The Alchemist- as a Bildungsroman

This book is a compilation of life lessons, as discovered by Santiago during his journey to fulfill his personal legend. It’s the epitome of a bildungsroman novel. Santiago goes from being a young Sheppard boy to listening to his own heart as well as God’s plan for him (as shown through omens). He confronts those that help him along his journey, like the old man, and the alchemist. He also faces many obstacles that test his courage, patience, and determination.

The boy must believe in himself, and trust in the Soul of God in order to fulfill his journey. This bildungsroman ends happily, as he discovers the treasure and then heads back to be with his love, Fatima. He has fulfilled his life’s journey.

I think most bildungsroman novels do not show the protagonist fulfilling his journey completely. Usually there are lessons learned as some things are lost, and others gained. However, in this novel, Santiago seems to gain everything that he was in pursuit of, and leaves the reader wondering what else he will accomplish in his life. He has only to journey back to find his love.

Therefore, I see this book as the ideal bildugroman, not the realistic one. It is an inspiring, sweet story, that feels more like a legend passed down for generations than a novel. It inspires us to seek out our own personal legend.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho- Part I

“It’s true; life really is generous to those who pursue their Personal Legend, the boy thought.” -166

This book is a charming story of Santiago, a boy who discovers that his Personal Legend is to venture across the desert and uncover buried treasure. Along the way, he experiences many obstacles, but ultimately clings to his Personal Legend and fulfills it at all costs.

The boy learns that the world will help those who are on their path toward their Personal Legend, and not even love will get in the way. This book tells us that we each have a Personal Legend that we can choose to pursue. This lesson is a great one for us soon-to-be grads who will have to decide what to go after in the coming years. Should one pursue what they love and feel they were born to do? Or should he or she be open to new opportunities that arise, or find contentment in simpler things? This book serves to inspire us to say yes to the first question, and seek out our own Personal Legend with new dedication and fervor.

The House on Mango Street- III

Eperanza is a great protagonist for a bildungsroman novel. She searches for her identity (part of which is her cultural identity) throughout the book, and is continually influenced by the community of women around her. Her house on Mango Street is both a barrier or hindrance in her life, and also a reflection of her heritage. Esperanza recognizes the poverty, gender discrimination, and abuse that women like her mother, Sally, and other neighbors experience. She decides that she does not want to ‘wait beside the window’ as her grandmother did, nor does she want to wait for someone to come along to change her life, as Marin does. Esperanza decides that she has the power to take control of her own life, and the strength to leave her home.

Part of this coming of age novel is Esperanza’s struggle with her cultural identity. Even while deciding to leave Mango Street, she knows she is leaving only to return for those that are unable to get away. She feels a connection with the community, that is partly pride and partly pity. Nonetheless, this novel shows that those around her have had a huge influence on her, and are ultimately part of her identity. She can leave Mango Street, and must in order to achieve all of her dreams. Yet, Mango Street is already a part of her. She’ll bring her cultural identity with her to her future experiences.

This bildungsroman novel shows a teenage girl struggling with growing up and with understanding who she is. It is a novel that any reader can connect to on some level, as we all must encounter this search for purpose and identity. I really enjoyed this book, and connected with Esperanza. It made me recall the typical struggles of teenage years and reflect on my own search for identity.

Esperanza & Lucy- an unlikely resemblance?

When Mr. Larson first mentioned a connection between Lucy (from 'A Room with a View') and Esperanza, I thought he was crazy. The characters could not be more different. Lucy is middle-class, well-bred, full of endless opportunities and luxuries. Esperanza is a minority, struggling in poverty, limited by her home on Mango Street. Right?

Although they are very different, both experience huge limitations brought on by their home/family life and cultural norms. Lucy is told to marry Mr. Vyse, a man she doesn't love, by her mother and everyone who surrounds her. It is acceptable for her to strive to raise herself up to a higher social class. She is a young woman, who should study, travel, and always uphold a high degree of modesty. These are her limitations, which seem to suffocate her at times. She finally finds a way to break free and seek her own happiness by marrying George.

Similarly, Esperanza is limited by the many suppressed women she is surrounded by and society's view of women's proper place. Eventually she, like Lucy, does rise beyond these limitations. She says she will leave her house on Mango Street, if only so she can return one day for the people that cannot leave. She will return for those she cares about, that cannot overcome their limitations.

The House on Mango Street- I

The last lines of this book has been on my mind:

"They will not know I have gone away to come back.
For the ones I left behind. For the ones who cannot out" (110).

