Happy Birthday Adam!

Jonathan Dee portrays the parental roles in a family of the new millenium in The Privileges.  Dee, a parent himself, depicts a married couple where one spouse strives to earn enough wealth the other spouse can live in comfort with hopes that the lavish lifestyle will bring happiness to their relationship.  Adam, in the Moreys' case, embraced the role of breadwinner and attempted to provide all the wealth he believed his family needed to live happily. Adam, however, has the problem of taking risks beyond the necessary lengths to reach prosperity. Dee notes that Adam's practices "[weren't] just about the money," instead more of an obligation to sustain power and leadership over less daring brokers in his insider trading circle (123). Adam's minimal ambition for gaining wealth and more interest in the leadership factor portray him as power hungry in addition to selfish. These traits result in continued patterns of taking serious financial risks for hardly any significant gain. Dee reveals that without Adam's shady financial decisions the Morey family "wouldn't feel the money's absence at all," which leads me to question Adam's morals as he continued his sketchy business (123). I believe Adam has a serious need for some sort of intervention to relieve him of the financial risks he takes. Therefore, as a gift to Adam from me for his birthday (hypothetically of course) I would invest in some counseling for the serious financial gambling he did. In addition to providing an intervention to his risky ways I would also encourage Adam to rethink his role as a parent. Like Adam's own partner Devon, I would like to pose the question: "Why are you doing it still?" (144). Hopefully my attempted shot at using logos to change Adam coupled with the intervention would make him quit his practices but just in case I would purchase a gift for his birthday again to remind him of the emotional role of a father. Maybe a nice framed picture of the beautiful Morey family to put in perspective who Adam lives for. A picture of his family may trigger a revelation about fatherhood that the responsibility of a dad revolves around providing love and teaching morals to one's children. With those two factors encouraged, love and morals, maybe Adam could readjust his own morals to prioritize a family that needs him for his love, not his overseas bank accounts that they have no dependence on. For his birthday I would like to encourage Adam to place more attention on his loved ones for their sake, rather than his insider trading circle.

Let's Live it Up

As a teenager I found myself unaware of the thoughts and internal conflicts that aging involves until reading Elizabeth Strout's novel, Olive Kitteridge.  I acknowledge that my young age has the effect of ignorance on my consideration of topics like death and loneliness.  Like many young adults I imagine I still have feelings of invincibility allowing me to take risks and do things I want to do without death or injury really crossing my mind.  In contrast, Olive appeared much more aware of the close proximity she had to death due to her old age.  Instead of knowing its inevitability a long way away that my generation tends believe, Olive asks that her death "be quick" (253).  Strout's implication of serious fear of death that seniors have juxtaposes the lack of thought I really have regarding the issue.  As a result, I find myself sympathetic of those that fear the inevitable and do not have reassurance that they have time to live it up.  Due to that pathos I have pledged to spend as much time as possible with my elders that I love and encourage them to live the remainder of their lives to the fullest with my help.  Additionally, Strout motivated me to see my grandparents more often as a result of the empathy the author imposed while Olive lived alone after her husband's placement in assisted living.  Olive described her life of loneliness as "'hell'" and due to hell's extremely dark and depressing connotation I want to alleviate the loneliness some of my loved ones may suffer from by visiting with them more frequently and speaking with them more often (255).  Little moments I try to spend with my grandparents to avoid the feelings of "'always [being] alone'" (255).  I consider myself extremely independent and even I can not stand loneliness for too long, so empathetically I do not want any of my loved ones to feel the same way.  People have packed schedules these days I know, but I also know adopting monotonous schedules that look the same, day in and day out, like many senior citizens do can not provide any enjoyment.  The sympathy and respect Strout instilled in me regarding my elders has changed me.  I want them to enjoy life as much as I do and have schedules as entertaining as the one I follow.  Grandparents provide a lot to get little in return.  Spending time with them compares well to the high-ticket gifts we always rely on them to get us at birthdays and holidays.  Why not return the favor and give them the gift at the top of their list?  Only time appears on the price tag. 

