Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The Natural: post for night #2
Lots of connections to the Parcival myth in last night's reading. 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.
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At the beginning of the novel, Roy’s dream was to be the best there ever was. Keeping this in mind, Malamud has set Roy up for failure. And although it would be nice to think that in his 15 year recovery Roy has adapted some sort of greater understanding of life, there is little evidence to support that theory. All the greatest players in baseball history have the same thing in common, they all play for a long time, usually from their last days of teenage-hood up to their late thirties or early forties. When Roy finally makes it to the majors, the manager known as “Pop” says to him, “You belong in an old man’s home, not baseball,” (Malamud 42). Whatever Roy accomplishes in the majors, he will be known as the “talented old player who started late.” Concerning personality shifts, Roy later responds to Pop by stating, “I know my way out of this jungle if you can’t use me. I don’t want any second pickings,” (Malamud 43). He still wants to be the best, the ‘first pick,’ and still has the same cockiness and haughtiness he showed as a teenager. He is still very grateful for the opportunity, and maybe more so now (note the “tears” on pg. 45), but then he goes and says, “I came for more than the ride and I will leave my mark around here,” (Malamud 58), which once again reveals his omnipresent hubris. However, one thing has changed drastically, he is now very wary of hotels. Beyond that, he is still a prideful dreamer whose accomplishments will forever be dampened by his age.
ReplyDeleteAugust's ^
DeleteNice Work, August! Way to start this posting out with some standout insights!
ReplyDeleteFrom the beginning of the chapter, Roy is set up for failure. When Ray first approaches Pop, Pop becomes instantly frustrated creating a rocky start to Roy's baseball career. Pop states that Roy "came across [him] at a bad time," (Malamud 43). Roy is entering an extremely competitive world where connections are important. His first interaction with Pop gives his possible career a grim prediction. The reader also sees the negative affects on Roy. As he is in the locker room he was "down in the dumps. It was different than he had thought it would be. So different he almost felt like walking out, jumping back on the train," (Malamud 46). Roy's instant feelings of doubt cause the reader to predict that Roy may not succeed in baseball. These instant negative feelings contradict his later statement, "I will leave my mark around here,” (Malamud 58). Although Roy does have confidence that he will make his mark, he still carries some nervous tendencies similar to how he acted in the first chapter. He continues to wet his lips in uncomfortable situations revealing that the innocent natural is still present within him.
ReplyDelete- Lexy Thompson
Well said. We'll talk more about how real Roy and mythological Roy work with and against each other. Malamud, at times, has us wondering how the two can coexist.
DeleteRoy is not necessarily set up for failure, but rather thrust into the same cycle that ended in his getting shot. The most noticeable events in this chapter directly parallel the events leading up to Roy getting shot. The most obvious is the reappearance of Max Mercy alongside the seasoned baseball player. Before the shooting it was the Whammer, and after it was Bump Bailey. The connection between Walter and bump is implied by Malamud when Roy hears Bump’s voice: “a big voice that he did not so much recall, as remember having heard throughout his life—a strong, rawboned voice… the Whammer” (Malamud 46). The fact that Roy continues to hear the Whammer years after facing him shows that he is still living in the past, and has not changed since he was shot. The parallels continue in the form of a mentor and a love interest. Pop can be viewed as the next incarnate of Sam because he is leading Roy through the next chapter of his life. Then, there is the redhead that Roy sees and then receives a visit from. Because this is similar to the way that Harriet entered Roy’s life, it shows that he is caught in the same destructive practices as before. Therefore, the parallels in this past chapter indicate that Roy has not changed since the shooting, and implies another episode of impending doom.
ReplyDelete-Compost
Compost -- Excellent work! Nice observations and connections. Well done.
DeleteAndrew
ReplyDeleteRoy's experiences are reminiscent of the short story "The Last Pennant Before Armageddon" by W.P. Kinsella, as both protagonists are inherently normal men whose baseball experiences are colored by supernatural influences, especially through dreams. In the case of Roy, the trauma of his encounter with Harriet Bird as well as his journey from the country to the city seem to be driving him emotionally, and affecting his decisions in his baseball career. Although he still seems hesitant at times, the older Ray also appears more motivated by his meandering journey. While this certainly suggests growth on his part, it only exacerbates his hubris. As we know Roy will follow the path of the "tragic hero," it seems that by getting more confident and improving his condition, he is only setting himself up to be beaten down.
Really nice, Andrew. Love the reference to Kinsella's story. Great connection. And nice word choice, especially with Roy's "meandering journey."
DeleteI think Roy has been set up for failure. Now at age 34, he still believes he can become an a legendary baseball player and be in the league for a long time, however starting a great baseball career at age 34 is very hard to do. He now seems more like the "tragic hero" than he was at age 19 because he seems to pity himself greatly, however he still mantains the same level of confidence. I believe that his high expectations will not be able to be realized, and Roy will be forced out of the game before he thinks he will.
ReplyDeleteGreat! Sounds like someone's read the book before ... or knows about the tragic hero's cycle. Succinct and insightful. Great combo.
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