Esperanza is continually told that Mango Street will forever be a part of her, and that she is destined to return for the sake of those who cannot leave. Although she doesn't like her home on Mango Street, her neighbors, friends, and family have left lasting impacts on her life. This is clear by reading the character's reflections and recollections.

This journal-like compilation of thoughts is pure poetry. The characters truly come alive, and Cisneros even uses rhyme sporadically. However, the wording of these particular lines (as noted above) is simply beautiful. These lines leave me knowing that Esperanza really does view Mango Street as her home, and is leaving knowing she will return. She cares about the people she leaves behind and will not fail to come back for them.

For better or for worse, Mango Street is home.

The Life of Pi- III Best novel yet!

I think this is the best novel we've read so far this semester, as well as the best example of a bildungsroman.

Our protagonist, Pi, struggles with finding God and a religion that fits him. As he ventures with his family across the Pacific Ocean to Canada, something goes horribly wrong and he ends up on the journey of his life.

Pi certainly faced huge obstacles on his journey that caused him to rely on God and his own human will to survive. Whether he struggled to survive on a lifeboat with a Bengal Tiger, or whether he fought for his life against a greedy, brutal passenger (the cook) is never confirmed. In the end, Pi chooses to tell the story with the animals, which he calls the "better story". Perhaps it's real, or perhaps it isn't. In either case, our protagonist survived and chose to tell a story full of hope and inspiration, that will truly make someone believe in God.

The Better Story

In chapter 22, Pi mentions "the better story" which foreshadows his re-telling of his journey by presenting two parallel accounts based on the same facts later on.

At the end of the novel, Mr. Okamoto answers Pi that "the story with the animals is the better story,"and Pi says, "Thank you. And so it goes with God."

I'm troubled by what he means by "better story". Does what actually happened matter less than what we would like to believe happened?

After finishing this incredible book, I am left with a question I'd rather not think about:
Do I believe in God because it is the 'better story' (the more optimistic option), or because I really believe He's real?

π

Piscine Molitor Patel developed his own new nickname in order to avoid being called 'Pissing' by his classmates and teachers. He decides to go by "Pi", and is careful to establish this in each of his classes by writing "π= 3.14" on the chalkboard.

Our protagonist's self-determined name is significant. Surely its mathematical correlation reveals secrets about his character.

I turned to wikipedia to better understand what the mathematical symbol of Pi is all about. Apparently it's "irrational" and "transcendental". It is a continuous sequence of numbers that is connected to the circle.

The complexity of the mathematical term reveals the multi-dimensional, complex character of Pi. His world is sometimes irrational. He is difficult to understand, and seems beyond the comprehension of others. I think this nickname is fitting.

Great novel; Underdeveloped Bildungroman

Tim O’Brien’s work is one of the greatest novels I’ve ever encountered. However, as a bildungsroman, it falls short. I do not see the development and maturation in Paul Berlin that is usually shown in the protagonist of a bildungsroman.

One reason this does not work well as a bildungsroman novel is because it covers such a short time span. It does not allow the years of transformation for Berlin. Additionally, Berlin’s personality works against his maturation as an individual. He is a dreamer, who does not focus or fully take in his surroundings. He is avoids action by nature, and does not associate himself with a war that he is clearly a part of. Berlin does not leave the war, and yet, he doesn’t fully fight in it. Much of the novel reflects the experiences of other characters, instead of his own. He is controlled by fear and unable to develop or fully transform by the end of the novel.

As a bildungsroman work, it is not finished. Paul Berlin has a long way to go to understanding himself, his place in the war, and what he wants for his future. At the end of the novel, I still do not view him as an adult. I see him as closer to a child, who is combating situations he cannot handle.

When Fiction is Reality

I have never heard someone speak about the Vietnam War with first-hand recollections and experiences until Mr. O’Brien’s visit.

He told us that, as soldiers fighting, they understood that they were not ‘in this world’, but were in hell. That’s why so many of them sought escape through drugs, alcohol, and any other means possible. He stressed the horrific nature of war; saying that it should be the absolute last, last, last resort.

He showed us a picture of himself in army attire with a large gun outdoors. At the time, he was only slightly younger than Paul Berlin’s character in the novel. I could see the fictional character of Berlin alive in his recollections of being drafted and making his way as a young soldier.
I realized that this novel is not only a brilliant work of fiction. It represents reality for people like Mr. Obrien. The novel is all the more difficult to digest because it shows the realities we would like to believe never really happened.

