Create a claim and give two to three supporting examples. We will discuss topics in class on Tuesday:
—1. Joe’s
coming of age: character analysis—changes in family relationship
—2. Ojibwe
stories and their relevance to themes of novel--Nanapush
—3. Significance
of roundhouse—symbolism—role of “mother”
—4. Moral
evil and ideas about justice: Wiindigos?
—5. Ethical
choices: How does Joe approach and justify his act?
—6. Role
of humor in the novel—its function? eg boys pretending to convert
—7. Jurisdiction:
Example of unfair laws the novel exposes; father’s purpose: casserole story
Human lives are defined by choices and one that everyone faces at some point is whether to pursue justice or retain order. In the Roundhouse by Louise Erdrich, characters continuously choose to pursue justice instead of order because justice is more satisfying a reward than order in cases of personal injustice. However, they do not always succeed at acquiring their justice and in sometimes become haunted by their deeds. Some examples of this are:
ReplyDelete1) Linden Lark, the antagonist of the novel attempts numerous times to get his twisted sense of justice such as advocating to dissolve the power of the Native Americans in getting rid of reservations (52), and his rape of Geraldine.
2) Joe, the narrator of the novel, not only investigates the rape of his mother but becomes a vigilante when he shoots Linden because he was not charged with the rape of his mother (282).
3) Another case of attempting to claim justice in the novel is when the four friends go on a road trip to reunite Cappy with his love after her parents forbid their relationship. Cappy sees their disapproval as an injustice to their pure love that was given to them by God (312).
There comes a time in every individual's life that they go from being an innocent children to a young adult . There is no specific time or age for a men to know who and what he wants to become , it does not matter what the age is , only he holds the key to his destination , only he knows what he wants to become in the future , nobody can command him all we can do is walk him through but it's all up to him when he decides to chase after his dreams or he may chooses to remain innocent . In the novel the roundhouse by Louis Erdric joe's coming of age throughout the novel has change vicariously in ways such as :
ReplyDelete1-Joe standing up to sonja , putting his needs aside and trying to understand her life , see things through her eyes , her struggles , pains and situation with her husband .
2-Another example would be him being more wiser then his parents , his parents only seek for revenge but he on the other hand seek for justice .
3-He does things that adult would do such as smoking , drinking , being in charge , hiding things , having secrets and speaking like he is above his own age .
When an adult goes through a series of experiences, specifically trauma, they are forced to grow. In the case of The Round House, Joe, a young in the midst of witnessing his family fall apart from the near murder of his mother brings his life into a whirlwind of new realities; growing up fast and how to cope with the way his family and himself handle the situation. Joe displays an array of role reversals with his parents as they work to stick together while justice may prove unsteady and as Geraldine slowly recuperates. One of the examples of Joe’s coming of age are as follows-
ReplyDelete1. He does role reversals where he comforts his father simultaneously while caring for his mother. He put together food and read to her every night while she lay in bed.
2. He began to stand up for himself and what he believed in. One example is he stood up to his father before running away for the day. He spoke out his emotions fully about the case being dropped not worrying about the consequences as he had used to.
3. Lastly, he decides to bring justice into his own hands by planning Linden’s own demise.
Joes coming of age/changes in family relationship
ReplyDeleteThroughout the novel "the roundhouse" we see a summer that changes this 13yr old boys life. Age 13 is the beginning of milestones that you will embark on in your life. The people you will meet, the events that take place, and the friends you have are what shape you from this age forth. This specific time for Joe not only changes his views on morality and justice, but forces him to all at once face the harshest sorrows that turn every child into an adult.
-joes mother being raped opened his eyes to the insensible acts that humans are capable of. He is feeling the loss of his mother and abandonment from his father. There is no other choice for him but to be his own parent, his own advisor. This is where he takes the situation into his own hands and decides he will get justice on his mothers attacker since the laws won't allow it.
-His love for Sonja and her betrayal when sneaking money out of his accounts for herself. Still, he loves her and has to deal with the agony of his own guilt and her departure of the reservation. He feels a stab of heartbreak because not only was she secretly desirable to him but she also became a sort of mother figure to him as well. It's as if he was losing all sense of nurturing in his life.
-Joes best friend, Cappy helped him in the murder of linden lark. Cappy watched out for joes best interest and was there for him no matter the circumstance. Cappys sudden death at the end of the book is joes breaking point. He says he feels old. His heart had been worn and torn every which way and we see how it has affected him. It is him at the end of the story who now needs some saving.
In Edwidge Danticats's Nineteen Thirty-Seven and Louise Erdrich's "The Round House," Manman, Geraldine, and Akii 's strengths in helping others lead to their subjection of violence and humiliation by their communities. But it is the love and courageous spirit of their children they're resurrected and avenged.
ReplyDelete"Mother" a phrase that is understood and appreciated among all cultures. The phrase "mother" goes hand in hand with sentiments of love, warmth, and comfort. In "The Round House" by Louise Erdrich, a sturdy Native American family, deteriorates after Geraldine, Joe's mother, is brutally attacked . Cognizant of the fact that he is loosing her, Joe is willing to do whatever it takes to get his mother back. Young Joe, the only child of Bazil and Geraldine, desperately tries to mend the pieces of his recently broken family. His conquest to uncover his mothers attacker leads him to the exact location the crime occurred; the Round House. As Joe approaches the crime scene he is taken on an emotional rollercoaster. His audible cries awaken his surroundings and he begins walking toward the Round House, answering it's silent summonsing. Joe's story introduces us to the significance of our surroundings and how sacred places can bear the same offerings of ones mother, comfort, guidance, and truth.
ReplyDeleteExcellent summary !
DeleteIn "The Round House" by Louise Erdrich seems to be a lot of reference to fire. I believe because of this I can argue that Joe was the Aayaash that is going to fight the evil (Windigo Lark). I say this because the Aayaash is responsible of burning the world so it can be reborn, and Joe many times referred to fire, or took care of the fire. I believe he has to burn the evil in order for his fading mom to be reborn completely.
ReplyDelete1. He took care of the sweat lodge
2. Told his mom he was going to burn that "Man"(At the time we did not know who it was) alive.
3. He was constantly exposed to fire, worked at a gas station, found the gas can, was captivated by the matches at the beginning etc.
In The Round House the theme of jurisdiction is explored. To have jurisdiction means that a legal body, or even individual, has the power or authority ( autonomy) to make not only legal decisions but value based judgements as well. Throughout the course of the novel jurisdiction is explored not only through the lens of the law but also through a personal human element. Both Joe and his father use the power of jurisdiction in an attempt to question and change the grand narrative of Native communities.
ReplyDeleteThe Roundhouse both tests the boundaries of love as well as demonstrate the significance of family and friends. Joe in The Roundhouse is faced with a situation where his love for his mother is put through trial. Although he is scared and uncertain at first, Joe is faced with maturing at a sudden moment and tasked to protect his family. Through several events he demonstrates the importance of defending what he loves and the importance of friendship.
ReplyDeleteWhen did you climb up the stairs to adulthood? Adolescent children are going to the border between childhood and adulthood back and forth to recognize who they are. In the novel "The Round House," a main character Joe develops his character through experience of the cruel accident. Especially the relationship with his father has an influence on his sensitive mind significantly. His father has three faces: face as father, face as husband, and face as a judge. Each of father’s standing points gives Joe different perceptions.
ReplyDelete