Overall Impression of Eva Luna

I found the ending of the book to be very satisfying; a perfect way for Allende to leave her readers off. Something that I found surprising was that there was not much to write about in my notes for the last two chapters. Sometimes, the writing got a little too cheesy for me, but maybe that was just because of the poetic feel of the book. I do have to say that I expected Rolf Carle and Eva to meet much sooner in the story, however when they did meet, I felt that they didn't have to make up for "lost time." The moment they met, Eva questioned "why Rolf Carle seemed so familiar… but I was sure I had now known him- or anyone like him." (Allende 256) The two characters meeting at the end of the novel did not bother me because of their immediate connection to each other.

I would like to mention how much I appreciated such feministic issues being incorporated into the book. Allende truly did a flawless and effortless job with illustrating the struggles that women face today and have also faced in such chaotic, political times. Allende really did this with everything in this book; painted a clear picture for the readers to grasp onto. Along with helping the readers visualize everything that was happening, Allende also made use of the other four senses, which not many authors (at least the ones I have experienced) do. At times, the writing got to be a little intense for me to read, however Professor McGee brought up something very insightful and possibly quite true: perhaps the reason the writing style has the tendency to be difficult and uncomfortable to read sometimes is because movies and television numb us down to just visualization. Allende really forces the reader to use all of the senses! In general, this book was a great read. I would definitely recommend the book to others who want to become engulfed in another world and another culture.

Behind the Blue - Kyle Scudder CBI Presentation

For my presentation, I decided to connect the physical body that exists in the world of performance and connect it back to what we have discussed throughout our primary readings this semester.

Beginning early on, we all posted on the blog about how our bodies define us. Many of us took a similar approach and described the way our bodies are used physically: dance, music, athletics. A number of us also described the physical features of our bodies and the way(s) that defines who we are. I chose to connect this back to the world of performing arts.

I related back to the Blue Man Group. For those of you who aren't familiar, the Blue Man Group is a set of three "Blue Men" who use a combination of gesture, dance, drumming, and other nonverbal actions to communicate a story to the audience. I saw them for the first time in 2009 at the Briar Street Theater in Chicago. One thing stuck out in particular when I saw them; the eyes. The way the Blue Men were able to communicate with only their eyes was incredible. The honest connection their eyes were able to make with the audience was almost frightening.

When looking back at my experience from my current position, I saw a parallel between the Blue Man and many of the characters we have experienced through our reading so far. The eyes have been one of the most popular body features that we have discussed critically, especially throughout Riders of the Purple Sage and Eva Luna. We discussed how eyes reveal the truth, how eyes are particularly honest, how the eyes are a strong aspect of a person's identity, and how the body uses the eyes to shape the world around him or her.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-07-25/entertainment/ct-ott-0726-blue-man-auditions-20130725_1_briar-street-theatre-blue-man-group-blue-men

This all tied in for sure when I read this article (posted above) regarding the process in becoming a Blue Man. Sure, the casting directors are searching for talented musicians and actors, but there is more that they look for inside of those auditioning. They look for a certain charisma and mystery. And they also look for the eyes.

"From there, it gets to a more concrete question, [Tim Aumiller] adds: 'Are they able to tell a story with their eyes?'"

Behind the character's eyes lies a story, whether it be Eva in Eva Luna or Lassiter in Riders of the Purple Sage. I found this particular connection vital to our critical discussions about the role of the eyes. 

What does this say about the importance of the eyes?

Going off of discussion today..

I personally liked this question a lot and it had me thinking throughout the rest of my day:

Question 2: Do you think eyes are important to your identity? 

The eyes are the part of the body that lets in everything we see, feel, or even smell in a certain context. The part that I want to focus on is the way that girls see things differently than guys. It is often talked about how in relationships guys are "oblivious" to certain situations, or they don't notice the little things that their significant other might do for them. We see this all the time in movies, magazine articles, or through novels. This is what got me thinking. Guys and girls are clearly different for the obvious reasons. But, why is it that guys don't view things the same way that women would through their eyes? Why don't they notice the small things that are done for them? And vice versa. Why are females turned off by some of the tasks guys perform, when through a males eyes its absolutely normal. Even though every human being has a set of eyes, and can see things that are being put out there, not everything is looked at the same way, especially when it comes to male vs. female. It all leads back to ones identity. The way you see things through your eyes and how you react to it says a lot about ones identity. This may be getting a little far fetched but it got me thinking when this question was asked and I wanted to expand on it!  

Chapters 8 and 9 discussion

The discussion leaders asked this question and it was something that I made note of in my reading as well, 

        Question 2 - Do you think eyes are important to your identity? 
              "He told me later when he saw me crossing the street he recognized me immediately by my
              eyes" Page 220

When I read this, I immediately thought of Riders of the Purple Sage. This reminded me of how Lassiter knew that Bess was Milly's daughter and his niece just by looking in her eyes. I actually wrote my first response paper about the importance of eyes in Riders, and I think that this passage from Eva Luna represents the same importance in a person's identity as they did in Riders. Eyes are the most real thing about a person. Eyes always tell the truth. In Riders, eyes end up solving the whole mystery behind Bess, Milly, and Lassiter's stories. Those three characters eyes were focused on a lot and there was a purpose for that. I think that the same is the case for Eva and Huberto. I think that the fact that Huberto recognized Eva by her eyes, is supposed to represent the connection that the two have. The fact that he hadn't seen her in so long, but he remembered her eyes, means that in the time he was with her, her eyes told him how she felt about him, even if she didn't verbally tell him. Eyes can tell a person's feelings, what they have seen, and who they really are, and they can't lie.

-Jessica Mitchell

Ilana's CBI

In Chapter 8 of Eva Luna, we learn that Melesio, a childhood friend of Eva's, has undergone physical changes in order to become a woman (on the outside.) We know that Melesio has always had this "dream of being a woman" (Allende 128), however it is not until later in life that Eva crosses paths with Mimi. After removing herself from the mob in Chapter 8, Eva comes across "a woman so beautiful that for a moment [she] thought she was a divine apparition." (Allende 206)

Eva then proceeds to describe who we come to discover is Mimi:

"I stared at her, struck by her beauty, studying the sleek, whippet-like bone structure, the long slim hands, the dramatic eyes, the classic line of the nose and chin." (Allende 206)

In this article, a transgender model named April Ashley is talked about as one of the most prominent LGBT and transgender icons in history. A museum in Liverpool, Britain, was dedicated to Ashley in honor of her transformation and journey. Katherine Brooks, the author of this article, states that "The exhibit traces a timeline beginning with Ashley's tormented childhood, a tumultuous period dominated by intolerant schoolyard bullies, and a young adulthood in harsh psychiatric treatment. Ashley was steadfast in her belief that she was a woman trapped within a male body, and began working in a nightclub in her early 20s to earn enough money for gender reassignment surgery"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/30/april-ashley_n_4005356.html

In Chapter 8, Mimi tells Eva, "I was born a man, but by mistaken and now I'm a woman." (Allende 207) This connects to April Ashley's story and her adamancy on her belief of being born a woman with a male body.

