What truly happened to our generation’s belief in chivalry? As I sat in class the other day clinging on for dear life in support of love versus obsession, it hit me. Has our generation become so cynical that we cannot see true and powerful love when it is so eloquently written before our eyes? The words alone that Garcia Marquez uses to illustrate Florentino and Fermina is enough to convince me that these two characters are truly and deeply connected.
I feel that it is my duty as seemingly one of the minorities in this generation that still believes in true love to defend the blatant love that consumes Fermina and Florentino. Garcia Marquez uses the idea and message of “love” as symptomatic. Love is a disease that has taken over the mind of Florentino. It is clear that Marquez wishes to portray love and not obsession as he compares the symptoms of love to the symptoms of cholera. At the time, Cholera had whipped out a significant part of the population. Cholera controlled the people of Latin America just as love has controlled Florentino. Signs of obsession may come out of his desire to cure himself of his love, but, bottom line, love is too powerful to cure.
This incurable disorder that takes over Florentino’s mind and soul begins to drive him to insanity. Florentino physically suffers as a victim of love. The obstacles and trials that Florentino is willing to push past can only be fueled by his burning desire for Fermina. Obsession will take a man far, but love will absolutely take a man further. After Fermina rejects Florentino, he makes a vow to himself that he will forever wait for his true love. This, I must admit, is in fact an obsessive comment, but he is not truthful to his word. The fact that Florentino moves on to have many sexual relationships without true emotional connections, only further supports the idea that he used up all of true love on Fermina. By sleeping around meaninglessly, I believe that Florentino wishes to truly escape the obsessive elements of his relationship with Fermina. He wants to find a sexual escape in nameless women leaving him with mere feelings of naked love and passion for Fermina. He hopes to free his mind from Fermina’s suffocating hold in an endless search for happiness and liberty. It is impossible for him to let go.
Obsession is an enormous part of the love that Florentino feels for Fermina. Obsession fuels the love, but does not control the love. Florentino is not in control of his love. He seems to be controlled by a force, possibly a force of obsession. He is driven to Fermina. But, what is love without obsession? Obsession in one form or degree is present in all great relationships. Florentino yearns for his love with Fermina, just as anyone would yearn for someone they love. I can only hope that one day I have a love that is as romantic and grand as the one between Florentino and Fermina.(522)
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
A Journey Through Jason's Mind
After finishing Sound and the Fury, I felt like a detective that had just navigated my way through the details that consume these people’s lives.
I find myself fixated with Jason. It is a fixation of pure hatred, but I have strong interest in his character. Psychologically, I feel as though Jason can not help the way the he turned out— he never fit in with the other children. One of the most interesting and somewhat understandable aspects of Jason’s being is the fact that he is unable to experience “true love”. Jason is unable to emotionally connect to a woman. He will not let himself get close enough. He expresses his cynical views towards women when he states, "I never promise a woman anything nor let her know what I'm going to give her. That's the only way to manage them. Always keep them guessing. If you cant think of any other way to surprise them, give them a bust in the jaw" (193). This pessimistic and somewhat distrustful view of women can only stem from the failure and hatred his has for the women that are already in his life. We get the notion that Jason hates Caddy from the very beginning of his narrative. He wants to bring Caddy down. In addition, even though Mrs. Compson cared for Jason, he does not treat her with the respect that a loved family member deserves. Jason steals the money that Caddy sends to Quentin and keeps it from his mother, Mrs. Compson. This nonchalant attitude of deceiving your family is understandable on a completely different level when Jason states, "I'm glad I haven't got the sort of conscience I've got to nurse like a sick puppy all the time." Maybe, with this lack of self reflection that a conscience provides, Jason has yet to realize that he truly is a cruel and twisted individual.
Another aspect of Jason’s characters that plagues me is his lack of accomplishments. He seems to be career minded, but he continues to steal money. Jason blames a lot of his misfortunes on the fact the he was not given what all of the other children were given. Jason is constantly preoccupied with the fact the he was not the one that went to Harvard. Jason is clearly a smart and witty man, but he seems to have no drive to apply his intelligence to anything. He wants a life that he does not have, but he does not know how to get there. Because he is unable to attain improvement in his life, I feel as though Jason just stews in his misfortunes and, out of pure frustration and distain, makes the worst out of the situation that he is in. (489)
I find myself fixated with Jason. It is a fixation of pure hatred, but I have strong interest in his character. Psychologically, I feel as though Jason can not help the way the he turned out— he never fit in with the other children. One of the most interesting and somewhat understandable aspects of Jason’s being is the fact that he is unable to experience “true love”. Jason is unable to emotionally connect to a woman. He will not let himself get close enough. He expresses his cynical views towards women when he states, "I never promise a woman anything nor let her know what I'm going to give her. That's the only way to manage them. Always keep them guessing. If you cant think of any other way to surprise them, give them a bust in the jaw" (193). This pessimistic and somewhat distrustful view of women can only stem from the failure and hatred his has for the women that are already in his life. We get the notion that Jason hates Caddy from the very beginning of his narrative. He wants to bring Caddy down. In addition, even though Mrs. Compson cared for Jason, he does not treat her with the respect that a loved family member deserves. Jason steals the money that Caddy sends to Quentin and keeps it from his mother, Mrs. Compson. This nonchalant attitude of deceiving your family is understandable on a completely different level when Jason states, "I'm glad I haven't got the sort of conscience I've got to nurse like a sick puppy all the time." Maybe, with this lack of self reflection that a conscience provides, Jason has yet to realize that he truly is a cruel and twisted individual.
Another aspect of Jason’s characters that plagues me is his lack of accomplishments. He seems to be career minded, but he continues to steal money. Jason blames a lot of his misfortunes on the fact the he was not given what all of the other children were given. Jason is constantly preoccupied with the fact the he was not the one that went to Harvard. Jason is clearly a smart and witty man, but he seems to have no drive to apply his intelligence to anything. He wants a life that he does not have, but he does not know how to get there. Because he is unable to attain improvement in his life, I feel as though Jason just stews in his misfortunes and, out of pure frustration and distain, makes the worst out of the situation that he is in. (489)
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