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Post by dcomeaux on Jul 1, 2024 1:22:54 GMT
In my expertise conversation today, we discussed the anxieties that everydayness can bring. It reminded me of Binx and his struggle with existential angst and the monotony of his everyday life. I have not completed the novel yet but so far, it seems he is constantly searching for his purpose. I just found it rather interesting that there was a link between my term "the age of anxiety" and the novel. Has anyone else noticed a link between their expertise term and the novel of the week? I am also wondering to myself how Binx thinks he will find his purpose at the cinema. Maybe I will find something as I continue to read.
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Post by Dr. Nemmers on Jul 1, 2024 15:25:26 GMT
Yes, enjoyed our conversation, Dusti! And I do think we can see in this novel the "Age of Anxiety." I'm glad you brought up Binx, who does seem to have a certain anxiety but also a form of escapism in the form of going to the movies. But the other character who certainly has a lot of anxiety is Kate-- we can tell because she's heavily medicated against it.
From the secondary article for this week:
"The chemical Kate ingests, sodium pentobarbital (Nembutal), was a barbiturate prescribed to treat insomnia and anxiety. The malaise has a very real chemical and corporeal component. Kate’s experience represents the “1950s ‘epidemic’ of anxiety and neurosis” (Herzberg 49)."
Do we feel like Kate and Binx have different anxieties, or are they causing it in each other? Why is there so much anxiety anyway?
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Post by shelbygraham on Jul 2, 2024 15:15:45 GMT
I think Binx's anxiety might come from the pressure to be someone he does not think he truly is. Everyone, especially Aunt Emily, tells him he is so analytical and loves research/learning; in reality he doesn't really feel the same. I think cinema might be his way of "exploring" the kind of person he can/wants to be.
Perhaps Kate's anxiety stems from the same reason...pressure to be someone she is not. I think a lot of women felt this way during this time - the pressure to get married and have the settled-down style of life.
To answer your first question, Dusti: my expertise term is Knight of Faith. I personally haven't seen a lot related to faith. But, the idea that one must first resign things we love before becoming a Knight of Faith kind of reminds me of Binx's search. Kierkegaard believed having faith was a process, and Binx seems to be going through a process...maybe to find faith in himself? Might be a stretch.
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