Skip to main content

Response to Matt's Mind's "The Trickster...s?"


Matt’s take on the trickster figure encompasses multiple characters throughout Chestnutt’s The Passing of Grandison which could possibly signify an underlying theme throughout the work. I focused primarily on Dick Owens being the master manipulator of the entire ploy and plot, but, with the inclusion of characters such as Charity Lomax and Grandison himself, another picture is painted, one of several underlying motives rather than a single one. I agree with all of Matt’s assertions on the various bunch of characters because, in a way, they all hold manipulative characteristics that are presented through their actions. Lomax accomplishes getting Dick into committing a great and heroic act by slyly suggesting certain negative aspects of Dick's character as well as the the brave abolitionist who was captured. This displays the trickster using language as power and cunning instead of strength. The same is presented when Dick succeeds in obtaining permission from his father to bring a slave north with him. Even Grandison utilizes cunning when returning to the plantation, assuming a false facade of brokenness in order to rescue his enslaved family.
This new viewpoint on the tricksters in Chestnutt's The Passing of Grandison, may modify the theme and force an individual to look at the underlying causes of many abolitionist crusades or any movement in general. Perhaps Chestnutt wanted to write a story that portrays the faulty human characteristic of deceitfulness that seems to plague a person in their endeavors. Maybe Chestnutt didn't want the reader to focus on the characters' actions but much rather instead their motives and how these motives come to light.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Follow Up to Matt's Mind's "DuBois v Washington"

I agree with many of Matt's viewpoints on interpreting the differences and similarities between DuBois and Washington especially when considering DuBois's outsider standpoint when looking upon the institution of slavery since the torture was never forced upon him. I also agree with Washington stressing the need for individual changes amongst the newly freed slaves. However, Washington's argument doesn't seem to reverberate with as much power through me because the pride it takes in tilling a field should be placed secondary to securing political power and civil rights. DuBois pushed for these ideals because of the importance they played in everyday life. He was aware that securing these rights would allow that individual tilling a field to eventually rise to owning the land he worked.  It feels as though Washington's docility is what allowed for the encroaching ways of racial repression to return in the south. Constant political pursuit and demand of civil progress
Post a Comment
Read more

Follow Up to Chad D.'s "Understanding Mowing"

Chad's analysis of Mowing  by Robert Frost reveals a major peculiarity in the Imagism genre. Although the reader is forced to give more thought towards the meaning of each word, the overall message of the poem may become clouded in murky translation. Chad's interpretation of the poem is that it may suggest an individual reaps what they sow; I thought it could be focusing on the simplicity and peace in nature and work, and various sources claim the theme is that hard work is rewarding in itself. The imagism and modernist movements in literature granted great works but many are cloudy to interpret and dreary as well. Frost's other works such as The Road Not Taken  or Mending Wall  utilize more words that convey emotion and thought that issues the reader insight into the mind of the narrator as well as aid in unearthing the meaning. However, this may've been what Frost intended, each reader being able to take away the lessons and emotions they received from the writing.
Post a Comment
Read more

Wrapping Up the Semester

My three strongest blog posts are: https://jtj2372.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-ignorance-and-impact-of-war.html This one feels more developed and does well with contrasting and comparing the forms of ignorance experienced by the narrator in Mark Twain's "The History of a Campaign that Failed" and the boy in Ambrose Bierce's "Chickamauga." It also presents the varying impact of war powerfully. https://jtj2372.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-trickster.html This blog post exemplifies the specific characteristics of a the trickster; the deceptive diction, manipulation of knowledge, presentation  of self, etc. https://jtj2372.blogspot.com/2019/03/robert-frosts-mending-wall-insight-to.html This blog post allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of Robert Frost's "Mending Wall" and modernism overall. It also sparked the idea for my critical essay. I selected these three specific blog posts because of the clarity of point and
Post a Comment
Read more