clockwork

I began reading my 2nd book, the clockwork orange..... me likey.....

Anthony Burgess' brutal and cruel novel has everything I could hope for in a book. Only 2 chapters in, I have already encountered a rape, a beating, and swear words. These are exactly the kind of events that are needed to keep my interest in a book. The nadsat language serves as a minor obstacle as some sentences are deemed incomprehensible - but only an extra minute is needed to look up the unknown word on a nadsat translator . Burgess' characters are unique and original, which adds a greater aspect to the novel. Alex DeLarge, the leader of the "droogs" and narrator of the story, shows ironic characteristics and does things that directly contradict eachother. For example, he has no problem storming into an innocent couple's house, destroying the man's life work and terrorizing the house after beating both the man and woman nearly to a bloody pulp. He feels remorse, however, for several older women in a bar who beg for his mercy. Instead of assaulting them and leaving them near death, which is what I had guessed, he used up his last dollars to buy them fancy food and drink. Although the reader is later shown his alterior motive in keeping the old women quiet when they were questioned by the police, DeLarge still admits to feeling good about himself after he does the good deed. "Makes you feel real dobby," he said after the ladies had thanked him (dobby means good in nadsat). Another interesting character is Dim. Dim is my favorite character in the novle for his sluggish and stupid reputation that his fellow droogs have pinned on him. He seems to be, however, the best fighter out of the four. He comes out of every fight the bloodiest but does the most damage. After one event, he attempted to "dung on the floor." Now that's good stuff. About 40 pages through, I am reading at a record setting pace for my usual sluggish reading speed because of the eventful start to the novel. I hope the pace keeps up - although I see a possibly reform of these hoodlums after they realize the harm that they are causing. I hope that doesn't happen.
Slammy Out

valentines week post

For this Valentines post, I’d like to wish a happy V-day to everyone out there – particularly the ones who will be spending the holiday accompanied by a bowl of popcorn and a movie, but without a second heart beat. Better days will come, my friends.

When I continued reading after my last post, I became infuriated at the ensuing events. Without being threatened of violence or harm, the three boys impulsively pulled out guns and weapons and tried to fight the women of the land that they had trespassed on. But it wasn’t even these impulsive, unreasonable actions that had me foaming at the mouth. After the three boys’ attacks are suffocated and they are put to sleep by ammonium oxide, they wake up in a light, soft, cozy room. One of the boys describes their state as “the ultimate comfort” and the rest agree that they feel perfectly rested and catered to. Clothes have even been set out for them. Yet although it was obvious that the people of the country mean no harm to the boys and have only pampered them thus far, they still decide to make an escape plan and disrespect the blatant wishes of these hospitable citizens. As critic Paul Dean says on http://www.newcriterion.com/archive/13/apr95/dean.htm, "the boys' actions at many times seem unrealisticly rash." Although I have not read far past their escape, I am hoping the women will catch the boys and punish them severely for their disobedience.

25 pages deep

After 1 week I am 25 pages into novel and I have made a couple observations (other than the fact that I am the slowest reader in America).

1. Feminist books don't necessarily have to be as bad as they sound - as long as there is the possibility of violence. This book has maintained my attention mainly because there has been hints and foreshadowing in the novel about the violent tendencies of the women in this mysterious country. I can only pray that these women are armed and dangerous - and ill-tempered. The brief encounter with the three girls in the tree as the characters arive in the country was the most exciting part so far. On page 14 and 15, Gilman described these girls as "swift as light" and "strong and agile" which adds the possiblity of these people possessing a near super human element. Are they like every other human? How do they feel towards the rest of the people in the world? Are they prone to violence?

2. From what I have inferred so far, I can't see anyway that Gilman or anyone else could consider this society ideal. It seems to me that it is a land devoid of both emotional and sexual feelings/actions for the opposite sex as well as a complete lack of diversity.

This link is a piece of criticism explaining how the women in this society go about reproduction. In the last paragraph, the author, Denise Knight, explains how "human emotions, desires, cognition are completely standardized" and how she sees no attraction or benefit to a society with such restrictions. This adds an unrealistic element to the novel; Gilman is trying to establish a society that she claims is perfect, but without any variation? This seems to be quite nearly a dystopia.