This evening we looked at James’s “Patchwork Planet” critical essay about how the ending of a novel was prepared for earlier on. We admired the way in which he actually discussed how various earlier bits led on to the end. This compared to some of the other essays, which tended sometimes to contain information which might have been shown to lead on to the end – but never quite did.We then looked at my version of this question and I reiterated the tent peg metaphor. It may seem like overdoing it, but a marker at this level likes to have the relevance to the question of what you’re saying made obvious. Remember that, as far as the marker is concerned, you’re 16 or 17. They’re not expecting subtlety. They want clear, relevant points in that SECT sort of way. If your tent shows signs of flying away on an enthusiastic gale, to land in some distant field, far from the question, then pin it down by adding sentences such as: “This leads on to the ending when…”.
We then discussed Norman MacCaig’s poem “Hotel Room, 12th Floor”, full of imagery which is reasonably easy to discuss in the exam. The main, extended, metaphor is that of darkness as the enemy, seen specifically as a band of Red Indians riding into town and being shot at – ineffectually – by the light. Darkness is shown to bring violence to New York, despite the trappings of civilisation: helicopters, tall buildings, tv, radio, light. As he says, “And no stockades/ can keep the midnight out”. We may imagine that we’re civilised, but we’re never far away from violence, or potential violence – it’s there in human nature.
Then we read on in “View”, finishing Act 1 and just beginning Act 2. We saw Alfieri in the dual role of narrator (reminding us of the fact that he’s telling us a story) and lawyer (advising Eddie). The two roles merge seamlessly together – he turns from the audience and is apparently mid-conversation with Eddie, who has come to consult him. Eddie wants the law to help him against Rodolpho who, he says, is “not right” – he’s implying that Rodolpho is gay. Alfieri has to tell him that even if he were, marrying Catherine would not be illegal. The only illegal thing is that the cousins are illegal immigrants and Eddie says, “I wouldn’t do nothin’ about that…”. Then Alfieri gently suggests that sometimes “there is too much love for the daughter, there is too much love for the niece”. Eddie reacts “furiously”. Alfieri tells the audience that he “could see every step coming, step after step… I knew where he was going to end”.Then, at dinner, Catherine is clearly very excited by Rodolpho’s stories of sailing to Africa and picking oranges off the trees in Italy.
Eddie is much less impressed. He points out that American girls aren’t as “free” as Rodolpho thinks; Rodolpho protests that he has “respect” for Catherine. She and Rodolpho dance to “Paper Doll”, though he, “in deference to Eddie” (stage direction) at first demurs. She, however, is “flushed with revolt” and dances with him.
Eddie is much less impressed. He points out that American girls aren’t as “free” as Rodolpho thinks; Rodolpho protests that he has “respect” for Catherine. She and Rodolpho dance to “Paper Doll”, though he, “in deference to Eddie” (stage direction) at first demurs. She, however, is “flushed with revolt” and dances with him. We looked at the Mills Brothers' version of "Paper Doll" - which I think is the one that Catherine and Rodolpho have bought as a record. It's at
Beatrice tries to divert his attention by talking about the cousins’ fishing expeditions, but Eddie’s worst fears are confirmed by hearing that Rodolpho is a good cook: “He sings. He cooks. He could make dresses…”. He suggests that Rodolpho would be better suited to working in a dress shop than as a longshoreman. This is not meant as a compliment.
He suggests teaching Rodolpho to box and starts to do so. He punches Rodolpho lightly and makes him stagger, alarming the others. Marco then demonstrates his superior strength by challenging Eddie to lift a chair by one leg, with one hand. Eddie can’t do it but Marco can, and the act ends with Marco holding the chair high with a “smile of triumph, and Eddie’s grin vanishes as he absorbs this look”. Here we see Marco warning Eddie off his brother.
We just started Act 2 – where Catherine and Rodolpho are in the flat alone and he says he wouldn’t marry her if they had to go to Italy because they’d starve there – but that he wouldn’t “carry on my back the rest of my life a woman I didn’t love just to be an American”. We decided that he is sincere; he does love her.
He suggests teaching Rodolpho to box and starts to do so. He punches Rodolpho lightly and makes him stagger, alarming the others. Marco then demonstrates his superior strength by challenging Eddie to lift a chair by one leg, with one hand. Eddie can’t do it but Marco can, and the act ends with Marco holding the chair high with a “smile of triumph, and Eddie’s grin vanishes as he absorbs this look”. Here we see Marco warning Eddie off his brother.
We just started Act 2 – where Catherine and Rodolpho are in the flat alone and he says he wouldn’t marry her if they had to go to Italy because they’d starve there – but that he wouldn’t “carry on my back the rest of my life a woman I didn’t love just to be an American”. We decided that he is sincere; he does love her.
Homework - 2005 Close Reading, passage 2.
If I didn't speak to you this week about your Personal Study, then I will next week. Or email me if you want advice: pdonaldson@stevenson.ac.uk
I'm sorry there are no lines between some of my paragraphs. I put them in but Blogger removes them. It annoys me. Bad Blogger.
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