Elroy Berdahl is the author, and Jesus.
When a writer says that such things as “words can’t express” or “language is inadequate” or “words were insufficient” (p. 51), it can only mean one of two things. He’s lying, or he doesn’t understand the nature of language and thought. In this case, “narrator” Tim makes the case for the inadequacy of language, but the author clearly disagrees. I can see that from his treatment of Elroy on page 49. Elroy, though not a talker, is nonetheless a master of language – his bedroom was “cluttered with books and newspapers”; he “kills” the narrator at Scrabble (a vocabulary game) while “barely concentrating”; and most centrally, “he had a way of compressing large thoughts into small, cryptic packets of language.” (pp. 49-50) That’s key, it seems to me. His ability to express “large thought” concisely, even cryptically, demonstrated the author’s trust in language and its capacity. The word “cryptic” is important. It means “coded” – that is difficult to understand, perhaps even requiring a key (certainly some effort). But the idea of encryption is that the “code” can be understood completely, that meaning is fully revealed for the talented decrypter. Thus, Elroy is put into the position of novelist, conveying large thoughts in this somewhat cryptic novel. Elroy is author. And in this chapter, he is the novelist fully in control of the narrator Tim, manipulating him by way of discussion, silence and action. He brings Tim obviously and forcefully to the most important crisis thus far in his life, forcing him to decide finally to jump and swim to Canada, or to go to war. He creates the circumstances that force the choice to be made.
Some of the language and imagery surrounding Elroy and his manipulation of Tim have echoes of Christ. Elroy is a fisherman, who takes Tim to the Canadian shore while ostensibly fishing. He views his activity with Tim as a kind of fishing too. When Tim doesn’t leap for Canada, Elroy comments “Ain’t biting” -- not about the fish, but Tim. Elroy is the fisher of souls – Christ here. It’s important to see this in order to understand what seems to be a random reference to Christ earlier, as Elroy sees an owl and comments as follows:
One evening, just at sunset, he pointed up at an owl circling over the violet-lighted forest to the west.
“Hey, O”Brien,” he said. “There’s Jesus.”
The man was sharp—he didn’t miss much. Those razor eyes. (p. 50)
I don’t think it’s random. It serves to introduce the Elroy/Christ association that becomes clear as he and Tim approach Canada in the fishing boat. IT’s also important in that it gives an additional gloss to the idea of his “cryptic” stories – Christ’s parables told “large thoughts into small cryptic packets of language” as well – perhaps they’re the pre-eminent example of this for English readers.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
I would also agree with you that Elroy is put into the book as if he was "Jesus" to Tim. I got that expression from the book because Elroy came into the book when the author needed him the most. Elroy came when Tim has to make a life-or-death decision. Lucky enough, Elroy understands Tim and as said in the book, he doesn't even ask Tim why he was there after he's been there for a number of days already. Elroy has the perfect reaction and supports Tim in all decisions he make.
I don't think that it is easy to find a person who would totally understand you in the toughest times, and when Tim really need the support and strength to make a big decision, Elroy was there to help him go through it. He was infact Jesus, that saved Tim from his own life.
Elroy can be related to Christ in many ways as he was truly the savior of Tim O'Brien in the novel. Elroy seems to know all about Tim and his decisions without much guidance. "words were insufficient" (pg 51) tells us that the relationship between Elroy and Tim did not include a lot of dialogue however Elroy somehow knew exactly what Tim needed to help him make his decision. Elroy can be seen as Christ in this novel because he knows exactly what Tim needs and helps Tim through a very difficult time in his life.
I also agree that Tim O’Brien, the author, associates Elroy with Jesus. I don’t really believe Elroy himself is Jesus, I just believe there is an association between them. This stemming also from all the points Dr. Adams mentioned in his post. (he helps Tim in a time of need, provides guidance, he is represented as being very wise…etc.) However, is Elroy Jesus? I really do not think so. I will look at the quotation, “Hey, O”Brien,” he said. “There’s Jesus.” The man was sharp—he didn’t miss much. Those razor eyes.” (p. 50). The author O’Brien obviously uses this to introduce the association of Elroy and Jesus, as Dr. Adams said in his post. In a more analytical sense, the quotation could have two meanings. One that Jesus is all around use, and is always there watching over use. Or the meaning I prefer, and that is that Jesus, in this quotation, does not refer to the man Jesus but rather is being used as an adjective to describe a guardian, savior or protector (basically describing someone who shares some similar traits to Jesus). The owl described in the quotation, therefore is Jesus of the forest or protector of the forest. Similarly, I would say Elroy is Jesus to O’Brien, or the guardian of O’Brien. He does not provide any direct advice to O’Brien, but sets up the scenario for O’Brien (the fishing right near the Canadian shore), to make his own decision. Therefore, showing he watched over O’Brien like guardian and helps him in his time of need.