My CBI brings up a controversial issue of what society thinks of transgender people and sex reassignment surgeries. Many, especially people who are affiliated heavily with the Catholic religion, do not agree with gender reassignment because it goes against God and his creation. However others fight for transgender people and their belief of becoming who they want to be/always have been. My question is, what part do the physical aspects of male/female bodies play with transgender people? Are bodies more important to transgender people?

Discussion Leading Chapters 8 and 9

Question 1 - How is Mimi different from the other women in the novel?

"For Mimi, sex is the least vital part of her femininity. Other things attract her: clothes, perfumes, fabrics, jewelry, cosmetics." Page 213

Question 2 - Do you think eyes are important to your identity? 

" He told me later when he saw me crossing the street he recognized me immediately by my eyes" Page 220

Question 3 - How important is it for Eva to be married? What are the important benefits for Eva if she was married?

"Women need to get married, because if they don't they're not complete. They dry up inside, their blood sours in their veins." Page 187

Discussion Chapters 5 & 6

Throughout chapters five and six, we see a few instances where an altered physical appearance is present. For example, madrina gives birth to a monstrous baby with two heads.

"…I learned my marina had given birth to a monser."

"The great curiosity was that one head was white by race, and the other black."

We also meet a man named Riad Halabí, who suffered a cleft lip. He was a very sweet man and treats Eva well.

"He loved others so much that he tried to spare them the unpleasantness of his cleft lip: he always carried a handkerchief in his hand to conceal it; he never ate or drank in public; he rarely smiled; and he tried always to stand either with his back to the light or in the shadow, to hide his defect."

What importance do these physical traits have to the story? What is the significance of these defects?



Our author uses extremely descriptive language to paint a great picture for the reader. This language also helps to shape our characters.

"Her home was a showroom for the possibilities of this miraculous material: a Coromandel screen in the entry; four musketeers dressed in velvet and lace, swords unsheathed, presiding over the living room; an elephant decorated in the Indian manner serving as a telephone table; a Roman frieze at the head of her bed."

"In my eyes Huberto Naranjo was elegant: dark sideburns, oily pompadour, tight pants, cowboy boots, and metal-studded belt. His expression was vaguely arrogant, but in his eyes danced the spark of mischief that nothing in his storm life could erase. He was barely fifteen, but he looked older because of the way he stood: legs apart, knees slightly bent, head thrown back, a cigarette dangling from his lower lip."

What is your reaction to the descriptive language that our author uses to portray Eva's story? How does the language shape the physical bodies that exist within this story?

Eva is an extremely strong character. She makes some bold steps throughout her story. One of these is running away by herself. 

"With absolute aplomb, as if it were something I did every day, I lifted the receptacle high and emptied it over the head of the Minister of State--with a single motion of the wrist liberating myself from humiliation."

"I turned on my heel, hurried from the room--in passing bidding farewell to the figures sleeping behind locked doors--dashed down the stairs, darted past the chauffeurs and bodyguards, ran through the park, and made my escape before the victim could recover from his shock."

How do you respond to this bold move by Eva? Would you say that we are seeing her grow up throughout the story so far?

Kerry Brooks -- CBI 2/24

http://www.bellasugar.com/History-Red-Hair-18437675#photo-18439607

Red hair, being such a rare phenomenon, has a long and diverse cultural history. We know today that red hair developed alongside other light features to allow humans in low-light climates to absorb necessary vitamin D. However, ancient cultures invented many other theories to explain the presence of this unique trait. The ancient world saw it as a sign of dark magic, witchcraft, and temptation. Some believed it was a mark of vampirism. After the reign of the famously red-headed queen Elizabeth I, opinions on red hair began to change. From the Victorian era until now, it has been a symbol of free female sexuality. Eva Luna, the heroine of our current novel, and her mother Conseulo both have red hair. The history of red hair relates to the way it is used in the story. Some people see it as a mark of evil or the devil, while it also associated with the free-spirited strength of both Consuelo and Eva.

Eva Luna Chapters 3+4

There were a few quotes that caught my eye as I progressed through chapters 3 and 4 of Eva Luna.  The first of these was on page 48, and said by Eva.

"The martyrdom of St. Lucia was my favorite.  I wanted to hear it over and over in minute detail; why Lucia rejected the emperor who loved her; how they tore out her eyes; whether it was true that her eyeballs had shot a beam of light that blinded the emperor, and that she grew two splendid new blue eyes much more beautiful than the eyes she had lost."

This quote again shows an emphasis of the eyes, and the idea of either gaining or losing sight.  This ties into Riders of the Purple Sage as well, as Jane was often described as blind by those around her.  And when Jane reaches her supreme moment, Venters describes the scene by seeing the change in her eyes.

This quote provides insight into the character of Eva Luna.  I am curious if her storytelling will be her mechanism to blind her enemies, possibly to save herself in multiple instances.  And I found it interesting to see another author emphasize the characters eyes in such a way.

She further describes herself later within chapter 3 by stating, "I did not change much during those years; I remained rather small and thin, but with defiant eyes that unnettled the patrona."  Again she emphasizes her eyes and shows I high degree of expression.  I wonder if the eyes will be another window into the characters much as they were utilized during Riders of the Purple Sage.

Following Eva's altercation with her patrona, running away from that place of employment and adventure through the city, she provides a description of the city that was rather graphic.  "In those days the city was not the hopeless disaster that it is now, but it was already growing-shapelessly, like a malignant tumor, assailed by lunatic architecture in an unholy mixture of styles."  I am extremely curious to see whether or not there will be information about the seemingly downfall and destruction of this city, and how it connects to the characters in the story. 

Chapters 3 and 4

Since the beginning of Eva Luna, Eva constantly talks about how strong of a woman her mother is and speaks very highly of her. What came to a surprise to me was how her mother ends up dying but leaves her by saying, " There is no death, daughter. People die only when we forget them. If you can remember me, I will be with you always." ( 43). This quote stuck out to me and I found it to be very powerful. Eva's mother told her many stories throughout her life that helped her form into the person she is today, and now Eva has those stories to carry on with her to tell, and to constantly remind her of her mother and keep her alive. "Everyone dies, it's not so important. "( 44). Said by Madrina so casually I thought. She acted like she just wanted to get rid of the body right away with no emotion whatsoever, which I found to be very strange.

