Sunday, April 1, 2012
Style vs. Content
To me, The Moviegoer presents a paradox. The themes of the story have a philosophical, and sometimes dark nature. In the strong theme of existentialism, Binx is continuously searching for the meaning of human life - he strives to understand how people may live sincerely in a seemingly dishonest and artificial world. He wishes never to be "sunk in the everydayness" of life" and his greatest fear is to be invisible in a habitual society. Binx finds comfort in going to the movies because for him, a movie reinsures reality, it is "certification"... He explains, "Nowadays when a person lives somewhere, in a neighborhood, the place is not certified for him. More than likely he will live there sadly and the emptiness which is inside him will expand until it evacuates the entire neighborhood. But if he sees a movie which shows his ver neighborhood, it becomes possible for him to live, for a time at least, as a person who is Somewhere and not Anywhere" (63). Kate is a similar character; she, too, searches for revelations in life, but each time she thinks she has found one, she soon sinks into a phase of grave depression. Well, here is the paradox: this deep analysis of human life and existence is portrayed through Percy's light and almost poetic prose. What significance does this contrast of style and content hold?
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I agree, Percy's writing is thoroughly enjoyable to read - his statements like "We part, laughing and dead" (p.102) are little nuggets of joy. And I also agree that the subject matter, the meaning of life, is heavy. But I think Percy's purpose for the differences here serves an important purpose. Binx is, in a way, very usual: a young successful businessman with a love for a chase (after women, of course). But he is also very unusual in his perception of human life, his thoughts and ideas, and his love for a Search. And, throughout the book, Percy gives multiple other contrasts: the majorette-like Sharon Kincaid, the more philosophical, sometimes depressed Kate Cutrer. Binx says, "Before, I wandered as a diversion. Now I wander seriously and sit and read as a diversion" (70). Percy's contrasts throughout the book, including his subject matter and his writing style, perhaps attempt to bring to light the struggle that Binx has with living: he has to live two very different lives.
ReplyDeleteI think the idea of the paradox of The Moviegoer is very interesting, and I found it most apparent in the ending when Binx abandons his philosophical search in favor of the seemingly pointless and purposeless everyday average life. I agree with most of what Jo said but would change her final statement that Binx leads two lives. Instead I would say he's torn between three backgrounds and definitions of himself. One perspective comes from his mother, one from his father and one from Aunt Emily. His diversity of exposure to different classes and experiences e.g. the Korean War showw how torn up he is. Although he fancies himself a simple moviegoer, searching for purpose but able to overcome the monotony of everydayness, in the end he falls into all the preordained boxes of society.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Katherine. For such a deep and complex topic of almost human existence, the writing seems to have a poetic tone. Like I mentioned in class, when I read this book I constantly make connections to Catcher In The Rye and how, though the characters have many similarities, the books are just so different in their entirety. The end of the book really struck on that note for me. While Holden ends his own search with a sort of mental break down, Binx seemingly finds no end; he almost just stops his search. Though I understand that the two stories are very different, and Binx's search might not even need the conclusion Holden's search did, I still yearn for some sort of conclusion. It's almost like a movie (ha ha) where they don't solve the problem completely and leave you to interpret the rest. However, with a search as significant as his, I believe that a more solid conclusion was needed, rather than continuing with the almost light hearted attitude of the writing.
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DeleteI think the paradox of telling a philosophical, dark nature story in the a poetic prose of Percy's is similar to Binx's search. He vaguely knows what he wants, the meaning or meanings in life, and in effect he becomes disappointed with what answers he sees. He knows what he wants to avoid - the malaise and yet decides to go with a life his aunt chose for him which will only give him what he's been avoiding, an everyday life as you said. Is see this as another paradox in Binx's story. I agree with Anna's comment saying the epilogue ended in a cliffhanger which left the reader wondering if Binx had actually changed in his abandonment of the search or is only to continue his usual cycle of life.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I just want to point out the nice quotage in this post. Anyway, I agree with what has already been said about the contrast between content and style and I think that it also parallels the contrast of the societal pressures that Binx faces against his own inner rebellious thoughts and actions. The dark serious content directly relates to Binx's questioning of everything as well as his analysis and criticisms of the world around him. Also, the style in which Percy writes (an almost light prose, as Katherine said), mirrors how Binx views the Malaise type people. He sees them as predictable, shallow, and plain.
ReplyDeleteMerilla, do you see Percy's prose as predictable, shallow, and plain? hmmm?
ReplyDeleteLOL, no... I meant it like Binx views the world as simple and light, and while Percy's prose is anything but simple, it has a light effect to it. Jeez, KT
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