Beware: Old People

Elizabeth Strout focuses on an aging woman who shares her name with Strout's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Olive Kitteridge.  The book consists of thirteen chapters of anecdotes involving Olive intertwined with underlying internal and external conflicts she encounters through her aging years.  At first glance I never thought a seventeen year old male like myself could possibly have interest in the novel, however I found myself breezing through it without much complaining.  The conflicts that dominate the story definitely did not relate to the moments I live in currently, however Strout changed my outlook on topics like senior citizens, loneliness, and death.  Therefore, I do not suggest Olive Kitteridge to anybody incapable of summoning sympathy and willing to turn themes of novels into new practices in their own life.  I do not see many of my peers having particular interest in the novel as subjects like the "nursing home" occurred frequently in the life of Olive (158).  Students at my age typically can avoid the nursing home and I even see family members that have reluctance to visit relatives that must live an assisted lifestyle.  Ultimately, I see a generation like my own as one uninterested in the loneliness and hopelessness surrounding nursing homes and those affected by them.  We mostly see them as a place to ship our relatives off to when we no longer want them as a burden on our hands.  Additionally, another source of complication in Olive's life was her "new daughter-in-law" (142).  Last time I checked, none of my friends had sons yet, so logically this issue has no relevance to my peers.  I, however, learned a number of lessons regarding the interaction with in-laws from Olive that I may have to put to use in the future (fingers crossed).  Coincidentally I see characters that compare to Olive's daughter-in-law, Suzanne, as people that should not read this book as well.  The setting of the book has the tendency to depress and darken situations as Maine's climate consists of long winters and little time to savor the beautifully, incomparable autumns the area has to offer.  Suzanne justified her and her husband's controversial move to the state farthest away from Crosby, Maine and her parents-in-law's residence for she "'[likes] sunshine'" as opposed to the "'darkness'" that consumes Maine over the long winter (143).  Like the climate, Strout's writing has an abundance of focus on darker topics and struggles of a senior citizen like death and loneliness.  Therefore, those living in the moment and those fearful of living in solitude may not like the foreshadowing Strout provides by focusing on Olive's life.  Readers of Olive Kitteridge must have the power to note themes and lessons that Strout teaches through her fictional work and also have the willingness and memory to put those lessons to work later in life when they have more relevance.  If one does not possess the understanding to dissect the thoughts of a lonely, old woman they have no chance of having any sympathy for Olive and as a result will not gain anything from reading the novel.

Judging a Book by Its Contents

As Elizabeth Strout characterizes personalities in her 2008 novel, Olive Kitteridge, she associates physical appearance with character traits that members of the story possess.  Strout's technique appeals to me for she disregards a traditional theme in literature, to not judge a book by its cover.  The protagonist, Olive Kitteridge, receives this treatment when a former student of hers had a chance run in with her in chapter two.  Kevin had Olive as a math teacher in seventh grade and recalled liking her while others did not.  However, when they crossed paths later the older Kevin seemed almost intimidated by his former teacher's presence.  At first glance he thought, "Mrs. Kitteridge. Holy shit," that adopts a fearful tone that reminded me of a soldier's reaction to an officer of higher rank (34).  From the perspective of Kevin, Strout continues her description of Olive's presence by proclaiming her "a big woman," which I found synonymous with imposing as a result of her commanding company (34).  Therefore, Strout characterizes Olive as an intimidating character, one that demands the respect of those surrounding her simply by her presence.  Strout dives deeper into her character via physical characteristics during her encounter with Kevin as she notes Olive's "forthright, high-cheekboned expression" that very much reinforces the blunt, condescendingly direct reputation Olive possessed in the eyes of many of the other residents of Crosby, Maine (34).  Strout's use of physical descriptions that relate to the personality of the characters in Olive Kitteridge leads me to believe that the appearance of a person can truly tell you a lot about their identity.  Then again, I believe Strout's added complexity to characters like Olive as the book progresses call for deeper looks into the character of people.  As a result, Strout acknowledges the stereotypes of appearance while also encouraging those that dwell on physical characteristics to explore the personality of someone deeper and find the intricacy of all people.   

