Naming

Throughout the novel thus far, there seems to be a strong emphasis on the importance of names, and how significantly they relate to identity. We touched on this in class today, and I really wanted to say more on the topic. 

In the aftermath of 9/11, many lives were lost, and the nation as a whole felt as if part of their identity was stolen from them. The twin towers being such a symbol for the wealth, strength and power of the United States helped to define what this great country has become. In the wake of their collapse, many Americans were wondering how the nation would continue with such a significant loss to their national identity. 

This novel focuses on the response to the questions - How to go on? Who are we? Have we lost our identity? 

Through the emphasis on names in the novel, Delillo illustrates how important names are to an identity, and how when we lose those names, we lose a part of our identity. 

He starts with explaining how the Alzheimer's patients in Lianne’s class are slowly losing their sense of identity. She tells them to sign everything they write with their first name and first letter or their last name, “as if they were characters in European novels. They were characters and authors both, able to tell what they wished, cradle the rest in silence” (30). Also, it’s hard enough remembering someone’s first name, let alone their last name - especially when you have a disease that deteriorates your memory. The names of the patients themselves tells something about each one - Carmen G. would embellish her pieces with phrases in Spanish, unsurprising, since Carmen is a Spanish name, etc. 

The significance of names is also illustrated in Keith’s poker friends. Delillo describes them as, “three of the cardplayers were called by last name only, Dockery, Rumsey, Hovanis, and two by first name, Demetrius and Keith. Terry Cheng was Terry Cheng” (149). The significance of a character like Rumsey only wanting to be called by his last name, alludes to the fact that he is a shy character, with a mysterious quality about him. Therefore, his first name being a mystery is logical. A forceful, opinionated character like Terry Cheng wanting to always be called by his full name shows his identity and personality before one even gets the chance to know him. 

‘The Siblings’ names are worth mentioning, because in the neglect to name them properly, they are left without identification. Other characters in the novel who have names, also have a personality described to the reader, whereas these nameless 9well, mostly nameless) characters have no identity or personality as far as we can see. 

In the aftermath of 9/11, the people with names are those with identities; it is how we are able to find the lost and see who is left in the wake of this disaster. In Delillo’s novel, the characters of any significance are those he names for us, and gives an identity to. 

9/11

This article shocked me in a number of ways. The first thing that shocked me was the fact that it took six years for a memorial proposal to be submitted, and then another three years for it to actually be approved. The fact that there were 26 people involved in the terrorist attacks who had some involvement with the town, and it took almost a decade for any sort of memorial to be instated, was in my opinion, a little ridiculous. Memorials, like the article mentioned, are a place which “provide(s) a healing force” (Loh 1).  Having this memorial instated earlier would have helped further with the healing process, and could have provided a talking point for members of the community to remember the good times with their lost friends, and to never forget the tragedy that took their lives. Often, burying death and trying to ignore it will only have it’s repercussions. 

I was also shocked to hear of one man’s demand that the words “Murdered by Muslim extremists” be on the memorial of his son who was killed in the attacks. I am curious as to how that issue was resolved as the article never tells us the outcome. Did this man get his wish? I doubt it. Is he so wrong in the phrase he wanted on the memorial? Obviously, using the word ‘murdered’ instantly will raise tensions in the town, as their are surely at least a few Muslim families in the area of Kent. However, was his son actually ‘murdered by Muslim extremists’? Can we call this attack a murder? I am puzzled (for some reason) as to the answer to this question. 

I also wanted to call attention to what one Muslim, Ibrima Jobe said about there being many Muslims in the two towers at the time of the attack. The terrorists responsible for this attack were indeed Muslims, but it is not fair to project their misdeeds on an entire population of people. The religious hate crimes on Muslims in the aftermath of 9/11 sky-rocketed, yet I can’t even recall that ever being an issue the papers reported on. 

Were Americans so damaged after this event that we felt the need to strike out and harm innocent people - and basically get away with it? Where are their memorials, who speaks out for them?

1 Dead in Attic

The two columns closely related in my opinion are ‘The First Time Back’ (9/7/05), and ‘Tears Fears and a New Year’ (1/1/06).

In ‘The First Time Back’, Rose describes the scene that first meets his eyes upon entering the city for the first time since the hurricane. He goes back to his home and finds that it is still standing, along with most of his neighborhood, and all his old favorite haunts. He describes Uptown as the city’s ray of hope, despite the lack of trees and the local Circle K being looted. He confesses to being one among those looters after he stole a bottle of mouthwash from the Winn-Dixie and was apprehended by narcotics officers from Rusk County, Texas. “I told them I thought it was okay to take what we need... I told him I will come back to this Winn-Dixie one day and pay for this bottle, and I will. I swear it” (11). He then goes on to tell of a dead guy on the front porch of a house, and how that is now such a common sight that ‘everyone has a dead guy story’. At the end of the column he confesses that he hasn’t been down to the water yet to see the true devastation that awaits him there, but he knows that there is somewhere to start with the re-building - right at home. 

In ‘Tears Fears and a New Year’, Rose is writing from four months after the hurricane. The devastation and urgency of the situation is finally starting to sink in, especially with the Christmas season and new year festivities that would usually be taking place. He starts by looking back on the year and asking the question, “how did we get here?” (134). He then talks about ‘crying jags’ and his own personal melt down in Winn-Dixie when he tries to pay for the mouthwash he looted all those months ago. He tries to explain to the cashier that he doesn’t want to take the mouthwash home, he just needs to pay for what he has already taken, but cannot get the words out without blubbering. 

This is where the connection between the two stories is made. It is interesting how in the first story, he takes the mouthwash (seemingly) without a second thought, knowing that he will, at some point, come back to the very same Winn-Dixie to pay for his stolen item. However, when the story is re-visited months later, he now seems to be showing great remorse (one could maybe argue an unnecessary amount) for his small crime. The cashier is sympathetic to his distress, calling him ‘baby’ and telling him that everything is OK. The strange thing in this scene is how truly un-glued he appears, in front of a bunch of strangers, no less. He could’ve just played it off easily to make it no big deal (it wasn’t, really), but instead becomes very dramatic about it. 

Perhaps I am being insensitive; I mean, the guy has been through an awful lot in such a short span of time - they all have. But I can’t understand his unrestrained emotion over a bottle of mouthwash. I was wondering if you guys had any thoughts as to why this little scene played out the way it did, or if you even noticed it’s strangeness at all. 

Welcome

Hi, I'm Kerrie, I'm a senior majoring in English Literature and minoring in Film Studies, however, I spent last year studying in Santa Cruz, California so I feel like a newbie all over again.

I'm looking forward to taking a contemporary class - it seems all I do is read old literature! The book club idea seems fun, and given that our next class is being held at the Dairy Bar, it looks like we're off to a great semester!