Chpt 3 $4 Eva Luna's mother dies, four days after the young girl's sixth Christmas. Consuelo tells her daughter that there really is no death as long as one is remembered. Eva promises never to forget her mother and fetches the cook, her madrina. Life continues for a year until Professor Jones dies as well. As his last days approach it falls to Eva Luna to care for him. My Question is who will cares for Eva? who will she end her life with?

Discussion

Chapters 1 and 2 discussed a lot about Eva Luna's mother and how strong she was. Chapter 3 talks about how when her mother died her god mother or Madrina took care of Eva and was also a strong figure in her life.

On page 46 Eva describes her madrina, "She walked with defiant grace, head high, to the rhythm of the stree music she carried inside."
I think it's very important that Eva Luna had such strong female characters in her life and I believe this is going to tie in with more as the novel goes on and we might see a resemblance in Eva Luna's character.

Eva Luna Ch. 3 & 4

"He never spoke of his past, for fear of evoking sympathy and also because he had not yet come to grips with it in his mind. The unhappy years with his father were a broken mirror in his memory...Rolf went through life with his emotions bared, tripping over his pride, falling, and struggling to his feet again." - pg. 91-92

The way Lukas Carle had treated his son growing up negatively shaped the person he became. He feared the compassion that people usually love to sense, and almost seemed immune to expressing himself to people around him, even though he was a loving and pleasure-seeking person at heart. Rolfe seemed to sense no emotion regarding his fathers loss. Much in the way that Eva had to deal with her mother's death and move on with her life, Rolfe had to do the same as well, but their reactions to a family member dying were polar opposites. Eva loved her mother and learned to care a great deal about those around her and to put faith in them as well. Rolfe seems to mistrust people and realized that he would have to be independent and "would require a strong armor if he was to survive."

The way Eva and Rolfe dealt with death is an incredible thing to look at it because of how we perceive death today. A death in the family is seen as a dramatic loss, and people mourn for months and years to come. At the time that Eva and Rolfe lived, death was something that was maybe more common, and it was seen as something to not dwell over. This, to me personally, seems like an incredibly difficult task, even if those feelings were forced upon me.

Eva Luna Ch. 3&4 Discussion Post

Chapters 3 and 4 of Eva Luna were alright, nothing exponentially exciting to read, but they were okay. A general note that I wrote down at the end of reading the two chapters was that Allende seems to be playing around a lot with the senses, and scent/smell in particular. I wonder if she is doing this on purpose, to trigger sense memory within her readers in order to allow them to fully engulf themselves in the story. I know this mechanism is working for me so far! There were a lot of smells described in chapter 4:

When Rolf first comes into South America, "The air was vibrant with sound-hawkers' cries,  women singing, children's laughter, parrots' squawking-and steamy with sensuality and odors warm from the food stalls." (Allende 86)

On page 92-92, Aunt Burgel's most attracting dish is described, practically making the reader's mouth water. The word, "scent" or "smell" isn't used once in the description, but the detailing of the foods used and how she cooks them are enough to make the readers recognize and connect this more exotic but "close to home"dish to an a comfort food they, themselves, are fond with.

Twice in this chapter, the two cousins are described as smelling like a mixture of "cinnamon, clove, vanilla, and lemon" (Allende 93,99) in this exact order. The reader can infer that these scents made Rolf feel comforted and allured, as well as surrounded by a feminine aura.

I very much appreciate Allende's writing style, as it comes very easy for me to read and pretty intriguing. The sense memory tactic is also extremely affective, because every reader can relate and connect to a certain sight, smell, taste, touch, or sound in some way.

One question I had was why Rolf became so depressed and disappointed in himself for not killing his father, and beating his father's students "to the punch." I realize that there must have been some guilt, however death is death and the job is done at the end of the day. The family no longer has to survive with his wrath and oppressiveness. I think that Rolf secretly had a certain feeling of obligation to his father; after all, he didn't even put up a fight or leave like Jochen did when they walked in on their father sexually humiliating their mother. Just a thought!

Eva Luna Chapters 3 & 4

I am really enjoying the portrayal of femininity and masculinity in the novel. Specifically, the manner in which Eva portrays and views members of either gender. When describing madrina, Eva is very appreciative of the woman's body. "She was an arrogant dark-skinned woman with generous breasts, a well-defined waist, and hips that bulged like a tabletop under her skirts." (Allende 45) Eva continually describes madrina in terms such as these. She is always in admiration of fully-developed female bodies. There is also a sense of great comfort with the bodies of others. When the Professor falls ill, Eva Luna is completely comfortable with assisting in his bedside care. "I washed him, and slipped folded towels beneath his body to prevent his mattress from being soaked with urine; I aired his room, and spooned pap into his mouth." (Allende 51) Eva Luna is comfortable with the bodies of both men and women. Whether this comfort stems from how she was raised, or is somewhat influence by her storytelling is hard to say. I am excited to see what the remainder of the story brings concerning Eva Luna and her relationships both physically and mentally with those around her, male and female. It will also be interesting to see how similar relationships play out in Rolf's life, especially now that his father has died.

Eva Luna Chapters 3 & 4

The one thing that I love about this book the most is the language and how Isabel Allende chooses her words to describe the characters and the things around them. When Eva's mother died, Eva immediately reminds herself that her mother is still there.

"After a few hours she began to spit blood, and three days later she slipped away without any fuss, just as she had lived. I was at her side, and I have never forgotten that moment, because from that day I have had to sharpen my perception in order not to lost her among the shadows-of-no-return where disembodied spirits go to rest" (43).

I think that for a child of only six years old, Eva is very mature for her age in the fact that she is able to control her emotions and know that her mother is still there with her. Eva also knows that in order for her mother to stay with her, she needs to never forget her because her mother tells her exactly that. "'There is no death, daughter. People die only when we forget them,' my mother explained shortly before she left me. 'If you can remember me, I will be with you always'" (43).

I love how Isabel Allende talks about her mother's death. The way that she describes how Consuelo was still taking care of herself even though she knew that her life was coming to an end. Eva's mother still bathed herself and got herself dressed and made herself look presentable even though she knew that she was dying.

