Violence
Last time in class we talked about whether or not it was funny when that one family all died because the one son drank the poisonous NesQuik. That seen was pretty ridiculous and grim to say the least, but it really made me realize how disturbing some of the violence in this book has become. I read that section and did not find it funny at all. Maybe if it had been an isolated story I read in a tabloid or an urban legend, maybe then I would have enjoyed it. But at this point in the book it just really makes me question why DFW is putting the readers in a position to be completely disgusted.
There have been many accounts of violent or graphically distubring events taking place. There is of course people shooting up on Drano and dying. There are certain suicidal fathers who nuke their own heads in microwaves leaving "delicious" aromas. There's the NesQuik incident, spikes driven through people's eyes, forks stabbed into people, etc. Now we can add to that list of disturbingly violent images a drunk being shot in the head and being forced by friends to walk off the wound, and a compulsive animal killer. Maybe these graphic events were funny the first time (I did enjoy the tale about the construction worker being hit by the bricks, although he didn't die, and the story was clearly fabricated). But I can't see what purpose DFW is trying to accomplish by bombarding his readers with these ridiculously graphic images. Does DFW perceive reality to be so graphically violent? Does he believe society is heading towards a point that demands a certain level of graphic violence in order to be entertained? Is it all supposed to be a joke? I certainly don't find his 'joke' very funny. I can only imagine the violence's comedic appeal by thinking of it in comparison to a Three Stooges-esque slapstick comedy. Except give Larry, Moe, and Curly all chainsaws and tasers, and coat every surface with rusty spikes. Is it still funny when they all tumble down a set of stairs in those conditions? Now give them 30 clumsy ways to explore their new chainsaw filled, spike laden environment. Still funny then? The constant flow of graphic violence is just sickening.
There have been many accounts of violent or graphically distubring events taking place. There is of course people shooting up on Drano and dying. There are certain suicidal fathers who nuke their own heads in microwaves leaving "delicious" aromas. There's the NesQuik incident, spikes driven through people's eyes, forks stabbed into people, etc. Now we can add to that list of disturbingly violent images a drunk being shot in the head and being forced by friends to walk off the wound, and a compulsive animal killer. Maybe these graphic events were funny the first time (I did enjoy the tale about the construction worker being hit by the bricks, although he didn't die, and the story was clearly fabricated). But I can't see what purpose DFW is trying to accomplish by bombarding his readers with these ridiculously graphic images. Does DFW perceive reality to be so graphically violent? Does he believe society is heading towards a point that demands a certain level of graphic violence in order to be entertained? Is it all supposed to be a joke? I certainly don't find his 'joke' very funny. I can only imagine the violence's comedic appeal by thinking of it in comparison to a Three Stooges-esque slapstick comedy. Except give Larry, Moe, and Curly all chainsaws and tasers, and coat every surface with rusty spikes. Is it still funny when they all tumble down a set of stairs in those conditions? Now give them 30 clumsy ways to explore their new chainsaw filled, spike laden environment. Still funny then? The constant flow of graphic violence is just sickening.
posted by tanzmanl at 9:59 PM
2 Comments:
I think you're overestimating how much of the book is supposed to be funny. I think that a lot of the more horrific violence at this point is supposed ot be just that-- horrific.
Well, I kind of disagree with Alexander here. I think a lot of the book (a very good chunk at least), is supposed to be funny, but just as much will be disgusting or horrific. I'm also struggling to figure out the reason he's including all this horror and violence in the novel.
One idea I had is that this book is a catharsis. When you read it, you see the horrors and evils that can stem from the human psyche and society. When you finish the book, it acts as a release of all the evil energy thats built up inside of you. The ridiculous actions taken by the characters, the horrible things they do to one another, are all there for a reason. The way DFW writes, theres nothing he would throw in for fun. Everything in the book is there for a reason.
I don't think its going to get any less confusing as we get to the end. I think in fact, it may get more confusing, but thats the joy of reading this book. You have to figure everything out on your own and thats why its so hard to read and even harder to understand (if at all).
-Phil
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