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Post by jarelyrebollar on Jul 6, 2024 15:16:44 GMT
So far, I have read through Part One of the novel and noticed a theme of loss as I was reading. The Narrator's journey is marked by emotional, cultural, and relational existential loss. This pervasive disconnection and alienation forces him to confront his identity and existence. Loss catalyzes self-examination and transformation, reflecting broader themes of alienation and identity in existential literature. I wonder if anyone else has picked up on this theme of loss.
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Post by Dr. Nemmers on Jul 6, 2024 15:39:52 GMT
Yes, definitely the case, Jarely. Just a partial list of the narrator's more tangible losses:
His father (to death)
His brother (to death)
His pet duck (to death; well, at least Amos was eaten)
His girl (to who knows where?)
His gun and electric razor (maybe with his girl?)
That's a lot of loss! To me, we also need to add to this list a lot of intangible things he's lost. I won't list them here, but those are certainly worth exploring as well!
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Post by reluedders on Jul 7, 2024 21:23:01 GMT
In life, however, loss can bring you closer to faith and away from an existential lifestyle as well. All of these things could have brought the narrator closer to his roots, closer to faith, closer to knowing what he wants and does not want. I've met people that have gone in this direction, where the losses did not spawn disconnection, but a closer connection. I would be interested to look into why some individuals go one way and others the other. Thoughts?
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Post by mjunious on Jul 8, 2024 4:16:25 GMT
A good contrast to differences of loss by two different characters is shown in how Yellow Calf acts. Although he has lost his sight (I find character's sight or lack thereof to be a very emblematic storytelling device) he seems to have a stronger connection to nature: listening to deer, walking without shoes (maybe he is grounding), and he has less material possessions. This connection to nature is important Blackfeet culture. The narrator, on the other hand, with the loss of his father and brother, seems to be pushed further away from his culture. Although the interaction is brief in part two of the novel, I found it to be an important generational intersection in the story.
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Post by jarelyrebollar on Jul 8, 2024 15:23:33 GMT
A good contrast to differences of loss by two different characters is shown in how Yellow Calf acts. Although he has lost his sight (I find character's sight or lack thereof to be a very emblematic storytelling device) he seems to have a stronger connection to nature: listening to deer, walking without shoes (maybe he is grounding), and he has less material possessions. This connection to nature is important Blackfeet culture. The narrator, on the other hand, with the loss of his father and brother, seems to be pushed further away from his culture. Although the interaction is brief in part two of the novel, I found it to be an important generational intersection in the story. I completely agree with your observation about the contrast between Yellow Calf and The Narrator. Yellow Calf’s loss of sight and deep connection to nature symbolize a profound relationship with his cultural roots. His blindness strengthens his connection to the natural world and his heritage, as it enhances his other senses. The example above illustrates how physical loss can foster a deeper spiritual connection (such as user reluedders mentioned). In contrast, The Narrator's losses, particularly the death of his father and brother, push him away from his cultural identity, highlighting the generational and cultural disconnect you mentioned. Yellow Calf’s minimalism and grounding practices emphasize his integration with nature and traditional Blackfeet culture. Meanwhile, The Narrator’s alienation reflects his generation’s struggles, often leading to fragmentation rather than unity. |
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Post by Rylee Wenzel on Jul 11, 2024 0:56:43 GMT
I think that using loss as a theme is an interesting idea. Loss can motivate a character to self-examine and get to know themselves better in a different light. Extreme loss can also be damaging. It is hard to get through and forces a person to confront things they may not be comfortable with facing.
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