This week’s reading was Roberto Arlt’s “Mad Toy”, compared to Proust’s “Combray” it was much easier to read and a shorter read for me. However, “Mad Toy” was a much “heavier and more serious read for me since it dives into topics such as social inequality, the struggles of the working class, and the impact of modernization on society. Compared to “Combray,” where the writing was quite complex, “Mad Toy” to me felt more straightforward. It got straight to the point about the challenges people had to face. The book really helped me see how life can be drastically different for certain people, especially those who are working hard but still struggling.
Unlike “Combray,” which might have been more complex in its own way, “Mad Toy” spoke to me on a deeper level. It made me think about the challenges people face in their everyday lives, especially those struggling in the working class. The book explored how societal changes impact individuals, and it made me reflect on the issues of inequality that persist today. Also, in “Mad Toy,” every page seemed to carry the weight of real-life societal issues, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read. The characters faced dilemmas that echoed the challenges many individuals in real life can encounter in their daily lives. The portrayal of a society divided by class distinctions and the impact of economic pressures felt like a mirror reflecting some harsh truths. For example, when Silvio leaves his days of thievery behind him and proceeds to find actual work which leads to him basically working throughout the entire day, this is one of the first signs of personal growth, where in order to survive in society, you must be prepared to do things that you don’t want to or not interested in doing.
Silvio’s experience of parting ways with his childhood friends struck a personal connection with me. I went through a similar situation when I had to say goodbye to all my childhood friends in my home country and move to Canada. This brought to mind a quote that felt really fitting, “life is made up of meetings and partings.” This resonates with me deeply because, just like Silvio, I realized that not everyone will stay with you throughout your entire life. It’s a tough reality that involves separating from some people you care about, but it also opens the door to meeting new individuals and creating fresh connections. Life is this continuous cycle of saying goodbye and saying hello, and Silvio’s journey in “Mad Toy” vividly mirrors this aspect.
Question 1: If you were in Silvio’s shoes, would you have done anything differently?
“life is made up of meetings and partings”
What does this book have to say about friendship? And what about Silvio’s betrayal of his friend, Rengo, in the final chapter? (I talk about this in the lecture.) There are, after all, different ways of saying “goodbye,” some more brutal than others, and Silvio’s final goodbye seems more brutal than most, no?
I would have definitely done some things differently. I don’t think I have it in me to betray one of my friends for my own benefit and also I don’t think I would try to set my work place on fire. More often than not, a teenager’s mind won’t make sense, but at the time, it may seem like it does. Silvio’s choices weren’t always the best ones and that makes me wonder if that quote was used as a sort of shield to excuse his actions. What do you think?
Hey Gaby, you’re absolutely correct I would have done a lot of things different as well. The betrayal hits me deep, because growing up betray was worst than death in my community. Especialy betraying your close friends for personal gain, shows an individual has low integrity and no morals.