In reading The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald, The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner and the short stories by Ernest Hemingway we were able to come up with the main themes that were seen throughout each of these. They were all related and connected in many ways. These stories are supposed to tell us, and all those who read them, what the American lifestyle is all about. However, do these books really tell what people should know? Is it realistic? These are the questions we need to ask ourselves. Are these the ideas that we want everyone to see as what the American lifestyle is all about? Why have these books been chose as the key books that everyone should read, and as the ones that represent American characteristics?
Then, we move on and read non-canonical books. I was assigned to read Dorothy Parker. These short stories did have a few of the same themes as the books in the canon, however it differed a lot. I definitely would not put her stories into the canon, and I can see why they were not included. I felt as though all of her stories were about the same thing; meaningless marriages and relationships. There were no relationships that lasted throughout any of the stories, and nobody got married because they were in love; it was only for the reason that they were supposed to get married at that point in time.
When looking at the wiki pages for the other books, I noticed that some of them had the majority of the themes that we noticed in the books in the canon. So, why have they not been chosen? What gives a book that certain quality and difference to be added into the canon?
I totally agree with the things you said, especially with, what is so special about the canonical books we have read versus the noncanonical books we have read that actually puts them into the canon? unlike your book which you feel shouldnt be included into the canon, i feel as though there were other groups books that should have been put into the canon and arent. so it leaves me wondering with the same question you have, “what gives a book a certain quality and difference to be added into the canon?”
you have many good questions. Many questions that most people would not think of to ask or even bother to ask. I aggree with you that these books had a few of the themes but ventured out into their own a little.
You have many good points. I agree with you that the canonical texts share many themes with the non-canonical books. I beleive that they should add some of the non-canonical texts into the canon list.
I think that you posed some really good questions. The two that caught my attention were “Do these books really tell what people should know? Are they realistic?” I know this sounds stupid, but I never really thought about it. You’re totally right though in saying that these are the two of the most important questions to ask ourselves. I honestly think that this would be a heated debate if you brought it up in class. On one hand, you could argue yes, saying that life doen’t have happy endings, and that life isn’t a perfectly plotted story. On the other hand, the stories only represent the way white males see the world. You see very few people that are caught up in the past, and as for the qustion about whther this is what we want to portray, it seems as though the canon flaunts and exaggerates the bad, and conceals the good.
Good questions!!
I would have to agree with you in that the short stories did have a lot of messed up relationships. That seemed like a very previlent theme through out all the short stories. I mean even in the one about the old gentleman the daughters didn’t even seem to love their dad. so yea I can see the similar theme but I can also see why it isn’t included in the canon!