Iris seems to be a foil for Memo. Roy's slump began after his disastrous date with Memo, though he seemed to be hopeful immediately after it, he became more depressed and feel into his slump. Iris on the other hand, pulled Roy out of his slump and gave him back confidence. Iris rejuvenates him and brings him life while Memo sapped his strength and made him unhappy. There is also an interesting difference in their appearances. Iris is more filled out and stronger, while Memo is thin and delicate looking, with a "sick breast". Iris is also fertile, as she is a mother, which further makes her represent life. Iris also seems to understand the definition of hero, and encourages Roy to embody it more. I think that Iris offers Roy true success and happiness, but it will be interesting to see if Roy can overcome his immaturity around women now that he has found a mature woman.
Clearly, Iris and Memo are different in appearance—the former is fuller, the latter slender—and that difference is reflected in their personalities. Memo, if not a two-dimensional character, is a two-dimensional person. She seems so apathetic, so reluctant to be with Roy and always holding back, and happy only when she was with Bump. Iris is completely different, more full of love and life. Iris, too, has been with other men, but she does not let that stop her from being with Roy completely, whereas I think Memo is only interested in Roy because it allows her to be with vestiges of Bump. Iris reciprocates Roy’s feelings. She listens to him, she rescues him, she genuinely cares for him, whereas Memo never expresses interest in Roy’s past, dreams, or personality. I really hope for Roy’s own sake that he abandons his ridiculous pursuit of Memo and instead keeps Iris by his side for the rest of the novel. Out of all the characters, Iris is definitely the most grounded, the wisest, and—with the exception of Sam—the most mentor-esque, as even characters such as Pop often only know how to support Roy when he’s fine, and not help him when he’s in trouble. She’s already helped him win once, and I can only imagine she’d do the same if Roy was ever in another drastic slump.
The major difference between Iris and Memo is that Iris seems to actually care about the well-being of Roy. She wants the best for him, not just fame, but happiness. I believe that Iris is exactly what Roy needs to figure the meaning of his life out and get on the path to fulfillment. The only questions is whether or not Roy is intelligent and mature enough to stay with Iris and not go back to Memo. I foresee Roy making the wrong choice and breaking things off with Iris so that he can continue to chase Memo, even though Memo is nothing but bad news for him.
As previously mentioned, Iris is clearly differs from Memo in both her physical appearance and personality. Iris offers comfort to Roy, which he shows when he opens up to Iris the first day he met her, something he had resisted since he started on the Knights. Iris also shows her fun side, something important to Roy, as the two have a very eventful night by the water. As the novel progresses I predict that there will be a crossroads where Memo will realize her love for Roy and Roy will have to choose between Iris and Memo, which is highly symbolic of which life he wants to pursue.
Iris and Memo differ greatly. Iris likes Roy and is able to give him more of the things that he greatly desires. Memo however doesn't think as highly of Roy as he desperately desires. But since Iris has shown affection for Roy, it could potentially sway him from loving Memo to loving Iris. I believe that Roy is the type of guy who falls for girls who show interest in him and that is why he pursued a meeting with Iris for at the ball game believed she stood up in affection for him. Later in the novel I think that Roy is going to have to make a choice between the girl who he loves even though she does not love him back and the girl who likes him.
Both Iris and Memo are similar in how Roy is attracted to both of them, but when they are compared to each other their is a a clear difference. While Choosing Memo almost seems like choosing the childish and purposeless life, while choosing Iris seems like choosing the mature and purposeful life. There is a clear distinction from the author that Iris brings out the better in Roy and Memo brings out the worse as seem in the hitting slump and break though. Also Roy feels a sense of security with Iris as seen in how he opens up about Harriet Bird and the train incident years ago. I foresee Roy having to complete a difficult task or prove his love to Iris later on the book in order for him to win her over.
As said before, Iris helps Roy whereas Memo hurts him. Really, what Iris offers Roy that Memo doesn't, is support. Iris gives Roy her full support, not just as a baseball player, but also as a regular person. She wants wants him to succeed, and she stands by him even when his status as hero is falling. Like Megan said, she likes Roy for exactly as he is, as opposed to Memo, who has in interest in Roy only because she thinks he is a manifestation of Bump. As the novel progresses, I see Iris as a sort of good luck charm, buoying Roy out the darkness and helping him to evaluate his true reasons for playing the game and also to help him figure out what he really wants from his life.
