I’m very confused. Though I appreciate the lecture video providing historical context for this novella, it does not assuage the bulk of my confusion. I suppose some stories don’t provide, nor should they have provide, clear answers in their endings. However, I would have appreciated some sort of explanation regarding the meaning of the trenchcoat, which is central to this narrative. I suspect it may represent general suspicion/mistrust of others? This tracks for Romania at the time this novella takes place. It may also represent judgment; the story shines light on individual’s tendencies to be harsh critics of one another as a result of character, socioeconomic background…anything really. Judgment is one of the more unfortunate aspects of the human condition, but we’ve all been guilty of it at one point or another. Ioana’s line, “what about Lady Di and her grand airs? Come on, you couldn’t have missed how hard she was trying last night to seem relaxed and informal, poor thing. Playing at being just us folks, with her fancy clothes and furniture! Then she’s amazed when her guests never come back…” (213-214), coupled with the Kid’s, “…An arrogant, vain, stupid woman, that’s what I wanted to say, that’s what you seemed to be…then there was that legend, wasn’t there, when you ran away…” (223) are excellent examples of these harsh judgments and speculations directed at Dina, who I felt sympathy for by the end of the story. I don’t think Manea set out to write a tale in which readers are intended to like or connect with any particular character, but more so, to create an illustration of humans shackled down by their own mistrust and abhorrence of one another; the shortcomings of the human condition.
I think it’s interesting how Manea changes how he refers to certain characters, such as ‘the Kid’ who is, at times, called ‘the Guileless one’ or ‘the Learned One’, and so forth. However, I found the constant name changes hard to follow, and it actually took me a little while to figure out that the Kid is Felicia’s husband due to his frequently shifting names. Manea’s dialogue is enticing, accurately describing one person’s side of a mundane conversation (eg. “What would you like? Tina Turner, or Michael Jackson? You bet! Or maybe one of those little french girls who sing…” [205]), but it is also very hard to follow. Often, I found myself having to backtrack so as to identify who exactly is talking.
All in all, I feel pretty indifferent about this read. I could take it or leave it, but I am definitely looking forward to hearing Manea speak this coming Thursday. My question is, what do you think the trenchcoat represents?
“I would have appreciated some sort of explanation regarding the meaning of the trenchcoat.”
Indeed, but as I suggest in my lecture… I think the whole point here is that we are left unsure what (if anything) it may mean. And this in itself says something about life in Communist society, which is marked by doubt and distrust… as you go on to say!
“It may also represent judgment; the story shines light on individual’s tendencies to be harsh critics of one another as a result of character, socioeconomic background…anything really” I think this is a pretty good interpretation as to how the trenchcoat (which is at first glance trivial), operates as a catalyzing element of judgment, especially sowing mistrust and doubt.
I think you make interesting points in your post. I think that the trench coat represents that thing which is difficult to define, and it is the same feeling that is seen in the whole story. Everybody is reaching out for something that they are not sure about or that they cannot really even define, but that they know is missing from their lives in a way. The beginning of the story alludes to it when they say that it is too bad they do not get together anymore but are not sure exactly why.
Hi Neko! I really liked some of the points you made in your post, particularly about judgment being one of the worst parts of human nature yet something we have all taken part in whether we like it or not. I think this plays well into what you say about Manea not making characters for us to connect with, however, the characters do feel human and I did not particularly dislike any of them either. They just seemed like complex people with motivations and beliefs I could not fully understand.
I don’t know if the Trench coat has a definitive representation. I believe the importance of it lies in the fact that it remains anonymous. It almost represents the time period with the secretive conversations and discreet gatherings. Ultimately, it is a reflection of Communist Romania and the people who lived through that.