to what they really think and feel? Women are given a standard by society that the short story The Secret Woman emphasizes and brings to existence.  When the husband asks his wife if she would like to attend the ball she acts offended in attempt to conserve her innocence when in reality she is planning on attending without telling him.  The fact that she feels she cannot reveal her true opinion offers insight that explains the secrecy that most women carry.

In many situations women feel inferior to men and don't know how to express it in fear of judgement.  Some women can express how they feel, however, as Benjamin points out men assert dominance.  Benjamin introduces the MEN/women binary that is often seen in society today.  Women are improving and expressing their feelings and thoughts progressively in society, however, not giving in to this stereotypical submission is an abnormal habit that many are discovering to be beneficial.

Walking in the halls one can assess the language used by boys as opposed to girls.  Women feel a boundary in which they feel uncomfortable to exceed due to social standards, however, as demonstrated by The Secret Woman adding the aspect of anonymity provides a sense of security in their actions no matter the acceptance socially.  I think that women feel uncomfortable expressing truly how they feel and think because of the reactions they fear receiving.  If men and women were placed in a room with voice disguisers and blindfolds they could express themselves honestly and you would not be able to distinguish gender because there would be no urge to uphold social regulations.

Benjamin: on Eber's Imbalance

In George Saunders' Tenth of December, short story 'Tenth of December' shines a new light on Jessica Benjamin theory of Subjectivity and Power. Benjamin writes that if one is to reach "mutual recognition"--the idealistic state of equality among humans-- one must see the other as a full human being, ripe with desires, dreams, flaws, and the peculiarities that make one distinctively human. In essence, one must recognize others as subjects (we're all in the same boat). Once one recognizes the other's subjectivity, domination becomes a bleak prospect.

'Tenth of December' is a story of a Eber, a terminally ill man who ventures out into ten-degree wilderness to spare his wife and children from the pain of caring for him. Robin, a young boy, is wandering the same path Eber takes, imagining that his attractive classmate has been abducted by the 'Nethers' and he is on a quest to save her. Their fates are intertwined from the beginning. Robin spots Eber climbing through icy snow and ventures across a frozen pond to help the poor man. While Eber dreamily awaits for hypothermia to set in and liberate him from the pain and guilt that torment his every though, Robin falls through the ice. Suddenly Eber is torn into the present, and throws himself down the icy hill towards Robin. The two are badly hurt but Robin is able to move, and with a rush of adrenaline sprints home. Having given Robin his clothes, Eber lays on the bank of the pond unable to move, tinting blue from hypothermia when Robin's mother returns. She drags him to her home and nurses Robin and Eber until Eber's wife Molly arrives.

When Eber is on the icy slope, counting minutes, waiting for numbness to overtake his limbs, he takes refuge in the knowledge that "Then it would be done. He would have prevented all future debasement. All his fears about the coming months would be mute. Moot." Eber's inability to internalize his condition as part of himself, and accept himself as an equal could stem from his childhood. His stepfather was also terminally ill and although he seemed to be at peace with himself, Eber recognized the agony with which he performed even the simplest of tasks. By a somewhat Freudian analysis of Eber's psyche, I'm led to think he looks down on his own condition in the same manner in which he recognized his stepfather's condition as pitiful. 

Jessica Benjamin's theory of Subjectivity states that one will either recognize their own subjectivity, or willingly submit themselves to a loving authority in hope of fulfillment or the order that comes with hierarchy. Eber recognizes himself as a subject, yet knows he's at times an object in his family's eyes-- a gross chore that eats up their time and livelihood with his unconscious outbursts of rage. He remembers "MollyTommyJodi huddling in the kitchen filled with pity/loathing. MollyTommyJodi recoiling at something cruel he's said". The disease Eber can't control, controls his status. He sees himself as a subject, but recognizes that in the eyes of his family, he is an object. He knows they will go to great lengths to care for him, yet have ceased to see him as their father-- a subject with authority. When a subject is reduced to object in the eyes of others, yet remains a subject in his own eyes, life in intolerable. Once Eber understands the imbalance, he sees no other way out but to free Molly and the children from the burden of his mercurial company and tedious care.