Susan controls her narrative and identity by keeping "silent" about her experience in Bahia. Although Friday's silence is involuntry, do you think this is Friday's way of maintaining his identity?
I think this is a really great question. Susan is secretive about some things from her past and not others. This leads me to believe that she is either hiding something or maybe she hasn't come to terms with or accepted herself/her reality and is trying to protect herself. Either way, her silence is only partial. Friday is silent about everything in his life. While we've debated whether he cut his own tongue out or not, the fact is that he has not made a distinct effort to compensate for it by communicating in other ways. He has chosen to be silent about everything. I don't think that this is the same as Susan's silence. -Darcy
I still stick with the idea that Friday mutilated himself in order to stay away from the commucication... I mean, from the speaking way to communicate. Speaking is the strongest point of a culture, and start speaking in the "white man" language would mean to give up his own culture and be "owned" by the others. In contrast to Susan, she decided no to talk about some things..but at any moment she could just do it. Friday, on the other hand, decided to be silent not to give up his origins, and in case he wanted to begin, he would be an "ELL", start from zero, and learn ho to do it.
Do you think there is something there that she is ashamed of? Are supposed to, as the reader, believe that she doesn't share this part of the story because we might think less of her? You say Friday's silence is involuntary, but I am not sure that I agree. I think that given different people in a different situation, he might be more communicative.
At the end of the book (Coetzee 157), I think the narator is asking Friday about the truth about him, how he lost his tongue, the ship, etc.. but says "this is not a place of words" which reminds of the limits of language in storytelling. I believe at the end of the story, Friday is finally telling us the truth, but it is not comprehensible to any of us.
There are so many layers to Friday that is very hard to even think if he is not communicating because he can't or he doesn't want to. If I put myself in his shoes, I think I wouldn't say a word either, what good would it do? I am just a slave, an object to comply with orders and directions, will my situation change if I tell my story? I am sure not, society will oppress me regardless of my ability to talk or what I have to say, so what is the point!
Ohhhhh, Anna, that is an interesting interpretation of the end of the book. I still can't imagine anyone willingly cutting out their tongue (ouch!), but such an action would make the ultimate statement against communication and all that it stands for.
I agree. This is such a great question. Susan is the narrator, so we feel like we know her, yet most of us realize that so many parts of her story are missing - just like Friday's. Rowena asks if there is something that she is ashamed of - I think based on a picture of what women were "supposed" to be like in her day, she is probably ashamed. As for Friday, he doesn't seem to even want to talk to anyone or attempt to share anything, spoken or not.
9 comments:
I think this is a really great question. Susan is secretive about some things from her past and not others. This leads me to believe that she is either hiding something or maybe she hasn't come to terms with or accepted herself/her reality and is trying to protect herself. Either way, her silence is only partial.
Friday is silent about everything in his life. While we've debated whether he cut his own tongue out or not, the fact is that he has not made a distinct effort to compensate for it by communicating in other ways. He has chosen to be silent about everything. I don't think that this is the same as Susan's silence.
-Darcy
I think it is.
Isn't Friday incredible?
I still stick with the idea that Friday mutilated himself in order to stay away from the commucication... I mean, from the speaking way to communicate.
Speaking is the strongest point of a culture, and start speaking in the "white man" language would mean to give up his own culture and be "owned" by the others.
In contrast to Susan, she decided no to talk about some things..but at any moment she could just do it.
Friday, on the other hand, decided to be silent not to give up his origins, and in case he wanted to begin, he would be an "ELL", start from zero, and learn ho to do it.
Do you think there is something there that she is ashamed of? Are supposed to, as the reader, believe that she doesn't share this part of the story because we might think less of her? You say Friday's silence is involuntary, but I am not sure that I agree. I think that given different people in a different situation, he might be more communicative.
At the end of the book (Coetzee 157), I think the narator is asking Friday about the truth about him, how he lost his tongue, the ship, etc.. but says "this is not a place of words" which reminds of the limits of language in storytelling. I believe at the end of the story, Friday is finally telling us the truth, but it is not comprehensible to any of us.
Оh, Anna, this is deep!
The ending is so cool. :)
There are so many layers to Friday that is very hard to even think if he is not communicating because he can't or he doesn't want to. If I put myself in his shoes, I think I wouldn't say a word either, what good would it do? I am just a slave, an object to comply with orders and directions, will my situation change if I tell my story? I am sure not, society will oppress me regardless of my ability to talk or what I have to say, so what is the point!
Ohhhhh, Anna, that is an interesting interpretation of the end of the book. I still can't imagine anyone willingly cutting out their tongue (ouch!), but such an action would make the ultimate statement against communication and all that it stands for.
I agree. This is such a great question. Susan is the narrator, so we feel like we know her, yet most of us realize that so many parts of her story are missing - just like Friday's. Rowena asks if there is something that she is ashamed of - I think based on a picture of what women were "supposed" to be like in her day, she is probably ashamed. As for Friday, he doesn't seem to even want to talk to anyone or attempt to share anything, spoken or not.
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