Mrs. Jernigan's Class discussion
The Mosquito Coast
Nov. 7 chpts. 1-5Nov. 11 chpts. 6-8
Nov. 14 chpts. 9-11
Nov. 18 chpts. 12-14
Nov. 21 chpts. 15-16
Dec. 2 chpts. 17-20
Dec. 5 chpts. 21-23
Dec. 9 chpts. 24-27
Dec. 12 chpts. 28-31
Mod
1. Parallelism: (Russell)
The Mosquito Coast includes parallel scenes and shared moments, juxtaposed objects and inventions, and the sharp comparisons of place. Track Theroux’s use of parallelism throughout the story, tracing his development and characterization of Charlie and his surrogate fathers, Allie’s inventions, America vs. Jeronimo, the Acre vs. Jeronimo, and Allie vs. the Scarecrow. Others exist and wait your take and observation. Why has the author established such a patterned web of contrasts? What theme or subtext do they expose for the reader?
2. De-Evolution of Allie Fox:
Over the course of the novel, Allie Fox slowly de-evolves into a primitive man. Track this process by tracing his words, actions, and others descriptions of him. Notice how he claims or looses his audience. How does Theroux’s use of birds, scarecrows, and inventions mirror the de-evolution of Allie?
3. Savagery & Civilization: (Lindsey)
From setting to setting, society-to-society, Allie voices his contempt and judgment on the state of place and people. His opinions on what is savage and what is civil reveal a larger design in the course of the text. Track his commentary about savagery and civilization through each place and analyze his words and observations for truth or madness. Find the pattern over the novel and through close examination, decide what it reveals about Charlie, Allie, Mother, Jerry, Clover, April, Mr. Haddy, etc. Examine all characters words and actions that reveal their opinions on both topics and uncover the purpose and function of this motif.
4. The False Prophet: (Annie)
From the beginning of the novel, Allie Fox preaches about America, society, religion, and culture. His words stun and repel people but also have the magic to draw them into his worldview. Theroux places missionaries and other real prophets in the story to sharply contrast Allies’ views and sermons. Track his sermons divided by the subjects of civilization, savagery, politics, society, religion, and culture and examine the significance of these words on his family and the others. How does Theroux confirm his role as the false prophet and what is the prophecy that Allie’s message brings? Does he lose his audience or voice over the course of the story? Examine the significance of his quest and its outcome.
5. The Evolution of a Man: Charlie Fox (Ariana)
The narrative structure and point of view provide significant indicators of Theroux’s focal point in character and theme. Trace the coming of age of Charlie from start to finish, as he begins to understand his father’s madness and question his blind allegiance to a man who considers him a mere footnote. How does Allie challenge him in various situations? How does Charlie respond to these moments of cowardice or courage? When does a shift occur in Charlie’s notation of his father and how does he communicate that to the reader? Analyze Charlie’s voice, his actions, his thoughts, and his shifting relationship to his father in order to track his development into manhood. Why and when does Jerry become Charlie’s conscience?
6. Father- Son Conflict (Tupper)
Track Charlie and Allie's struggles, expectations, and arguments throughout the story. Who is right? What kind of father is Allie? How does his relationship with Charlie impact the story?
7. Symbolism.
The novel utilizes symbols to suggest additional meaning and subtextual understanding. Track the use of symbols throughout the story to uncover Theroux's arguments and their intended audience.
Mod
Another Magician: Something Wicked This Way Comes
After following John Wade through his horrid transformations in O'Brien's In the Lake of the Woods, looks like Fitzgerald provides another chameleon to lead us through this picture show of the Lost Generation. Dick Diver, Carnival Leader/Dream Weaver, takes shape and substance through direct and indirect observations of Rosemary, a lady whose "body hovered delicately on the last edge of childhood" (4). Poor Rosie, she will be drawn to Dick and his high society funhouse, but are her wings strong enough to carry her from its destruction?
The Divers wield culture like "kings," "rajahs," and "princes" (15). As a couple they are as mysterious as the sea- compelling, alluring, yet dangerous like fire. Dick's attentive handling of Rosemary "was all completely there" for "his voice [...] wooed the world" (19). Her reaction to the carnival was simply to let its "expensive simplicity" (21) consume her, but as the narrator quickly reminds us, she was "unaware of its complexity and lack of innocence" (21). Dick's "taking care of her" (21) includes his seductive words as he tells her she "look[s] like something blooming" (22). The god-like nature of the Divers is reinforced by Fitzgerald's characterization of their audience in that they "turned up ashen faces to [them], like souls in Purgatory watching the passage of a mortal" (23). Clearly distinguishing the two groups and the power they wield over others, the narrator gives this perception a duality...a hidden, secretive persona that begins to bleed into the "reality." The veil shifts as an outsider observes a hidden encounter or exchange of words. As she attempts to share her observations, she is silenced. For the Divers have fierce protectors (Cerberus like guardians) driven to guard hidden truths from crushing the "rose-colored" sandcastles built for the amusement and entertainment and seduction of their following.
Mod
Write a 250 word Response (due at the end of class). I have posted a sample on their page to use as a guide. Include the following in your response:
a. A Creative Title
b. Embed Three quotations from your reading into the blog
c. Make a connection to another work of art (film, book, etc.)
d. Post your observations about the story and commentary stating its meaning and significance.
e. Discuss narrative structure of the work and why it matters.
See the sample above.
Corrupt LeaderIn the Mosquito Coast, Paul Theroux takes you into the lives of the Fox family in a linear narrative structure. Paul sets up a clear understanding of the family and the way it functions before it goes into the plot of them leaving America to go survive on an island.
Right away, Mr. Fox shows his harsh personality and his hatred of the ways of the “imperfect world” (8). Stating that school “ruins… eyesight” and that America is “a disgrace,” Mr. Fox complains about nearly everything (32-3). The son, having grown “up with the belief that the world belonged to [his father] and that everything he said was true,” now realizes his embarrassment of his father “in public” and “hide[s] [his] head in shame” (43). Mr. Fox reminds me of the little girl in Uptown Girls, Ray. Like Mr. Fox, Ray thinks she is better off than everyone and looks at them like they are all sad and lost. Both of these characters think that everyone else is living life wrong and they are the only people who get it. Waiting for everyone to wake up and realize the truth, these characters live life grumpy and bitter.
This story shows the corruption of a family when there is an unsteady father figure. You learn the importance of the head of the house and what could go wrong in the absence of one.
In the Mosquito Coast, Paul Theroux draws in the reader through a description of Allie Fox and his brilliant child Charlie Fox. After maintaining a farm for years in Maine, and eventually becoming unsucessful, Allie moves his family to the North Hamptons. Working under Tiny Polski, Allie has acquired the skill of inventing. With his morale low after several occurances where his ideas were shot down by Polski, Fox became very unhappy with his current situation.Like Walt Whitman in Breaking Bad, Fox is continuing down a life of despair accompanied by his loving family. Following the thread of Parallelism, and at the same time relating Theroux's work, The Mosquito Coast and Breaking Bad, so far have contained the idea of despair and the pursuit of something greater.
