Billy's speech impediment is one of the recurring, but generally overloooked details of the book. Billy has trouble saying certain words from a young age, namely, words with an "s" on the end. For example, the word "penis," which he pronounces as "penith." Billy mentions the trouble he has in the beginning of the book, but does not continually talk about it. He even stars in a play, by Shakespeare, with no mention of a speech problem.
Billy first tells the reader of his trouble with words when he meets Miss Frost. He hardly mentions his trouble again until he has sex with Miss Frost. While she is trying to correct him on his pronunciation, their mutual love escalates to a sexual affair. "'I wouldn't change that penith for all the world, William,' Miss Frost said. 'I believe you should say that word any fucking way you want to.'" Billy seems to associate his younger years, including his speech impediment, with Miss frost, and his undying love for her.
The speech impediment symbolizes Billy's childlike vulnerability, something that he could only feel around Miss Frost. Because he was infatuated with her for years, he could not be near her, let alone have sex with her, without feeling vulnerable and exposed.
Monday, January 27, 2014
The Tempest
Richard cast Billy as Ariel in The Tempest when he was at Favorite River Academy. Billy, having grown up around playhouses and performances, originally enjoyed his role as Ariel in the iconic play. However, Kittredge was cast Ferdinand, the male lead, and Elaine, the female lead. Kittredge constantly tormented Billy and Elaine, giving them both nicknames based off their roles. Billy already felt insecure enough about himself, without needing Kittredge to augment the situation. At one point, Richard tells both Billy and Kittredge that Ariel's gender is mutable, and Billy should play the part accordingly. This causes Billy to reflect on himdelf, and his wish to be attractive to both men and women.
Billy was slightly hurt by Richard's proclamation over Ariel's gender, especially because it humiliated him in front of such an influential classmate. However, it helped the reader understand how Billy viewed himself. Billy, later in life, wanted to be androgynous. The reader was able to understand how Billy's opinion on having a mutable gender changed and evolved as he was able to accept and appreciate his sexuality.
Billy was slightly hurt by Richard's proclamation over Ariel's gender, especially because it humiliated him in front of such an influential classmate. However, it helped the reader understand how Billy viewed himself. Billy, later in life, wanted to be androgynous. The reader was able to understand how Billy's opinion on having a mutable gender changed and evolved as he was able to accept and appreciate his sexuality.
Society and Sexuality Studies
Society in the 2010's is much more understanding and accepting than the society that Billy lived in. Today, people are not afraid to hold gay pride rallies, and homosexuals are not ostracized by the rest of society. It is becoming cool to have a GBF(gay best friend), and most people expect gay men to be flamboyant, brunch-loving shopaholics. These stereotypes beg the question: Is society just creating another box for gay men?
Many people have difficulties opening their minds up to things that they don't understand. Society as a whole, has trouble accepting that people are different. That is why, when most people came to terms with gay men and women, they tried to take them from one extreme, and move them to the other. Gay men went from hiding their sexuality, to being over-the-top, frou frou nightmares. obviously, not all gay men fit this stereotype, and it is unfair that society is continually taking their identities, and forming them to fit what "we" feel comfortable acknowledging and accepting.
A new, intriguing college major is emerging: Gender and Sexuality Studies. This is a major at many notable universities, namely New York University, St. Lawrence University, Northeastern University, Yale University, and many others. These students explore the way society pigeonholes certain groups, relating to sexual orientation and/or gender within a certain groups, and the programs encourage students to question gender roles and study the ways gender and sexual orientation affect peoples' everyday lives.
Billy' past stayed with him throughout the rest of his life. The problems he faced as the child of a single mother, his "wrong crushes," and his bisexuality all scarred him, and set him up for a dysfunctional future. All his life, Billy needed to feel safe, something he was deprived of for all his life. Safety is something most people take for granted, but Billy did not have the luxury of feeling safe in his own skin.
Many people have difficulties opening their minds up to things that they don't understand. Society as a whole, has trouble accepting that people are different. That is why, when most people came to terms with gay men and women, they tried to take them from one extreme, and move them to the other. Gay men went from hiding their sexuality, to being over-the-top, frou frou nightmares. obviously, not all gay men fit this stereotype, and it is unfair that society is continually taking their identities, and forming them to fit what "we" feel comfortable acknowledging and accepting.
