After just these first couple readings I find Libra to be quite interesting. At first I was a little confused about what was going on, because the novel jumps between two stories that take place in two different times but never gives us years. De Lillo leaves hints that are up to the reader to pick up on and some what develop a time setting from there. I was almost more confused than I was while reading Mumbo Jumbo.
Yet after getting some clarification in class, I have a better understanding of the story. I see that Lee had a some what troubled childhood and I am anticipating seeing how all of his childhood troubles lead up to his assassination of the president John F. Kennedy.
I also admire the writing style of De Lillo. When first reading i did not realize that the David Ferrie that Lee buys the gun from is the same David Ferrie that Win Everett calls on the phone. De Lillo connects the two stories in a way that I did not quite expect considering that Win Everett is investigating the possibility of an organization planning an attempted assassination on the president and not the case of Lee Harvey Oswald.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Dana= Mammy ??
In their panel presentation, Will, Maia, and Shruti suggested that Sarah may represent a mammy like figure. I certainly did not agree with this, Sarah doesn't portray much of the stereotypical values of a mammy figure. Sarah may work in the kitchen in the house, but she doesn't play a major role in raising Rufus, and she has a deep hatred for Master Weylin rather than submission. After contemplating the thought that there may be representation of stereotypical mammy figure in the novel, I found that Dana appears to fit the mammy role.
Dana plays a large role in the raising and upbringing of Rufus. Even though she travels in time between the 19th century and the 20th century, Dana manages to see Rufus through numerous parts in childhood. Even in those short times, she seems to play a larger role than his own mother in his life. She saves his life as a child twice, when he is sick she stays with him and reads to him. She watches him grow up and tends to him, knowing that one day he'll grow up to follow in the foot steps of his father. Yet even though she knows this she hopes that somehow, she might have made a difference and just might be a little different. This can be seen when she tells Rufus not to call her a nigger. She is attempting to change his views on black people.
Further more to fit her mammy role, Dana is submissive to the will of Rufus. She may argue with him and say that she disagrees with his choices but at the end of it all, she has to remember that he is in charge and she has no say over what he does. Despite this dislike of his actions and his disregard of what she has to say, Dana still loves him. Dana still treats him with the utmost respect. Her going to Alice and telling her to go to him, further more shows just how submissive Dana was to Rufus. When Dana did call Rufus out on the things he was doing, such as selling Tess, he quickly snapped at her and she re-assumed her role.
Dana is the representative of a stereotypical mammy in the novel. She tends to Rufus and cares for him as a child, raising him and hoping that he won't be like his father. All the work that Dana does is in the house or in the kitchen, she only works in the field for one day. She is very submissive to Rufus, yet does not hold him in regard as her master, she sees him as family (which he is), but family that has authority over her. She fits the role almost to a tee.
Dana plays a large role in the raising and upbringing of Rufus. Even though she travels in time between the 19th century and the 20th century, Dana manages to see Rufus through numerous parts in childhood. Even in those short times, she seems to play a larger role than his own mother in his life. She saves his life as a child twice, when he is sick she stays with him and reads to him. She watches him grow up and tends to him, knowing that one day he'll grow up to follow in the foot steps of his father. Yet even though she knows this she hopes that somehow, she might have made a difference and just might be a little different. This can be seen when she tells Rufus not to call her a nigger. She is attempting to change his views on black people.
Further more to fit her mammy role, Dana is submissive to the will of Rufus. She may argue with him and say that she disagrees with his choices but at the end of it all, she has to remember that he is in charge and she has no say over what he does. Despite this dislike of his actions and his disregard of what she has to say, Dana still loves him. Dana still treats him with the utmost respect. Her going to Alice and telling her to go to him, further more shows just how submissive Dana was to Rufus. When Dana did call Rufus out on the things he was doing, such as selling Tess, he quickly snapped at her and she re-assumed her role.
Dana is the representative of a stereotypical mammy in the novel. She tends to Rufus and cares for him as a child, raising him and hoping that he won't be like his father. All the work that Dana does is in the house or in the kitchen, she only works in the field for one day. She is very submissive to Rufus, yet does not hold him in regard as her master, she sees him as family (which he is), but family that has authority over her. She fits the role almost to a tee.
Dana-Kevin vs. Rufus-Alice
The 2 main relationships throughout the novel are those between Dana and Kevin and Rufus and Alice. Although Rufus tries to compare them they are very different.
The relationship between Dana and Kevin is very loving and caring. Dana feels that she needs Kevin, it appears that he feels the same way about her. Even after they are separated for what to Kevin is years and for Dana is days all they can think about it each other. Well at least we know this about Dana. She worries about Kevin almost the entire time that she is not with him. Kevin while separated from Dana stays true to her and does not forget her, even after 6 years.
Their relationship may have its flaws but over all it is very good. They have the occasional tension due to their racial and cultural differences, but they don't let that get to them very much. Dana fears that Kevin will be changed by the 19th century and many times she compares him Tom Weylin, but she still loves him all the same. Even when he seems to be changing and they have their disagreements, such as when they see the children playing, and Kevin seems to think that it is just normal, but for Dana she is concerned to see children playing at such real atrocities such as "slave market" that she herself fears and finds revolting.
On the other hand, the relationship between Rufus and Alice is terrible. It is built and founded purely on desire and abuse. Rufus says that he loves Alice, but he has a very funny way of showing it. He rapes her numerous times, and takes her away from the man she really loves. Alice does not choose to love Rufus, nor does she ever really love him she wishes him death numerous times. Yet Alice must act as though she loves him, in acts of submission, because Rufus owns her. And that fact makes it further more difficult for Alice to love Rufus. How can one love someone that they are forced to love?? Is it not a natural reaction to reject things forced upon us?
Rufus tries to compare his love for Alice to the love that Dana has for Kevin, but the only real similarity is that they are both interracial relationships. Rufus and Dana both love people who are from a different worlds than their own, but in the case of Dana the love is reciprocated.
The relationship between Dana and Kevin is very loving and caring. Dana feels that she needs Kevin, it appears that he feels the same way about her. Even after they are separated for what to Kevin is years and for Dana is days all they can think about it each other. Well at least we know this about Dana. She worries about Kevin almost the entire time that she is not with him. Kevin while separated from Dana stays true to her and does not forget her, even after 6 years.
Their relationship may have its flaws but over all it is very good. They have the occasional tension due to their racial and cultural differences, but they don't let that get to them very much. Dana fears that Kevin will be changed by the 19th century and many times she compares him Tom Weylin, but she still loves him all the same. Even when he seems to be changing and they have their disagreements, such as when they see the children playing, and Kevin seems to think that it is just normal, but for Dana she is concerned to see children playing at such real atrocities such as "slave market" that she herself fears and finds revolting.
On the other hand, the relationship between Rufus and Alice is terrible. It is built and founded purely on desire and abuse. Rufus says that he loves Alice, but he has a very funny way of showing it. He rapes her numerous times, and takes her away from the man she really loves. Alice does not choose to love Rufus, nor does she ever really love him she wishes him death numerous times. Yet Alice must act as though she loves him, in acts of submission, because Rufus owns her. And that fact makes it further more difficult for Alice to love Rufus. How can one love someone that they are forced to love?? Is it not a natural reaction to reject things forced upon us?
Rufus tries to compare his love for Alice to the love that Dana has for Kevin, but the only real similarity is that they are both interracial relationships. Rufus and Dana both love people who are from a different worlds than their own, but in the case of Dana the love is reciprocated.
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