Welcome to the blog for Prof. John Talbird's English 220 class. The purpose of this site is two-fold: 1) to continue the conversations we start in class (or to start conversations before we get to class) and 2) to practice our writing/reading on a weekly basis in an informal forum.
Saturday, April 22, 2017
THE FOURTH DAY OUT FROM SANTA CRUZ
What is up with Paul Bowles and youth? I feel like a huge part of his writing is the transition from youth to adulthood. Ramon's focus on his peers' perception of him hinders his growth. He is more focused on mirroring his peers than becoming his own man. When he is plotting how he will get all the others back it just points to his immaturity. A bigger issue is the conformity of it all. Ramon is so concerned about fitting in with all of these people instead escaping them because he is different. I am all about individuality and I just wish Ramon wouldn't focus on his coworkers so much. He is so easily distracted by life that he forgets he could set an individual path for himself. Soon he will realize not everybody will like you.
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I agree w/ your interpretation of this story, Felicia, one of my favorites in the collection. I think you're right that Bowles is very interested in youth, perhaps why his fiction has often appealed to young people, esp. of the counter culture stripe. I think this story is very compelling mainly b/c of that ending. These guys on the ship don't even seem to see Ramon until he does something vicious. Then all of a sudden, he's real to them. I think a lot of Bowles stories are about how humans are cruel, esp. men.
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