Mod
Nice work, Martha, in exposing the grand contradictions that mark Allie's character and his verbose ideas. Dani picked on Allie's false perception of self that drives part of the text and makes us concerned for Charlie. When re-examining the opening chapters, notice that Charlie manages to utter a couple of words, for Allie's arrogance and knowledge dominates the conversation. Watch closely for the shift. What do you make of Charlie's dream? Or was it a dream at all?
Mod
Cantos I and II
Artifact:
What the Hell - Read and be ready to discuss
Questions to Consider:
1. While the gates predict what is to come, they also suggest what Dante will question. How indeed will he wrestle with sights so gruesome that he faints or calls on us to inspire him - encourage him - push him onward?
2. Based on how he ran from the she-wolf in the dark woods, what do we expect out of our "I am no Aeneas, no Paul?" Why then is he worthy for this journey?
3. Why is Vergil a significant guide for the exiled poet to follow?
4. What parallels does Dante introduce in the opening scene? How will these repeat as the poem continues?
5. How does Dante evoke visual, auditory, olfactory, and kinesthetic imagery as he guides us through Hell?
6. How has Dante's epic lived on in the modern age? Why?
Mod
"The dead twisted person is my old man" (Theroux 5).
Why does Charlie dream his father dies?
What does this dream show about Charlie's fears?
How does Allie terrify his son?
How does Theroux contrast Charlie's waking persona and his dreaming one?
Father-Son Conflict"I grew up with the belief that the world belonged to him and that everything he said was true" (Theroux 11).
"...in a worried guilty way - I was thirteen years old - I felt responsible for him" (11).
"Father was embarrassing in public... I had wanted to hide my head in shame" (43).
"It hurt me that by not allowing me to go to school, Father was preventing me from learning to write like this. I knew that he had learned this elegant script at school, and seeing it made me feel weak and stupid" (53).
"And still Father refused to say where we were going. This worried me and made me feel especially dependent on him... We were in Father's hands" (63).
Why doesn't he feel safe in his father's hands?
"He was dark, I did not know him, and he watched me like a stranger, with curiosity rather than affection. And I felt like a stranger to him" (64).
(Challenged to sit on rock)
“And still Father refused to say where we were going. This worried me and made me feel especially dependent on him” (Theroux 75) “Then you’ll be in school,” Father said, “and I’ll be in its rough equivalent—jail. What have we done to deserve that punishment?” Secretly, I wanted to go to school. I felt like an old man or a freak when I saw other children. And secretly, I preferred factory-made cakes, like Devil Dogs and Twinkies, to Mother’s banana bread” (50)
“Father knew I was lying. But who are you trying to protect—him or me? The answer was neither. I was trying to protect myself.” (72)
“Father as simple and obscure as a passerby, doubting me with his slack posture”(80)
“It seemed to me a ridiculous thing to say, but I remembered that Father had been kind to these men, because they were poor” (71)
Parallelism in Mosquito Coast"Father as simple and obscure as a passerby, doubting me with his slack posture"(80)
"It seemed to me a rediculous thing to say, but I remembered that Father had been kind to those men, because they were poor"(71)
How can you connect Allie's actions with the way Allie is? What is his true personality?
How does Allie's personality factor into to Charlies thoughts and views on life?
Are there any relative traits between Allie and Charlie?
He took on the haunted expression that people did when Father spoke to them(45) Poor Charlie. When you've got something on your mind, you look like a little old man. Don't worry, everything's going to be alright.(52)
Moderator Chapters 1-11Artifact
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vZ-P...
Ask Mrs. Jernigan to override! (Clip from the movie)
Discussion Questions
1. Charlie states that he believes everything his father says is true. What affect does this have on Charlie’s view of America? Does he hate it directly like his dad? Or does he simply go along to please his father?
2. Why does Charlie always defend his father to others? What does this say about his view of his father?
3. What do you think is the reasoning of Allie continually challenging Charlie to do stupid things? (sit on the rock, climb the shroud on the Unicorn) What does this say about Allie’s impact on Charlie?
4. Why do you think Theroux made Charlie the narrator? Does this make Allie’s actions come across as less horrifying than they really are? How?
5. Do you think Reverend Spellgood acts as a foil to Allie? In what ways?
6. As Charlie talks with Emily Spellgood, what are the differences he sees in their lives? How does he feel about this? How does this affect his view of his father?
Mod
1. Read over your Moderator's Post.
2. Access and read/view the link.
3. Answer the questions using specific evidence from text to support your observations.
4. Use at least 3 quotes to support.
5. Response should be 250 words.
6. Same blog gradesheet.
Charlie follows in everything that his father does and does not question him. However, Charlie does not hate America like his father does. Charlie only goes along with what his father says in order to please him, “secretly, [Charlie] wanted to go to school. [Charlie] felt like an old man or freak” (Theroux 86). Charlie keeps how he really feels inside himself and does not want to share with his father in case of disapproval that he might receive from his father, “he believed that Polski, and most men, were his inferiors” (45). Charlie defends his father so that others will not be offended by what his father says and does. However, Charlie defends his father to the others around him because he feels ashamed to the way his father feels about America. Charlie does not want others to think poorly of his father and wants to maintain the self image like the others around him. The reason Charlie’s father is challenging him to do stupid acts is because he wants to have a close relationship with his son, but he does not know how to. Allie’s impact on Charlie can be seen as either negative or positive. Negative because by Allie encouraging his son to do stupid things perceives himself as a horrible parent who does not care what his son does. However, it could considered positive Allie wanting to form a friendship with his son rather than a parent-son relationship. Theroux made Charlie the narrator like have the story be told through an innocent eye. This innocent eyes makes Allie’s thoughts and actions seem less horrifying than they really are. His actions are told through an innocent eye, which makes them seemed lightened in the harsh reality they actually are. Reverend Spellgood acts as Allie’s foil because he only sees the good in the world, while Allie’s chooses to only see the negative aspect of life. Reverend Spellgood prays for even the worst things in life, “pray for the hurricane,” however, Allie cannot see the good in praying for the worst to happen (185). Allie and the Reverend reflect off each other in a positive and negative way. Charlie sees that Emily’s family is very religious while his family is not. Charlie is shocked to see the different ways people perceive their lives compared his.
