"But he was the best; he was one of them. The best. United States Army." (62). Emo is characterized as a heartless killer; he is an incredibly static, extreme character. He hates the Japanese soldiers with a vengeance- he carries the teeth of dead soldiers with him. Emo serves as a character contrast to Tayo; while Emo hates soldiers, Tayo hates Emo because he feels Emo cannot understand the war the way he can. This is the reason Tayo lashes out at Emo.
"'And my brother,'...'If we both sign up, can we stay together?'" (65). I like this quote because it shows Rocky's appreciation for Tayo. The aunt always tried to push Tayo away, but as far as Rocky was concerned, Tayo was a brother. With this comment, Rocky has earned Tayo's undying loyalty.
This novel, obviously, has a man-versus-self plot. The story is one of the inner conflict Tayo has with the demons of his past experiences. Often, the wilderness is a place where a character seeks solitude and time for self-reflection and healing (you don't need to look any farther than the life of Jesus for an example). I expect Tayo will venture into the wild on a personal "ceremony" to cure himself of his mental impairment.
I'm not really understanding why the Indian kids feel like they are stuck on the reservation and cannot do anything else with their lives (this is evidenced in the bar conversation about Emo taking San Diego). It seems to me that the characters lack some sort of personal motivation; they're content to sit around on the reservation, live off the government, and drink beer. Why don't any of them go to college? (It's post WWII; the GI Bill is in full swing). What's up with these kids? No plans for the future?
And where all are the Laguna girls? There's half a dozen young men mentioned in the novel so far, but no mention of Laguna girls. Doesn't it seem like one would have a girlfriend or a wife or something like that? It's post WWII; there's supposed to be baby boomers.
Finally, has anybody determined the present tense yet? I thought we came to the consensus last time that the present was the donkey ride to the bar, and they arrived there, alone in the bar. But then the story enters an extended flashback deal with stories that ends with Tayo stabbing Emo in the gut. Where are we, chronologically speaking?
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I think they left off the present tense after they bummed a ride from the car to the bar. Then it goes back again in the flashback after the war sometime and Tayo gets all nuts. And that is an interesting question you pose about the baby boomers, and racial relations play an interesting key within this story.
ReplyDeleteYep. The ride is in the present but pretty much the rest of it is a flashback (all of the stuff with Emo, etc.) I agree that it is rather odd that the people choose to just sit around and not go DO stuff with their lives, but I have to disagree with you on the idea that Emo is a completely static character. Right now all we have seen of him is his rowdy-soldier side. Who says he won't progress throughout the book?
ReplyDeleteI like how you questioned about the men not having girlfriends or wives. I didn't notice that. This whole book is pretty much present in the bar but with a lot of major flashbacks.
ReplyDeleteGeoff,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post. Not sure I agree with your idea that Tayo only hates Emo because his view of the war. Their connection goes back further than that.
Think about children that grow up in ghettos or other instances of poverty. Typically, what is their motivation? Consider that when thinking about the 'lack of drive' of the Indian men.
Ms. Champagne