What I think sets Iris apart from Memo, aside from the obvious physical and personality differences, is how she treats his life as a hero. Memo sees Bump as a hero, someone who is eccentric in his play and always keeping the game fun. He is flashy when he wants to be, and thinks about baseball on a personal level. When Roy hears this from Memo, he goes into a deep slump, as his amazing play was too predictable for Memo. However, Iris is able to pull Roy from the abyss, and on their date teaches Roy about what heroes really are. He must be a great baseball player, but also be a role model to young boys who aspire to be like him. Heroes are special, and must make their mark on society in more ways than just in the game. I think in this way Iris will continue to help Roy find his place as a hero in the novel and keep him from falling into baseball's tragic heroes like Bump becomes.
Iris in the novel is a completely down to earth, well-rounded woman, the exact opposite of Memo. Iris is what Roy needs to put life in perspective. Memo is attracted to Roy for the fame, and while even though Iris supports Roy partially because she says he is a "hero," Iris does not want to see Roy fall like other heroes. Iris is shy and said she was scared to stand out in the crowd that day she stood up for Roy. All Memo cares about is standing out in the crowd and becoming famous. I see Iris playing an essential role in the rest of the novel. I believe that she will influence Roy in many ways and Roy will become more and more attracted to her. Eventually, with Iris's influence Roy will start to strive for greatness in baseball for the sake of others rather than himself.
Iris grounds Roy. She is the opposite of Memo in that she brings him to his senses about himself. He seems to be going out of his comfort zone a little bit with Iris, but ultimately it helps him feel comfortable sharing the story about Harriet Bird. When Iris helps him break out of the slump, she shows and explains to him that he should not be so self-centered. Just because he can't get everything he wants (Memo), doesn't mean he should stop performing up to his best ability. She tells him that baseball is for the fans, and how he acts and plays effect the lives of other people. I also think that Iris helps Roy realize that he is growing old and his career won't last much longer, but that it is fine, and there is still plenty to look forward to in the future. I see her as being a constant support for Roy throughout the rest of the novel, and perhaps the rest of his life. I also foresee a conflict arising between Iris and Memo, in that I think that Memo will finally express interest in Roy now that he has someone.
The difference between Memo and Iris is Bump. Memo is still connected to Bump and that limits and controls her relationship with Roy. She defines and judges Roy in comparison to all of Bumps accomplishments and characteristics, and in return Roy is forced to constantly compare himself to Bump. Iris, on the other hand, is genuinely concerned and caring about Roy and only Roy. She supports him and is always on the baseline for him, unlike Memo. She can offer him comfort regardless of his performance or qualities in the national spotlight. As for the future of her role in Roy’s life and the book, it is hard to tell where it will go. I feel like she may become competition for Memo and create a possible insurmountable slump for Roy when he is forced to choose between the two for good. On the other hand, she may be the inspiration he needs to become the greatest player in baseball, but it is hard to determine exactly what role she will have as the story progresses.
I agree wit AC's logic when he says that Memo is still connected to Bump, which she clearly is, and that is what limits her relationship with Roy. I also believe that is why Roy is determined to be so much more like Bump despite the fact that he is clearly better than him on the field, he is clearly not in the field. That is in large part the difference between Iris and Memo. The two differ greatly in their role in Roy's life also because Iris offers much more support than does Memo and seems as if a relationship with her would almost be a more mature path to follow, as I foresee things playing out.
The one huge difference that I see in between the two women in the novel is their confidence in Roy. From the time that Roy meets Memo, she never really expresses a large level of confidence in Roy. She compares Roy to Bump nonstop, making it seem like Roy's only significance to her is being Bumps replacement, or some sort of reincarnation. Roy is so devoted to impressing Memo that when she leaves, he cannot focus and he goes into a slump. However, from the moment that Roy sees Iris, his confidence has instantly returned to him. This can be interpreted through the sexual reference that Malamud uses to describe Wonderboy. During the at bat, Wonderboy is described as "sagging baloney," but once Iris stands up, Roy regains his confidence and Wonderboy once again becomes the strong bat that it once was. I see Iris being the character that keeps Roy on track for the rest of the story, and the person that will stay with him no matter what, as opposed to Memo who only stays around while he is famous.