I also had a question throughout the reading. Are Eva's stories real, are they made up, or are they stories of dreams that she has had? I was unsure if these stories that Eva told were stories that were passed down to her or if she was clever enough to make up these stories that she told.

In chapter 4, I really enjoyed the opening description of how the postman knew that something wasn't right because of the feeling that he had with his bodily senses, and I liked the description of how he used those sense to track down what was wrong. I also loved the description of the body of the forest and how the postman could see that there was something wrong by how the forest felt. "But the mailman was on edge, his skin prickling because he perceived signs no other human eye would have registered. He always imagined the forest as a huge green beast with gentle blood flowing through its veins, a calm-spirited animal; but today it was restless. He got off his bicycle and sniffed the early morning air, seeking the reason for his uneasiness. The silence was so absolute he feared he had gone deaf. He laid his bicycle on the ground and took a couple of steps off the path to look around. He did not have to go far; there it was, waiting for him, hanging from a branch above his head, a thick cord around its neck" (78-79).

The descriptions of this scene made it feel very real for me and I had chills reading this section, and not a lot of books have given me that feeling. I think that how Allende chooses to describe the scenes and the characters are what makes me want to read more.

Eva Luna: Chapters 3 and 4

In Chapter 3 of Eva Luna, there were 2 things that struck out at me. The first was the quote on pg. 43, said by Eva's mother when she's approaching death, "There is no death, daughter. People die only when we forget them...If you can remember me, I will be with you always." I feel this is such an intriguing quote. Eva is at such a young age in her life, and her mother is already on her deathbed. For a young girl like Eva, it's hard to imagine she would be able to understand what the concept of death is. Even later, on pg. 44, it says "I did not cry, because I still did not realize the magnitude of my loss." I really admire the way in which Eva's mother talks to Eva about her death in this way. Now, in Eva's heart, she may feel more comfortable, and just believe that as long as she remembers her mother, her mother will always continue to live on in her life.

The other interesting event that happened in Chapter 3 that I thought was interesting to note was Professor Jones's death. "He left instructions in his will for his remains to be sent to the distant city of his birth. He did not want the local cemetery to be his final resting place, to lie covered with foreign dust beneath a merciless sun, and in promiscuous proximity with who knows what kind of people, as he used to say." (pg. 49-50). I feel how Professor Jones specifically has instructions in his will of where he wants the remains of body to be laid down is so important. This really illustrates how important the role of the body is.

In Chapter 4, what appalled me was the description of Lukas Carle's body. Just the way it's described makes it so visual. "They were led to a bare, cold room with tiled walls...in the center, on a stretcher beneath a bright white light, lay the body." (pg. 81) When I read that, it gave me the chills, even though it's just a few sentences. It really does set up an image in your head, and it's almost as if you're there with the character, viewing exactly how it is from their eyes.

Chapters 3&4

In chapters 3&4 we see both Eva and Rolf losing one of their parents, but they handle it in completely different ways. When Eva's mother is dying she told Eva, "If you remember me, I will be with you always." This quote shows just shows strong Eva was raised her whole life. She was never shielded from anything because her mother wanted to make her strong. Later in the text when madrina took Eva to work, the patrona asked if Eva cried a lot. Madrina responded by saying,"She didn't even cry when we buried her mother- may God rest her soul." This shows that Eva was almost too strong, in my opinion, and the death of her mother wasn't even close to being catastrophic to her life. She simply just went on.

Rolf on the other hand is completely different. For one Rolf hated his father but he grieved for him more evidently than Eva did for her mother that she loved. On page 84, it says, "Frau Carle went in to wake her son for school and found him lying facing the wall, pale, exhausted, and clearly determined to die.." This is a completely different reaction than I would have expected, but he was so ashamed of his father and the situation he could not bear it anymore. The death of Rolf's father caused his life to change completely and in the end he moved to South America to get better. I also believe we are getting closer to where Rolf and Eva meet in the novel. 

Another theme I'm noticing when reading is that there is a lot of sexuality in this book. On page 71, Eva says, "It looked like a little fleshy nose, and that was when I discovered- and later in life proved- the close relationship between a man's nose and his penis. One look at a man's face and I know how he will look naked." I literally burst out laughing when I read this quote. Also when Rolf was having his love triangle with his cousins, I first thought it was odd that he still called them his cousins. However I thought that section had such a youthful appeal to it because it was all their first experiences with love. Rolf, after all his misfortunes in life, really bounces back with this.

Also when I have been reading this, I am wondering what time period it is set in? 

Chapters 3 & 4

"There is no death daughter. People only die when we forget about them… If you can remember me I will be with you always" (43). This quote was very powerful. Almost too powerful in my eyes for a mother to say to her young daughter before she dies. One of the reasons I believe Eva to be such a strong young individual is because she is not shielded by anything. Adults tell her how it is without holding anything back. Some of the text in this book I find to be very harsh. For example, when madrina is talking to Eva about death, "Everyone dies, it's not so important" (44). In our society when a family member passes away especially someones mother it can be very detrimental to the family and loved ones of that member. It can take months to cope with such a situation. Eva had no time. It was brushed off like no big deal. The fact that it is pushed aside so easily in this story shows me that there is no time for sulking around. There are other things to worry about such as making a living for oneself throughout this novel.

Even though Eva is left without a mother, she is fortunate enough to have people watching over her like madrina and Elvira. In the text it talks about how madrina went without drinking or smoking so she could save every coin she had in order to take care of Eva by having her baptized. madrina believed in saving Eva from sin and she would do anything in her power to take care of Eva just like Consuelo had asked her too. Bringing Eva to church and having her complete certain sacraments was a way to keep Eva from becoming a pagan. Elvira brings a sort of joy into Eva's life. They are able to fool around when it is appropriate and it helps to lighten the situation they are in. She does her best to make sure Eva is being well nourished by feeding her meals to keep her healthy. I like how she calls Eva her "little bird." It reminded me of the Hunger Games movie when Katniss calls her sister "little duck." I think it makes Eva feel wanted and safe that someone older is looking after her.

Death

Last class, we talked about two instances of death appearing within the first two chapters. I don't remember the exact quotes that we referenced in class, but I remember that the language was very contrasting. One emphasized the importance and the meaning of the death, while the other made it seem like a more trivial occurrence.

Right in the beginning of chapter three, we are presented with a very descriptive tale of swallowing a chicken bone. The author writes about how this ultimately kills Eva's mother. As I was reading this section, I was almost confused. I was reading about such a sad bodily occurrence, but the way it was described was so intriguing. I couldn't help but draw parallels between Eva's language and what was physically happening to her mother's body in the story. Eva says, "…because from that day I have had to sharpen my perception in order not to lose her among the shadows-of-no-return where disembodied spirits go to rest." It amused me how Eva used the word sharpen in describing how it was, in fact, a sharp chicken bone lodged in her mother's throat which killed her.