A new, intriguing college major is emerging: Gender and Sexuality Studies. This is a major at many notable universities, namely New York University, St. Lawrence University, Northeastern University, Yale University, and many others. These students explore the way society pigeonholes certain groups, relating to sexual orientation and/or gender within a certain groups, and the programs encourage students to question gender roles and study the ways gender and sexual orientation affect peoples' everyday lives.
Billy' past stayed with him throughout the rest of his life. The problems he faced as the child of a single mother, his "wrong crushes," and his bisexuality all scarred him, and set him up for a dysfunctional future. All his life, Billy needed to feel safe, something he was deprived of for all his life. Safety is something most people take for granted, but Billy did not have the luxury of feeling safe in his own skin.
The Securities of the Insecure
When Billy is still in high school, trying to define himself, he finds security in his friend Elaine's bra. Elaine has deduced by this time in her friendship with Billy that he has tendencies that are unlike those of a straight man, and unlike those characteristics of the rest of the boys at the all-boys school Billy attends.
Billy had asked to have a bra of Elaine's one night. Elaine told him he could have all the bras he wanted.
The bra was Billy's security. He wore it at night, he liked the feeling of it, and in a sense, the bra was Billy's first step into defining himself in his own way. Other characters in the book each define themselves with something specific as well, all dealing with sexual matters, mostly, but I believe that John Irving did not intend the message of these security blankets to be solely about sexual preference. Irving was attempting to make a larger point about society today.
People are centered around morals, and about certain ways of doing things, and about wrongs, and about rights. Yet, behind the mask of these morals, every person has an object of security that usually is secretive, and something so personal about themselves that they are afraid of the reactions to such a thing by even their closest friends.
Billy eventually discarded the bra, once he became confident in who he was, and discovered himself. He became his own security, and was no longer insecure. Our society projects their morals, their beliefs, their freedoms, and their opinions as a mask. We are insecure in our beliefs as a society. We hold on so strongly to things of the past, and precedents in history as a security. Notice we have not yet let these examples of the past remain in the past.
Are the securities that society holds on to holding us back? Are historic standards and conformities still relevant in today's supposedly accepting and modern society? Are we stable as a society? Are we about to break?
Billy had asked to have a bra of Elaine's one night. Elaine told him he could have all the bras he wanted.
The bra was Billy's security. He wore it at night, he liked the feeling of it, and in a sense, the bra was Billy's first step into defining himself in his own way. Other characters in the book each define themselves with something specific as well, all dealing with sexual matters, mostly, but I believe that John Irving did not intend the message of these security blankets to be solely about sexual preference. Irving was attempting to make a larger point about society today.
People are centered around morals, and about certain ways of doing things, and about wrongs, and about rights. Yet, behind the mask of these morals, every person has an object of security that usually is secretive, and something so personal about themselves that they are afraid of the reactions to such a thing by even their closest friends.
Billy eventually discarded the bra, once he became confident in who he was, and discovered himself. He became his own security, and was no longer insecure. Our society projects their morals, their beliefs, their freedoms, and their opinions as a mask. We are insecure in our beliefs as a society. We hold on so strongly to things of the past, and precedents in history as a security. Notice we have not yet let these examples of the past remain in the past.
Are the securities that society holds on to holding us back? Are historic standards and conformities still relevant in today's supposedly accepting and modern society? Are we stable as a society? Are we about to break?
The Significance of the Soprano
"Because I needed to improve my German grammar and word order-not to mention my vocabulary-I instantly foresaw how Esmeralda and I could help each other. My accent was the only aspect of my German that was better than Esmeralda's."
Esmeralda was a "soprano-in-waiting," an understudy to the lead soprano at the Vienna State Opera. She only needed perfect her German accent, and she would be able to be a real opera singer. However, when Billy met her, she had not yet reached this ability. Esmeralda could speak German with impeccable grammar, while Billy could not speak with grammatical correctness, but had an excellent German accent.
Esmeralda's inability to speak perfect German without an American accent, and Billy's perfect accent and horrendous grammar, are symbolic of the ways the two helped each other. They both needed to meet the other, at that point in their lives. Esmeralda was Billy's first real girlfriend, with whom he had sexual relations. Billy, at this point in time, was also still hiding his bisexuality.
