This is my friend Eva's father, Josef, who worked in a farming cooperative in Slovakia during the communist years. Before, his family had owned land that they had farmed. Now he is retired, and spends much of his time working in the "garden" -- a farm really, in its own right -- stretching down the hill behind the house Eva and Graham are very slowly building. Josef makes wine and spirits, and at this party he went around and filled everyone's glass, over and over. We don't share much language, but if he is fallen, then I am fallen further.
This is what I want to write about. And this is how I want to write. Look for me at Cowbird.
Danny: Danny never really conforms to any political affiliation for which I would say is expressing some form of personal autonomy. However, Danny does indeed benefit from playing along with the totalitarian regime halfheartedly. With the example of the scrap metal collection, Danny still attempted to “obey” the rules but circumvented the requirements and from that he got ahead in the communist party. There is also the illicit relationship with Vixi, although there isn’t anything of substance in that relationship yet, that doesn’t stop him from having “sinful” thoughts about Vixi. Personally I find Danny to be somewhat spineless. He uses the system to achieve his own means and yet does not wholly stand by it.
ReplyDeleteAnna makes a very good point. Danny is somewhat spineless. But is that necessary for the economy he is living in? Is it his cover up? Or, is he just using the system to achieve his means for the good of his well-being?
DeleteCan anyone think of "green grocers" who are present in our society today? What Ideology are they following? or are they living in a lie or truth?
ReplyDeleteI would like to write about how the green grocer is similar to things we see everyday in society. How there are many people (Green Grocers) who live within a lie for many reasons such as safety, health, staying out of trouble etc.
ReplyDeleteI would like to write letters to my parents about how I am doing in school, social life, and how football is going since I play football for the college. I do not talk a lot to my parents about school, and writing them letters, will let them see what's going on in my life at school, and how I am handling situations that arise in my life.
DeleteI think writing letters to your parents is great but I'd like to see you write about what you're doing or thinking about in this course.
DeleteThere's real promise in this, but make sure you dig deep into what Havel is saying so that your commentary about current life gets beyond what we normally think about. Do we live in a post-totalitarian society, or do some people live in such a world?
DeleteDanny
ReplyDelete1.Forges numbers about scrap metal collection which leads to him being promoted within the Party.
2. Watches what he says around others until he knows where they stand on political issues. Does this to not create problems with others.
3. As a form of resistance he attends underground literary groups
4. Questions the authenticity of "the miracle"
5. Very opportunistic, also seems like he has a lot of dumb luck.
Vixi
1.Seems like the most "real" character
2. Believes in "the miracle".....Does this make her a descender?
3. Becomes a catholic
4. Very shy, except when around Danny. She confesses to him that she doesn't like the communist party.
5. Has a sense of honesty about her though she acts in dishonest ways.
Bukavec
1. Conformer, is surviving through his marriage to a Soviet
2. Another Dr. Gellen?
Ivana
1. She tries to level the playing field for all her students no matter what their political beliefs
2. Stands up for Vixi during the chess match
3. She should embody the communist ideals but she doesn't.
Ivana:
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I think that in a way the hero of this story up to this point is Ivana. The reason being that even though she is aware that by contradicting the government or trying to protect her students she can get in trouble with the “Party” or “Government” she still goes out of her way to protect her students. To me a hero is someone who goes out of their way to try to fight and protect others well being. An example where we can see Ivana’s heroism is when Milada tells her and Danny that Bozena should not be allowed to take her exam, Ivana keeps trying to persuade her to allow Bozena to take the exam and tells Milada that she can even convince Milada to say that “she renounces and condemns her father…”. Just by saying this to a member of the Party District Committee, she is running the risk of being accused of a traitor or a rebel.
Danny:
ReplyDelete*Tends to not share his actual political views or ideas
*Depending on who he is talking with he will either agree with there views or just not say anything at all
*When Vixi tries to seduce him he makes her believe that he can’t do anything with her because he doesn’t want to get in trouble with “God”; when in reality he isn’t even religious
*Another example is when Danny is asked to provide accountability for the metal collected by the girls he makes up numbers instead of providing the actual amount collected. Due to this action carried on by Danny, the school gets a better reputation and was even awarded.
*Makes his encounters with Vixi secretive.
With these examples we can see that Danny is a good example of the “green Grocer” idea, because just like the green grocer he is basically going with what the system is expecting. He isn’t doing anything that would get him in trouble with the government. Just like the green grocer, Danny is obedient and therefore has the right to be left in peace, unless he is caught doing otherwise.
Danny to me, serves solely as a vehicle for the reader to view the events of the world. I kind of compare Danny to Forest Gump because he witnesses, and in some cases influences, some of the defining events of the latter half of the book such as the miracle. He seems to be hiding his true opinions in every setting from his views on politics to his sexual encounters.
ReplyDelete