Also, I liked when Eva was explaining how the bone may have severed something internally causing her to bleed to death. She says, "When she realized that her life was draining away, she took me with her to our room off the patio, to be together until the end." I thought this was once again a unique word choice that connects the situation physically and mentally. "Draining away" could be used in any number of situations where someone is dying, but Eva's mother was literally draining away because of the chicken bone.

Finally, this section kind of disturbed me when I read it. Usually when someone is dying, we try to save them. We try to treat them and keep it from happening. There was this super relaxed feeling throughout this whole passage which made Eva's mother seem almost weak. Eva's mother was preparing herself for death, while it was happening. As the reader, I was physically uncomfortable during this section. I felt like I was seeing these events unfold right before my eyes through the lens of Eva. The physical actions of the bodies in this section hit me especially hard emotionally.

Eva Luna Ch 3 and 4

I'm really liking how this book focuses on one of the characters each chapter, but I think they're going to meet sometime soon. I noticed two real similarities between Chapters 3 and 4. In Chapter 3, when Consuelo was dying, she told Eva Luna "People die only when we forget them... If you can remember me, I will be with you always". (So incredibly sweet, sad, touching and just.. so many feelings). This way Eva can remember her mom by thinking of her and talking to her. Then, in Chapter 4, Rolf wrote his mom letters and there's a quote that says the letters "kept her (Rolf's mom) alive for him". While she isn't dead, he basically used them to feel some closeness to his mom. Likewise, Eva always stares at the painting of the sea in the house she is living in/working in. It sort of fuels her imagination and stories. Then in Rolf's chapter, at one point, he's on a boat traveling across the sea. I think these similarities are sort of showing how Rolf is embodying what Eva Luna thinks of, like thinking of talking to her mom and being on the sea. There might be more similarities like this but those are the two I caught on to.

Eva Luna Chapters 3 and 4

While reading chapters 3 and 4 of Eva Luna I noted a particular emphasis on story telling and how it shapes Eva's life. Having learned to tell fantastical tales from Consuelo, I get the general vibe that Eva chooses to carry on the tradition as a sort of homage to her mother. Eva tells tales throughout chapters 3 and 4, both to us as a reader, but to others, such as Huberto. I was particularly interested in the parallel between the body of the stories she tells others versus the body of the story she gives us.

On page 72, Eva claims "Although I was young, I knew about love intuitively, and wove it into my stories. I dreamed about love, it haunted me."

Although at first glance, the statement may not appear to be relevant to the body. However, the weaving in of love into the body of Eva's stories has appeared throughout the entirety of the text so far. The story she told to Huberto was a love story and the story of Rolf in chapter four involves a rather scandalous love triangle. The inclusion of love into the body of Eva's stories tells us a great deal about her as a character. She is an idealistic dreamer, drunk on the idea of love and fantasy.

Eva Luna Chapters 3 & 4

On page 47 Eva is talking about her madrina and I always find it interesting when she talks about her because she never really has anything good to say but at the same time she doesn't dislike her. I think because her madrina took over when her mother died that made a connection between them. 

"For her, the boundaries between good and evil were very precise, and she was ready to save me from sin if she had to beat me to do it."

I thought this was a great quote. Eva understands that her madrina is doing what she thinks it best for Eva and that is the only way she knows how to raise her. I feel like this quote gives us insight into just how smart Eva is, especially when it comes to people. It is just surprising to me that such a young girl would say something like that and I feel like Eva knows how it sounds and doesn't agree with her madrina but it holding on to the closest mother figure she has. I think that is also why she has such a strong connection to Elvira.

Eva Luna- Chapters 3-4

An aspect of these chapters that I found to be interesting was in chapter 4, on page 84. Allende wrote,

"Rolf Carle began to grow thin. Every time he lifted his food from his plate, his spoon was transformed into his father's tongue; at the bottom of the bowl, through the soup, he could see the dead man's terrified eyes; the bread was the color of the hanged man's skin," (84).

I thought that the way this was described fit well when looking at this book through a lens focusing on the body. Instead of just saying that Rolf was thinking about his father's death and feeling guilty for being pleased that the man was out of his life, the author used the father's body, as well as Rolf's body to demonstrate how Rolf was feeling. Generally, if someone is feeling guilty of something, that is all that that person can focus on and think about. We as the reader can see that through this quote. Rolf is depressed because he feels that it is wrong to be glad that his father is dead. He can't shake that feeling, and the fact that he can't even eat without thinking about his father, demonstrates the struggles taking place in Rolf's mind.

The actions of the body, the fact that Rolf was becoming thin, and the images of the father's eyes, tongue, and skin created, help point to a larger picture. Using the images and descriptions of the body, help the author say something without having to some right out and say it.

-Jessica Mitchell

  

Eva Luna chapters 3 and 4

One of the main themes that has stuck out to me in this book so far is the contrasts it contains. This is a book of opposites. Not only do we have two different story lines thus far, we also have a host of characters who contrast and oppose each other. There is certainly a class difference going on here, and even brief descriptions of the body give us a clear clue if the character is in the upper class or the working class. This emphasizes a motif I've noticed so far in the book: the distinction between "savagery" and "civility", or the difference between natural desires and the imposed body of social customs. One of the clearest contradictions is between Eva's life working for her patron/patrona and her life on the streets with Huberto Naranjo. When she is on the streets, the body of her environment is described as limitless and freeing, she says that "[t]he street was more appealing than that house where life droned by so tediously" (71). However, this natural desire towards freedom is opposed by the cultural  requirement for her to live and work in a house. Natural desires being opposed by society is apparent in Rolf's story line as well. He and his lovers fall into a happy, natural, three-way relationship. Even though this seems to work out for them, Rolf "struggled with the insoluble conflict between desire -- always spiritedly revived by those two opulent and generous bodies -- and the severity that caused him to view monogamous marriage as the only possible course for a decent man" (99). Rolf and the sisters find a type of relationship which works for them, but are restricted because of the body of societal rules that exist in their culture.