Esmeralda came to Billy at a point in time when he needed a woman. He needed her to prove to the rest of the restaurant staff that he was not gay, and that he was able to obtain a woman of her caliber. This shows the reader that, even after Billy has had a boyfriend, he is still unable to accept himdelf, and externalize his true identity.
Esmeralda was a "soprano-in-waiting," an understudy to the lead soprano at the Vienna State Opera. She only needed perfect her German accent, and she would be able to be a real opera singer. However, when Billy met her, she had not yet reached this ability. Esmeralda could speak German with impeccable grammar, while Billy could not speak with grammatical correctness, but had an excellent German accent.
Esmeralda's inability to speak perfect German without an American accent, and Billy's perfect accent and horrendous grammar, are symbolic of the ways the two helped each other. They both needed to meet the other, at that point in their lives. Esmeralda was Billy's first real girlfriend, with whom he had sexual relations. Billy, at this point in time, was also still hiding his bisexuality.
Esmeralda came to Billy at a point in time when he needed a woman. He needed her to prove to the rest of the restaurant staff that he was not gay, and that he was able to obtain a woman of her caliber. This shows the reader that, even after Billy has had a boyfriend, he is still unable to accept himdelf, and externalize his true identity.
Categories and Orientations
Since first attending high school, Billy tries to put himself in a category. He does not know if he is gay, if he is straight, if he is bi, if he loves Elaine, if he loves cross-dressing, if he loves someone else, and many other things. He is trying to define himself, like all teenagers generally do. He is trying to become his own person.
Once Billy figures himself out, he is caught amongst everyone he knows trying to define him. His family, friends, and even acquaintances put labels on Billy, and define him in ways only they know how.
This is not only a question of the homophobic. Even those who are gay and frequent they gay bars downtown, as Irving describes, cannot accept that Billy is not just gay. He likes men and women, and this is something that no one at the time would accept. Even transgenders, hermaphrodites, and transsexuals that Billy enters relationships with will not accept that Billy does not categorize himself. His lovers become paranoid that he is romantically involved with friends or with other people, simply because they cannot grasp the concept of liking someone not for their gender, but for their person.
The AIDS epidemic that ran rampant in the United States throughout the 1980s put Billy in another category, and allowed others to once again find a clear path to define the love lives of others. Billy is constantly asked if he has contracted HIV or AIDS, and Billy's straight friends are in fear of him, afraid that they would contract the disease.
The last line of the book goes as follows: "'My dear boy, please don't put a label on me--don't make me a category before you get to know me!' Miss Frost had said to me; I've never forgotten it. Is it any wonder that this was what I said to young Kittredge, the cocksure son of my old nemesis and forbidden love?"
Are categories and labels the only way the human mind can process things? Or are we as a society not broadening our minds to different possibilities? Is it possible that this categorization of people by other people is the number one cause of illness/death/suicide in the world?
What Really is Love?
Elaine is Billy's best friend. They have been friends since the start of high school, and have remained close friends for their entire lives. Throughout high school, Billy and Elaine used each other's company to hide their true selves from the general public by acting as though they were dating, and in a romantic relationship.
As they continued through life, Billy and Elaine lived together multiple times, shared every experience, and learned what love and life was about together. Billy is bisexual, Elaine is straight, and they almost have a romance of their own through their close friendship. Occasionally, Billy and Elaine have casual sexual encounters. They sleep in the same bed, visit the same families on holidays, and things of that nature. In essence, their relationship becomes one of a married couple in an open relationship, since both Billy and Elaine are not exclusively in relationships with each other.
This makes me question what love really is. Can two people live together and coexist peacefully and lovingly for more than sixty years? How is this not true love? The romance of Billy and Elaine is the only stable thing that has existed throughout each of their lives. They depend on each other, and function exactly how a married couple does. They think of each other constantly, and speak constantly.
I firmly believe the sole reason Elaine and Billy have not been married is because they each reject monogamy as a standard. They refuse to stay with one person for any long period of time, whether exclusively or not.
