The Final Blog
SPAN 312....where to start? Jon said he wanted us to write whatever came into our minds so here goes...
Wikipedia and I will never be friends. While I do have more respect for articles that make it to “featured status”, I plan to never make more edits in the future (sorry Jon). As for the novels... I still am not convinced that I The Supreme is the most amazing book. However, I’ll try not to be so negative. I DID like The President, in fact I wouldn’t mind reading it again in the future. I liked The General in His Labyrinth. Facundo wasn’t so bad either.
While I’m terrible at coming up with adjectives that start with “c”, I enjoyed the discussions we had in class. I’m still not quite sure why we were never given 5 or 10 minutes to work in groups but were given 7, 9, or 11 minutes. I wish we could have learned more about each author because I feel that in 5 years the only thing I will remember from this course will be Miguel Angel Asturias. That being said, I feel like I have a better understanding of Latin American literature and hope to read more.
All in all, a pretty good class. I'm not a blogging pro and wikipedia still boggles my mind, but I guess some things will never change.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
The Feast of the Goat Continued...
The Feast of the Goat (Part II)
In this novel Vargas Llosa depicts the times in which General Trujillo was the dictator of the Dominican Republic. This novel gives a detailed account of this dictator’s personality, his allies, enemies, and the many tortures to which he subjected his people during his regime.
Since The Feast of The Goat is a dictatorial novel, and this is not a genre that I am particularly confident with I have decided to comment on Urania Cabral instead. Everything revolves around her, therefore, having a great impact on this novel.
Why does Urania Cabral go back to the island she swore never to set foot again? In my opinion, Urania goes back to Santo Domingo, the island where she was born and raised, because there is something in her that is haunting her memories and doesn’t let her rest. She feels the need to face her father and her past; a past that has marked her for life. And in this way comes face to face with a reality that is as cruel as it is certain; the sad reality of her life. Perhaps feelings of emptiness combined with the grudge that Urania has held onto for so long are the reasons that bring her to take her holidays in the Dominican Republic to visit her father, a man that in his prime was the right hand of Trujillo and now finds himself on his death bed. When Urania goes back or returns to the Dominican Republic she finds the colours, smells, and memories rush back; memories that she had tried to burry so she could go on with life. Something made her come to her father’s house; who is now an old and sick man, looked after by a nurse and who seems to have returned to a childlike stage. From that moment on Urania is launched on a rollercoaster of emotions as she relives her past.
-->To conclude, The President is still my favourite novel from this semester
In this novel Vargas Llosa depicts the times in which General Trujillo was the dictator of the Dominican Republic. This novel gives a detailed account of this dictator’s personality, his allies, enemies, and the many tortures to which he subjected his people during his regime.
Since The Feast of The Goat is a dictatorial novel, and this is not a genre that I am particularly confident with I have decided to comment on Urania Cabral instead. Everything revolves around her, therefore, having a great impact on this novel.
Why does Urania Cabral go back to the island she swore never to set foot again? In my opinion, Urania goes back to Santo Domingo, the island where she was born and raised, because there is something in her that is haunting her memories and doesn’t let her rest. She feels the need to face her father and her past; a past that has marked her for life. And in this way comes face to face with a reality that is as cruel as it is certain; the sad reality of her life. Perhaps feelings of emptiness combined with the grudge that Urania has held onto for so long are the reasons that bring her to take her holidays in the Dominican Republic to visit her father, a man that in his prime was the right hand of Trujillo and now finds himself on his death bed. When Urania goes back or returns to the Dominican Republic she finds the colours, smells, and memories rush back; memories that she had tried to burry so she could go on with life. Something made her come to her father’s house; who is now an old and sick man, looked after by a nurse and who seems to have returned to a childlike stage. From that moment on Urania is launched on a rollercoaster of emotions as she relives her past.
