Initial Thoughts on The Memory of Running

I have decided to write this blog post, where I will discuss my initial feelings on the characters we have read about so far in The Memory of Running, for I feel it will be interesting to see how my opinions change throughout the book.  

First up is the main character, and supposed hero, Smithy Ide.  Initially we read that he is a drunk fat-ass with no real friends. “I told [Mom] I would be sure to have a nice sandwich and maybe some soup.  What I really was planning was two six-packs of beer and a bag of those crispy Bavarian pretzels.  maybe some different kinds of cheeses. And because I had been limiting my smoking to maybe a pack a day, I planned to fire up a chain-smoke, at least enough to keep the mosquitoes down, and think” (McLarty 2-3).  As I continue reading, all I can think about is how sad Smithy’s life is.  He’s let himself go, lost both parents, has no real friends, is unaware where Bethany, his sister, is, and he blames himself for everything.  I just feel really bad for him.

The next characters are Smithy’s mom and pop.  We, as readers, don’t get much description of Smithy’s mom.  We just read that she is small but powerful.  We also learn that she isn’t as part of a tight circle of friends as pop is.  In contrast, pop is a very popular character.  Not only is he the main man in his circle of friends, but he also very admired in the eyes of Smithy. Their father-son relationship is very powerful and it helps Smithy appear more genuine.  Although the father-son relationship is very strong, it definitely contrasts with the father-daughter relationship of pop and Bethany.  Pop seems unaware of how to deal with Bethany’s mental health problems (which is understandable).  The way he approaches her situation, is he acts like a detective and tries to make out the ununderstandable, which is very noble, but is, at times, unsuccessful.  

This segways into Bethany, Smithy’s sister.  Bethany’s character is honestly a mystery to me.  I can’t really understand her, but that’s probably how it’s meant to be.  But, she and Smithy also have a strong relationship, stronger than most sister-brother relationships.  But she is a very unpredictable character.  At times, she is fine, playing with Smithy and Norma, but sometimes she just goes crazy.  She can’t be blamed since it’s not her fault.  But it does make her one of the most interesting characters to read about in Smithy’s narration.  

Finally, there’s Norma.  I didn’t really see the significance of her, until Smithy meets her at the funeral service.  I can now get a glimpse of how her character will become more and more important as the story goes on.  In my opinion, Norma is the connection from Smithy’s past and present.  In fact, she is the only human connection, since his parents and sister are all gone.  Although Smithy’s and Norma’s interactions are awkward at first, I assume they will become more accustomed to eachother and their relationship will become more important as we read on.

With these character descriptions in mind, I can already see a “hero’s journey” forming.  For what purpose, I am not sure.  But I am definitely enjoying the process of figuring it out.  

Who is Anse Bundren?

Initially, I thought I knew the answer to this question when we first began “As I Lay Dying”, but now I’m not so sure.  Throughout the book, Anse Bundren has definitely evolved as a character, and has effectively confused me in the process.  

When we first discussed the character of Anse Bundren in class, we came to a consensus that he was just an “Anse”: a predictable man who stayed at home and always seemed to attract unfortunate outcomes, as was the general consensus of the neighbors of the Bundrens.  But, as the book comes to an end, and the Bundrens have completed their journey, Anse begins to not act like a typical “Anse.”  First, he takes this journey, which is well out of his comfort zone.  In the beginning of the book, before Addie has even died, Anse states: “When He aims for something to be always a-moving, He makes it long ways, like a road or a horse or a wagon, but when He aims for something to stay put, he makes it up-and-down ways, like a tree or a man.  And so He never aimed for folks to live on a road” (Faulkner 36).  In this, Anse says that people are supposed to stay put.  That there’s no need for traveling to places because we are built upright, like a tree, and we need to be rooted down and work, not move around. This idea totally contradicts the whole journey of taking Addie to Jefferson.  Not only has Anse decided to get up and move, but he has chosen a very difficult journey to do so.  Since no Anse situation is a fortunate situation, the Bundrens face multiple obstacles they must overcome.  There is no smooth sailing when it comes to Anse Bundren.  

Another surprising act by Anse appears at the end of the book.  Surprisingly, this last chapter is narrated by Cash Bundren, not Anse, but I’m not even gonna try and explain why that is.  What I’ve chosen to focus on, is the fact that Anse disappears into this house to return the shovels the Bundren's used to bury Addie, their dead mother, and then he comes back out the house with a woman by his side, along with a new set of false teeth and a gramophone.  He proceeds introduce his children to this mystery woman, and then ends the book by saying “meet Mrs. Bundren” (Faulkner 261)....WHAT?? Anse has just completed this journey, for Addie, and now he has replaced her.  He literally just returned the shovels he used to bury his wife into the ground, and he felt that that was the best time to remarry.  I can’t even begin to explain why he would do this, but all I can say is that Anse Bundren has definitely changed. For better or for worse, I haven’t decided yet.  

Star or Problem Child?

Initially, when we first began As I Lay Dying, I thought to myself: “Wow, Jewel is one pessimistic person.” Honestly, he just didn’t seem like a friendly dude.  It’s wasn’t until I read further into the book, specifically at the scene where Jewel is “entering the water”, along with Tull and Vardaman, to help collect Cash’s tools.  Tull and Vardaman won’t enter too far into the water, for fear of floating away, but Jewel is seen diving deep under the waves while Tull and Vardaman just “stand there, leaning back against the current, watching the water where he disappeared” (160 Faulkner).  

