Random Post!!
Has anyone noticed the themes of Invisible Man in The Boondocks for ex. S1E1 The Garden Party? The humor of Boondocks adds to the connection the way Ellison added humor to the pretty dreary motif of Invisibility.
The grandfather even says to his grandson (about white people): "You gotta learn how to lie, like me"
Here is a link, but the full episode is on netflix:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff1gjuBLRwU&t=47s
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Janie's (infatuation?) with Joe Starks
Although they were married for 20 years, young Janie seems to be more infatuated by Joe than really in love with him. Their meeting, for instance was, on both their parts, a show. They were both fronting in some way- Joe not paying attention to the only house on the street where Janie was standing, and Janie rushing to pump the water.
In the context of that scene, Janie is in a forced, loveless marriage at only 16 years old. She is very resentful of her position and when she sees Joe walking down the road, jumps at the opportunity to get his attention. She lets her "heavy hair" fall over her eyes and the noise of the pump, which she did not plan on getting water from a second before she sees Joe, catches his eye. Once they talk, she is already captured by his mysterious background and his intention, not seeming at all to her like a random freeloader, but like a traveler with a purpose. She is attracted by this ambition, but she doesn't know who he is, which makes me a little skeptical of whether or not she really loved him for his character or his ambitious talk.
Also, the ending of chapter 3 says, "She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie's first dream was dead, so she became a woman." This is a loaded two sentences, but to explain her relationship with her next husband, Joe, I think her mindset of wanting real love, a colorful relationship came after she learned her first marriage would be totally lacking love. So when she sees Joe, younger/youthful, coming down a long road,from unknown place-- a more abstract and possibly romantic figure-- she was interested immediately.
She is obviously attracted to his upright-ness and direction, as most of their interactions are about what his plans are (building up the community with a store, etc..) or where he came from. There did seem to be more of a genuine connection, but we see Janie's attitude toward Logan change after she starts meeting up with Joe. For example, before meeting Joe she was somewhat less vocal about her spite regarding her marriage (understandably), she now starts testing Logan and puts him on the edge suggesting, "'S'posin' Ah wuz to run off and leave yuh sometime.'" (30) This spite and wanting to leave Logan seemed to be more of an influence on her than a real, soul deep love for Joe.
This also comes out after Joe's death when she recovered quickly and kept working. But, even for their differences, and the eventual break-down of Joe and Janie's marriage, sticking together shows there was effort to work on the relationship and definitely some love for each other.
In the context of that scene, Janie is in a forced, loveless marriage at only 16 years old. She is very resentful of her position and when she sees Joe walking down the road, jumps at the opportunity to get his attention. She lets her "heavy hair" fall over her eyes and the noise of the pump, which she did not plan on getting water from a second before she sees Joe, catches his eye. Once they talk, she is already captured by his mysterious background and his intention, not seeming at all to her like a random freeloader, but like a traveler with a purpose. She is attracted by this ambition, but she doesn't know who he is, which makes me a little skeptical of whether or not she really loved him for his character or his ambitious talk.
Also, the ending of chapter 3 says, "She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie's first dream was dead, so she became a woman." This is a loaded two sentences, but to explain her relationship with her next husband, Joe, I think her mindset of wanting real love, a colorful relationship came after she learned her first marriage would be totally lacking love. So when she sees Joe, younger/youthful, coming down a long road,from unknown place-- a more abstract and possibly romantic figure-- she was interested immediately.
She is obviously attracted to his upright-ness and direction, as most of their interactions are about what his plans are (building up the community with a store, etc..) or where he came from. There did seem to be more of a genuine connection, but we see Janie's attitude toward Logan change after she starts meeting up with Joe. For example, before meeting Joe she was somewhat less vocal about her spite regarding her marriage (understandably), she now starts testing Logan and puts him on the edge suggesting, "'S'posin' Ah wuz to run off and leave yuh sometime.'" (30) This spite and wanting to leave Logan seemed to be more of an influence on her than a real, soul deep love for Joe.
This also comes out after Joe's death when she recovered quickly and kept working. But, even for their differences, and the eventual break-down of Joe and Janie's marriage, sticking together shows there was effort to work on the relationship and definitely some love for each other.
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