Classics and the Western Canon discussion
Interim Readings
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A Worn Path
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Roger wrote: "Christopher wrote: "I want to say about the hunter and the gun, that it's..."
Yes, those are good points. Sorry about mixing up buckshot and birdshot.
It is a hostile gesture, and a big no no.
Incidentally, I wanted to say something else, while I'm on a roll.
This is the depression, in Mississippi. I'm taking for granted that no one in the story is rich, in fact, they're all poor.
The pointing of the gun may be a sign that this guy is not hunting for sport, but to put food on the table.
(Hope that doesn't sound like a non sequitur).
Lily wrote: "Lily wrote: "David wrote: "...I just find the whole shoe tying event very odd and a little creepy....""As I said before, reading Welty oft confounds me. On the surface, what do I have? If I wande..."
Lily, I guess I read stories a little differently. I don't bother too much with what the author did or didn't intend because once the story is out there, it's fair game and assumes a life of its own independent of the author's intentions. The author may end up doing something he/she never intended. Authors sometimes are surprised by what people read into their stories.
As long as you are able to support your interpretation of the material with words from the text, your reading is as legitimate as anyone else's even if you arrive at different conclusions. To me, that is one of the beauties of literature--that it can be subject to a variety of interpretations.
Tamara wrote: "...As long as you are able to support your interpretation of the material with words from the text, your reading is as legitimate as anyone else's even if you arrive at different conclusions. ..."In general, I don't disagree with you, Tamara, and understand that such is a widely held view in today's (academic?) world. Often argue for it myself. However, two concerns -- one is what is required for "support" of one's interpretation? "Words from the text", yes, but those are subject to the entire text as well as to the life and knowledge of the interpreter. Second, I do perceive that an author's "intent" can be relevant to reading and interpreting a piece of literature. Sometimes we get to that from other elements of the text, other times from knowledge about that author and the time and circumstances in which he/she lived, as well as from other sources outside the text itself. (Possibly one of the reasons critics value (too much?) the diaries of authors.) But, of course, at some point the text just "is." And the words are what we do with them.
I expect some elements of the Odyssey can be seen in any journey -- It's what the kids today would call a "meme." It's an archetype, the basic outlines of which can be seen in any journey story. We all share the journey experience in everyday life, so we have the archetype within us. Some of us also have the literary experience to draw literary parallels, but I think the thing that binds the stories together is the human experience.
Cphe wrote: ""Her eyes were blue with age"Has the colour blue always been associated with age?
I've never really thought about it, or come across the term before."
Cataracts are typically white, blindness is often blue. She needed a walking cane.
Christopher wrote: "A very nice story. I hope 'spoilers' are allowed (considering how short and uneventful it is, what is there to spoil?)-At any rate, I barely remembered it, but I am sure I read this story in 10th..."
Reconstruction
Cphe wrote: "Lye would burn and quite badly, it's caustic. I think it was made into soap. The damage to his mucous membranes would well have been horrific. My impression from the story was that the Grandmother ..."Currency used by slaves not recognized by the U.S. mint.
I don't know how many would be interested, but I saw that the Kindle edition of Meanwhile There Are Letters: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and Ross Macdonaldis now (daily deal?) $1.99.
MacDonald dedicated one of his last books to Welty.
Christopher wrote: "I don't know how many would be interested, but I saw that the Kindle edition of Meanwhile There Are Letters: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and Ross Macdonaldis now (daily deal..."
Thank you for the tip! I’ve read the collection of Ms Welty’s correspondence with editor and writer William Maxwell, What There Is to Say We Have Said —and she was a delightful letter writer (as was Maxwell) —and I’m going to treat myself to Meanwhile There Are Letters since it’s on sale....
Classics and the Western Canon
Books mentioned in this topic
Meanwhile There Are Letters: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and Ross Macdonald (other topics)Meanwhile There Are Letters: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and Ross Macdonald (other topics)
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood (other topics)
Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American Politics (other topics)
A Worn Path (other topics)
As I said before, reading Welty oft confounds me. On the surface, what do I have? If I wander into allusions and metaphors, which surely one needs must do, how much is too much and goes beyond the author? Or is Welty so steeped in these stories, ancient and modern, that she brings them forward without even entirely being so aware herself? I'm often of two minds on any given example.
But the feet/shoes/laces is another one -- is it a twist on the story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples? A backhand awareness of relationships with our fellow beings; points of need, service, humility, acknowledgement of the other, ...?