The next point I want to look at is, is Elroy the author? I don’t know if I fully understand what Dr. Adams meant by this and so if I miss interpreted it, this next part might be completely irrelevant. Nonetheless, I do believe Elroy is represented as being more intelligent than the narrator but I still don’t believe him the author. If this was the case that would mean Tim O’Brien, the author, is representing some of himself through Elroy. Sure, Elroy directs the circumstances which occur in this chapter and he forces O’Brien, the character, into making the decision to leave to Vietnam. But, Elroy is still a tool of Tim O’Brien the author and nothing more. Elroy is a fictional character, which Tim O’Brien the author merely uses to develop the plot of the chapter. And if Elroy is based off of Tim O’Brien, the author, then Tim surely thinks highly of himself. He would then be associating himself with Jesus and describing himself as being highly intelligent. (Although, I wouldn’t put it past O’Brien to do something like that).
However, if Jesus is being used as an adjective (as I described above), to describe Elroy as being like a guardian or somewhat Jesus-like, I might have less trouble calling Elroy the author. Still, the idea sounds really out there to me and I really hope Tim O’Brien the author is not trying to say he is Jesus-like. (this is almost as bad as the disturbing comparison between his daughter and Linda)
Tim O'Brien says that Elroy “...had a way of compressing large thoughts into small, cryptic packets of language.” (pp. 49-50) As Dr. Adams mentioned, "The word “cryptic” is important. It means “coded” – that is difficult to understand, perhaps even requiring a key (certainly some effort). But the idea of encryption is that the “code” can be understood completely, that meaning is fully revealed for the talented decrypter". If Tim O'Brien truly meant for "The Things They Carried" to be encrypted, wouldn't that mean that it should be understood completely? The problem is, no one understands this book completely; there have been several discussions and debates on what Tim O'Brien is really talking about. The funny thing is, even Tim O'Brien doesn't know what he means! In his interview, he doesn't even know the difference between truth or lies; when asked "is it true?", O'Brien simply answer with "I don't know." He cannot guarantee the authenticity of his book which is odd. If he is the author or the creator of “The Things They Carried”, why can't he distinguish between truth or lies? This, in fact, can be quite disturbing; the author cannot distinguish between truth or lies which leads me to think that in reality, he can’t distinguish between reality and fantasy. If he can’t even “decode” or “decrypt” his own “cryptic packets of language”, then essentially, none of us can.
I would not necessarily say that Elroy is “manipulating Tim” to silence and action. However, Elroy does create unanticipated circumstances that drive Tim to choose an important decision. Elroy is a guide to help Tim in his journey and volition but it is up to Tim who makes the final choice.
Elroy does symbolize a Christ-like figure but he is not necessarily Jesus. He has “those razor eyes” (p.50) of Jesus that represent keenness and wisdom but he does not save Tim from his physical or mental anguish like Jesus from the Bible. Tim’s reference of Elroy as a fisherman and even quoting “there’s Jesus” explicitly states that Tim wanted to show Elroy as a Christ-figure. However, the vagueness of Elroy’s language cannot be resolved. Elroy has so much potential and acumen in himself that he cannot decrypt his “cryptic packets of language” (p.49-50) to make it comprehensible for Tim. Elroy knows something much greater than Tim but Tim does not possess enough knowledge to understand Elroy. To tell you the truth, I am not even sure if Tim will ever crack Elroy’s ambiguity in the future.
By using “cryptic” stories, Elroy symbolizes the truth that Tim cannot express to the readers. Elroy is the key that all the readers have been seeking. Elroy has insight to Tim’s feelings by using his perspicuity and maintaining his empathetic relationship with Tim. Elroy represents the “truth” that the book fails to show and with the help of Elroy, Tim could finally reveal the “real truth” of his story to the readers. In my opinion, Tim as the author symbolizes the readers who cannot distinguish the stories as “reality” or “fantasy”. Therefore, we must interpret Elroy, the only one who can enlighten us about the truth.
Post a Comment