Sorry guys. 

Yesterday we discussed Mersault’s interrogation and trial. We focused, as did his interrogators, on the lack of emotion he showed during his mother’s funeral.  While there was much debate as to whether he did not care or was simply lacking “the trappings and the suits of woe,”  I believe we came to the consensus that he was not reacting “normally” to the situation, whatever the cause.

We also discussed the fact that nearly everyone he interacts with is trying to help him in some way, but he either outright rejects the help or ignores the offer.  (See specifically the Inspector and the Chaplain’s attempts to “help” Mersault.)

My questions to you today:

• What types of things does he most often think about?  (The future/the past/the present, emotions/ideas, people/what he’s currently experiencing….)
• Does he act logically?  (Think about our discussion of his reaction to his mother’s death—Is the “normal” reaction that people have logical, or something else?)
• Is he ever emotional?  When?
• Why does he not seem to want to fight for his freedom?  (See “Hope” in yesterday’s post.)  What is it about his outlook on life that makes this impossible?

Finally, take a look at the last lines of the book:

As if that blind rage had washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself—so like a brother, really—I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate.

Discuss.  Take notes.  I’ll look over these tomorrow.

Brief synopsis of our discussion in class today.  More to come tomorrow.  Why does there seem to be an absence of hope in the novel?

Post ’em below.  We already have:

• R&G ’08
• R&G are Undead (See Josiah’s post for a very long video on why we can’t do this one…)

If you don’t come up with an original idea, begin working on a point, that is, a reason, for writing one of the above.  Partial ideas are okay, as we are just in the beginning stages.  I want to see something from everyone tomorrow, though.

Here’s the “From the Board” on Things Fall Apart.  Remember, all homework for this session is due this Thursday the 18th.  I won’t accept anything after this.  We will be discussing chapters 4-6 tomorrow.

We’ve had some great discussions the past few days.  If you are still uncertain about a topic, ask Stacie.  She keeps cranking them out then disowning them. 

We decided to finish the book by Tuesday, which seems reasonable.  Don’t rush if you’re feeling behind. Enjoy the book, read a bit every day, and you’ll be fine.

Here again are the board clips (less jumbled this time):

Sherrie presented her idea for synthesizing Ellison’s short story, MLK’s “Letter…,” the novel, and Montaigne’s quotation on conformity.  (Keep us updated!)

The question I put before the class was:  Are they happy?  If so, why?  If not, does it matter?  We went through a list of things in our lives that upset us, then crossed out those that are eliminated in the BNW.  The next question was why is Bernard unhappy initially, and what is the source of Hemholtz’s discontentedness?

If you come up with an idea, want to offer one to the class, have a question, or a general observation, comment below for the good of all.