Going After Cacciato: war is inescapable

In Tim O' Brien's novel, Paul Berlin goes on manhunt for Cacciato, one of the soldiers in his troop who appears to have left for Paris. Paul hopes that they will not actually catch Cacciato. The adventure is his only chance for an escape from the war, and it encourages an idealistic view of their future, perhaps in Paris- a city of dreams. However, the mission to catch Cacciato is still a mission during wartime, and Paul is endures fearful near-death experiences, and must continually confront the enemy.

These recollections of Paul Berlin are fragmented, unclear, and sometimes bizarre. The discontinuous nature of his memories show the grim effects war has left on his mind. He must concentrate in order to recall his adventurous, and to sort out reality from fiction.

A soldier who has fought in war embodies pieces of the war, long after it ends. Paul's life will be forever transformed by his years on duty and hardships endured.

Bildungsroman Gone Bad- The Violent Bear It Away

This novel depicts the growth and maturation of Francis Tarwater, beginning with his first taste of independence after old Tarwater's death up until his murder of Bishop. Until this novel, I've always assumed a bildungsroman work implied the positive growth and development of an individual. However, Francis changes for the worse in this work, and matures into a cold-hearted, mentally-unstable, troubled young adult.

I think the typical bildungsroman work is intended to show the reader how a character overcame obstacles in order to develop into a better individual. They are written to be relatable and even inspirational. The reader usually sympathizes with the protagonist and shares their experiences of growing up. Yet, this work seems to have a different purpose. It's intended to magnify the people that serve as negative influences in our lives, and to show the destruction they can cause. In the case of Francis, he could not overcome the negative influence of old Tarwater, and Bishop suffers as a result.

This work is dark, destructive, and difficult to forget. But, it does nonetheless present a realistic portrayal of the negative side of human nature.

"The Terrible Speed of Mercy"

Flannery O' Connor's 'The Violent Bear it Away' is one of the most striking, unforgettable, warped novels I have ever encountered. The images toward the end are almost painful to read, and linger even after I've closed the pages.

That being said, Tarwater's final revelation- "GO WARN THE CHILDREN OF GOD OF THE TERRIBLE SPEED OF MERCY" seems to portray the fine line between mercy and power, which is a significant theme in this novel (242). He thinks it is his mission to save children who have been disillusioned and warped by a false sense of mercy. God's mercy, as he has experienced it through life with his religious uncle, is entirely destructive. His uncle thought he was showing mercy to the boy by kidnapping and baptizing him, but was actually negatively transforming his life forever. What was thought to be mercy was actually an expression of power.

Similarly, Tarwater expresses both power and mercy over Bishop. He drowns him, but accidentally baptizes him in the process. Afterwards Tarwater is more concerned over the fact that he baptized him (an act of mercy) than the realization that he has killed him (an act of power). Power and mercy, two opposing forces, become one in this novel.
Tarwater is left to save others from the destruction that is consuming him.

Lessons Learned in the Wild - The Bear as a Bildungsroman

As the protagonist in this bildungsroman, Isaac receives his lessons about life and morality in the wild, while chasing Old Ben. He gains characteristics of humility and courage, as well as a respect for nature. The man he grows up to be is largely defined by these early experiences in the wilderness.

This bildungsroman is different than the previous ones because it is so connected to nature, instead of the influence of other characters. Isaac's experiences in the outdoors have taught him many lessons about life that will later shape his actions. His love of nature makes the loss of nature at the end of the story all the more tragic, as it has impacted his character so much throughout the years.

Ultimately, Isaac turns down his inheritance because of he believes land (and nature) belong to everyone. As a young man just reaching adulthood, he realizes the the connection between the plantation and slavery, and his sense of right and wrong stops him from accepting ownership. Throughout this short story Isaac matures and gains a sense of morality that influences his decisions and actions.

"Can't See the Forest for the Trees"

As we were discussing whether 'wilderness' is a man-made construct, I started thinking about a recent pilosophy discussion about the concept of 'forest'. In that discussion, I realized that one can never know if they are looking at a forest. We can only see the trees, and then assume they are a part of a larger picture- the forest. I think the idea of wilderness is equally complicated.

In our discussion today in Cameron Park, we connected wilderness with both nature and the unknown. The concept implies a naturalness untainted by man-made structures and ideas. Isaac finds that he must leave behind his compass, map, gun, and watch (links to man-made cilivization) to truly enter the wilderness and see Old Ben. Wilderness, both to us and to Isaac, is the unknown, natural world devoid of human obscurities.

By this definition, it becomes clear that wilderness is a man-made construct. Man made building, pollution, and technology. We refer to the areas that man has not yet reached or changed to as 'wilderness'. So, without man-made constructs, everything would still exist in it's natural state, and there would be no need to define anything as wilderness. After all, what we term as 'wild' is simply the world in its natural, untainted state.

