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Post by dcomeaux on Jul 15, 2024 0:37:47 GMT
I only have a few more chapters left in the book, but I wanted to note why I feel like the novel contains a few existentialist themes. Anthony may be young but he is already struggling with his purpose/identity. He does not know whether he should follow the path his mother wants for him or his father's. Then there is always the third option of a completely separate path of his choosing. I also feel that the encounters Anthony has with death - seeing the death of Lupito and Narciso - make him realize the inevitability of death and how fragile life is. Lastly, as it has already been pointed out, Anthony struggles with his religious beliefs. He struggles with what to believe in and his understanding of sin. Existentialism is not as prominent in this novel as it has been in our previous texts, but I have found instances where these themes have stood out to me.
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Post by Dr. Nemmers on Jul 15, 2024 3:15:47 GMT
Good points, Dusti--- I noticed this as well and made a few notes on it. We really do see a collision between the values and identities laid down by the boys' parents, and their desire to choose for themselves. Here's a couple of operative quotes:
"Antonio. I cannot tell you what to believe. Your mother and father can tell you, because you are their blood... .as you grow into your manhood, you must find your own dreams."
"Hell, Andy," Gene said softly, "we can't build our lives on their dreams. We're men, Andy, we're not boys any longer. We can't be tied down to old dreams."
So, to this extent I think we can find the existentialist theme of existence before essence, and the notion as well that people must create their own meaning, that they cannot rely on what has been handed down to them (or pre-given). Especially given the quotes above, this seems to be tied to maturity or manhood-- those who are children (figuratively or literally) rely on others' dreams and ideas.
Might that suggest that persons in the past were children, and that modern men are now, well men? How does Antonio's example support or conflict with this notion?
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Post by dcomeaux on Jul 15, 2024 3:54:24 GMT
I also have that first quote noted but I did not think of Gene's comment as an example so I am glad you brought that one to my attention. The brothers are a prime example of not following the dreams of their parents or following predetermined paths that are set for them. They did not want to stay home after seeing the world and also did not want to follow their father's dream of going to California. They are men with their own dreams to follow.
I feel like in Antonio's case it may conflict with that notion to some extent. He is young so at this point he is unsure of what he will do but he is still struggling with what he will do. Just this fact alone means that he may not choose one path because his mother or his father has predetermined it for him. I have about 75 pages left of the book to complete it but I cannot imagine we will see a choice being made while he is still so young. I will have to finish the novel tomorrow to see how everything ties up!
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