going after cacciato, no. 3

In each of the novels we have read so far a character has stuck out to me as the one who grows and comes of age, but this did not happen with Going After Cacciato. Maybe I have missed something, but I do not feel like Paul Berlin represents the type of character and hero needed for a bildungsroman. I also think that because O’Brien does not develop Cacciato’s character very much and leaves so much about him unknown that it is difficult to categorize him as a bildungsroman hero as well. Though I do not feel Going After Cacciato is the best representation of a bildungsroman I am glad that we read it for this class. I think that instead of portraying the entire coming of age process of a character O’Brien gives a very realistic depiction of a juncture in life where coming of age happens. War is an amplified version of the difficulties that many people face throughout their lives. This war specifically challenged those involved in it in extreme ways, mentally, physically, emotionally, and psychologically. O’Brien’s depiction of the war and the way that the soldiers would cope helps me to, one, realize that my personal battles could be much worse, and, two, gain a better understanding of how I cope. In doing this O’Brien illuminates his reader’s individual bildungsroman story and helps them on their way to coming of age.

Dr. O'Brien

I don’t even know what I should say about Dr. O’Brien and his lecture. This is the first time I have heard someone speak of their combat in Vietnam in person. His stories were interesting, challenging, disturbing, and inspiring all at the same time. I have never experienced someone speaking so candidly of their experience of war and it was eye-opening. In regards to the novel, Going After Cacciato, Dr. O’Brien helped by validating that O’Brien new what he was talking about. Dr. O’Brien then shared some personal stories that could have come right out of O’Brien’s work, further verifying it. What I found most inspiring was what Dr. O’Brien said about God. Often I am not a big fan of people saying things such as, “I don’t need drugs or alcohol, I’ve got something better,” in regards to their Christianity. Often times these statements come off as very cheesy and usually do not have any experience behind them, but when Dr. O’Brien said it he meant it and certainly put it to the test. He told us that he genuinely looked to God in his times of fear, and that it worked. The fact that Dr. O’Brien was not on a missionary trip, quite the contrary, he was in one of the most trying situations a person can be in and he was able to hold to his faith was very inspiring as well as affirming.

going after cacciato, no. 1

I have only read about a third of the novel. In my reading I was struck by one line. It comes somewhat early in the hunt for Cacciato, Oscar says, “We do what we do…No use thinkin’, just do it.” Honestly I am not completely sure why this line stood out. I think it may have been the apparent mindlessness that this, and probably all wars, required. I, of course, cannot speak from experience and do not want to pretend that I have any sort of comprehension of what war is, but I can try and imagine what it would take for me to fight in one. I like to think that I could not fight for an unjust cause, whatever that may be, and that if I were going to fight that I certainly would have thought a great deal about it. The more realistic scenario, however, comes through in Oscar’s words, “no use thinkin’, just do it.” The things carried out and witnessed during war are beyond my comprehension, and this quote leads me to believe that much of it may be beyond the soldier’s comprehension as well. They may not have wanted to comprehend, as that would have only made it more difficult, and the only way to ease their minds was to turn them off and “just do it.”

bildungsroman #6: the violent bear it away

The Violent Bear It Away is, in its own twisted way, a bildungsroman. Though it certainly contrasts all of the other novels we have read to this point in which the protagonist matures into a positive, better version of him or herself. Nonetheless, this novel still portrays a protagonist who is given a mission early in life, struggles through many adversities in opposition to this mission, ultimately accepts the mission as his own and then enters into society to carry it out. Flannery O’Connor seems to have written a negative bildungsroman. Instead of her main character finding guidance from outside characters Tarwater is lead astray by them. Instead of finding solace in some small community around him Tarwater is completely alone. Also, instead of facing challenges which help him mature and push him towards his ultimate goal Tarwater faces terrible acts of violence. Despite diverging from what may traditionally be seen as a bildungsroman, Flannery O’Connor still gives her readers a character that comes of age and meets the criteria to be considered a bildungsroman.

the violent bear it away, no. 1

I have not completely finished the story, but so far the idea/image that has most captured my attention is that of Tarwater’s uncle kidnapping people in order to baptize them. Religion and its practices seem to be a constant theme throughout the book and this image captures this theme well. That he would kidnap people so he could baptize them is ironic because the two ideas, kidnapping and baptism, are just such great contrasts to each other. One demonstrates a commitment to Christianity and is considered an act of obedience to God whereas the other is a crim and way to force people into fearful obedience. I was reminded of stories I hear of Baylor and the outlandish attempts made at converting someone to Christianity and the terrible and malicious things said in the name of God. Such things are mind boggling, and at times almost angering, to me as they are such distortions of what Christianity ultimately stands for. When I read about it in Flannery O’Connor’s story I laugh, but when confronted with it in my own life I have little tolerance for such misuse of the religion I profess to be a part of.

wilderness

The one question that lingered with me from our class discussion on wilderness was whether or not wilderness is that same thing for everyone. Could it be remote mountains for one person and a large city for another? I think that I have decided that wilderness must be found in nature. The argument for a city being wilderness was based on unfamiliarity. I understand this idea, but think that there is something more to wilderness than unfamiliarity. Sam Fathers, and eventually Ike, is extremely familiar with the area where they hunt. They know the location of specific trees and can find their way throughout it with ease. However, this familiarity does not make it any less wilderness. An area is not considered wilderness because it is confusing, overwhelming, or completely unknown to an individual. Instead, wilderness is classified by being remote and uninhabited. Ike could not have come of age in a city overrun with people. He had to be in area where his was all on his own, where he could not simply call for help. This, and only this, type of area is wilderness.

experience the situation

Beginning my reading of The Bear I was very intrigued by the scene where Ike goes into the woods without his gun and then leaves behind his watch and his compass. Applying this to my own life, the wilderness being my future, I cannot imagine walking into it completely unarmed. He did not go into the wilderness with a preconceived idea about what he would achieve or what he hoped to discover. Instead, Ike entered into an unknown adventure and encountered the wilderness on its own terms. He allowed himself to just be in the wilderness and to have himself absorbed in it until he finally found his direction. I cannot say exactly what Faulkner meant to convey through this scene, but I feel that he advocated taking situations as they present themselves and being changed by them not trying to change them.