This novel is filled with money, crime, sex, drugs, alcohol; in one word: chaos! After learning that this story was based on a true story, it gave me even more of a sense of the insanity of the world.
Anyway, I wanted to share something about the theme that the whole story revolves around: MONEY!
The story begins with a tense bank robbery operation and police shootout resulting in casualties.
They hadn’t counted it but the canvas bag stuffed with cash was so heavy it could have been filled with stones. Lumps of cement, concealing the fine notes, all in usable cur- rency, packed into a canvas bag tied with a naval knot.
‘We were in it up to our necks,’ said Dorda.（p.29）
From this moment on it became clear to them that they would pay a huge price for this looted money.
Another scene that struck me was the money burning scene near the end.
They began tossing burning 1,000-peso bills out of the window. From the kitchen skylight they succeeded in floating the burning money down towards the corner. The bills looked like butterflies of light, flaming notes.A buzz of indignation rippled through the crowd.
‘They’re burning it.’
‘They’re burning the money.’ (p. 157)
Wow~ If I were a pedestrian on the side of the road, how shocked I would be to see this scene! No doubt, I would think they are crazy. Isn’t money meant to be spent? Why burn it? What a waste! However, if I again take the protagonist’s point of view, they are already facing the dead end of their lives, and the meaning and value of money to them at this time should be very different from what ordinary people sees. Money sweeping through the fire and scattering in the air also symbolize the liberation of Dorda and Brignone’s relationship. Well~then…what is the value of money?
Question for Discussion:
“The idea got out that money is innocent, even when acquired as a consequence of death and crime. It couldn’t be considered culpable, but rather it should be viewed as neutral, as a symbol that comes in useful depending on how one wants to use it.” （p. 158）
Money isn’t just at the center of this novel, it’s a necessity for us to survive in the society. Often, money is associated with more negative terms. So what does money mean to you?
Hi Cicy, love the quotes that you pull out from the novel. It is worth thinking, for Dorda and Brignone, does money gives them what they want? What does these paper mean for them when they lack in freedom and love?–Esther Zhou
I loved your discussion question! I too took note of that quote from the book. It actually made me kind of sad because the act of them burning the money seemed more important/horrific then them violently killing people. I don’t think money is “innocent”, it is just something that we invented that while has so many positive aspects, is the main reason why there is so much violence and sadness in the world.
Cici, although you picked good quotes I will ask that next time you also focus on adding a substantive opinion. Remember we want to read your opinions and part of the course is writing a substantial blog. I would’ve loved to hear more about how you see the “money sweeping through the fire and scattering in the air also symbolize the liberation of Dorda and Brignone’s relationship,”
Thanks for your comment!
– Tesi
For people who dont have money, money is like a conrolling boyfriend. It detemines if I can go out, what clothes I can wear, how much I get to eat, if I am able to do a hobby… not to be dramatic, but I feel money is one of the most violent things in the world. I think about money 3 or 4 times a day, I cry about money. Money is abusive, I surrender my sleep for working, I put passions on hold to go make money. I wish money didn’t exist and if I could burn every dollar in the world I would.
Anyways, sorry, I just really don’t want to go to work today lol.
-Dalia Currie