The biggest difference between the iris and memo is bump. Memo still lives in mourning for Bump and it makes it harder for Roy to seduce her. Since Roy has aspirations to become like Bump. He has the all star skills and all he needs is his women. It is going to be a bigger challenge for him to achieve. Iris does not have any commitment with anyone. She is a free spirited and is primarily interested in him. While Memo is still thinking of Bump.
Iris and Memo are about as different as day and night. Besides the obvious discrepancy in their appearances, they are also very different in their attitudes and personalities - Iris is mature, sensible, and caring, most likely due to her being a mother (and also a grandmother); Memo is fairly shallow, and sometimes acts like a spoiled child or like she is better than everyone else. Iris offers Roy a sort of protection and comfort that Memo definitely is not willing to give him; she is supportive of Roy during his harder times, whereas Memo abandons him. However, although Iris is stronger and more independent than Memo, she is also more submissive to Roy which is a quality that he likes and takes advantage of. I believe that Roy will not go back to Iris as the novel progresses. Although Iris is clearly the smarter choice for Roy, he seems to have a penchant for losing out on valuable opportunities, this being one of them. Roy does not seem mature enough to take the chance to be with a woman like Iris who will care for and love him unconditionally. Later on, if he does actually lose this opportunity with Iris, Roy is likely to regret it and possibly fall into another slump like he does when he has something distracting on his mind.
Iris is heavier than Memo, less overly lady-like, and a much more down to earth person. In Roy's first night with Iris, from their interactions it appears that they both accept each other for who they are. This differs from Memo who always wished that Roy was more like Bump. Iris and Memo are also opposites because Iris is a good listener and someone that can really help Roy with his problems, while "Memo [seems] remote, even unreal" (139). This is what I believe Iris will serve as later in the book: a smart, worldly person who Roy can confide in. As previously touched on, she has already got him out of one slump, so one can only wonder how many other hurdles she will help him get through.
Iris seems to be a foil for Memo. Roy's slump began after his disastrous date with Memo, though he seemed to be hopeful immediately after it, he became more depressed and feel into his slump. Iris on the other hand, pulled Roy out of his slump and gave him back confidence. Iris rejuvenates him and brings him life while Memo sapped his strength and made him unhappy. There is also an interesting difference in their appearances. Iris is more filled out and stronger, while Memo is thin and delicate looking, with a "sick breast". Iris is also fertile, as she is a mother, which further makes her represent life. Iris also seems to understand the definition of hero, and encourages Roy to embody it more. I think that Iris offers Roy true success and happiness, but it will be interesting to see if Roy can overcome his immaturity around women now that he has found a mature woman.
ReplyDeleteClearly, Iris and Memo are different in appearance—the former is fuller, the latter slender—and that difference is reflected in their personalities. Memo, if not a two-dimensional character, is a two-dimensional person. She seems so apathetic, so reluctant to be with Roy and always holding back, and happy only when she was with Bump. Iris is completely different, more full of love and life. Iris, too, has been with other men, but she does not let that stop her from being with Roy completely, whereas I think Memo is only interested in Roy because it allows her to be with vestiges of Bump. Iris reciprocates Roy’s feelings. She listens to him, she rescues him, she genuinely cares for him, whereas Memo never expresses interest in Roy’s past, dreams, or personality. I really hope for Roy’s own sake that he abandons his ridiculous pursuit of Memo and instead keeps Iris by his side for the rest of the novel. Out of all the characters, Iris is definitely the most grounded, the wisest, and—with the exception of Sam—the most mentor-esque, as even characters such as Pop often only know how to support Roy when he’s fine, and not help him when he’s in trouble. She’s already helped him win once, and I can only imagine she’d do the same if Roy was ever in another drastic slump.
ReplyDeleteThe major difference between Iris and Memo is that Iris seems to actually care about the well-being of Roy. She wants the best for him, not just fame, but happiness. I believe that Iris is exactly what Roy needs to figure the meaning of his life out and get on the path to fulfillment. The only questions is whether or not Roy is intelligent and mature enough to stay with Iris and not go back to Memo. I foresee Roy making the wrong choice and breaking things off with Iris so that he can continue to chase Memo, even though Memo is nothing but bad news for him.