Rolf's Situation(s)

I'm sorry to keep pointing out all of the sexual references in this book, but I am really enjoying the diversity of sexuality in this book. I am constantly shocked by the differences in sexual situations the characters encounter. It makes the book more credible rather than emphasizing one heterosexual relationship like many "romance" novels seem to portray. I have a feeling that Rolf and Eva are going to get married/have a relationship later in the book, and instead of the novel just focusing on their relationship, the author chose to divert the characters' sexual stories away from solely the main characters. It seemed very queer that Rolf is having a polygamist relationship with his (distant) cousins, especially since the parents were okay with their relationship.  It even shows Rolf contemplating within himself about the situation, rather than the author just giving us the fact that this relationship is going on: "He struggled with the insoluble conflict between desire...and the severity that caused him to view monogamous marriage as the only possible course for a decent man," (99). The twists and turns this book presents makes it more exciting to read since we really don't know what could happen next. Have a good weekend, everyone!

Eva Luna Chapter 3 & 4

              I found a couple quotes in the text that I thought was interesting. First,  on page 45 "She changed her blouse twice a day, sprinkled herself with rose water, washed her hair with egg, and brushed her teeth with salt to make them shine." That just sounds really gross to wash you hair with egg. The second quote I found was in chapter 4. On page 86 it states that " Feeling like a freebooter from an old adventure novel, his hair ruffled by a warm breeze and his eyes filled with wonderment, Rolf Carle was one of the first to step ashore." I have noticed that books like to make references to eyes. To me, this quote just gives me a warm feeling and makes me want to be on a beach.

Eva Luna

During the first couple chapters a part that really stuck out to me was the section on page 22 talking about Consuelo's stories. Eva describes "In the privacy of the room we shared, however, she transformed. When she talked about the past, or told her stories, the room filled with light; the walls dissolved to reveal incredible landscapes, palaces crowded with unimaginable objects faraway countries that she invented or borrowed from the professors library." This specific quote made me think of the New York Times article. The article talks about how certain sentences that use much detail and descriptive words trigger the brain rather than an average sentence with everyday common words. When Eva talked about how her mom expressed these stories to her through such engaging structure it made me as the reader that much more interested. I can see through Eva's point of view why her mother's stories have such a strong impact on her. She remembers so much about them because the way her mother added in the great details could not possibly be forgotten.  

Alanna's CBI

In the first chapter of the book, Eva's mother Consuelo goes to live with an eccentric doctor of medicine, Professor Jones. Although Professor Jones' primary occupation concerned cancer research, the odd doctor was described as have a passion for the embalming of dead bodies. Taking an interest in the preservation of bodies after death, I found an article on cryonics, a more recent form of human preservation.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/sep/20/cryonics-death-insurance-policies

The article itself describes a growing popularity in the field of cryonics. Cryonics itself is described as the practice of deep-freezing the bodies of those who have died of the incurable, in the hopes of procuring a cure in the future. 

Taking a closer look at an image of the freezing chambers themselves, the prospect both looks and sounds like something out of a dystopic science fiction novel. However, the trend has been gaining momentum in the past years and has gained the support from middle wage citizens to celebrities, such as Simon Cowell.

Connecting this back to Eva Luna, the process of cryonics in a way hearkens back to the doctor's own form of embalming techniques. Although the two processes yield very different results (Embalming makes the body look alive, though it actually isn't) I believe the motivation behind each to be similar.

The process of cryonics cheats death by giving the human in question a second chance at life. I believe the Professor's obsession with embalming has a great deal to do with his own personal attempt to cheat death. His technique more or less kept life in each of his subjects (except for the smell). Cryonics reflects a more modern version of these attempts. "I really enjoy being alive," student of natural science Victoria Stevens claims, "I think the prospect of death … it just seems like an awful waste after people spend their lives learning and progressing." Connecting Eva Luna back to modern day is simple with this in mind. Just like Professor Jones, we as a culture are attempting to discover more ways to preserve the body.

Eva Luna

There was one section that I thought related nicely to when we were talking about the body in Eva Luna. She was talking about how her mother always took care of her and she said "I have no marks on my skin, only a few cigarette burns..." pg 22. I just thought that is was strange how nonchalant she was about it because that makes me think that maybe she was abused and I'd like to learn more about how she got those.

Also, I feel like we are seeing Consuelo as a strong character because Eva, her daughter, is telling the story and that is how she sees her mother. Maybe Eva knows the pain her mother has endured and maybe (because of the burns) she has experienced it too and she thinks that her mother is very brave and strong for getting through that. That also might be a reason why she acts as if it isn't that big of a deal; Eva wants to be brave like her mother.

That could also relate to the female character in chapter two. Maybe Eva doesn't think that their mother protected them enough from the abuse and that is why, even though both women seem like submissive characters, Consuelo is stronger.

James CBI

Having read Metamorphosis so much I've always been taken by the application of his main themes in real life, and how perceptions of self and body affect how one goes about in the world. To this end I'm including two images, one directly related to Metamorphosis, and one that I view as an example of it's inverse in our world.

Gregor views himself as a vermin, (though yes, he is actually a horrible bug monster in the book). He actually eats garbage, gives up on speech, and when the chance presents itself to sink deeper into the mindset fitting with the body he is trapped in, he finds himself completely unwilling to try to battle against it. Gregor is a prisoner of his body, yes, but he's a willing prisoner all to happy to coalesce to his apathy.

There are, of course, many real life examples of similar situations. People who are slaves to depression and apathy, who find themselves bound by broken bodies, or bodies unwilling to work and grow. Situations like that are not rare, and it's completely understandable how someone in that situation could grow hopeless.

The second image is one I've always really liked, one I had as a desktop wallpaper for a while. It does seem to present a bit of a dystopian, Matrix-esque depiction of love and reality, but my preferred interpretation is to see it through the lens of rampant digital escapism, where people are all too willing to wallow in the ego boosts of things like video games and modern media, living exclusively through vicarious connection with the digital world and social media, conflating their status and their being while their bodies atrophy away because of neglect; an interesting phenomenon when juxtaposed with Gregor.

Metamorphosis, symbolism

    By reading metamorphosis I've come to notice tons and tons of symbolism. One thing I found particularly interesting is the symbolism of Gregors is the furniture contained in his room. When Gregor becomes this vermin and so called nuisance to his family, his father removes all the furniture and just personal stuff in his room (pg.17). To me this means his father has come to the realization he's never goanna change back, come back to being human. His family has lost all hope and faith in him. His furniture signifies his past and his sense of humanity... its now been officially taken from him.

Metamorphosis

I really love the second part of the Metamorphose , it seem like everybody in the Samsa family have adapt the new situation with Gergor,each  one appears to develop a different perception of how much humanity remains in him.

