|
Post by reluedders on Jun 9, 2024 1:14:01 GMT
I'm into Chapter 18, & have been thinking about how Mailer's been writing the characters in the novel. The protagonist, Lovett, is the LEAST memorable character to me. As I'm reading, the author's spending a lot of time and effort describing all of the other characters, and then Lovett just interjects a small thought or sentence, nothing more. Is there some sort of deeper meaning for that? Usually the protagonist gets most of the page time, but in this instance, I'm not seeing it.
|
|
|
Post by mjunious on Jun 9, 2024 7:05:19 GMT
I think this is important for the way the story unfolds. We are learning about the characters the same way Lovett is learning about them. At the start of the book it feels like a one character per chapter pace that is maintained, the same way Lovett would learn about his neighbors one room of the building at a time. It also helps to convey the amnesia that Lovett is suffering from: because the story is told in the first person, the reader can't know much about Lovett because Lovett, telling the story, doesn't know anything about Lovett either.
|
|
|
Post by shelbygraham on Jun 10, 2024 2:49:34 GMT
I agree, Mitchell. Much is not revealed about Lovett because much is not known about Lovett. He knows basically nothing, only bits and pieces about his life so this aspect of the story helps illustrate his amnesia. Also, to add on, all of the other characters have very bold/interesting/unique personalities that are difficult to overshadow. Each individual is very complex with a lot to dissect and unfold. I can only imagine what the rest of the novel will reveal about these characters.
|
|
|
Post by dcomeaux on Jun 11, 2024 19:56:50 GMT
I noticed this myself. I have found myself much more invested in the other characters than I have in Lovett. I am wondering if in the second half of the book (I have not yet read past chapter 17) I will become more invested in Lovett. I also attributed this to the fact that Lovett knows little to nothing of his past and therefore has a pretty boring life up to this point. The other characters have a very colorful life, comparatively. This is far from the normal genre that I read but I am excited to see where this story leads.
|
|
|
Post by connorswauger on Jun 12, 2024 1:28:18 GMT
Now that you mention it, you’re right. Lovett really is almost a bystander to the other characters. Though one thing that I thought about that may not be totally right, but I was thinking that maybe there’s a weird parallel between Mikey and Monina? Mikey has amnesia and doesn’t recall his past so he is more or less a blank slate and it’s the same with Monina in a way since she’s a child. She is innocent and learning about people at the same time but is also experiencing raw reactions where Lovett can’t exactly act in the same manner. One example I can think of is Lovett wanting to punch Hollingsworth but knowing he can’t and then Monina actually attacks him with the same animosity. This theory might be reaching a little but I’ll keep it in mind as we keep reading.
|
|
|
Post by shelbygraham on Jun 12, 2024 2:50:01 GMT
Connor, I can see what you are getting at. They share an innocence. Even though Mike has lived far more years than Monina, he is sometimes "childlike" only in the sense that so much in the world is new to him. Even though it's possible he is repeating certain experiences or similar scenarios, it's as if it is the first time because he has little to no memory of his past. Monina has been alive for three years and is probably facing a lot of the same emotions as Mike.
|
|