Charlie views his father as a man full of truth for the sole reason that up to this point in his life, his father has been correct on every occassion. On top of that he is a genius. He is an inventor with poor luck in Charlie's eyes and seems to see the world in a way that is different, yet appealing to Charlie. Charlies view on America isnt near what his father's is. But rightfully so, based on the fact that Charlie hasnt been alive as long as Allie, and seen what the country has come to; America is all Charlie knows at this point. Charlie defends his father, and has for some time because of relating again back to the first idea, his father has been correct, true, and a smart man and to Charlie, that is something to be proud of at this point in his life. Allie has Charlie manipulated and conived into doing anything he says. Its a very twisted concept, but it is working for Allie. He is using Charlie as his slave to a point.Theurox putting Charlie as a narrator is a good way to portray to the reader Charlies feelings for complex concepts, ideas, and his father. This makes Allies actions a little less horrifying, but in some places still corrupt, like when he threw the rubber back to the man in the hardware store because it said made in china, then scolding him about his nationalism. I believe that Reverend Spellgood does act a fool to an extent, but feels embarrassed and insulted by Allie's actions basically demoting him as a pastor and a missionary in front of his whole family. For the first time in the book, while talking with Reverend's daughter, Charlie starts to see the wild idea and the ludicrous contemplations that his father had about coming to the new remote part of the world tp be different and "survive". Obviously, Emily knows that America is not going to turn to turmoil, and Charlie reads between the lines. Charlie begins to see that this is a risk, and a big one, but is willing to give it a shot based on his love and respect for his father.I left my book at home, but did read so I couldnt find any quotes.
BlOG #1November 18, 2014
(Ipad with book is dead, will insert quotes later today)
So far, Allie's view of savagery and civilization seem to be ironic. His first reference to this is at the beginning of the novel when he calls a group of people 'savages', who have come from the jungle and are 'uncivilized'. He talks of them with great fascination and appreciation, but still calls them savage. On the other hand, when he speaks of how civilized modern day America is, he does so with a kind of disgust and hatred that seems contradictory. As the story progresses, it becomes clearer and clearer that Allie agrees with the way of the savages and wishes to live a life like them, and thinks that any form of civilization is in the wrong. Young Charlie observes all this and seems to realize there is something wrong with this thought process, but he looks up to his father so he tries to understand his view. At this point, Charlie is figuring out what he thinks for himself and is on a sort of journey of self discovery.
"But those of us who knew him never doubted him. If there was one thing Father did not know, it was this: he did not need to prove himself to us" (Theroux 95)"I believed in Father. I was not afraid" (96).
"I wish I had Father's courage. Lacking it, I clung to him and Mother, for everything I had known that was comfortable had been taken away from me" (107).
"How much did I trust Father? Completely. I believed everything he said" (123).
"And I was glad Father had bullied me into going inside. He was making me a man" (160).
As Allie and Charlie interact, you realize that Charlie bounces off his father. Charlie idolizes his father almost as this Christ figure who has never done wrong and knows everything. As they travel further into this new unknown world, Charlie is trusting and leaning on his father more than ever. Unaware of Allie's intentions, Charlie creates a trust for his father that is almost forced by survival. While experiencing some of Allie's harshest moments, the thread of their conflict appears as Charlie seems bothered and even embarrassed by his father's actions. However, later on the thread always returns to show how Charlie sees the good intentions and greatness of his father even in the darkest moments. It is almost as if his father's actions and ways of life are so strange and sometimes even wrong to Charlie that accepting them and trusting his father is easier than questioning him. Just when you think Charlie is finally about to realize the insanity of his father, the thread appears again to reassure his commitment to his father. It forms a theme of Charlie's coming of age and what he must overcome in order to detach himself from his father's corrupt ways.
MODERATOR RESPONSE TOTupper? wrote: "Charlie follows in everything that his father does and does not question him. However, Charlie does not hate America like his father does. Charlie only goes along with what his father says in order..."
Good analysis of Charlie and allies relationship. Do you think the only reason Charlie defends him is because he doesn't approve of him or do you think he genuinely believes in his father and is genuine about his defensiveness. I think he's still battling with whether or not he is on his fathers side and whether it's ok to have his own opinion or not. For now, he thinks there is no other truth but that his father is doing what is right and is worth defending. Also remember that Charlie was shocked by all the things Emily knows about such as tv shows and dancing. When they are talking on the deck she starts to ask him about what he does for fun and whether he likes this or that and he has no idea the things she is speaking of. It makes him feel like he is missing out a little and isn't getting the full glimpse of what life could potentially be.
MODERATOR RESPONSE TORussell wrote: "Charlie views his father as a man full of truth for the sole reason that up to this point in his life, his father has been correct on every occassion. On top of that he is a genius. He is an invent..."
I love how you said that Allie is treating Charlie as a slave. I hadn't thought about it like that but thats actually so accurate. Also good analysis of Charlie and Emily and what it makes him question. I also liked how you pointed out that Allie hasn't done anything to make Charlie question him and maybe that is why Charlie has no problem standing up for him to others.
Little Charlie doesn't really understand how or why his father functions the way he does with his crazy beliefs on America but he plays along for the best interest of his father. Beginning of chapter 9 the reader recognizes that Charlie's father's influence rubs off on him, " my father's a genius... He can make ice with fire"(81). At this point you could infer that Charlie has been basically brainwashed by Allie. However, throughout each chapter, you are reminded how Charlie feels about his father and how America really is. Charlie wishes he could be a normal kid who went to school and could do what other kids did however that isn't his lifestyle. Charlie "wished I had father's courage. Lacking it, I clung to him and Mother..."(107). At this point he is getting so worried about maintaining his family's image that he loses who he is plus being in a foreign country doesn't help either. Lastly he just feels, "I felt abandoned. I never left Father's side"(114). Charlie is able to tell the story best because he sees the bigger picture and has feeling and real relationships with others. However, he doesn't really have a voice with what goes on with his family he sees that his father's reasoning doesn't add up and Charlie wishes that he didn't have to go through this unorthodox lifestyle by living in Honduras with two abnormal parents.*****This isn't late I wasn't at school on Friday!!*****
The Last ManPaul Theroux opens this novel with a scene that sets up the whole novel itself. Allie Fox and Charlie are driving and Allie is criticizing America. Allie's opinion on America sets up this whole novel and Allie's motivation for his lifestyle. Theroux gives foreshadowing in this first few pages of this novel stating that "No one ever thinks of leaving this country. Charlie, I think of it everyday" (6). Looking at Allie's opinion and the way he makes his choices it is extremely obvious that he has a controlling personality and likes to have everything his way. This controlling personality consequently makes the relationship between Allie and his son Charlie very hard. Charlie respects his father and "grew up with the belief that the world belonged to him and that everything he said was true" (11). Yet, Allie's actions made Charlie think that "father was embarrassing in public" (43). Charlie trusted Allie and thought highly of him, but secretly doesn't agree with some of the opinions of his father. Charlie "secretly, wanted to go to school" (41). Charlie has to act mature and follow his fathers orders because he felt responsible for him. The set up of this chapter is a great opening that helps the readers understand the context and what the relationships are in the novel. So far, Theroux uses a lot of foreshadowing and symbolism that makes the reader question the future for these characters in Mosquito Coast. This novel compares much to the famous show One Tree Hill. Dan and Nathan Scott have a pressured father son relationship that makes Nathan question his father, yet he respects his father more than anyone. Father Son relationship is evident that it will be an important aspect in this novel. Also, the controlling personality of Allie relates to Dan Scott. Controlling and crazy personalities tend to destroy relationships- so lets see how Allie and Charlie figure it out later in the novel.