Irving's point in writing Elaine and Billy's relationship in this way makes me question if the standard of love prevalent in today's society is indeed true, and whether or not true love in any form exists for any two people. How is love the determining factor in so many people's lives today, and how does love shape our society?
As they continued through life, Billy and Elaine lived together multiple times, shared every experience, and learned what love and life was about together. Billy is bisexual, Elaine is straight, and they almost have a romance of their own through their close friendship. Occasionally, Billy and Elaine have casual sexual encounters. They sleep in the same bed, visit the same families on holidays, and things of that nature. In essence, their relationship becomes one of a married couple in an open relationship, since both Billy and Elaine are not exclusively in relationships with each other.
This makes me question what love really is. Can two people live together and coexist peacefully and lovingly for more than sixty years? How is this not true love? The romance of Billy and Elaine is the only stable thing that has existed throughout each of their lives. They depend on each other, and function exactly how a married couple does. They think of each other constantly, and speak constantly.
I firmly believe the sole reason Elaine and Billy have not been married is because they each reject monogamy as a standard. They refuse to stay with one person for any long period of time, whether exclusively or not.
Irving's point in writing Elaine and Billy's relationship in this way makes me question if the standard of love prevalent in today's society is indeed true, and whether or not true love in any form exists for any two people. How is love the determining factor in so many people's lives today, and how does love shape our society?
A bit of background on Billy
Before first chapter of In One Person even begins, the reader sees a quote from Richard II, by William Shakespeare, "Thus I play in one person many people, and none contend." This quote encapsulates the early years of Billy's life. Billy is constantly torn between his feelings and what he feels is socially right.
As an "almost-a-bastard child," Billy spent even the early years of his life feeling like he was a social outcast. Neither he, nor his mother, know the whereabouts of his father. In the fifties, when society was so focused on having the perfect family, being a single mother was a stigma unlike any other. Billy grew up surrounded by his extended family: his eccentric grandfather, extremely proper grandmother and aunt, and his alcoholic uncle. Even by today's standards, this is not the ideal situation for a young, confused child to be brought up in.
Billy learns morph his personality from a very young age, in order to fit whatever situation may arise. The only constant in Billy's life is his grandfather, who not only takes care of him, but also his mother. When Richard Abbott enters the picture as Billy's stepfather, he changes everything. Billy feels comfortable enough to tell Richard about his "crushes on the wrong people," referring to his childlike crush on Richard, as well as his love for the town librarian, Miss Frost. However, Billy pretends that these crushes are on girls his own age, and not on adults who have prominent roles in his life. Richard offers Billy important advice, "You cannot will yourself to have , or not to have, a crush on someone." Although this advice certainly make Billy feel better, it does not prepare him for the world of hurt which comes from having a crush on the wrong person. At Favorite River Academy, Billy develops another crush: Jacques Kitteredge, the captain of the wrestling team and star of the school play. Unfortunately, Billy shares the crush with his best friend, Elaine, from whom Billy hides this secret.
The social norms of this time period restrict Billy from truly being himself. He does not feel as though he can fully open up to anyone. He can never tell the full truth, and feels the need to lie, even when he is not being judged. Being a bicurious adolescent was a burden that haunted Billy throughout of his early years. Billy lived in constant fear, as most homosexuals of the time did. His creative development was severely stunted, because he had to continually has to censor himself and his thoughts.
As an "almost-a-bastard child," Billy spent even the early years of his life feeling like he was a social outcast. Neither he, nor his mother, know the whereabouts of his father. In the fifties, when society was so focused on having the perfect family, being a single mother was a stigma unlike any other. Billy grew up surrounded by his extended family: his eccentric grandfather, extremely proper grandmother and aunt, and his alcoholic uncle. Even by today's standards, this is not the ideal situation for a young, confused child to be brought up in.
Billy learns morph his personality from a very young age, in order to fit whatever situation may arise. The only constant in Billy's life is his grandfather, who not only takes care of him, but also his mother. When Richard Abbott enters the picture as Billy's stepfather, he changes everything. Billy feels comfortable enough to tell Richard about his "crushes on the wrong people," referring to his childlike crush on Richard, as well as his love for the town librarian, Miss Frost. However, Billy pretends that these crushes are on girls his own age, and not on adults who have prominent roles in his life. Richard offers Billy important advice, "You cannot will yourself to have , or not to have, a crush on someone." Although this advice certainly make Billy feel better, it does not prepare him for the world of hurt which comes from having a crush on the wrong person. At Favorite River Academy, Billy develops another crush: Jacques Kitteredge, the captain of the wrestling team and star of the school play. Unfortunately, Billy shares the crush with his best friend, Elaine, from whom Billy hides this secret.
