The Natural: Batter Up! 37-56

Oakland's very own "dusty field, the listless game and half-empty stands" (37). So sad.

Batter up!

Discussion from prior reading
1. The pitches: how do the three pitches compare? where do we see the language of myth in each pitch?
2. Let's look at the final paragraph in which Harriet shoots Roy. What are we to think of Harriet? Was this expected or unexpected? Where else can we find similar language? In what way does Harriet represent the real? the myth?

Small Groups **Some literary critics have said that Malamud put a realistic man in a mythological setting. Is that fair? Has Malamud set Roy up for failure? So far, has Roy changed in the 15 years since the shooting? Be specific in your responses, please.

Last night's reading
4. The Fisher King, the wasteland
5. In what ways is Bump a failed hero?
6. What kind of person is Roy? How has he changed in 15 years and how has he stayed the same?

7. In what ways are Bump, the Whammer and Roy all variations of the same hero mold? What is Malamud telling us about heroes in society? In what way is this hero mold a commentary on gender and masculinity in 1950s America? Does this commentary still hold true today?

8. Roy waits for Memo & the chance to play. What do these to things have in common? What is Roy seeking from both?

The Natural begins ...

1952

What's going on in the world & the US? (7 mins)

• Cold War (1945-1991): political tension between Eastern Bloc countries (Soviet Union & Warsaw Pact) and Western Bloc countries (US, NATO & allies)
• Korean War (1950-1953): North Korea invaded South Korea. US supported South and supplied almost all of the international soldiers needed to fight the war against the communist north; world looks bleak.
• Second Red Scare (1947-1957): period of heightened awareness of communism and its possible influences on American politics and systems; Federal Employee Loyalty Program under Truman; Climate of terrible fear (unnecessary). Truman could have stopped all of this, but he didn't. More about his political position.
• 1949: Atomic Bomb exploded by Russia; communist revolution in China

BIG QUESTIONS: What was the political climate in the US during this time? How were those attitudes manifesting themselves in the public discourse?

 

What was going on in baseball?

• Chpt 1 & 2 (12 min), Chpt 3 @ 21:23 (Jackie Robinson), Chpt 5 (Dodger v Giants pennant race), Chpt 10
• Leaving WWII Era (1939-1949): Dimaggio, Mel Ott, Stan Musial, Hank Greenberg; integration finally happens (slowly ... all teams integrated by 1961);
• Golden Age of baseball (1950s-1965 ish): more integration; Clemente, Robinson, Aaron, Mays, Williams, Mantle, Campanella, Berra all playing;
• Williams, Greenberg, Dimaggio all serve in the military, putting careers on hold
• 1953: Boston Braves move to Milwaukee (until 1966)
• 1954: St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore (becoming the Orioles)
• 1955: Philadelphia Athletics move to KC (stay until 1968)
• 1957: Dodgers leave NYC for LA (bad idea!)

BIG QUESTIONS: How is the national pastime growing? How is it becoming more universal? How has baseball claimed and defined the American hero?

 

THE NATURAL: A converging of these two worlds. There is the celebration and excitement of the golden age of baseball set against the backdrop of worry and fear found during the Cold War. One of the major themes of this novel is the conflict between myth (baseball) and reality (living in a Cold War world).

Most titles give us an idea what the story is about, and what we will experience if we read. But some authors use titles to do more than that; some use metaphors so their titles create additional meanings.

In the world of sports, talent scouts, managers, coaches, writers and fans examine the talent of newcomers and wonder whether they will be successful. A player whose skills seem to need no training, or whose skills seem God-given, is called a natural.

In the Middle Ages (approx. 500A.D. to 1350 A.D.), the term natural referred to an idiot, a kind of foolish innocent person whom it was thought God protected.

How does Bernard Malamud use the title of the book to allude to Roy as a natural in both senses?

Discussion

1. NYTimes Book Review

2. Allegory

3. Parzival/Percival: What parallels are present?

4. Where can we see myth-making in the first section?

5. Symbols present and what might they signify?

 

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Week #6: Mariano Rivera

Staying with the hero thing ...

Mariano Rivera is considered by most to be the greatest closer of all time. But he's also a Yankee. An enemy to all. A player for the big business side of baseball. Despite that all, Mariano has garnered one of the best reputations in the sport both for his work on the field and his actions off. I bring up this article not because I am a Yankees fan, but because Mariano embodies that old stereotype of an athletic hero. That said, maybe you disagree.

Please read this article: Marian Rivera, King of the Closers and comment on how baseball insiders define a hero.

For some reading fun and to make you think WHAT?! Read this, too. It's related to Rivera.

For watching and listening enjoyment, check this out. I've watched this almost 100 times, and each time I love it. It's just that good. Still related to Rivera.

For even more watching pleasure related to (fantasy) baseball, check this out. Not related to Rivera.

Week #5: Chipper Jones

Only One Chipper

A hero retires. A franchise player ends his career. A local influence walks away. As we begin our study of The Natural, let's look at the construction of a hero. According to this article, what defines a hero in present day baseball culture?

Thanks again for your good work. I am enjoying your responses!

Weekly Post #4: More cards

The 83F Project: Sign Here, Please

Another great piece that reflects back some of the themes we've encountered thus far. And since you're working on your own baseball card project, why not read about someone else's. Write about a theme, a topic, some common point between Scott Mortimer's journey and topics we've discuss thus far.

For me, I love the line near the end when the idea of fraud is mentioned. Rather than give into that idea, Mortimer, "chooses instead to have faith." For me, baseball is the ritual, the worship, the commitment. Off the field, in the wee hours of the night, Mortimer found a faith that binds him to others. That's baseball at its best, and it transcends almost everything else in communities.

Thanks for your insights!

An added item to this week's post. The woman who was the inspiration for Geena Davis' character (Dottie) in A League of Their Own died on Saturday. Here's her obituary.