Post #12

I though L-Play was very entertaining; the stories almost reminded me of a combination of Waiting for Godot and The Stranger because things just seemed to happen almost without a logical rising action or conclusion. I liked the first story about loneliness the best because it had so much woven into a short four page story—there were all sorts of unresolved issues including Monica’s issues with men, her own family, revenge, and Joan’s own murky past and deceitful present. I didn’t really know what to make of the end at first, Monica is dead and there was so resolution to any of the problems the author brings up, but at the same time I think maybe the author just wanted his readers to get to know a character, possibly feel some sympathy for her and then feel something when she died. We haven’t yet discussed L-Play in class and I’m curious about the context of this work and how it relates to Mississippi.

In terms of the “High Lonesome” piece I wasn’t really as interested in this reading but I can kind of relate because I feel like everyone knows someone like the uncle—a man who you look up to but at the same time realize is dangerously flawed. It’s worthwhile to look at the qualities that the narrator admires in his uncle—the “savage grace,” the skill, the knowledge, the wealth. But oddly even though the narrator is young and looks up to this guy as a father figure he still manages to see the man’s flaws in particular in relation to how he treats blacks. Initially, the narrator blames most of his uncle’s problems on his wife but as he matures he realizes that she is certainly not the only reason Peter drinks and looses control. I guess this blaming sort of relates to the “Defense of Southern Womanhood” that we read. Whereas in that piece the author mentions that if a woman killed her husband it was believed that he deserved it, in this story the wife is blamed for the unhappiness of her husband. Finally, I found it intriguing how the narrator can’t seem to love or admire his father in the same way he interacts with the much more colorful uncle Peter. This might say something about what qualities people admire or are drawn to.

Lastly, the Mississippi History was worthwhile because it focused on ethnic issues, which are sometimes overshadowed by the black/white tension. After reading this we ask ourselves did Chuck overreact or was Kenny wrong for laughing? Putting myself in Chuck’s position I think Kenny was at fault but putting myself in Kenny’s place makes me blame Chuck. Sadly, I think that ethnic/race issues can be so hurtful and devastating that they really can cause an incurable rift in friendships.