Reading this creates very conflicting ideas in my head.  At first, we see how Jewel doesn’t listen or really care about his family members.  He likes to be independent, and is very introverted.  But in the scene in the river, Jewel is risking his life to retrieve Cash’s tools that have fallen into the currents.  We know that Cash is very skilled in carpentry, and therefore, his tools are very valuable to him. By knowing this, we are able to see a side of compassions from Jewel.  He dives into the water, while Cash is vomiting on the shore, in order to retrieve his brother’s most valued possessions.  

After reading this scene, I decided to evaluate the relationship between Cash and Jewel.  Cash is a hardworking carpenter, who enjoys his work.  He works when told, and even when his skills aren’t required.  He even meticulously works on his own mother’s coffin.  But, even though he works hard to please both his family (especially his mother) and himself, Jewel is still seen as Addie’s favorite.  

In contrast, Jewel is not so motivated.  Well, I should say, not motivated to do things that won’t benefit him.  He obviously sees that the work he is assigned doesn’t change anything, for his family is still poor, so he takes it upon himself to find a new job: “He cleaned up that forty acres of new ground Quick laid out last spring.  he did it single handed, working at night by lantern” (135 Faulkner).  He uses the money he earned to buy himself a horse.  The horse symbolize Jewel’s independance, for he bought it without the consent of his father or mother.  In fact, the strong purchased horse helps when Jewel, Darl, and Cash are drying to cross the huge river while pulling the wagon with Addie’s coffin in it (along with Addie in it too).
 

This difference between Cash and Jewel leads me to doubt that they are even brothers.  Their personalities are almost complete opposites.  Although these characteristics of Jewel may portray him to seem arrogant, they also show how he has learned to live a successful life: to find the right kind of work, work hard, and you will be rewarded.  

With this realization, although I initially had negative feelings towards Jewels character, I now understand him more and can rationalize with him.  He has become a more appealing character.  It’ll be interesting to see how his character develops (and if we ever will get a part of the story narrated by him) and if my liking in him will still hold true.  

PS: I wrote this blog post before we read about Addie’s affair, so the last paragraph, especially, is just a theory and personal opinion.

Oh Brother Where’s Ithaca?

Although there are many connections that can be made between Homer’s The Odyssey and Joel and Ethan Coen’s Oh Brother Where Art Thou, one of them that really stood out to me was similarities between Odysseus and Ulysses Everett McGill.  Both characters have similar motives for their own Odysseys (in trying to get back to their wives), extreme hubris, and are skilled in trickery.

The common theme/ drive for both Odysseus and Ulysses is the task of getting back to their wives.  Odysseus, as we know, has been trapped at Calypso’s island, and has been away from his home for twenty years.  Throughout the epic poem, he longs to get home to see his wife, Penelope, son, Telemachus, and his city or Ithaca.  Throughout his journey, there are many obstacles and distractions that derail him from his trail, but this drive of getting home is what keeps him (somewhat) focused during his journey.  Ulysses, having been imprisoned for practicing law without a licence, also longs to return home.  But, in the case of Odysseus, who has no idea what has been going on at home, Ulysses has received a letter from his wife, Penny McGill, explaining that she has decided to remarry a man named Vernon T. Waldrip, who is apparently “bona fide”.  After being informed of this, Ulysses decides to plan a breakout with his inmates Delmar and Pete.  These motives both drive the characters, Odysseus and Ulysses, and the plot forward to create an interesting adventure, both for them and the reader.  

The second similarity involves both Odysseus’ and Ulysses’ excessive pride.  Their prideful personalities both help and hurt their own respected journeys.  If Odysseus hadn’t mocked Polyphemus so much, he might not of have so much beef with Poseidon, and might of gotten back sooner, maybe even with some of his original crew.  On the flip-side, if Ulysses didn’t care so much about his hair, and the certain kind of hair gel he must use,  he and his pals wouldn’t of had to go out of their way to keep restocking in hair products.  So, although they share similar motives, Odysseus’ pride and Ulysses vanity drag out their own journeys at their own expenses.  

Lastly, both Odysseus and Ulysses have very fine tuned skills in deception.  It helps make up for their hubris.  Odysseus uses his skills in tickery to convince people he is either more than made out to be, or is a foreigner.  He doesn’t fully reveal himself until the end, when he shows himself to Telemachus and then Penelope.  In this case, Ulysses is sort of the same.  He is able to dig himself out of most situations, or make the most of it.  Such as with Mr. Lund, the blind radio station man, he tricks the man with lies about the band “The Soggy-Bottom Boys’” numbers and races.  What comes from his lies is more money for their journey, which is unfortunately stolen. Each of their skills in trickery help both characters get through the many obstacles they experience in their respective journeys, but also extentuate their pride.

These similarities make it very easy to connect The Odyssey to Oh Brother Where Art Thou. Each of the qualities play off each other, changing the pace of their own Odysseys.  It’s unfortunate that Odysseus’ pride and Ulysses’ vanity cause major obstacles in their paths, but their motives and skills in deception almost make up for it.  All in all, although these qualities seem to drag on both Odysseus’ and Ulysses’ journeys, they make for a more interesting story, to say the least.