Re: Yawn.

AntiUtopia@aol.com
Sun, 28 Nov 1999 11:05:15 -0500 (EST) 

In a message dated 11/28/99 9:23:03 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
tim@roughdraft.org writes:

> I say that the cold lack of inner detail toward the end of the story, 
>  compared to the richer narrative that preceded it, where we see 
>  Muriel in exquisitely unflattering detail, is parallel to the mental 
>  state of the man in the story who wakes his wife up by blowing out 
>  his brains in their hotel room.
>  
>  In fact, that gunshot-cry from Seymour is very possibly his own 
>  answer to the koan, "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"
>  
>  Now, there's something at least on topic, and I'm genuinely 
>  interested in hearing what people think.   Hey, if we get some 
>  responses, we can offer the real answer to the koan.
>  
>  --tim o'connor

See, the problem with being on-topic, Tim, is that I have to THINK ABOUT what 
I'm writing.  I don't think I need to explain how sick I am of having to do 
that.  It's soooo nice, just once, just somewhere, to be able to be 
brainless.  So very nice.  See, as soon as I'm done reading my e-mail I'm 
going to go back to this paper on Othello that I really don't care about.  I 
lambast psychological criticism of it and, frankly, that was fun.  I'm 
playing Doom 95 on my computer as I take short breaks from the paper, and I 
really do think the Nightmare mode has inspired my handling of Shakespearean 
psych. crit.  But, you see, as mildly interesting (to me) that my point is 
(beyond blasting psych crit), I just don't care enough.  But I have to.  

So when it all gets to be too much, I can come here.  I can read, write, and 
NOT THINK :)  And now you're trying to take that all away by making us talk 
about something Relevant.  You evil, evil man :)  

Anyway, you do have something pretty good going here.  I'd never noticed it 
before, but you're right.  "Exquisite detail" does define the opening of the 
story, and is completely lacking at the end.  The story kinda flattens out at 
the end.  I think that does point in a pretty strong direction toward 
Seymour's frame of mind.  

I do think Muriel's been sold a bit short.  She's vain and a little bit 
shallow, course.  Maybe even a Whole Lot Shallow.  But let's remember she 
continued to believe in our Dearly Beloved Seymour long past the point the 
truly shallow and stupid people of this world (a.k.a. her mother) would do 
so.  In some ways I think she "understood" Seymour better than a lot of those 
around him.

I think part of Seymour's problem may have been getting past the banal facade 
over that "understanding."  I think that's part of the point of F and Z.  The 
"fat lady" is Christ.  Realizing the holiness of the banal (not the banality 
of the holy, however) is necessary for the Seymours, Zooeys, Frannys and 
Holdens to be able to survive in this world.  Seymour couldn't do it, so 
BANG....

Jim