tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8518835947947433157.post4170641046622127924..comments2021-09-09T21:16:02.942-07:00Comments on Writing (about) Time: Thoughts Concerning Temporal Play in Contemporary Narratives: Breaking the Cycle of HistoryMelissa Ameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13372494777317072570noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8518835947947433157.post-25099553987068959212016-01-27T13:33:28.346-08:002016-01-27T13:33:28.346-08:00I too noticed the blending of past and present--ho...I too noticed the blending of past and present--how the former is inextricably linked to the latter--but failed to realize the extent to which Morrison highlights the need to break the cycle of history--what seems to be an impossible feat, even for an author who sets out to create believable characters. To answer Kristin's question, I think Felice's presence was integral to Joe and Violet's "redemption." As orphans with troubled mothers, Joe and Violet both yearn for a daughter-figure in their life--one to whom they can impart the love they lacked as children. Although the narrator describes Joe as "stuck to the track," I thought of him as ultimately breaking from the oppressive cycle, hence the lovey-dovey ending and the narrator's surprise at he and Violet's reconciliation.Ben Cravenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05760265334674280878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8518835947947433157.post-9144712355534604852016-01-27T11:18:33.606-08:002016-01-27T11:18:33.606-08:00I had a similar thought as Kristin, that Violet do...I had a similar thought as Kristin, that Violet does seem to break this cycle somewhat in her life. (McKenzie and I will talk about this more in class tonight.) But, to respond to your comment on my post as well, I felt that Joe was not really able to break from his own cycle, that he is "stuck to the track," but Violet seems to be able to more easily break out of that.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10919938517927575091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8518835947947433157.post-75409861113769393852016-01-26T21:50:36.191-08:002016-01-26T21:50:36.191-08:00I hadn't considered her relationship to Felice...I hadn't considered her relationship to Felice near the end into my discussion, but I think that makes a lot of sense. She is able to be nurturing to her. Perhaps it is also breaking free from Violet's desire to harm Dorcas because Felice and Dorcas were very close? Violet could be trying to make up for what she did to Dorcas's face at the funeral. I'm not really sure, but it's interesting to think about!Kristina Kastlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07580807881489622895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8518835947947433157.post-13523595091273951652016-01-26T14:31:21.104-08:002016-01-26T14:31:21.104-08:00I appreciate your conclusion that Morrison wants t...I appreciate your conclusion that Morrison wants the reader to learn to break the cycle of history. The novel spends so much time with the history and slowly layering it so that we see the connections of the present to the past that I, as a reader, didn't spend much time analyzing the end chapter because it was so brief. It wasn't necessarily "and they all lived happily ever after," but it felt tacked on to me, dismissive of the past. I didn't take the time to consider that their final acts were breaking cycles. I am curious what cycle Violet ended; the cycle seems to be women who abandon their own children (True Belle to raise Golden Gray; Rose Dear's mental breakdown after her husband leaves). Violet seems very cognizant that she has not fulfilled the cycle of having children (so she may try to steal one and then sleeps with a doll). Would you consider Violet's nurturing role toward Felice as breaking that cycle? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17140944873258565457noreply@blogger.com