The Natural 174-194

Some writing: In what way has Malamud perpetuated the heroic male stereotype? In what way has he changed it? How does he see gender as an aid or hinderance to dream fulfillment?

Temptation: 2 Samuel 11
Roy's response: Isaiah 5:20 — Woe unto him who calls evil good and good evil. Is this a sign of Roy's growth?

Pete Rose 

1. Video

2. Article

Baseball's Gambling Scandals

Black Sox Scandal (notice how Kinsella used this incident as positive inspiration whereas Malamud has seen the darker side. Thinking about the two novels and the two writers and how they portray baseball (and taking into account the near 30 year span between the book's publication dates), what are we to think of baseball's future in the American psyche and culture? What are we to think of male heroes and how they influence society?)

Derek Jeter and the Curse of Age

Discussion

1. How does the letter from Iris contrast with the scene with Judge and Memo? What are we to take from this sharp contrast?

2. In what way does the American definition of a hero conflict with that of what a hero really should be?

3. Compare and contrast Iris & Roy.

4. How does blind ambition conflict with having measured values?

5. How are Roy's and Memo's dreams similar? How are they different?

6. Dream on 179-180. Significance?