-->To conclude, The President is still my favourite novel from this semester
Monday, March 24, 2008
The Feast of the Goat
The Feast of the Goat (Part 1)
Just another example of literal and figurative language. While I would love for the book to be explicitly literal, it is definitely not about the feast of an actual goat! The novel is set when Trujillo was dictator of the Dominican Republic. Figuratively, the novel describes the personality of the dictator (Trujillo), his allies, his enemies and the tortures that he submitted the population to during his reign. The story seems to overlap with various focuses. I wasn’t quite sure which storyline to centre on, but as I continued reading it seemed that they are all interwoven. First, there is a focus on Urania Cabral, then on Trujillo (aka the “goat”). The book seems to resemble The General in His Labyrinth because Trujillo’s rule is coming to an end just as the General’s rule and power were coming to an end. This novel also reminds me of I The Supreme because Trujillo seems to be just as obsessive as the Supreme (e.g. his fanatic morning routine: row, brush teeth, shave, etc). I also referred to Wikipedia and find it very interesting that the title of this book is taken from the popular Dominican merengue Mataron al Chivo (They Killed the Goat). I’m still not quite positive what the significance of this is, but as the Wikipedia article explains it “has its roots in the assassination... [of] Trujillo”.
Just another example of literal and figurative language. While I would love for the book to be explicitly literal, it is definitely not about the feast of an actual goat! The novel is set when Trujillo was dictator of the Dominican Republic. Figuratively, the novel describes the personality of the dictator (Trujillo), his allies, his enemies and the tortures that he submitted the population to during his reign. The story seems to overlap with various focuses. I wasn’t quite sure which storyline to centre on, but as I continued reading it seemed that they are all interwoven. First, there is a focus on Urania Cabral, then on Trujillo (aka the “goat”). The book seems to resemble The General in His Labyrinth because Trujillo’s rule is coming to an end just as the General’s rule and power were coming to an end. This novel also reminds me of I The Supreme because Trujillo seems to be just as obsessive as the Supreme (e.g. his fanatic morning routine: row, brush teeth, shave, etc). I also referred to Wikipedia and find it very interesting that the title of this book is taken from the popular Dominican merengue Mataron al Chivo (They Killed the Goat). I’m still not quite positive what the significance of this is, but as the Wikipedia article explains it “has its roots in the assassination... [of] Trujillo”.
Monday, March 17, 2008
The General in His Labyrinth Continued...
The General in His Labyrinth (part II)
“Damn it...how will I ever get out of this labyrinth!” (p. 267). The answer: never. The General is never able to escape his “moral torment” and “physical calamities” (p. 248) while he is living. He seems to be an “unreachable phantom” (p. 218) throughout the entire book.
I actually enjoyed knowing the end (i.e. that the General dies) from the beginning because it truly interested me to continue reading to learn more of the life of this great man. I admired his faith and his undying dream to unify the continent combined with his never ending pride. However, I couldn’t help but find it odd that he covered a woman from head to foot in shaving cream and shaved her...even her eyebrows (p. 213).
Another passage that I found somewhat amusing was when he describes Mexico City (p. 222). Obviously the city has changed since the General’s times and now, because when I go to visit my family I am never “amazed at the purity of the air” or “astounded by the clear waters of the numerous canals crossing the city” although, the “eternal drizzle” does depress me at times.
Until the end the General is stubborn, which supports my earlier statement of his never ending pride. Even when his health is failing he refuses to show how meek he has become and when he needs an arm to lean on “he did not allow anyone to offer him one” (p. 233).
He never escaped his labyrinth and was “lost in a dream...searching for something that doesn’t exist” (p. 221). Though he was never able to fully realize the “vast empire of his dreams” (p. 256), I am glad I had the privilege of reading this book to learn the history of a man, often referred to as a “saint” (p. 237).
Monday, March 10, 2008
The General in His Labyrinth
The General in His Labyrinth (Part I)
After having read I The Supreme, I was not quite sure what to expect from our further assigned readings. Immediately I was more eager to read this book as its physical size did not intimidate me.
