Questions and Response
1) In Chapter 13, Steinbeck celebrates "the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected." Both Adam and Faye create and harbor a childlike image of Cathy to their peril. They fall prey to their own creations. What traits do these two characters share? And what are some of the dangers inherent in "freedom of the mind"?
Adam and Faye were both very naive men that were easily deceived by Cathy. They both fell for her charm. Adam's kindness made him fail to see Cathy for who she really is. He was so blinded and so easily deceived that he married her. He tried to move away from his brother to find a place to live with Cathy. Faye on the hand got sucked in by her beauty wanting hr for himself he puts her somewhere far. He thought he had her in his control when he was completely wrong. They both foolishly thought they could be with her or help her, but in the end she hurt them both and left them behind. Some of the dangers inherent in "freedom of the mind" is that although we are free to think and feel however we want it can also be used against us. Even free will can be a dangerous thing. Cathy herself knows we all are free in the mind and knowing how others mind work from a person's behavior, or personality she has learned to use it. Making "freedom of the mind" a dangerous thing because Cathy was free to think however she felt although she could of been a better person she chose not to do so.
3) From your reading of Chapter 14--about Olive Hamilton, Steinbeck's mother--do you think it is wildly intrusive and intrusive and inappropriate, as some critics have claimed? Or, is the chapter consistent with other interjections throughout the book and with Steinbeck's ambition to write a novel for his sons in an unrestricted style?
The chapter from my reading was consistent with other interjections throughout the book. The last chapter ended with the finding of Cathy being pregnant then Steinbeck enters this chapter which introduces his mother. I believe this chapter was created to back up the last chapter. It was made to show motherhood and how hard moms have to work for their family. Although, that is if it was Steinbeck's ambition to write a novel or his sons in an unrestricted style that it was appropriate. It explained or demonstrated how hard their fathers mother worked no matter what the circumstances. Even if the story might be considered inappropriate by others because it reveals a lot, but it leaves a feeling behind for his sons. The only way to do so is to write in a unrestricted style with nothing held back to express things clearly and to receive a visual image of what is written as if you were there.
8) Is Adam's despondence after Cathy's abandons him and the children authentic grief? Or does he derive masochistic pleasure from it, as Samuel Hamilton suggests? What does it say about Adam that he, too, rejects his infant for more than a year, ignoring them, not bothering even to name them? If Adam is an "A" character, and thus "good", is that goodness convincing? Appealing?
Adam's despondence after Cathy's abandons him and the children is authentic grief. There is no indication of him deriving masochistic pleasure from it seeing that he has lost himself completely. He no longer seem to have any ambition or the will to live. Although, he doesn't know it by rejecting his infant for more than a year ignoring them and not bothering even to name them he is being like Cathy. Cathy didn't care or had any interest in the kids. So, basically Adam is doing the showing the same type of behavior. He is also abandoning them as he was abandoned by the women he loved and did not notice was trying playing him around for the ride. If Adam is an "A" character, and thus "good" in chapter 19 that goodness was not convincing. It did not appeal to me seeing that he is doing to his child what Cathy did to him. It is understandable you are hurt, but he could at least be strong for his children. This showed as if he had no goodness in him at all. It is as if he was putting on in act trying to be a person he is not from all he went through from the army.
3) From your reading of Chapter 14--about Olive Hamilton, Steinbeck's mother--do you think it is wildly intrusive and intrusive and inappropriate, as some critics have claimed? Or, is the chapter consistent with other interjections throughout the book and with Steinbeck's ambition to write a novel for his sons in an unrestricted style?
The chapter from my reading was consistent with other interjections throughout the book. The last chapter ended with the finding of Cathy being pregnant then Steinbeck enters this chapter which introduces his mother. I believe this chapter was created to back up the last chapter. It was made to show motherhood and how hard moms have to work for their family. Although, that is if it was Steinbeck's ambition to write a novel or his sons in an unrestricted style that it was appropriate. It explained or demonstrated how hard their fathers mother worked no matter what the circumstances. Even if the story might be considered inappropriate by others because it reveals a lot, but it leaves a feeling behind for his sons. The only way to do so is to write in a unrestricted style with nothing held back to express things clearly and to receive a visual image of what is written as if you were there.
8) Is Adam's despondence after Cathy's abandons him and the children authentic grief? Or does he derive masochistic pleasure from it, as Samuel Hamilton suggests? What does it say about Adam that he, too, rejects his infant for more than a year, ignoring them, not bothering even to name them? If Adam is an "A" character, and thus "good", is that goodness convincing? Appealing?
Adam's despondence after Cathy's abandons him and the children is authentic grief. There is no indication of him deriving masochistic pleasure from it seeing that he has lost himself completely. He no longer seem to have any ambition or the will to live. Although, he doesn't know it by rejecting his infant for more than a year ignoring them and not bothering even to name them he is being like Cathy. Cathy didn't care or had any interest in the kids. So, basically Adam is doing the showing the same type of behavior. He is also abandoning them as he was abandoned by the women he loved and did not notice was trying playing him around for the ride. If Adam is an "A" character, and thus "good" in chapter 19 that goodness was not convincing. It did not appeal to me seeing that he is doing to his child what Cathy did to him. It is understandable you are hurt, but he could at least be strong for his children. This showed as if he had no goodness in him at all. It is as if he was putting on in act trying to be a person he is not from all he went through from the army.
Good and Evil
There is no good without evil and no evil without good. Everyone whether your good or not has a portion of those two in them. Whether or not you yourself are good or evil depends all on you. In the story the one who would be considered evil is Cathy. Cathy's character appears to not be fully developed yet but so far she is not seen as a good person. From the killing of her parents by burning the house down along with them to abandoning Adam with her twin sons. She shows no trace of goodness so far. Adam and Faye portray goodness by caring for Cathy from the bottom of their heart. Showing with goodness some evil will come along whether it comes from within you or from others around you.
Questions 1 - How was the "freedom of mind" used against someone or proved to be dangerous?
ReplyDeleteThe "freedom of mind" was used against or proved to be dangerous in this situation because of Adam and Faye being gullible. Cathy seeing those traits in them was able to manipulate them because everyone is free to think however they feel. So in Cathy's chose she choice to used that freedom wrongly as to taken advantage of that "freedom".
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