Parenting, Meaningless?

Kurt Vonnegut uses his notable satiric voice to take aim at a number of characteristics of human nature in his 1963 novel, Cat's Cradle.  To explain the significance of the book's title I pinpointed a chapter that best describes one of the primary themes Vonnegut develops throughout the story, that human nature leads people to identify achievements with undefinable purposes.  One character in particular Vonnegut characterizes as heavily impacted by the hollowness of such human quests.  Newt Hoenikker, son of Felix Hoenikker who developed the atomic bomb, lived a childhood with ineffective parental attention.  Without a mother, Newt's older sister embraced the maternal role in the house, while Newt's father never provided anything meaningful to the development of his offspring.  Newt reminisced of a single moment in his childhood where his father attempted to play cat's cradle with him.  Newt struggled to find the meaning of such a game and for the rest of his life found himself perplexed at the meaning of any individual's pursuits.  Newt's struggles surrounding the topic climax while on the island of San Lorenzo where he painted a nearly unidentifiable, black picture that he proclaimed a cat's cradle.  To most the picture sparked no ideas, to his sister the painting made for concern, but scientist Julian Castle appeared conscious of where Newt's painting hailed from.  Castle concluded that the picture intended to depict "'the meaninglessness of it all,'" a perplexing idea to the narrator of the story, Jonah (169).  Vonnegut's intentions with Castle's comment translate more directly than one may think.  The author at this moment simply attempts to encourage members of the audience proud of the lessons instilled in their lifetime to pause and reminisce for a moment.  Vonnegut strives to make readers reconsider the few monumental moments of their lives, what truly had meaning, what truly had an impact.  Castle simply provided an extreme outlook claiming nothing has bearing in the lives of people.  Vonnegut continues to develop that extreme perspective of Castle as he declared people never have "'anything really meaningful to say'" (169).  The pessimistic perspective of Castle encouraged Newt to elaborate on his lack of faith on the meaning of anything.  He returned to the game his father once played with him and asked, "'See the cat?  See the cradle?'" (179).  As a result, Vonnegut satirizes the parenting technique Felix Hoenikker adopted with Newt, for like the game had no meaning connected to its title, it also had no meaning and significant effect on Newt's life other than raising unanswerable questions.  As a son very appreciative of the morals and lessons my parents instilled in me I dislike the philosophy of Newt and Castle.  Maybe I am in denial but I believe the parenting techniques my mother and father used in my developing years differentiate me from my peers and had significance in my maturation.  I acknowledge that some games and moments may not have a signifcant effect on the life of a child but that does not mean everything in the world does not have a meaning.  As a result, I disagree with many that think Vonnegut had the intentions of portraying everything in the world as meaningless, instead I believe he encourages those proud of the lessons they have learned to find the significance of all the moments they believe had an impact on the way they live.