The dictionary (www.dictionary.com) clearly defines “labyrinth” as “any confusingly intricate state of things or events; a bewildering complex”. The novel is riddled with an endlessly nostalgic tone, through which we, the reader, learn the “intricate” combination of “things” and “events” that make it difficult to find the exit... the ultimate exit being peace and continental unity. The General affirms this exit of peace when he states that his “first day of peace will be [his] last one in power” (p. 14).
The first statement to begin this novel proclaims that, “It seems that the devil controls the business of my life” which seems to correspond with the General’s “disillusionments of power” (p. 5). However, he is driven by power; power which confines him to his physical state, a “desire to rule” (p. 16) which is so strong that it preserves his “moribund appearance” (p. 16). Yet, despite his need for power he argues that “power by force was unworthy of his glory” (p. 23). It is evident he is a very powerful man as at one point in his life he was “invested with triple power as President of Bolivia and Colombia and Dictator of Perú” (p. 31). On page 47 the General “renounced power because of an emetic that should not have been prescribed, and [he’s] not prepared to renounce life as well.” However, his life is power; and without power he is condemned to wander his labyrinth until he regains a sense of normality by repossessing his power of influence over South America. That being said, I find it hard to visualize a man with “scrawny ribs and rachitic legs” (p. 75), who is “bony” and “pale” (p. 76), and weighs 88 pounds (p. 138), to be very intimidating and capable of uniting all of South America.
The labyrinth of his mind is what I believe does not allow the General to escape his demons where his “memories were more of a burden than the years” (p. 118). Carreño puts it into perspective for the General, that “not even the stars escape the ruin of life” (p. 128). In this manner, aren’t we all lost in our very own labyrinths of life, trying to solve a bewildering complex?
After having read I The Supreme, I was not quite sure what to expect from our further assigned readings. Immediately I was more eager to read this book as its physical size did not intimidate me.
The dictionary (www.dictionary.com) clearly defines “labyrinth” as “any confusingly intricate state of things or events; a bewildering complex”. The novel is riddled with an endlessly nostalgic tone, through which we, the reader, learn the “intricate” combination of “things” and “events” that make it difficult to find the exit... the ultimate exit being peace and continental unity. The General affirms this exit of peace when he states that his “first day of peace will be [his] last one in power” (p. 14).
The first statement to begin this novel proclaims that, “It seems that the devil controls the business of my life” which seems to correspond with the General’s “disillusionments of power” (p. 5). However, he is driven by power; power which confines him to his physical state, a “desire to rule” (p. 16) which is so strong that it preserves his “moribund appearance” (p. 16). Yet, despite his need for power he argues that “power by force was unworthy of his glory” (p. 23). It is evident he is a very powerful man as at one point in his life he was “invested with triple power as President of Bolivia and Colombia and Dictator of Perú” (p. 31). On page 47 the General “renounced power because of an emetic that should not have been prescribed, and [he’s] not prepared to renounce life as well.” However, his life is power; and without power he is condemned to wander his labyrinth until he regains a sense of normality by repossessing his power of influence over South America. That being said, I find it hard to visualize a man with “scrawny ribs and rachitic legs” (p. 75), who is “bony” and “pale” (p. 76), and weighs 88 pounds (p. 138), to be very intimidating and capable of uniting all of South America.
The labyrinth of his mind is what I believe does not allow the General to escape his demons where his “memories were more of a burden than the years” (p. 118). Carreño puts it into perspective for the General, that “not even the stars escape the ruin of life” (p. 128). In this manner, aren’t we all lost in our very own labyrinths of life, trying to solve a bewildering complex?
Monday, March 3, 2008
I The Supreme Continued...
