Hey everyone,
I have been thinking a bit about why I like that story so much. I know its not the most thought provoking short story every written, which was evidenced by are somewhat short discussion today, but I do like the overall message. Like Cat’s Cradle, it is almost like a warning to people. Things are probably not going to turn out the way you once saw them. But the story shows us that is OK. There is usually something good you can take from the situation.
I am going to put out this kind of broad based, somewhat personal question. Are any of you afraid of an existence similar to the one that Fuzz had before Francine showed up? Why or why not?
To answer the question Tony raised, I definitely am afraid. I believe it to even be part of our human nature to always be weary of what the future holds and I think that I can honestly say that even though I know that I am surrounded by people that love me (i hope) and opportunities that come every day; the reality is, I am always scared to think what my life will become and am afraid of failure. That being said, I think that it is a very common thing among people like us: working to get an education to support ourselves in the future. Making money, etc.
To summarize, I do not mean to say I am sad and miserable, because I am a very happy person. But there is a level of uncertainty that is uncomfortable, and I think that my “francine” is simply the state of mind where I can honestly say that I am optimistic with what I will do later in life whether it be a solid career or clear of debt….I do not see myself as Fuzz by any means, but I can draw similarities in my life to the message of the story.
One thing I forgot to mention…..
I read somewhere (wikipedia) that Vonnegut has written a large portion of his short stories about his childhood sweetheart that he married, Jane Marie Cox. Is it possible that Francine in the story is this woman? Maybe Vonnegut felt the same way as Fuzz before he met her. Any thoughts?
I agree with what Tyler says. The future is full of uncertainties, but there are two ways of looking at that fact. You can recoil in an attempt to mitigate the potential bad outcomes of those uncertainties, or you can embrace them, taking advantage of what they may offer. If anything, I’m more afraid of being as normal as Fuzz-locked into his monotonous, meaningless day job-than I am of failing at whatever adventure I pursue in an uncertain world. To me that would be the ultimate failure. I have usually been able to recognize the beauty of the world and the good things it has given me, even if I have not fully appreciated or taken advantage of them, so that side of the story does not scare me as much.
My first comment is on the Breaky of Champs page.
I found this, and thought it fits really well with the many topics we’ve covered over the term regarding Vonnegut’s writing and this one clip is focused on short stories.
Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyQ1wEBx1V0
Alright so this is definitely something that has crossed my mind in the past. As I think it has crossed everyones. That’s one of life’s big questions isn’t it? And at the stage in life that we all are at (I am assuming its basically the same) its definitely a much more present matter. We are all finishing up this leg in our life(post-secondary), and looking to start the next. I know that I have class mates and friends around me who are pregnant, or have children, engaged or married, friends who have established careers or struggling to get the school done as a prerequisite. We are all entering adulthood, and now is the time when we really start to realize that our fate is not written, and that we actually have to do something to take control of our own life.
I didn’t answer Cam’s question yesterday about who has influenced me to change because I honestly couldn’t think of another person besides myself. I think it takes a certain desire to change in yourself to be able to interpret another persons behaviour in a way that makes you want to alter yourself. Not everyone has this desire, and I don’t think a lot of people are even all that capable of a deeper change. I attribute all my change to myself, because in the end thats the only person who can truly make you change.
I actually encountered that fear, of being stuck in something so redundant and benign that I was rotting. I was going into my 3rd year here, and I couldn’t even imagine stepping foot on campus for another year of the same shit. Work all day at Starbucks, school all afternoon, rugby 5 times a week and a vague social life. So I dropped everything (except 2 correspondence classes) and moved to England for a year. I changed my entire outlook on life. (Granted I’m still here at UBC, and working in *suprise* another coffee shop). The way I’m doing it is different, my attitude towards it is different. For Fuzz Littler it took a sexy young secretary to change his view, for me it took a different cultures perspective. Life isn’t about what you do, its about how you do it(and who you do? haha just kidding)
That was long.
Yeah, in all honesty, the idea of getting stuck in the same shit life scares the hell out of me. It is increasingly harder to find the time, or even desire to take a look around and find value in life.
You wake up, its raining and dark outside, you go to class, sun goes down by 4:30, you then either sit in the library and study all night, go to your job, or go drown at a bar. The feeling of “same shit, different day” can really drain on a person. Then you graduate, get some 50 hour a week job, are constantly obsessed with career goals and ambitions…. Seemingly not a lot to look forward to.
But, in my opinion, you just got to have the brains to look around and smell the roses. As mundane as it can get, I realize that there is so much to get excited about, so much to look forward to outside of school/ work. Its just a constant battle to remind myself of that fact.