Poisonwood Bible

Multiple narration is a tedious way for an author to write a novel, but in the end provides a rewarding result. It is tedious work simply because, the author must pretend to take on the thoughts, feelings, and idiosyncrasies of multiple people. To be able to do novel using multiple narration justice, the author must hone in on exactly how they want each character to be read and thought of by the reader. In “The Poisonwood Bible,” Barbara Kingsolver uses five narrators, a tremendous task, to tell the tale of the Price family in Africa.
If writing a story is compared to painting a picture for the reader, then multiple narration is similar to an authors ability to add whole new shades of color or detail to the picture. In an interview with Harper Collins publishing, Kingsolver discusses her use of five narrators. She said that she chose five narrators “because it was necessary to the theme of this novel.” She explains that “the four sisters and Orleanna represent five different philosophical positions.” To be able to do justice to the story for the reader, she might have felt that no one narrator could portray the spectrum of emotions and viewpoints she wanted to represent.
One example of Kingsolver using her narrators was when the village was run through by ants. All four daughters have a short narration describing their experience in the event. Leah describes the horror she felt, “I stared hard at the ballooning pink reflection, believing this might be the last thing I would look upon before my eyes were chewed out of my skull. Though I didn’t deserve it, I wanted to rise to heaven remembering something of beauty from the Congo. (300)” Rachel says, “I thought I had died and gone to hell. But it’s worse than that- I’m alive in hell. While everybody was running from the house, I cast around in a frenzy trying to think of what to save. (301)” Even the differences in these two sister’s narratives are visible. Leah wanted to remember the Congo fondly when she thought she would die, whereas Rachel was contemplating which material item she should save from her house. Ruth May thinks of advice she received about dying. “Nelson says to think of a good place to go, so when it comes time to die I won’t, I’ll disappear and go to that place. (303)” Even though she is young, Ruth May still thinks about dying. Adah was left behind by her mother, who chose to carry Ruth May. Adah looks back on that night and says, “That night marks my life’s dark center, the moment when growing up ended and the long slope toward death began. (306)” All four girls went through the same traumatic event, and each of their thoughts can be picked out from one another.
Multiple narration is an interesting tool in writing. When five characters share the spotlight in an authors work, the author must work to make each narrator authentic and unique. Barbara Kingsolver’s final word on her choice of five narrators was that “this novel is asking, basically, “What did we do to Africa and how do we feel about it?” It’s a huge question, and I’d be insulting my readers to offer only one answer.”
Sources:
“Author Interview: Barbara Kingsolver.” Poisonwood Bible: Fall 2008 Reading Group. Library Thing. 17 Sep. 2008.
Kingsolver, Barbara. The Poisonwood Bible. New York: HarperCollins, 1998.

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The Color Purple - Epistolary Form

In 1982, author Alice Walker wrote what would become her best-known work, “The Color Purple.” The novel was a critical and commercial success due to the inspiring story of the narrator, and her unique writing style. In “The Color Purple,” Walker utilizes “epistolary form,” or her narrator told her story through letters to God. This style has an effect on the point of view and bias of the story told, but also on the connection that the reader develops with the characters.
The style is writing is called “epistolary form” because letters to God in a religious context are called “epistles.” The epistles that Walker’s main character, Celie, writes are a narration of her life. Writing letters to God is a very personal process, and in this way the reader can feel a deep connection to Celie. We learn her innermost thoughts; ones that she wouldn’t or felt she couldn’t share with anyone else.
The reader discovers that Celie has been mistreated and abused for most of her life. This abuse led to low or no self-confidence, and the feeling that she had no one to turn to. Her letters to God are the only outlet she has to tell her story in. Whether or not God responds to her letters, God is always there to listen to her. Although later in the story she finds Shug, and also her sister Nettie, God is the first “friend” she has to turn to.
There are advantages to using epistolary form in a novel. In this case, we have both Celie’s feelings about people, and her narration of the events going on around her. The point of view puts the reader into direct context of everything happening in her life. We can see from her writing that she is uneducated, and the reader can also clearly see the difference in her confidence levels and thoughts about life from the beginning to the end. Her letters make the story feel authentic to the reader. Her writing “almost feels entirely removed of any direct story telling, (Rufle)” and feels “almost voyeuristic from a readers standpoint. (Rufle)” The reader also feels intimate in the characters life and relationships.
I personally don’t see any disadvantages to using this style. Walker’s use of such an intimate style was especially effective in the telling of an African American woman’s story. Celie’s story would not have been revealed in any other way. If she had used an omniscient narrator, the reader would not have had any real insight into Celie’s thoughts, especially because for about the first half she doesn’t speak much to any other characters.
“The Color Purple” is an extraordinary work of fiction. I think it is a very effective inspirational tool for both women and African American women. The use of the epistolary style elevated the book to a higher status, for the incredible insight and involvement it brings to the reader. Although most readers probably have not been through experiences as awful as Celie, she is still an icon of a strong woman. Her letters to God bared her soul, ensuring a deep connection to her story.

Sources:

Lavender, Catherine. "The Color Purple." Women's History and Feminist Theory. The City University of New York. 29 May 1998.

Rufle, Lisa. "An Overview of Epistolary Novels." Suite101.com. 18 Sep. 2008.