Metamorphosis

One part of the story that stood out to me was when the sister was playing her instrument and the parents took great interest in it. "His sister began to play; father and mother paid close attention, one on each side, to the movements of her hands." This ties back into one of the big themes of the course, body language. The parents were so interested in the movement of her hands. In general I think hands are one of the most important parts on the body especially when it comes to body language. Hands can be used to create things, play music, craft, build, cover up, really illuminate who a person is etc. The sisters hands were telling a story when she was playing her music. Her hands described a part of her life that she is good at.

Friday's CBI

Hey, everyone! I will be discussing the relevancy of self-perception concerning Gregor within The Metamorphosis. This article focuses on the importance of self-esteem and confidence when it comes to how one views themselves. I want to look at why Gregor turned into a bug and what that says about his self-perception. The article is a quick, interesting read and can easily be applied to the characters in Rider of the Purple Sage as well. It is titled "Negative Self-Perception and Shame".

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/enlightened-living/200807/negative-self-perception-and-shame

Metamorphosis Part 1

When the discussion group asked there first question about what kind of bug we thought that Gregor had become, the whole time we were talking about that question I had a picture in my head but I did not know how to describe it or what kind a bug it was, so I thought it would be best to put the picture on here.

This is what I pictured Gregor as, except for maybe without the long nose. This is Dim from Disney/Pixar's A Bug's Life, he is a rhinoceros beetle. I am not sure if this is what that type of bug looks like in real life, but this is what I imagined when I was reading.

Kafka wrote, "He lay on his armor-like back, and lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections....His many legs pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him." In addition to this description it talks about how he rolls on his back, how he had trouble lying on one side, and how he could not see his lower legs. With this description it made me think of this character from the movie because of the armor-like, curved shell-like back and the much smaller than body, many legs that the bug has. I also imagine that it would be difficult for Dim to see his lower legs if he where lying on his back, much like Gregor, as well as try an walk up right.

I have no idea what kind of bug Gregor is actually, but this is what I pictured when reading.


-Jessica Mitchell

Joe Allison's CBI. 2/12/14

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/justin-bieber-arrest-dramatic-child-428726#1-justin-bieber

Something about being raised in Hollywood just does something to people for the worse. Not everyone is affected by this but a good chunk are. Here are the worse of the worse. It seems to happen out of no where just like the story Metamorphosis. One minute they are just another famous person, the next they are a disgusting creature, only a shadow of what they use to be.

Riders of the Purple Sage (end)

Someone in class today was talking about how much eyes were discussed and important in this novel. They mentioned how Oldring's eyes were often described, as well as Jane's. I also think that Lassiter's were focused on by Jane several times, just as Bess's eyes were described on numerous occasions by Venters. Afterall, his description of her eyes is how we as the readers first meet Bess as Bess and not the Masked Rider."He had seen that look in the eyes of a crippled antelope which he was about to finish with his knife. But in her it had infinitely more- a revelation of mortal spirit. The instinctive clinging to life was there, and the divining helplessness and the terrible accusation of the stricken, (39)," (as I mentioned in my previous post).

However, what I found interesting is that in the end when Lassiter told Bess that she was not Oldring's biological daughter and showed her the picture of his sister, he said, "Child, I thought you would remember those eyes. They're the same beautiful eyes you'd see if you looked in the mirror or a clear spring. They're your mother's eyes. You are Milly Erne's child, (216)". For one thing, this is another important instance where eyes are discussed. I just wonder why if Lassiter saw her before, when he visited Venters and Bess at their cave, he didn't say something then. Also, why did no one else notice this. Jane was supposedly good friends with Milly, and she didn't say anything about her eyes. So that seems a little wierd to me, but I liked that that whole realization occured through the description of eyes as well.

-Jessica Mitchell

Could Jane Do Anything?

I was thinking about discussion today about the end of Riders of the Purple Sage. I think one of the most frustrating things about this book was I was waiting for Jane to do something without using her body. She finally gave Venters her horses, probably the best thing she thinks she will every do in her life, and she didn't use her body. It made me think about how someone in class said she felt guilty about her father's involvement with Bishop Dyer and Milly Erne and how she never really stood up to her father. I think maybe because she didn't stand up to her father, she felt she couldn't stand up to anyone else. That's why she never really did anything. She probably realized she could get things using her body so that's all she ever did until she gave away her horses and realized she could do things without using her beauty.

Kamrie Gademske Colored Hands

I thought it was clever to use the color of the characters hands to represent something about themselves. I also particularly like how Zane Grey added this section to the story because everyone reading can discover their own interpretation of the hand colors and produce meaning out of it. I personally think Tull's hands are black because he is simply a bad person. His black hands represent darkness in my mind, nothing about this color is inviting and that is what I think when it comes to Tull. When it comes to Lassiter's hands being red, two different outcomes pop into my head. I think they are red because he has killed people in his past. So the red to me represents blood. However, I also think of love when I envision the color red. The red on his hands could possibly represent his growing love and attraction towards Jane.  

Discussion Questions for Metamorphosis: Part One

A Brief Synopsis of What Goes Down:

In part one of The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa wakes up and is unfortunately late for work. Also, he is transformed into a giant bug. As a result, he cannot get out of bed. His family knocks on the door to try to get him up. In the meantime, a chief clerk comes and asks about Gregor. The door is opened. His family, upon witnessing the newly transformed Gregor, panic and slam the door.


Some Questions to consider:

1. Why do you think Gregor was transformed from a human into a giant bug? Is there really a point to it?

2. Why do you think the author would write about an animal such as this? Based on the description, can you tell what bug he is? Or is it too ambiguous?

3. Lets talk about bodies. What is the importance of the description of Gregor's body within the first paragraph? Do you think he fully realizes his transformation? Consider his attempts to get out of bed. Would you say his actions are more human or bug like?

4. Gregor's room is described as such:

"A proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls."

Consider this description. What does the body of the room itself say about Gregor as a person?

Discussion Questions for Chapters XVII-End

Riders of the Purple Sage Discussion Questions for Chapters XVII-End

Ilana Lieberman and Morgan Thompson

1. At the beginning of Riders of the Purple Sage the point of view of Venters and Jane is shown obscurely and the writing connected/seamless. However towards the end of the book, starting around chapter 15/16, the writing splits off into Bess and Venters' story and Jane and Lassiter's story. The writting style also changes from more formal to informal throughout the book. 

What do you think this does for the book and how do these changes affect the way the reader reads the novel? 