ReplyDeleteAs previously mentioned, Iris is clearly differs from Memo in both her physical appearance and personality. Iris offers comfort to Roy, which he shows when he opens up to Iris the first day he met her, something he had resisted since he started on the Knights. Iris also shows her fun side, something important to Roy, as the two have a very eventful night by the water. As the novel progresses I predict that there will be a crossroads where Memo will realize her love for Roy and Roy will have to choose between Iris and Memo, which is highly symbolic of which life he wants to pursue.
ReplyDeleteIris and Memo differ greatly. Iris likes Roy and is able to give him more of the things that he greatly desires. Memo however doesn't think as highly of Roy as he desperately desires. But since Iris has shown affection for Roy, it could potentially sway him from loving Memo to loving Iris. I believe that Roy is the type of guy who falls for girls who show interest in him and that is why he pursued a meeting with Iris for at the ball game believed she stood up in affection for him. Later in the novel I think that Roy is going to have to make a choice between the girl who he loves even though she does not love him back and the girl who likes him.
ReplyDeleteBoth Iris and Memo are similar in how Roy is attracted to both of them, but when they are compared to each other their is a a clear difference. While Choosing Memo almost seems like choosing the childish and purposeless life, while choosing Iris seems like choosing the mature and purposeful life. There is a clear distinction from the author that Iris brings out the better in Roy and Memo brings out the worse as seem in the hitting slump and break though. Also Roy feels a sense of security with Iris as seen in how he opens up about Harriet Bird and the train incident years ago. I foresee Roy having to complete a difficult task or prove his love to Iris later on the book in order for him to win her over.
ReplyDeleteAs said before, Iris helps Roy whereas Memo hurts him. Really, what Iris offers Roy that Memo doesn't, is support. Iris gives Roy her full support, not just as a baseball player, but also as a regular person. She wants wants him to succeed, and she stands by him even when his status as hero is falling. Like Megan said, she likes Roy for exactly as he is, as opposed to Memo, who has in interest in Roy only because she thinks he is a manifestation of Bump. As the novel progresses, I see Iris as a sort of good luck charm, buoying Roy out the darkness and helping him to evaluate his true reasons for playing the game and also to help him figure out what he really wants from his life.
ReplyDeleteWhat I think sets Iris apart from Memo, aside from the obvious physical and personality differences, is how she treats his life as a hero. Memo sees Bump as a hero, someone who is eccentric in his play and always keeping the game fun. He is flashy when he wants to be, and thinks about baseball on a personal level. When Roy hears this from Memo, he goes into a deep slump, as his amazing play was too predictable for Memo. However, Iris is able to pull Roy from the abyss, and on their date teaches Roy about what heroes really are. He must be a great baseball player, but also be a role model to young boys who aspire to be like him. Heroes are special, and must make their mark on society in more ways than just in the game. I think in this way Iris will continue to help Roy find his place as a hero in the novel and keep him from falling into baseball's tragic heroes like Bump becomes.
ReplyDeleteIris in the novel is a completely down to earth, well-rounded woman, the exact opposite of Memo. Iris is what Roy needs to put life in perspective. Memo is attracted to Roy for the fame, and while even though Iris supports Roy partially because she says he is a "hero," Iris does not want to see Roy fall like other heroes. Iris is shy and said she was scared to stand out in the crowd that day she stood up for Roy. All Memo cares about is standing out in the crowd and becoming famous. I see Iris playing an essential role in the rest of the novel. I believe that she will influence Roy in many ways and Roy will become more and more attracted to her. Eventually, with Iris's influence Roy will start to strive for greatness in baseball for the sake of others rather than himself.