Charlie respects his father and does respect his opinion. He acts as though he agrees with all of his father's crazy thoughts but secretly disagrees with Allie on many aspects. He goes along with his father's thoughts so that he doesn't bring up any unneeded conflict and to be the mature son he has been pressured to be from an early age. For example, Charlie "secretly wanted to go to school" (41). But, his father strongly hated the American school system. Charlie does tend to defend his father and go along with his crazy schemes and I think this whole action goes back to the belief that Charlie has grown up with that "the world belonged to him and that everything he said was true" (11). From the beginning of this book it is obvious that Allie is a crazy. His thoughts and opinions are very out of the box. His parenting style is just one of the aspects of his life that is affected by his crazy ideas. I personally think that Allie challenges Charlie to do all these things to prove to Allie that he knows he can do it. Its not for Charlie, I think its the reassurance of Allie and him wanting to constantly be right. If Charlie does not reach these challenges to full potential his father gets mad. This impacts Charlie in a very negative way. It is making Charlie thinking poorly of himself and not think he is good enough. His father never thinks he is good enough, he criticizes and says quotes like "if you had climbed a little faster he wouldn't have seen you. By the way, you didn't make it to the top" (88). This just makes Charlie feel bad about himself in every aspect of his life because he will never gain his father's approval. I think Charlie is the narrator because it gives the story an innocent perspective and it makes Allie seem two different ways. One is a respected man and a father figure and the other a controlling crazy man. Charlie being the narrator we get to see both of those personalities and we get to see it from the scared mature son. I do not think he is preventing Allie from anything. Allie has a complete mind of his own and is very capable of shutting Reverend Spellgood down. Allie many times will snap at him and he is not afraid to disagree, so no I do not think he is affected by him so far in the novel. Watching Charlie and Emily talk shows how protective Charlie's parents have been in growing him up. He is so oblivious to everything that kids his age surround themselves with. I think this conversation is very embarrassing to Charlie because he has not idea what she is talking about and he doesn't know how to go along in the conversation. This is a big eye opener for him because he has never been exposed to these American things but this is also his first encounter being asked about it. Charlie has never had to be questioned about these things until now and it is making him question a lot in his life. I think this makes him secretly disagree with his father's opinions and parenting style even more because he is becoming aware of all he has missed out on in his lifetime.
MODERATOR RESPONSE TOAnnie wrote: "Charlie respects his father and does respect his opinion. He acts as though he agrees with all of his father's crazy thoughts but secretly disagrees with Allie on many aspects. He goes along with h..."
I love your analysis of Charlie and Emily's conversation. You responded just like I would have! I can see what you're saying how Allie hasn't been effected by Spellgood because of his pride. But I think the rest of the family has. They have seen a new glimpse of the world that made think more about theirs. I also like how you said that the reason Allie challenges Charlie has nothing to do with Charlie, but only himself. That's a great observation.
Parallelism"I understood why we had come here--- to build Fat Boy, to make ice."(156)
"Father had found his wilderness"(156)
"Ill tell you what im doing---what anyone who invents is doing. Im magnifying"(157)
Leading up to chapter 14, the point unto which the Fox family has moved to Jeronimo has been to "get away from American turmoil" and to "get a real education" and things like that according to Allie. But finally, connecting the dots through comparing the past with the present, the whole reason was to build the ice machine. For Allie to become "worth" something as an inventor and to become an innovator in the invention world. He is bringing ice to a whole part of the world that has never seen it. Chapter 14 is the most textual evidence so far that shows just how selfish Allie really is. He didnt drag his family all the way to a middle-of-nowhere Island becuase of any of his previous reasons he stated to his family. All he wants is the glory and recongition he feels he deserves. If Tiny Polski had liked his idea, maybe the situation would be different. Allie is the only one who seems to care about the Fat Boy and actually like it. The others on the island, the natives don't like the Fat Boy. It keeps them up at night and makes scary noises and is very foreign to them. "The rise comes before the fall". Allie has now set himself up to lose his entire colony instead of drawing them in like he had hoped. The thread of parallelism through chapters 14-16 is portrayed through the evidence of Allies selfish ways and real reasons to come to Jeronimo. This wilderness idea and venture has always been about Allie, not about America or the fact he wanted to put his kids or his wifes' best interest first; it is all about him.
"If you see me sit down, you can do the same"(139) "Everyone in America should be getting it... Not writing poetry, or finger painting, or what's the capital of Texas--- but survival, rebuilding civilization from the smoking ruins."(142)
"you're not allowed to[open your mouth]. I own this place."(150)
Charlie hears his father say these ignorant remarks to the Indians and Mr. Maywit, Roper, and Struss when those three men pressure Allie into thinking about America again. Allie sees himself as this god as he rules the Indians, white men, and family. This is what he has longed for for so long and now that he has the power he is abusing it and frustrating everyone around him. Charlie was scared at first coming to Honduras and to see his father turn into a savage is really freaking him out. Charlie misses America and doesn't know why they are there but he is too afraid to say anything to his savage like father.
BLOG #2-This is the one that deleted on accident!Savagery & Civilization's Progression in the novel so far
Allie makes it very clear early on what he thinks about the 'savages' when he says "They're from the jungle. Migrant workers. They didn't know when they were well off. I'd have traded places with them. They think this is paradise. Should have never come," (6).
Father and Son Conflict “And I was glad Father had bullied me into going inside. He was making me a man" (275).
“Yet I was happy here in the camp—happier than in Jeronimo. I liked this place for its secrecy and best of all because it was filled with things that Father had forbidden" (289).
“But I felt that ours was a greater achievement than Father’s, because we ate the fruit that grew nearby and used anything we found, and adapted ourselves to the jungle" (290).
As the family is in the jungle, Father has become more controlling. The children are starting to see their father's true nature and create their own camp in order to escape their father. The camp is created to be nothing like father and his controlling ways. Father is unraveling as a character and struggling to keep his family because of his controlling nature. Charlie is rising as a dominant character to become unlike his father. Each character is feeding off of each other to nothing like the other. The longer they are in the jungle to more Charlie and his father fade away from each other.
