Tag Archives: poverty

True Lover…

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A moving and powerful book, “The Lover” explores the intricate issues of colonialism, love, desire, and social expectations. The story, which takes place in 1920s French colonial Vietnam, centers on an extramarital relationship between a wealthy Chinese man known only as “the Chinaman” and a young French girl known as “the girl.” It was a pleasure to read. I was engrossed in “The Lover” by Duras’s writing the entire time. Her depictions of the setting, which included Saigon, to each nuanced and multifaceted character. Since this book is different from anything I have ever read, I initially thought it was a little insane, and also I felt discomfort by their extreme age difference…felt pedo-ish.

As the girl meets the Chinaman, a powerful and fascinating man who radiates power and charm, her life dramatically changes. A passionate affair follows as the girl is drawn to the Chinaman, despite their differences in age, ethnicity, and social status. Their union would never be accepted by the girl’s family or society, therefore their relationship is marked by secrecy and taboo. The Chinese man’s father and the little girl’s family believed that the girl was with him solely for financial gain, but the guy soon became enamored with her and fell in love with her. 

Poverty plays a major role in this story. The girl’s views, desires, and behaviors are influenced by the universal force of poverty. It highlights the glaring differences in status and riches and acts as a continual reminder of her underprivileged life within colonial Indochinese culture. Her lackluster upbringing leaves her with a strong desire to escape and live outside of her current circumstances. Her unlawful relationship with the wealthy Chinaman provides a brief window into a world where social constraints no longer determine her sense of fulfillment and self-worth. This yearning for emancipation is what propels her to seek comfort and connection in this relationship. 

“Poverty didn’t lessen her dignity” struck me as a really powerful quote. It shows how strong and resilient her mother was in the face of financial difficulties. The mother does not allow poverty to erode her sense of self-respect or define her worth; instead, she chooses to live with pride and dignity despite their dire circumstances. This statement emphasizes her inner fortitude and will to endure hardships, demonstrating a dignity that surpasses worldly possessions. It implies that a person’s character, resiliency, and inner convictions are what truly define their dignity rather than their outward belongings or social standing.

 

Question for the Class:

How do the book’s characters handle the difficulties and limits brought on by poverty?

 

Hour of the Star. Macabea is not a star

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The complex and mysterious novella “The Hour of the Star” by Clarice Lispector explores existentialism, identity, and the human predicament. The narrative centers on Macabéa, a young, nondescript woman from Rio de Janeiro’s slums. It’s the shortest novel I’ve read so far in this course, I think. It is said of Macabéa that she is a modest, quiet woman who lacks ambition, beauty, or intelligence. She is a typewriter by profession and leads an isolated life with no real goals or relationships. She endured hardships, but she never wavers in her belief in life’s goodness and youthful innocence. She is innocent and anxious-free in her mind. I felt she was a straightforward lady with an ephemeral personality when I read her. However, in contrast to what the narrator claimed, she was a person with dreams and desires of her own. I simply feel like Macabea is so pure and legitimate.

Macabéa’s life comes to an abrupt and terrible end in the pivotal scene of “The Hour of the Star,” as she is murdered by a car. The story abruptly ends with this incident, which acts as a painful punctuation stroke for Macabéa’s modest yet profoundly meaningful life. But Macabéa experiences a remarkable change in consciousness in the final minutes before her death. In the midst of the commotion and brutality of the catastrophe, she briefly gains consciousness and transcends. She seems to suddenly realize the significance of her own life when faced with mortality. In light of Macabéa’s character development, this discovery is important.

The quote that stood out to me from the book was “Macabéa was thin and very pale. Her eyes were the color of nothing. Her hair, the color of nothing.” Macabéa’s unpretentious demeanor and lack of social distinction are reflected in the stark simplicity with which her physical attributes are portrayed. Her pale complexion and thin hair indicate a life of deprivation and neglect, while her colorless eyes and hair represent her lack of personality and presence in the world. The way Lispector depicts Macabéa’s look highlights the novella’s recurring theme of existential insignificance by emphasizing her anonymity and obscurity. Macabéa may not appear particularly distinguished on the outside, but her inner existence is filled with confusion, longing, and a deep need for meaning and connection.

 

Questions for the class:

In what ways does Macabéa’s tale speak to more general concerns of life and the pursuit of meaning?

What is the significance of Macabéa’s sudden moment of clarity and transcendence before her death?