ReplyDeleteIris grounds Roy. She is the opposite of Memo in that she brings him to his senses about himself. He seems to be going out of his comfort zone a little bit with Iris, but ultimately it helps him feel comfortable sharing the story about Harriet Bird. When Iris helps him break out of the slump, she shows and explains to him that he should not be so self-centered. Just because he can't get everything he wants (Memo), doesn't mean he should stop performing up to his best ability. She tells him that baseball is for the fans, and how he acts and plays effect the lives of other people. I also think that Iris helps Roy realize that he is growing old and his career won't last much longer, but that it is fine, and there is still plenty to look forward to in the future. I see her as being a constant support for Roy throughout the rest of the novel, and perhaps the rest of his life. I also foresee a conflict arising between Iris and Memo, in that I think that Memo will finally express interest in Roy now that he has someone.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between Memo and Iris is Bump. Memo is still connected to Bump and that limits and controls her relationship with Roy. She defines and judges Roy in comparison to all of Bumps accomplishments and characteristics, and in return Roy is forced to constantly compare himself to Bump. Iris, on the other hand, is genuinely concerned and caring about Roy and only Roy. She supports him and is always on the baseline for him, unlike Memo. She can offer him comfort regardless of his performance or qualities in the national spotlight. As for the future of her role in Roy’s life and the book, it is hard to tell where it will go. I feel like she may become competition for Memo and create a possible insurmountable slump for Roy when he is forced to choose between the two for good. On the other hand, she may be the inspiration he needs to become the greatest player in baseball, but it is hard to determine exactly what role she will have as the story progresses.
ReplyDeleteI agree wit AC's logic when he says that Memo is still connected to Bump, which she clearly is, and that is what limits her relationship with Roy. I also believe that is why Roy is determined to be so much more like Bump despite the fact that he is clearly better than him on the field, he is clearly not in the field. That is in large part the difference between Iris and Memo. The two differ greatly in their role in Roy's life also because Iris offers much more support than does Memo and seems as if a relationship with her would almost be a more mature path to follow, as I foresee things playing out.
ReplyDeleteThe one huge difference that I see in between the two women in the novel is their confidence in Roy. From the time that Roy meets Memo, she never really expresses a large level of confidence in Roy. She compares Roy to Bump nonstop, making it seem like Roy's only significance to her is being Bumps replacement, or some sort of reincarnation. Roy is so devoted to impressing Memo that when she leaves, he cannot focus and he goes into a slump. However, from the moment that Roy sees Iris, his confidence has instantly returned to him. This can be interpreted through the sexual reference that Malamud uses to describe Wonderboy. During the at bat, Wonderboy is described as "sagging baloney," but once Iris stands up, Roy regains his confidence and Wonderboy once again becomes the strong bat that it once was. I see Iris being the character that keeps Roy on track for the rest of the story, and the person that will stay with him no matter what, as opposed to Memo who only stays around while he is famous.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest difference between the iris and memo is bump. Memo still lives in mourning for Bump and it makes it harder for Roy to seduce her. Since Roy has aspirations to become like Bump. He has the all star skills and all he needs is his women. It is going to be a bigger challenge for him to achieve. Iris does not have any commitment with anyone. She is a free spirited and is primarily interested in him. While Memo is still thinking of Bump.
ReplyDeleteIris and Memo are about as different as day and night. Besides the obvious discrepancy in their appearances, they are also very different in their attitudes and personalities - Iris is mature, sensible, and caring, most likely due to her being a mother (and also a grandmother); Memo is fairly shallow, and sometimes acts like a spoiled child or like she is better than everyone else. Iris offers Roy a sort of protection and comfort that Memo definitely is not willing to give him; she is supportive of Roy during his harder times, whereas Memo abandons him. However, although Iris is stronger and more independent than Memo, she is also more submissive to Roy which is a quality that he likes and takes advantage of.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Roy will not go back to Iris as the novel progresses. Although Iris is clearly the smarter choice for Roy, he seems to have a penchant for losing out on valuable opportunities, this being one of them. Roy does not seem mature enough to take the chance to be with a woman like Iris who will care for and love him unconditionally. Later on, if he does actually lose this opportunity with Iris, Roy is likely to regret it and possibly fall into another slump like he does when he has something distracting on his mind.
Iris is heavier than Memo, less overly lady-like, and a much more down to earth person. In Roy's first night with Iris, from their interactions it appears that they both accept each other for who they are. This differs from Memo who always wished that Roy was more like Bump. Iris and Memo are also opposites because Iris is a good listener and someone that can really help Roy with his problems, while "Memo [seems] remote, even unreal" (139). This is what I believe Iris will serve as later in the book: a smart, worldly person who Roy can confide in. As previously touched on, she has already got him out of one slump, so one can only wonder how many other hurdles she will help him get through.
ReplyDelete