Father Son Conflicthttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2t1z-gR...
Now that the children have left their Father and built a camp for themselves, how will affect the relationship between Charlie and Allie?
Does Allie treat his wife wheel, and how does this reflect on his children?
“Mother did not take charge. When Father was around, we did things his way, he kept us jumping, but Mother had no inventions and never made speeches.”
Is Allie devolving as a father and as a leader? Is Charlie rising as one?
Response to Tupper:The interesting thing about Charlie and Allie's relationship is that the whole story is told through Charlie's eyes. This shows the endearment Charlie feels about his father, and how he is always observing him. Because of this, Allie will obviously always be a significant figure that impacted Charlie's life as a boy. However, he also clearly sees the fault in his father and doesn't necessarily agree with him or always feel loved. When they first move, he said "On the Unicorn and in La Ceiba, and even in Hatfield, we had done pretty much what we pleased. Father had left us alone and gone about his own business. Usually I had helped him, but sometimes not," (144).
Allie claims and may think what he is doing is to help his wife and his family, but it is actually purely to fulfill his deep needs and desires. He is selfish and doesn't love them well because he doesn't give them a choice but instead imposes his own thoughts on them. With the lack of choice that his wife has though, she has to lower her standards for happiness. Charlie says about his parents "In fact, I had never seen him happier. And Mother, who loved him in this mood, was happy, too" (148).
Since Charlie and his new friends formed the Acre, Charlie has found a new sense of independence. He has formed his own life away from the restraints from his dad and has experienced a new freedom. Charlie and his friends "could do whatever they wanted" (Theroux 190). They had "money, school, and religion" with no "inventions or machines" and could "pretend [they] were school children" (190). However, as excited as Charlie is about it, he was "afraid of what [Allie] might say" because he would be "stinking angry" and start "calling [them] savages" (201). This is the first glimpse of separation in their relationship and it foreshadows Charlies coming of age. Allie and the Mother have a very interesting relationship. Allie never calls her by name, always calling her "Mother" (189). He seems to have no respect towards her and treats her as though she is under his spell. It is like the movie Stepford Wife where he thinks her whole purpose is to benefit him. He treats her as though her whole purpose of creation was to serve him. Whenever he talks to her, he seems to either be telling her what to do or what to think, never anything a husband would say to his beloved. As Charlie is watching them one day he describes them as “a wild man and an angel” (123). Mother’s angelic side comes through when she proves her motherly nature. Speaking to Allie after he had made Charlie climb the pole on the ship, she “looked helplessly at Father, and with real agony” as though “she was going to cry” (89). She always tries to set Allie straight reminding him how he “can be an awful bully,” (97) to “be careful” (117) and to not “pretend to be better than [he] [is]” (67). Allie is progressing as a leader with the other families and people on Mosquito Coast. The news of his “Fat Boy had spread throughout the river valley” (175). As he looks upon his creation, he tells Charlie that he “feel[s] a little like God” (202). Mr. Lungley refers to him as “Fadder” (177) and the people of Seville see his creation and “dropped to [their] knees” (187). His daughter Clover claims that “he’s right at home anywhere” (186). Charlie seems to be rising as a leader in The Acre making rash decisions for everyone and showing them a new glimpse of the outer world.
Response to Tupper:The fact that Charlie and children have left their father to create "the Acre" symbolizes their deep desire to rebel against their father, rather aware of it or not. Charlie likes the Acre "for its secrecy and best of all because it was filled with things that Father had forbidden" (168). This seems to be Charlie's first step of becoming his own man and branching away from the control of Allie's overarching ideas. Charlie claims that the Acre is a "greater achievement than Father's," which not only proves his new, mature independence, but could also point to a self-righteousness that was learned from Allie, bringing about a further separation.
Allie treats his wife, or "Mother" as one of his own children at times, controlling her with his commands and neediness. Furthermore, Mother reciprocates in fear by usually telling him what he wants to hear, or following his orders, which shows a lack of strength and independence. To Allie, Mother is useful for giving him self esteem and confidence when he fails, like with the people in Seville. In contrast, Mother occasionally corrects Allie softly, telling him to not "pretend to be better than he is," (67) or asks him if he's "laying it on too thick" (138) to the people. In a way, I can see Mother as a potential source that later helps prove Allie to be the false prophet of the story. This somewhat parallels to the movie Safe Haven, where the abusive husband uses his control to manipulate his wife into being quiet and submitting to him in every circumstance.
From the outside looking in, Allie seems to be a responsible leader, creating new inventions and theories; however, in the inside, Allie is slowly proving himself to be contradicting, controlling, selfish, and immature. For example, when he creates Fat Boy and takes his finished product to the island of Seville, he explodes in anger "nearly knocking the old man over" (187) when he realizes that he already knew what ice was. Afterwards, he "would not speak to anyone" and "said only that Francis had betrayed him" (188). This proves his immaturity, his incapability to accept failure, and his deep longing for universal superiority. As the novel progresses, Allie continues to crave control and power, as Charlie and the followers slowly begin to retract.
Tupperjohnson wrote: "Father Son Conflicthttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2t1z-gR...
Now that the children have left their Father and built a camp for themselves, how will affect the relationship between Charlie and Al..."
