The plethora of letters being sent back and forth in the book represent the importance of written communication. While many times, the letters sent to Linda; either by Dr. Flint or other persons interested in possessing Linda as chattel are viewed as undesirable ones which emphasize Linda's condition as a slave and as a piece of property, in more frequency than the latter, letters represent Linda's power as a literate human being to reject the supremacy of those who would claim it, and outwit the ones who would trick Linda back into the 'jaws of slavery'. Dr. Flint's letters to Linda are used as a means to further his power over her and to "help to advance his favorite scheme," (31) to browbeat Linda into complete mental and physical submission. Linda's rejection of the letters- her refusal to read them, and her conscious decision to reject not only the letters, but with it, its proposals, is symbolic of her refusal to submit to her condition, despite the overwhelming evidence of the futility of her resistance.
Later in the work, numerous letters are written to Linda by those who wish to recapture Linda and to bring her back into the power of Dr. Flint. Her literacy, her ability to read between the lines, and her ability to discern between genuine words of honesty and well crafted phrases designed to confuse and fool her, are what keep Linda from becoming the chattel which she struggles so valiantly to resist becoming. Linda's literacy is essential to her successful rejection of a life of bondage. The letters which appear so frequently in the book serve to emphasize the precipitous dangers which constantly loom over Linda, as a fugitive slave, and consequently serve to emphasize the intelligence, bravery, and courage of the woman who employs these letters to her own advantage in order to escape these very dangers.
Showing posts with label Bonnie Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bonnie Park. Show all posts
Monday, October 29, 2007
Castles
Castles
In Little Women, the theme of castles is oft repeated and represents the individual dreams and desires of each of the four little women and Laurie. Chapter 13 is full of allusions to these fantastical dream castles which the young people imagine are waiting for them in the "Celestial City". The Celestial City is an allusion to the heaven in Pilgrim's Progress, the ultimate goal of the pilgrim, and consequently, the ultimate destination goal for the children. They imagine the heavenly city to be a difficult place to reach, and likewise, the dreams they hope to achieve in their lifetimes seem just as improbable. All of their castles have realistic impediments which frustrate their progress towards achieving their goals. The most important of these obstacles is the struggle which all of the young ones face between their duties to their families and their duties to themselves to achieve their dreams. In chapter 13, aptly named "Castles in the Air", Laurie is torn between his grandfather's wishes for him to attend college and his own desire to become a world famous musician, while Jo is torn between her desire to pursue her writing and "get rich and famous"(140) and her domestic duties as a woman and a daughter. The castles in the air represents the dreams and fantasies of youth before its adulteration by the realities and expectations of societal mores and familial duties.
In Little Women, the theme of castles is oft repeated and represents the individual dreams and desires of each of the four little women and Laurie. Chapter 13 is full of allusions to these fantastical dream castles which the young people imagine are waiting for them in the "Celestial City". The Celestial City is an allusion to the heaven in Pilgrim's Progress, the ultimate goal of the pilgrim, and consequently, the ultimate destination goal for the children. They imagine the heavenly city to be a difficult place to reach, and likewise, the dreams they hope to achieve in their lifetimes seem just as improbable. All of their castles have realistic impediments which frustrate their progress towards achieving their goals. The most important of these obstacles is the struggle which all of the young ones face between their duties to their families and their duties to themselves to achieve their dreams. In chapter 13, aptly named "Castles in the Air", Laurie is torn between his grandfather's wishes for him to attend college and his own desire to become a world famous musician, while Jo is torn between her desire to pursue her writing and "get rich and famous"(140) and her domestic duties as a woman and a daughter. The castles in the air represents the dreams and fantasies of youth before its adulteration by the realities and expectations of societal mores and familial duties.
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