Though this novel is evidently a rich narrative, it never truly captured my attention. I was never able to get over the fact that there is no use of quotation marks to make it clear who is speaking! I did however find it interesting that Roa Bastos uses so many different types of narration throughout the novel; such as recorded dialogues, private notebook entries, documents, episodes of a “perpetual circular”, etc. I was struck by the final complier’s note (p. 435) in which he makes reference to the "fatality of the written language". This notion lends itself to the idea that writing is associated with power. I interpreted this as meaning that writing is powerful because history can be erased by the stroke of a pen...or destroyed if it does not please the Supreme. Of the novels we have read so far, I feel that this novel is the clearest embodiment of writing as power, as the entire narrative is based around writing and its association with power. I suppose it makes sense that this text was “read first and written later” since most of the novel is a dialogue. I believe that it was quite bold to state that “instead of saying and writing something new, it [the novel] merely faithfully copies what has already been said and composed by others.” Dictators, such as the Supreme and the President, never truly create a new history, they simply manipulate what has occurred for their personal benefit, which is essentially something that has “already been said”. These dictators, “Terrorists by Divine Right”, live in constant fear, which is another example that writing is power because they must constantly be fearful and monitor the written word circulating in society. Though I was not a fan of the lack of clarification of speaker, I did enjoy this book more than Facundo, my only other complaint being how ridiculously long it was.
Monday, February 25, 2008
I The Supreme
I The Supreme
Though this is a “brilliant” book, as it claims on the front cover, I had a very hard time getting into it. Not only because the sheer size intimidated me, but because after reading about 5 pages...I still wasn’t sure who was talking! I find it extremely frustrating that most of the text is dialogue but does not use quotation marks to demonstrate who the speaker is. Every couple of pages the author throws in paradoxes: “even the truth appears to be a lie” (p. 5), “no story can be told” (p. 11), “there’s nothing that hasn’t already happened” (p. 13), “it’s awkward being alive and dead at the same time” (p. 14), “the dead man was coming back alive with us” (p. 21), etc, which are somewhat depressing and confusing. The quote “even the truth appears to be a lie” (p. 5) reminds me of The President because in many cases the truth did appear to be a lie. I also find it incredible that the Supreme Dictator is 84 years old (p. 12)! I find the descriptions at times to be puzzling, for example did Don Tiku really shrink that much that he was buried in a child’s coffin? I am also reminded of The President because it seems that written word can either be powerful or meek. It can cause people to burst into “wild sobs of lamentation” or it can be destroyed and forgotten as the Supreme does when he receives writing that is “badly made” (p. 22). I can only hope that Patino’s fate is not the same as Angel Face because he is so close to the Supreme. I predict that the psychological realism will be similar to that of The President, and can only hope that whoever is speaking becomes more clear.
Though this is a “brilliant” book, as it claims on the front cover, I had a very hard time getting into it. Not only because the sheer size intimidated me, but because after reading about 5 pages...I still wasn’t sure who was talking! I find it extremely frustrating that most of the text is dialogue but does not use quotation marks to demonstrate who the speaker is. Every couple of pages the author throws in paradoxes: “even the truth appears to be a lie” (p. 5), “no story can be told” (p. 11), “there’s nothing that hasn’t already happened” (p. 13), “it’s awkward being alive and dead at the same time” (p. 14), “the dead man was coming back alive with us” (p. 21), etc, which are somewhat depressing and confusing. The quote “even the truth appears to be a lie” (p. 5) reminds me of The President because in many cases the truth did appear to be a lie. I also find it incredible that the Supreme Dictator is 84 years old (p. 12)! I find the descriptions at times to be puzzling, for example did Don Tiku really shrink that much that he was buried in a child’s coffin? I am also reminded of The President because it seems that written word can either be powerful or meek. It can cause people to burst into “wild sobs of lamentation” or it can be destroyed and forgotten as the Supreme does when he receives writing that is “badly made” (p. 22). I can only hope that Patino’s fate is not the same as Angel Face because he is so close to the Supreme. I predict that the psychological realism will be similar to that of The President, and can only hope that whoever is speaking becomes more clear.
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