Based on the fact that Charlie has left his father accompanied by some of his new friends and sibilings, he has acquired a new sense of freedom and a sense of independence to an extent. Never before has Charlie been free from his father and had the confidence to do as he wishes against his fathers will. Relating back to the previous chapters in the book, Allie is following down the same path of being a selfish father for his children and wife. He is deceived and continues to act on his own interest vs. the interests of his family like he should. Now, he faces the issue of delivering ice to a remote jungle tribe... Something that has never been done before; he just wants the credit and the admiration for being first and an innovator."I want to take a load of ice to the hottest, darkest, nastiest corner of honduras where they pray for water and never see ice, and have never heard of cans, much less aerosol cans."(176)
I dont think that the fact that Charlie has gone off to create his own club like small dictatorship among the kids is going to rub off on Allie, at least not yet. Allie is too wrapped up in the fact that he wants to deliver this ice to somewhere where it has never been and would never be without him. I can see how Charlie's mother has contiuned to shift throughout the book into a woman who is sick of being run over by Allie and never getting a say in what the family does. She is slowly but surely coming to the realization that what the family has gone on is a big mistake and the day is going to come where consequences are going to show themselves. As the book progresses, and now with Charlie rising to do something independent, Charlie is in my mind ready to fill Allie's shoes. He is coming to the realization that his father is ludicrous, and a selfish man. The kind of man he doesnt want to be when he grows up. But he still loves his father tremendously, though his respect for him is declining daily. "that sounds like MY kind of place"-says Allie(177) Charlie has created a picture like the one he had back home through his new camp like area."I liked this place for its secrecy and best of all because it was filled with things that father had forbidden."(168)
With the Acre being the children's new camp, the attitudes of Charlie and the other children are changing. The Acre is the kids "safe place in the jungle" (191). It is their place to go and get away from father and all his rules. The Acre, ironically, is much like America in the ways father hates. At the acre, the children have school and religion- all the things father despises. Charlie is learning more at the Acre that what he normally learns at father's camp. For example, when there were different birds all around the jungle, Charlie noticed that "these same birds lived near our camp at the Acre" (176). This is showing how much the Acre is teaching him and catching him up on what his father made him miss out on back in America. So far, the Acre has not affected the relationship between Charlie and Allie because Allie still is unaware of this camp. If Allie did find out about the camp, it would hurt their relationship because Charlie is going behind his father's back and doing things that father does not approve of. Because of Allie's controlling and power-wanting personality he does not treat his wife how he should be treating her. He dominates their relationship and treats her like one of his children or one of his helpers. Father's controlling personality makes his children fear him; while mother "ran thinks smoothly, offering suggestions, not giving orders" (165). In this family, the parents are much good cop and bad cop, father of course being the bad cop and mother being the good cop. Mother is more understanding and nurturing and is a good wife- supporting all her crazy husband's ideas. Seeing the way father treats mother so poorly affects the children, it has to. It makes the fear of father even bigger and I think it opens their eyes to how crazy Allie truly is. Allie is not developing as a leader, instead he is becoming more and more crazy while being on this island. And as a father he is getting worse than he was to begin with. His invention of FatBoy is all that Allie lives for. He treats FatBoy like a child and it is all he cares about, not his children. I think Charlie is rising as a leader. He is out of his element and he is learning from his father's mistakes. Having Acre as his camp, he is learning so much and really learning how to live on his own. Charlie is a great kid who has a great attitude about everything his Father puts him through. Charlie's good attitude is getting him far and his maturity is growing through this process in Jeronimo. Allie challenges Charlie in crazy ways but Charlie changes them to positive and has the mindset of "it had all been a kind of training for times like this" (181). Allie affects Charlie in so many ways, and Charlie is learning what not to be like by looking at his father's crazy schemes.
The False Prophet (I was sick when we did this)"He said, 'I was the last man left.' ...I had to keep my head down or he'd say, 'What are you grinning at, Charlie?' Yet who wouldn't grin at some of the things he said?" (162).
"Mr. Haddy was laughing softly, relieved that they were Christians. And maybe he was secretly glad that Father, who seldom made mistakes, had blundered by taking ice here, when Mr. Haddy himself could more easily have shipped it to the coast and made a greater impression" (188).
"I knew a person best from something he had made, and in Fat Boy I had seen Father's mind, a version of it- its riddle and slant and its hugeness- and it had scared me" (170).
"'The Lord sent me here,' Mr. Struss said. 'Bull,' Father said. 'The Lord hasn't got the slightest idea that this place exists" (150).
As the story unravels, Allie's overwhelming thirst for control, power, and success only slowly increases, pointing to an inevitable destruction in the near future. Although people respect him as Jeronimo's leader, everyone is slowly beginning to notice his absurd ideas, contradictory views, and his incapability of being a genuine leader. Theroux incorporates real missionaries such as Mr. Struss and the Spellgoods to blatantly counteract Allie's prophesy and mission, but also uses characters close to Allie to subtly counteract his views such as Charlie, Mother, and Mr. Haddy. Although these characters submit to Allie, they indeed notice the faults within his character and his leadership internally; however, they refuse to openly state their own opinions. Charlie relieves his internal oppositions with Allie by rebelling through his efforts at the Acre, which he "liked for its secrecy" and "things Father had forbidden" (168). All the characters seem to be conflicted by their fear of Allie and also their internal opposition to Allie. In the middle of it all, Fat Boy serves as an ultimate symbol of Allie as a corrupted leader, as it "was kind because we were careful, but if we were careless he would turn dangerous" (190). Charlie even believes that the insides of Fat Boy parallels the "complications of his mind," and even admits that he "could not understand enough of it to feel safe" (160). Through missionaries, family members, followers, and symbols like Fat Boy, Theroux slowly begins to break the pressed views of Allie in the minds of his followers, and slowly surfaces the idea that Allie may not be a genuine leader and the savior to this imperfect world after all.
As the children have left the 'rule' of Allie to create the Acre emerges and it reminded me of the book Animal Farm on how a bunch of animals rebelled and found "freedom" but those plans went astray. It is pretty odd that Charlie goes from being terrified to be by himself in Jeronimo to wanting to rebel and create his own group of guys. I partially feel that he is fed up with his father and his crazy methods but I also think Charlie is doing this to make a statement that he deserves a voice and some respect in what is going on. A conflict between father and son is extremely common because the son feels he needs to be treated as if he were an adult, which requires adult activities. Charlie describes his time with the Acre as, "This was different from Father's ways"(165). He loves being with these other kids and is able to do the things he longed for back in America, which was go to school and have a religion. I feel that Allie's wife believes that she is being treated right mainly because she doesn't know what a true relationship is and she is so content without having a voice within the decisions being mad. Allie is kind of a dictator in his own way, he never truly gets along with others around him whether he is America or Honduras. So with that mindset he feels entitled to believing what he says goes. Allie's wife says, " Allie always knows what he's doing"(174). Here she is showing that she caters to him and thinks all he is doing is perfect. We see this early in the book through Charlie how he does not say anything until the midway point of the second chapter. He struggles to get his voice out because he knows that he will be shot down no matter what. As the chapters progress we see that Charlie is becoming the leader among the boys and they expect him to guide them, which Charlie might be capable of but from being taught from his father he has all the attributes to not meet expectations and I wouldn't be surprised. But at the same time Charlie is upset with his father, which could inspire him to be better then he is. Charlie inserts himself as a leader when he says, " This is our Acre and we have our own rules"(190). After Clover says "Dad said so"(190) Charlie quickly reminds her that they are not under his rule any longer. They have set up new ideas to be different than his father. Lastly, in Animal Farm the pigs(leaders) began to change rules to suit them better and everyone felt as if nothing has changed it will be interesting to see how long this rebellion will truly last or signs of regret. Theroux try's to show that we all are capable of leading a group when called upon and that once we feel that call we must answer and complete the task as best as possible.
BLOG #3At this point in the story, Charlie is beginning to be affected on a deeper, personal level by his overwhelming desire to live in savagery. "It was a falling-down village, where the people ate dirt and looked like monkeys-anywasy, ugly as monkeys. They had rat-hair and most were naked. They were not even Christians. 'That sounds like my kind of place,' Father said," (177).