Howl- The Beat Generation

The Beat Generation, like many other movements, started out as a handful of friends and became an influential force for a generation. Although their works were very original, mostly due to their profanity and controversial subjects, their ideas were being felt around the nation. There were many important historical events happening at the time, and the original “beatniks” became the leaders of the young generation.
Those recognized today as being part of the core group included Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg and a few others. They met and first started to collaborate at Columbia University in the mid 1940’s. During the next decade America became a country of conformists, fearful of the wrath of McCarthyism. The Beats wanted to create a counter cultural movement, one that experimented with drugs, pushed social boundaries, and broke away from the past.
From the time that these men first met until the mid 1950’s, all of them struggled to be published. Kerouac and Burroughs wrote novels, while Ginsberg developed his own unique style of poetry, although it was heavily influenced by Walt Whitman. The turning point in the movement came after they had migrated from New York to San Francisco, becoming friends with the people associated with the San Francisco Renaissance.
Allen Ginsberg had all but given up hope of ever being published. He finally decided to write “Howl” as a personal expression of the antics of he and his friends. His reading of “Howl” at The Six Gallery on December 13th, 1955 was wildly popular and spring boarded all of the Beats’ careers. After the positive reception he received, Ginsberg got “Howl” published. The book’s main success came when the second edition was being released, “Howl” was put on trial for its “obscene nature” in 1957. The book was cleared of all charges and helped fuel the Beat Movement across the country.
“On the Road” by Jack Kerouac was released four weeks before the obscenity trial. Written in 1951, it took years for Kerouac to find a publisher because of what they deemed his experimental writing style, and details of homosexual relations. When it was finally published, he was hailed as the voice of a generation, and a major American writer. This time period was successful for the Beats critically, commercially, and in spreading their message of counter culture.
After this first wave of Beat Generation writers became famous, a second wave followed, adding the important element of diversity to the mix. This diversity helped to spread their message farther, as the core group of original Beats was composed of middle aged white men. It also added new ideas and talent to the movement.
Ginsberg was quoted as saying, “Nobody knows whether we were catalysts or invented something, or just the froth riding on a wave of its own. We were all three I suppose.” (Parkins) The original beatniks led a generation of young people who wanted to rebel, and the victories in the obscenity trials helped to bring liberation to what could be published all over the U.S. They also worked for the evolution of jazz, blues, and rock into a higher art form, inspiring artists such as The Beatles and Bob Dylan along the way. America was ready for a change, and the Beats and their legacy were there to deliver.

Sources:
Asher, Levi. "The Beat Generation." Literary Kicks. 25 July 1994.

Parkins, Keith. "The Beat Generation." Mar. 2005.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

I posted this blog last week when it was due, but my firefox crashed that day also. I guess when it crashed it didn't post the blog entry, so when I just went on to post for Howl I saw that it didn't work. I'll repost it now, I hope that's ok!

Throughout “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” Janie’s character goes through many periods of personal growth, and changes completely. The book is a tale of self- actualization, and Janie goes through noticeable changes in the stages of her life.
In the beginning of her story, she is a young girl living with her grandmother. The reader is shown her maturation into a young woman. After gazing at a pear tree, Janie realizes she wants to see the world. “She was 16. She had glossy leaves and bursting buds and she wanted to struggle with life but it seemed to elude her. (Page 11)”
When her grandmother marries her off to Logan Killicks, she has a naïve idea that she will fall in love with him. Her grandmother only envisioned financial security, and Janie realized on her own that love wouldn’t happen if it wasn’t meant to be. “Janie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman. (Page 25)”
When Janie meets Jody she begins to think more for herself. “A feeling of sudden newness and change came over her… Even if Jody was not there waiting for her, the change was bound to do her good. (Page 32)” She realizes that she has to take some control over her life.
Over the years living with Jody, he has basically beat her spirit down until there was nothing left. She began to hide inside of herself, only showing an obedient wife to the public. She finally stands up for herself to Joe, once in the store, and finally on his deathbed. She lectures him saying, “Naw, you gointuh listen tuh me one time befo’ you die. (Page 86)” She found her voice to stand up for herself.
The biggest character change we see is during her time with Tea Cake. Janie is finally happy with herself, and feels both independent, and needed. She realizes how much her life has changed and “Sometimes Janie would think of the old days in the big white house and the store and laugh to herself. (Page 134)” Her life with Tea Cake is the first time she has been able to be her own person.
The evidence of her maturation over the story comes full circle at the end of the book. She has finished telling Phoebe the history of her love life, and there is an apparent change in her attitude, visible to the reader, Phoebe, and most of all, herself. Her most recent love affair was the one she had been searching for since she was a girl, and she finally realized that she was the only one who could make the right choices for herself. She has come to trust her own opinion, and not live by the feelings and judgments of those around her. Basically, Janie has finally become her own person. She summarizes to Phoebe her own thoughts on the whole experience. “So Ah done been tuh de horizon and back now and now Ah kin set heah in my house and live by comparisons. Dis house ain’t so absent of things lak it used tuh be befo’ Tea Cake came along. Its full uh thoughts… (Page 191)”

Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God. J.B. Lippincott, Inc., 1937.