2. Venters discovers that Bess has found a vast amount of gold in the stream. Zane quotes, "He leaned over to her, and put his hand, strong and clenching now, on hers." (165)

Bess learns that Venters had killed her father. Zane quotes, "She looked haggard and sad, all at once stunted; and her hands dropped listlessly; and her head drooped in slow, final acceptance of a hopeless fate." (216)

How do the colors of the hands in Chapter 16, that Lassiter describes for each of the characters, connect to the actions of the hands in the quotations above? Is there a symbolic connection between the characters' grasps on life and their hands?

3. In Chapter 18, Venters encounters Oldring in the bar. Zane describes Oldring with "Broad brow, [his] large black eyes, [his] sweeping beard, ad dark as the wing of the raven, [his] enormous width of shoulder and depth of chest..." (184)

We have discovered that Venters killed Oldring at a time when he didn't know that Bess was his supposed daughter. 

If Oldring's body image was different, how do you think this would have changed Venters' actions?

Contemporary Body Issues

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/movies/katniss-everdeen-a-new-type-of-woman-warrior.html?_r=1&

The New York Times posted an article titled, “A Radical Female Hero from Dystopia” which is about the different characters in “The Hunger Games.” Katniss Everdeen was one of the main characters that appeared in the movie, who is mainly talked about in the article. The article talks about the sales of the trilogy. Other characters in the movie were Manohla Dargis and A. O. Scott, but more characters were in the movie that is not mentioned in this article.

A lot of information is presented in the New York Time about Katniss. For example, “She is different, though, not only because she is a woman but also because she is anything but a free, rootless figure of the wilderness.” Katniss is a person who fights for her life with weapons. She also is a person with multiple identities. Examples include athlete, daughter, girlfriend, sister, and a warrior.  Katniss is also a hero.  The article also discusses how Katniss looks like an adult in the movie, but really she is still a teenager. She shifts between both masculinity and femininity.  Her masculinity is to kill and her femininity is to nurture. The key feature of Katniss is her face.

The article from the New York Times shows the different roles Katniss plays. The two teams, team Petta and team Gale that are represented in the movie.  She is a powerful female character. Katniss is described as strong, active, and who motivates the story. This description describes her perfectly.

Thoughts on discussion today

When we were talking about the discussion questions that Professor MgGee posted as an example, I had a few thoughts about some of the questions.

My thoughts about the first question about Jane's gesture towards Lassiter being "terrible" is that maybe Lassiter is trying to make sure that Jane stays true to her Mormon religion and keeps away from friendships with Gentiles because he knows that Jane could be in trouble for friendships with Gentiles. Lassiter also knows what other people are saying about Jane and what they are planning against her, and for that reason, I think that Lassiter is trying to protect Jane.

I also had a few thoughts about the third question about the colors of their hands. I agree with what others were saying in class that Tull's hands are black because he's not a good person. I think that Lassiter's hands are red because he's murdered people and he does not have a good past, but I also think that there is more to Lassiter than we have found out so far.

The Colored Hands Speech

Personally, I liked the part our discussion today in class when we were trying to analyze what we thought about the colored hands speech on pg. 162 of the novel. But while reading, I interpreted the part differently where Lassiter says "...one that's all-wise an' all-wonderful. That's the hand guiding Jane Withersteen's game of life!"

I fully agreed with the ideas that were bought to light in class today where the red hand of Lassiter's represents the blood on his hands for the violence he's done in the past. I also agreed with Tull's hand being black which represented that he was a bad man with evil on his plate. But the part where he doesn't specify Jane's hand being hers gave me the impression that it could have possibly been a reference to her father. In our previous classes, we discussed how her dad was dead. Since her father is gone and isn't present in the book, I feel like the all-wonderful and all-wise hand guiding her could metaphorically be her father's. His "spirit" or will could be the true thing that's guiding our main character throughout the novel which is why a specific description of Jane's hand is missing; because her father isn't in the picture. But, as proof of class today, there's definitely more than one interpretation so that invisible hand guiding Jane really could be something other than her father's, but that's what I took it as.

Kamrie Gademske 2-6-14

One thing that I am realizing about the author of this novel, Zane Grey, is how he goes into great detail on body description. Which helps me understand why we talked about body composition and they way that each of us use our bodies during the beginning of this course. One quote that still sticks out to me is when Fay's body is being described in the first couple of chapters. On page 65 Zane goes into depth talking about her appearance. "Fay was a child of outdoors, of the garden and ditch and field, and she was dirty and ragged. But rags and dirt did not hide her beauty. The one thin little bedraggled garment she wore half covered her fine, slim body. Red as cherries were her cheeks and lips; her eyes were violet blue, and the crown of her childish loveliness was the curling golden hair" (Zane 65). Personally I think he describes Fay in more of an adult manner than a child like she is. This raises some question for me. Why does he talk her up so much when she is only a young girl?

Discussion Questions for RPS Chap XI- XVI

1. In Chapter XI, we get to witness Lassiter, Jane and Fay playing at house. Jane talks about how much Fay has changed Lassiter's demeanor, in ways she could not (despite her attempts through underhanded "coquetry"). Fay seems to have a closer access to Lassiter's body and emotions in ways Jane has failed. On p. 103 Jane witnesses Fay playfully grabbing at Lassiter's guns. Only a couple pages later we see Jane enact a similar "playfulness":

“Jane slipped her hands down to the swinging gun-sheaths and when she had locked her fingers around the huge, cold handles of the guns, she trembled as with a chilling ripple all over her body” (105)

Certainly this scene is laden with "hit you over the head" sexual innuendo. Lassiter pushes her away and gives her a look of "terrible realization".  What is the purpose of juxtaposing Fay and Jane doing the same thing with such differing results? Why is Jane's gesture so "terrible" to Lassiter?

2. In Chapter XII we return to Surprise Valley with Bess and venters and learn that this is an ancient site where a civilization that Venter's calls "Cliff dwellers". (130) What is the significance of this narrative history in the story of Bess and Bern? Are these primitive people supposed to serve as a model for Bess and Venters? And if so, what does it tell them?

3. We've spoken briefly in class about the heavy-handed (ha) focus on physical and metaphorical "hands" in the story. In chapter XVI Lassiter gives a doozy of a speech connecting everyone's hands to an interpretive color:

“There’s that unseen hand of power, and Tull’s black hand, an’ my red one, an’ your indifferent one, an’ the girl’s little brown helpless one. An’ Venters, there’s one that’s all-wise an’ all wonderful. That’s the hand guidin’ Jane’s game of life” (162)

What do each of the colors mean? And what is the all-wise and wonderful hand guiding Jane if it's not her religion?