"How very American, you're all saying - the man wants to bring permanent changes to this peaceful jungle! But I didn't mention poison, and I certainly don't intent to make it commercial. 'Gaw, I'd like to get my hand on this,' and he grinned at the tangles and bends. 'It really makes me mad!' (180).
"'Why me?' but I knew I should not have asked. Father said, 'because you're the bravest one here, sonny.' This was not true. But the risks that Father made me take were his way of showing me there were no risks," (181).
"Oh, I suppose they'll be able to use the ice for something. But what can you do with people who've already been corrupted? It makes me mad,'" (189).
"It doesn't occur naturally on the Mosquito Coast, so it's the beginning of perfection in an imperfect world. It makes sense of work. It's free. It's even pretty. It's civilization," (194).
"He often said that if it were not for white-collar crime and stupidity and a twenty-cent dollar and the storm clouds of war, he could have done the same things in Hatfield, Massachusetts," (196).
Father-Son Conflict"I just wanted to be near him. I feared the recklessness of his courage" (Theroux 114).
"I liked this place for its secrecy and best of all because it was filled with things that Father had forbidden" (168).
"Father wanted me to be strong. He had known all along that he was preparing me for worse" (181).
The longer they are on the island, the more Charlie and Allie's relationship changes. Charlie fear of Allie increases when they get there after he witnesses Allie's never-ending courage. He sees him approach strangers as though he was already their king and build massive structures as though he's been in construction all of his life. Charlie sees how the people on the island look up to Allie in a split second without any hesitation. His father seems to blend in anywhere and can take control of whoever he wants. This causes Charlie to fear the power his father holds and not want to be in separation from him. It also causes a pull towards his dad that is forced from survival.
Another shift in their relationship developed when Charlie and the rest of the kids created the Acre. Charlie soaked up the rebellion characteristic of the place. He had in his hands things Father would never allow and would cause him to erupt in anger. Charlie thrived in this state as he got to experience things he had always wanted to. His true desires come out when he discovers a way to do as he pleases. As he drifts slowly away from the command of his father, Charlie enjoys every bit of that freedom and starts developing as his own person. He is starting to evolve into a man who is no longer affected by anyone but himself.
As life on the island continues, Charlie starts to realize the reasoning behind his father's tactics. The way they were raised allowed them to not be in compete shock of the island. The kids are used to not going to a school and always helping their father with work. This is exactly what they continue to do on the island and Charlie is thankful for the little bit of familiarity. As they go on in this strange world, Charlie is now understanding his father more and more and sees the reasoning behind his actions. Their relationship is less shady, mysterious and fearful and starting to evolve into more of a father-son relationship.
Moderator PostArtifact:
http://www.ted.com/conversations/1016...
Questions:
1. Is it right and/or fair for Allie to be so opposed to new men coming into his village when he essentially did the same thing, although with different intentions?
2. At this point, what do you think Allie ultimately wants: to be completely in charge of his own life, or to have control and influence over other people's lives?
3. Is Allie's mindset and invention indeed a threat to the missionary's goals of spreading Christianity, or is it possible for both of their ideas to coexist?
Father-Son Conflict"...but instead of telling him this I called him a spackoid and a sissy - it was what Father would have said - and I felt stronger" (Theroux 205).
"His voice tore through the trees and exhausted me. His confidence was something I did not want to hear now" (226-7).
"Lies made me uncomfortable, and Father's lie, which was also a blind boast, sickened me and separated me from him" (227).
"You didn't climb that ladder...You didn't bar that door...We don't have any locks in Jeronimo" (251).
When Jerry was complaining to Charlie, instead of telling Charlie how much he is suffering and tired as well, he responded in the same harshness his Father would. Charlie is starting to treat others as his Father would and it makes him feel more confident and sovereign. In addition, the way his father is acting in this situation is driving Charlie crazy. Allie is acting like everything is perfectly fine when everything is falling apart and Charlie cannot stand this fake pride of his fathers. He also walks away from the failure of the ice talking about how everything went perfect and how they shocked the Indians. This false reality is something Charlie cannot deal with and send him into an extreme annoyance with his father. The fact that his Father is trying to receive credit for something he didn't even do drives Charlie nuts. Lastly, Allie attempts to convince Charlie he had no part in killing the three men or having anything to do with barring the door or blowing it up. In the midst of being in shock of what they have just done, Allie tries to deny it all and convince Charlie that they did absolutely nothing wrong, trying to make himself feel better for his tragic mistake.
As the book continues, Charlie is starting to rise over his dad. Charlie is picking up on things that his father isn't and is starting to be ahead of the game. As Allie comes to this realization, he panics under the fact that he is wrong. Caught up in this corruption in his home, Allie reacts suddenly by blowing up Fat Boy. After the explosion, Allie tries to rally his family to follow but can't even move admits his shock. In the absence of his father's lead, Charlie steps up to the plate claiming "[he] know[s] a place" and his family immediately follows (253). I think the author is beginning to transition between the Father being right and in control to Charlie stepping up to the plate and taking over. I think Charlie is going to have to explain the Acre to his family and how it functions and the family will be forced to follow in his footsteps and obey him in order to survive. They will be forced to listen to him and this will either cause more chaos between him and his father in result of Allie's lack of control or force his Father to simmer down and accept the brilliance of his child.
BLOG #4Savagery and Civilization
"Such an empty world. I did not think wilderness could look so sad," (215).
"'Real savages,' Father said. he had not seen their fear. 'I guess I got what I bargained for'...'If the ice hadn't melted, they'd be all over us -- thank you, you're wonderful, please give us more, et cetera," (218).
"But, he said, they reminded him of how he had felt in the states-- like a prisoner, close to despair, murderous, half-loco," (222).
Well into their life in Jeronimo, the Fox family's conflicts have shifted.
Caught in the Act"Lies made me uncomfortable, and Father's lie, which was also a blind boast, sickened me and separated me from him...I loved this man, and he was calling me a fool and falsifying the only world I knew" (227).
"Father said, 'What else do you know?' I was going to say- Those men you called slaves didn't look like slaves, and the Indians looked scared. The ice melted before they could see it. You wouldn't let us rest, you made Jerry cry by talking about the Holiday Inn, and it was a terrible trip, worse than the river trips and probably a failure. But I said, 'Nothing else'" (229).
"Father predicted that the Maywits would soon be back and Jeronimo working at full strength. He had been saying this for three weeks" (236).