The social norms of this time period restrict Billy from truly being himself. He does not feel as though he can fully open up to anyone. He can never tell the full truth, and feels the need to lie, even when he is not being judged. Being a bicurious adolescent was a burden that haunted Billy throughout of his early years. Billy lived in constant fear, as most homosexuals of the time did. His creative development was severely stunted, because he had to continually has to censor himself and his thoughts.
To What Lengths Should We Go to Protect Children?
"'...he'd stopped talking to both the boys and the girls in his class. So I seduced him-- it's not as if I had lots of other options,' Mrs. Kittredge told Elaine. 'The poor boy-- he had to gain a little confidence somewhere!'
'I guess he gained quite a lot of confidence,' Elaine ventured to say to Kittredge's mom, who'd simply shrugged.
Mrs. Kittredge had an insouciant shrug, one can only wonder if he was born with it, or if--after her husband had left her for a younger but indisputably less attractive woman-- she'd developed an instinctive indifference to any kind of rejection.
Mrs. Kittredge matter-of-factly told Elaine that she'd slept with her son 'as much as he'd wanted to,' but only until Kittredge demonstrated a lack of fervor or a wandering sexual attention span".
This is not the only example of protection shown in this novel. Kittredge's sexual confidence gain parallels an experience Billy, the main character has. The local librarian and a close friend of Billy's was Billy's first love at thirteen. When Billy revisits the library at age 18, the librarian proceeds to seduce him multiple times, in order to help him gain sexual confidence.
Parents today certainly baby their children. Bullying protection programs are running rampant throughout the country, many parents agree with a controlling and directed parenting style, and overall parents attempt to form and mold their children the way that they want them.
Does this work in modern society? Should we allow our children to proceed with minimal direction and only guidance from parental figures, or should we attempt to put them in their place and show them what is right and what is wrong?
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
The destruction of "morally wrong"
Experiencing such a powerful novel for the first time, I was shocked at the descriptions Irving provided of the sexual adventures of the main character, Billy. These descriptions were in detail and usually incorporated an aspect of something "morally wrong". Irving described these sexual encounters as though they were part of anyone's normal day, and did not project them as something one would be surprised about.
As I progressed through the book and moved past my surprise, I began to feel as though these descriptions of how a bisexual man would feel and perform his daily life were necessary to see the larger message of the novel: No one person is acceptable in every way. Journeying through the sexual adventures of Billy may have made me uncomfortable, but as I continued to read through them, I could see past their surface descriptions. Doing something "unacceptable" is not always wrong for everyone. Usually something unacceptable to one person is beneficial to another.
I feel as though this is an important part of life as well. If everyone lived their lives trapped inside acceptance, the human race would never accomplish anything. It is not about risk taking, but is about thinking outside of the biggest box one could imagine, and broadening one's options until they become limitless.
Do you agree/disagree? How would anyone feel if social norms and morals were completely destroyed? Would perception be the same? Would judgement be the same? Is this what the society of our country and other countries moving towards?
As I progressed through the book and moved past my surprise, I began to feel as though these descriptions of how a bisexual man would feel and perform his daily life were necessary to see the larger message of the novel: No one person is acceptable in every way. Journeying through the sexual adventures of Billy may have made me uncomfortable, but as I continued to read through them, I could see past their surface descriptions. Doing something "unacceptable" is not always wrong for everyone. Usually something unacceptable to one person is beneficial to another.
I feel as though this is an important part of life as well. If everyone lived their lives trapped inside acceptance, the human race would never accomplish anything. It is not about risk taking, but is about thinking outside of the biggest box one could imagine, and broadening one's options until they become limitless.
Do you agree/disagree? How would anyone feel if social norms and morals were completely destroyed? Would perception be the same? Would judgement be the same? Is this what the society of our country and other countries moving towards?
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