In the article I chose to read, author Hugh J. Dawson writes about how Edna Pontellier’s character is the number one reason as to why people do not enjoy this amazing piece of literature.
Dawson first states how Edna isn’t following Creole society and that hurts her tremendously. The expectation isn’t something that she wants to surround her life with, so she decides to do her “own thing”. Doing whatever you want when you are a female during that time period, usually doesn’t happen. So Dawson uses the metaphor that she is “swimming away from society”, into her death. Also, Dawson explains how many things in this novella are irrelevant. Chopin would have had a much better piece of writing if it wasn’t so fluffed up. Many characters, scenes, and lines are extremely useless. The reader could be spending a lot more time getting insight to important things that are taking place, instead of unnecessary and useless information. Dawson is very disappointed with how Chopin chose to write this entire novella. He claims it is very amateur and words that are used are particularly “adolescent”. Dawson mentions in the article about how Edna does things that suits her at the moment. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this section because of the fact that we talked about this topic is one of the class Socratic Seminars.it is explained that this thought is the only one going through her mind. Readers get frustrated with Edna because of how selfish she is, and how she goes away and finds a romantic substitute instead of pursuing the right man, or even taking care of her children. She was extremely unwilling to fulfill her duties as a mother, and she came and went when she wanted to. She was someone who only thought of herself, and this is what led me to be extremely agitated with Edna’s character.
The argument in this article was presented amazingly. Not only did I nod my head in agreement with this article, but I think that everyone can take little bits and pieces and apply it to their daily life. We read about Edna, and the suffering others do just because of her rotten and immature personality. I believe that others who read this will take a second glance of how they project themselves, and some could even try to minimize the horrible traits one could possess.
"Chopin would have had a much better piece of writing if it wasn’t so fluffed up. Many characters, scenes, and lines are extremely useless."
ReplyDeleteI thouroughly agree with this statement! One of the things I drew from my article is that the veiwpoint of the novel is very fantastical and mythical, and I agreed with this because I think that Edna herself doesn't even know what she wants. She searches throughout the entire novel for things that don't even exist, and for this reason I agree that much of the writing is useless and unnecessary.
Great job! :D
I agree that Edna was very immature throughout the story. I think that she acted this way because she acted immaturely when she was younger and decided to get married at a young age to the disapproval of her family. I think because she was forced to grow up at a young age she never got to see what was out in the world and all she wants to do now is explore. I don't think she should have done most of the things she did and I agree with you completely that everything she did bothered me and made me thought of what would posses someone to do that.
ReplyDeleteDear Kelly,
ReplyDeleteEven though I wasn't assigned to commenting on your literary criticism review, I was interested in reading your article to read your viewpoint on Dawson's thesis, seeing as I reviewed the same article.
I really liked the way that you ended your review; "I believe that others who read this will take a second glance of how they project themselves, and some could even try to minimize the horrible traits one could possess."
I wonder what you thought about Edna's relationship with her children? That was one point I focused on when highlighting Dawson's thoughts on her immaturity with dealing with her own children, which he {and I personally} believes that she truly did want when pregnant with them, but then decided she did not care to take care of them.
Kelly,
ReplyDelete"Dawson explains how many things in this novella are irrelevant. Chopin would have had a much better piece of writing if it wasn’t so fluffed up. Many characters, scenes, and lines are extremely useless. The reader could be spending a lot more time getting insight to important things that are taking place, instead of unnecessary and useless information. Dawson is very disappointed with how Chopin chose to write this entire novella. He claims it is very amateur and words that are used are particularly “adolescent”. "
This part of your article summary was particularly interesting to me, mostly because my article argued pretty much the opposite! I'm afraid this fact and my own views on life have lead me to believe the opposite of your article as well. I feel that it is the minor details about a person that really explains who they are. You can't understand a person just from watching them doing certain activities or at certain places. You don't get a realistic idea of who Edna really is without all of these"useless" scenes. If you are just looking for a theme out of a book, then maybe they are useless. But take the party scene, there are so many specific details that are reflecting the true nature of Edna as well a the conflict growing within her. These type of things, to me anyways, are vital to understanding characterization and a story in its entirety. You pint to several wonderful arguments that your article made that, like I told Sarah (who has the same article), I would love to dicuss if we can find the time! Thanks for a really cool insight!