I just finished reading one of the short stories we had for homework for Monday's class, and there were a couple of comments/questions I had regarding it:
First off, I was wondering if anyone had any speculation as to why the gang decided to bring down Mr. Thomas' house. The only reason I could think of was to gain recognition and pride for their gang. Also, maybe T. wanted to use the activity as a means to further himself in the gang and overtake Blackie's leadership role. Any ideas on this subject would be cool.
Next, the last line confused me a little: "I'm sorry. I can't help it, Mr. Thomas. There's nothing personal, but you got to admit it's funny." I was puzzled as to why the driver thought it was funny that he had just brought down Thomas' house, and the last line just seemed like a really weird ending to this story, what do you guys think?
Finally, I thought this quote from the story was cool. It's found on page 118 in our Lit Bible and it reads: "Streaks of light came in through the closed shutters where they worked with the seriousness of creators--and destruction after all is a form of creation." This statement seems to me to be a paradox, which means it does have some truth in it. Anybody have an idea as to what the truth is or what this statement might mean?
I believe the phrase Mr. Bruno likes to use is: "Happy Thinking!"
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Very insightful, Andy. I like that you picked up on the paradox of the line about destruction being a type of creation; there is indeed a bit of truth in it, but, like all important truths, the truth of it cannot be glanced at directly.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of your question about the ending: What would happen if you went back and looked at the story using a lens of social class stratification? Look particularly for the man in the top hat. He pops up twice.
Oh! I think I get it now! The kids are middle/lower class as exemplified by their meeting in a car-park surrounded by rubble, their distrust of Mr. Thomas, and the mention of Trevor’s father coming “down in the world” and his mother considering herself better than the neighbors. Oh yeah and the fact that they’re in a gang. The house, (supposedly) built by Sir Christopher Wren, (only the most famous English architect who built St. Paul’s Cathedral) represented the upper/higher class. So it’s nine years post-WWII and the city is still in disarray. The gang/lower class, disregarded by the rest of society, has more important things to worry about then love, hate, beauty, and social status. The upper class was mocked and parodied at the Wormsley Common Empire (a theater) by a man in a top hat, monocle, and “haw haw accent”. The house was referred to as a man in a top hat, and (I suppose) reminded the driver of the show at the theater, becoming a surreal, real life parody of something obsolete and ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a bit jumbled up right now, but I think I get it. Yay for Mr. Bruno’s hints and footnotes! :D
Wow, Portia, that post was awesome! My interpretation of the short story was a glance into the jaded aftermath of World War II. Things that used to mean so much, class and love/hate, seem to be merely playthings of the priveledged. After all, is class rigid or fluid? Who has time to think of such meaningless things as love and hate when they're trying to get by in a society hampered by the huge losses of a world war, not to mention, who even cares after they've seen the massive destruction and ever-looming death exemplified through the conflict.
ReplyDeleteI think this story is about that apathy thing again. These boys grew up in a place where it was normal to see bomb destruction and they are not affected by it. Since these kids are exposed to all that destruction their innocents and boyish imagination are impaired. The theme can be, being around destruction can impair ones imagination.
ReplyDeleteI think the boys choose to destroy and show disregard and neglect towards other people's possessions because they lack those possessions. Perhaps after the town being bombed and it is still in the torn down state, the boys saw a beautiful house of a man, where the man was higher in status, therefore having to destroy it. But what I find interesting was they don't hate Mr. Thomas, which was exactly why they destroyed it, which could mean either they show disregard to people that care about them, disregard to people of upper class, or both. I think the reason that the driver in the end thinks the situation is humorous to show that the boys will continue to do this because they can get away with destructing things, or because his house, like the rest of the town is in a state of destruction.
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