The Bear

In William Faulkner’s The Bear, the animal world is a prominent force in the short novel. As the title implies, Old Ben, a two-toed bear (on account of hunting traps) is a really important animal in the lives of the hunters. This bear is a source of entertainment and wonder for Ike and the men, as they aspire each year to outsmart him. It is the bear that captures the interest of Ike throughout his childhood, and teaches him diligence, humility, and courage as he prepares for the yearly hunt.

I think the selection of a bear as the central animal in Ike’s life is significant to his development and transition into manhood. Bears are thought to be among the top of the animal kingdom. They are vicious, large, fast, and terrifying creatures. From a distance, they look like friendly, oversized, furry dogs. However, they are extremely strong and forceful animals, capable of killing humans and animals alike. Ike establishes independence and displays bravery by encountering Old Ben without a gun. He respects the animal, and even recognizes that he seems almost human (hence the human name) compared to other creatures. Yet, however strong the bear is, he is not invincible. Even in death the bear’s presence seems to provide lessons to the boy.

A more realistic bildungsroman

Hurston's work is a different kind of bildungsroman than those we have previously read. Janie, the protagonist, experiences growth and maturity (as is typical in bildungsroman novels), but does not end up finding the love she had always desired.

Janie's third marriage ends in pain, trial, and heartache. While she certainly loved Tea Cake, he still abused her and felt the need to possess her. Janie never found the relationship built on equality and understanding that Lucy found in the last reading. Janie ends up alone, reciting her live's story to a friend.

Although her marriages were not successful, Janie grew through all of her experiences. She learned to develop her innerself, that can remain secure when she had to endure abuse and pain. Janie learned to protect herself, and ultimately saves her own life by bravely turning a gun at Tea Cake when he threatens her life. Janie's growth is obvious. Even though she ends up alone, she also ends up a stronger individual who has found peace with herself. She is an inspiration to Pheoby, who now desires more in her life after hearing her life story. Janie will always value the ideal of love, but doesn't need a man to be fulfilled.

'Their Eyes were Watching God'- a title of significance

While reading the book, I couldn't figure out where the title came from until I reached the hurricane scene with Janie and Tea Cake on page 160. In this incredibly vivid scene, they strain their eyes (and their souls) desperately wanting to know what will happen to them.

"They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God." -160

Hurston has a way of saying a lot in a few simple words. This phrase, appearing also as the title, shows that Janie is a product of her experiences and surroundings. The struggles in her life, and failing relationships were out of her hands. In reading about her experiences up to that scene, I get the feeling Janie knew she was intended for greater purposes and she always had some hope in the future. In a sense, she was always 'watching God', or being a spectator- observing the events that occured in her life, knowing there was only so much that she could control. Janie is always seeking something greater, and is fixated on her ideals (love, equality, understanding). She seems equally focused on this greater power, wanting to know what He has in her future.

Love from a Child's Eyes

"Did marriage end the cosmic loneliness of the unmated?
Did marriage compel love like the sun the day?" -p.21

Janie's transition into womanhood is extremely troubling because it is marked by the end of her simple hope that events in life should happen just as they ought to. She models pure idealism, agreeing to marry to please her dying grandmother, and believing love is the inevitable byproduct of marriage.

When Janie is married to Logan and realizes she still doesn't feel passionate love for him, she naively thinks her grandmother can simply teach her how to love him. This young version of Janie sees all of the beauty and potential in the world, without yet being marred by its destructive potential. Despite her difficult upbringing, Janie managed to hold on to her idealism until her teenage years. When she finally loses it and realizes that marriage doesn't always entail love, "she became a woman" (25).

It is the death of her dream that markes her entrance into adulthood, which is a troubling thought for a reader to contemplate.

Lucy goes out the window!

Lucy goes out the Window

In A Room with a View, Lucy is the protagonist in this bildungsroman. A young woman, Lucy is a product of her upbringing and her surroundings. She is cordial, proper, and concerned with marrying up in society. However, love wakes Lucy up and helps her to realize that her life is destined for passion and excitement.

As Lucy falls in love with George Emerson, the most unlikely of all bachelors, she slowly starts thinking on her own. She develops her own ideas and sense of individuality. Lucy yearns to be in a relationship where she is an equal, and she ultimately finds this with George.

Lucy matures over the course of the book, and finally chooses George over Cecil Vyse. This action shows that she values love over wealth and status, even at the cost of her family’s approval. She becomes a strong woman, eagerly taking her life into her own hands, and out of the typical conventions of society.