I suspected that the conclusion of the
story of David would end in a bad way. I was especially left baffled
due to the fact that there was no foreshadowing of the sudden death
of Guillaume. I understand there were some love interests going on
between David, Guilliaume, Giovanni and Jacques. I assumed Jacques
was jealous of secret encounters between David and Giovanni. However,
the chapter five revealed that Guilliaume had something going on and
eventually been holding grudge on Giovanni for Guilliaume couldnt
earn the love of Giovanni like David did. Out of rage and being
betrayed by David, Giovanni unleashed his anger at Guilliaume. I
think in this sense, Guilliaume is an unfortunate victim.
In chapter four, I found some series
of evidences that argues Giovanni honestly loved David. Like in
p.144, David explains,
“Then something opened in my brain,
a secret, noiseless door swung open, frightening me: it had not
occurred to me until that instant that, in fleeing from his body, I
confirmed and perpetuated his body's power
over me”.
This powerful force which even David
can't resist was constantly emanating from Giovanni, who couldnt
stand against how Hella was taking David back. It even made David's
head turning and making, “salt in my(David's) mouth.” (p 148) I
know for sure that when Hella left David for Spain, David felt no
remorse toward how he had treated Hella, who genuinely loved David as
much as Giovanni did. Therefore, I know David was just playing nice
to Hella out of sympathy. But it is pretty evident that David wasn't
feeling for her. As soon as David succumbs to his true emotions about
men, he disguises and resort to 'double' relationship with Hella and
Giovanni. I believe this two relationships served David with both
emotional attachment and sexual feelings. In short, David, who had
gone some troubled years previously, wanted a steady partner whether
a man and woman, and neither Hella nor Giovanni could provide.
sorry for grammar mistake in the title.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I thought I wasn't going to like Hella at all. She seemed like she had absolutely no idea what was going on. However, once she figured out the situation, I instantly liked her. She definitely wanted to provide for and loved David like you said, and this was her downfall. Maybe she thought everything was alright and tried to just make it seem like nothing was wrong. However, as time went on, we can tell her and David's relationship grew farther and farther apart, and she couldn't have that man she so desperately wanted in her life. Hella and Giovanni both wanted David for different reasons, but I still don't know what David wanted at all, which really frustrates me. It was definitely a very interesting end to the book in my view.
So agree with you there, Jenkins. It's like David was just stringing everybody along. David most definitely seemed to blur the line distinguishing confusion and denial towards the end of the book. I just wasn't sure if he was hurting Hella and Giovanni consciously or not. And although I felt sympathy for the guy, he really started to dig himself a rather deep grave as the story progressed. By the end of the book, I really just wanted to punch David in the face.
DeleteI really don't know what Baldwin was trying to say with this book, and we still haven't arrived with an answer to this question. How much of what he wrote was for sake of irony? Or did he believe that this really was a romantic tragedy? When reading the book, I saw David's actions as a kind of commentary on the kind of lifestyle gay men lived in Paris. Now I'm questioning whether if that was actually Baldwin's intent. I'd be a bit disappointed to find out if this were the case.
DeleteHella is a strong, independent woman who doesn't need a man to complete her! I mean, I know she says otherwise, but her actions are far more progressive than her words.
DeleteDaniel, I like your point about the ending of the book. I honestly don't know how to feel about it. I liked that Hella took charge of her life, but the fact that Giovanni lost it and committed murder disturbs me. Similarly, David's carousing in the bars is pretty distasteful. All the men seem to have a fall from grace in this book, without any redeeming qualities, or justifications for their choices. It makes the ending of the book feel morose and unfinished. However, it does seem to fit well with the rest of the book, so I can't very well dislike since I loved the book. I just hated the characters.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Olivia. Hella is indeed a strong independent woman but her presence and her language states otherwise. I don't know what it is about women in this time period or really in any time period to be honest, to feel as though they need a man to complete them. Although she was writing David while she was in Spain, she seemed perfectly content. It was just to fact of "knowing" she didn't have someone that truly bothered her. To agree with Daniel, the only thing that really and truly bothered me about this book was the fact that throughout the whole book, we still don't know what it is that David really wanted. I want to say that I FEEL like he wanted Giovanni but a few of his actions would state otherwise...
ReplyDelete