Handshakes over Ceremonies

Today universal norms and expectations exist among differing cultures.  Kurt Vonnegut portrays such universals in his novel Cat's Cradle while also mocking those that try too hard to meet them.  One such norm that occurs everywhere: presenting one's guests.  Governments make such an event of this norm when hosting a gathering and in Cat's Cradle the San Lorenzans tried to do just so and present their American guests in a politely eventful fashion.  Of course situations like these can go awry and end in awkwardly amusing moments for the audience.  I found myself awkwardly amused at the San Lorenzans attempt.  To set the stage the Americans arrive by plane to Bolivar, the capital of San Lorenzo.  The American visitors include a businessman and his wife, a writer, relatives of a San Lorenzo resident, and the new ambassador to the United States accompanied by his spouse, in other words, a real star-studded group.  To the President of San Lorenzo the only appropriate way to welcome their guests was to emulate the greeting of The Beatles that just arrived on a flight from London.  Unfortunately, instead of screaming female superfans, the American visitors had to settle for impoverished, unbathed San Lorenzans dressed in loincloths.  When Vonnegut described the appearance of the crowd I thought of a boy band jumping on stage for a performance on MTV's TRL... not.  I chuckled at the awkward situation the visitors had fallen into.  Vonnegut explains the nature of the crowd, "quiet," and adds to the awkwardness when "someone coughed--and that was all" (136).  I felt a sense of the awkwardness and had sympathy for the visitors as empathy reminded me of the feeling.  I could not help but laugh at the scene.  To make things more entertaining for those that only had to read about the moment, President "Papa" of San Lorenzo addresses the wrong "'Mr. Ambassador,'" even after proclaiming San Lorenzo "'the best friend America ever had'" (141).  Vonnegut's utilization of situational irony makes an audience member laugh at the treatment of what just an acquaintance of San Lorenzo may receive.  I may have found the moment so entertaining simply because I have experienced my fair share of awkward moments.  Maybe I am immature for laughing at awkward situations, but such situations teach lessons and change one's thoughts about some universal norms.  A reader should take from this situation: 1.) That one should avoid throwing the "best friend" title around casually. 2.) A proper, firm handshake and personal introductions work as well as a publicized welcoming ceremony complete with a national anthem and 5,000 silent, uninformed audience members.  The author uses satiric techniques to provide such lessons through means of mocking audience members that may have sparked such awkward situations in the past, while he also encourages the understanding of the boundaries of universal norms and expectations.

Add Friend: Jonah

Kurt Vonnegut analyzes an odd way of identifying acquaintances through the practices of Bokonon in his novel Cat's Cradle.  Protagonist Jonah narrates a journey where he uncovered a number of people connected to him, for what reason he had to search for.  These connections to others Jonah identified as a "karass" and explained one can not choose members of his/ her karass but instead the karass does more of the selection according to common characteristics or thoughts of its members (3).  While Jonah may not share my karass, I see him as a possible friend of mine simply because he seems like a relatable person to me.  In an era where people have hundreds of virtual friends via Facebook and other social networking sites I imagine myself becoming more than just another virtual friend with Jonah.  His practice and explanation of Bokonon intrigued me the most and made me think of him as someone I picture myself associating with.  Vonnegut provides a disclaimer during the description of Bokonon that warns the curious that the religion has a composition full of "shameless lies," a characteristic that may attract more people to its practices or deter them from learning more (5).  Jonah provided an example of the former and as a result, characterized him as a strong believer in what he practiced.  Devotion like what Jonah exemplified to the religion of Bokonon despite its founder's disclaimer I perceive as an admirable trait in a candidate for a friend.  Devotion means commitment and only someone committed to a friendship or relationship in general can guarantee a successful relationship.  In addition to the commitment Jonah showed I also respect how he strived to avoid prejudice, another trait harbored through the practice of Bokononism.  A Bokononist's karass has the ability to include any type of person for it "ignores institutional... class boundaries," and consequently discourages the act of prejudice in those that practice the religion (5).  I do not know about others but I typically like to surround myself with people that avoid coming to conclusions about others prematurely.  A Bokononist like Jonah practices the value of equality and does not avoid a person on account of race, class, or ethnicity. Someone willing to expose them self to all and learn the lessons they have to offer results in an extremely well rounded person morally. By acquainting myself with Jonah I would also expose myself to more people and more norms, allowing me to become a better person as well.  Vonnegut's portrayal of Jonah as a committed person, but also one curious enough to meet new people and learn new ideals, appeals to me and I would befriend him in order to diversify my morals and train of thought.