As Allie's weaknesses slowly begin to surface, Theroux makes it evident that the main contradictor of Allie's "prophesy" and mission is Charlie, the narrator himself. As Charlie narrates, the reader slowly notices Charlie's deep-seated opposition and increasing doubt towards his father, as he slowly begins to notice Allie's "pride" and his "head full of schemes," admitting that it "feared him" (258). In fear of stating his own opinion, Charlie begins to vent to the reader as he criticizes almost everything his Father says and does that he disagrees with. He even "prayed for something to happen" in order to "prevent Father from bursting into Jeronimo and lying about flabbergasted Indians and ice and you should have seen their faces" (227). Charlie is slowly being awaken from a brainwashed state, becoming more independent and sprouting new, personal ideas rather than naively depending on his Father's as he has always done. He even finally admits to the significant fact that his own father is "falsifying the world [he] knew" (227). Through Allie's persistent failures, blatant lies, and Charlie's venting through narration, Theroux slowly reveals Allie as failed leader, consumed by his overwhelming thirst for power, control, and his unrealistic ideas of how the world is supposed to be.
"I prayed for a hitch. My prayers were answered. Things were not right in Jeronimo."(227)"Lies made me uncomfortable, and Father's lie, which was also a blind boast, sickened me and separated me from him...I loved this man, and he was calling me a fool and falsifying the only world I knew" (227).
"We kids said that if father saw the Acre he would have a fit, or else laugh at us. He was a perfectionist."(234)
Charlie and his thoughts for his father become greater and greater and Allie is on a downward spiral to despair, now that the savages have arrived and a somewhat famine has stricken Jeronimo.
"I wish He would get in touch, though. I could give Him a few pointers if He's planning any other worlds. He certainly made a hash of this one" (105)."When America is devastated and laid to waste, these are the skills that will save these kids. Not writing poetry, or fingerpainting, or whats the capital of Texas- but survival, rebuilding a civilization from the smoking ruins" (142).
"What did I do? I picked myself up and went away, I advise you to do the same" (222).
As any reader knows, Allie is a controlling and selfish father. One of Allie's many flaws include thinking he is right about everything. As the first quote shows, Allie is questioning God and his creation. Also with Allie being an inventor it is natural for him to question a piece of work. He is constantly criticizing everything he sees for example, America. He thinks that he is higher than God and that he could do better. On the topic of Allie thinking he knows everything, the next quote shows him thinking that he made the best decision for his family by pulling them away from America. He thinks that he is right and that he is teaching his children the right way to live instead of how everyone else is living- showing Allie's cockiness and love of wisdom. The last quote is quite ironic in that Allie says something that missionaries do daily. Missionaries find their purpose by picking up their lives and leaving everything to go do what they believe in. Also, Allie is saying this in the context of ordering someone to do the same thing he did. Which is also what missionaries do, they advise others on how to live. However, Allie and missionaries purposes are different from each other and they have different wants for an outcome: which makes Allie the false prophet. Allie has some characteristics of a prophet, yet his morals and goals do not always make sense.
ParallelismI believe that it is right for Allie to be worried about his village and the new inhabitants (savages) for the reason that he has built the empire up and made everything and put all the time in to come and start something from nothing and they come in and somewhat ruin it for him. At the same time, I think he is getting what he deserved. Relating this to Breaking Bad, Walter White prospers exponentially during the period before his fall and his family splitting based on his choices. The rise has come, now the fall has to happen for Allie and his family. Going off of question two, I don't think that Allie really knows what he wants. He makes decisions that he doesn't think thoroughly through and in owe of being wrong, he decides to stick with his quick witted decision to not succumb to the idea of being wrong. It is a fact that Allie controls other's lives, but nevertheless he wants success and recognition for himself. Both the missionary and the Fatboy intercede each other. They affect each other in negative ways, but it is possible for them to coexist. They are coexisting now so far. But there is tension and a sort of battle against each other to win over the population in the area. Leading up to this point, Allie is living a life of lies and hopeless despair. He has convinced himself that certain true things are false, and in doing so is not able to see the truth in almost anything. He is starting to crack and the tables are beginning to turn. Allie is faced with the biggest challenge so far on what to do with the new savages and the decision is "make or break" for Jeronimo and all of his hopes and dreams.
"Im not often wrong, but when I am, I'm wrong as i can be."(249)
"With terrible croaks, Father rubbed his eyes and pleaded for us to follow him"(253)
"Its savage and superstitious to accept the world as it is. Fiddle around and find a use for it."(233)
"I am not a savage," Father said. "I am not going to lay hold of you and make you prisoners. It was your choice all along, but its dark now."(246)
FINAL BLOG It is not fair/right when Allie acts so insanely towards the new men coming into his village; however, this is not unexpected. Allie's behavior has become psychotic ever since his lack of sleep and his obsession with Fat Boy. Allie had a pattern of not " [sleeping] for two days" (135). This lack of sleep is causing him to loose his mind and alter his thoughts- even though his thoughts are already altered. Father has always treated Fat Boy as a child. He loves the invention and spends more time on the invention than he does with his own children. Also, the whole town of Jeronimo is his world. It is his utopia and he made it exactly how it wanted it- he doesn't want new men coming in to take it.
At this point in the story, Allie ultimately wants control. Whether that be himself, his family, or his invention. All Allie craves is control and having everything how he wants it. Allie wants control and he desires to "feel a little like God" (202). He wants to be God, he wants the control and power to make everything in his view of perfection.
Fat boy and his invention is not a threat to Christianity; however, the mindset and perspective that Allie has on missionaries can affect many things. While Christianity is going around spreading the word, Allie lives his life disagreeing and bashing Christianity and the thought of God. If anyone meets Allie it is obvious that he doesn't believe and that he opposes to all views. Allie believes "God left the world incomplete... It's a mans job... To finish it" (233). Because of his opposing viewpoint, it will differ from the missionaries views and this will cause problems. Although his inventions and Fat Boy don't cause problems, Allie is the problem.
Father Son Conflict FINAL BLOG
Oops I forgot my quotes.... :/
"I believed he was testing me again. I said. 'It all melted Dad' "(224).
"His lies had mad me lonelier then any lie I had ever heard"(226).
"It was the first we had heard of the white ants, but no one contradicted Father then, because no one ever contradicted him"(239).
I think that it is right for him to do feel this way about "outsiders". He must act this way because these people could try to overthrow him and his power on the island and he would feel like he did back in Hatfield. Deep down he feels as if he has accomplished so much in his little time at Jeronimo. And with the idea of a threat that others could bring, in a way intimidates him so he feels pressured by this. So far, it seems that Allie loves the control and power that comes with it to rule others. Yes, he enjoys being in total control of his own life and not having any authority to tell him if he's wrong or not. But he can manipulate and control his family, "friends", and even Fat Boy.
The way Allie idolizes his invention, Fat Boy, could perhaps play a role with the missionary's spreading their Christian beliefs. For one he believes he is God and two he doesn't believe in religion so that's the real issue. Not the creation of Fat Boy but the creator of Fat Boy. Had another person created that then this would not be a problem but the fact that it's Allie who has expressed his disbelief within Christianity makes it a difficult situation.
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