Joe Christmas is described as a violent, dangerous, and obscured man in the novel. In Chapter 7 we were introduced to a young Joe Christmas who had to endure the consequences of being a biracial child and adopted into an abusive home. I found it very interesting that McEachern would beat Christmas, pray for absolution, and harm him again. It's become some sort of ritual or routine for Christmas. There's no wonder that Christmas can't escape his haunting past. He was constantly surrounded by abuse, humility, and shame. How can someone, especially a child, be expected to move on, recover, and abide to the world around him when all he's ever known was hate? I believe that he is unable to fully embrace his identity because of this and until he can face his younger self, he will never be able to move on.
I see where you are coming from Joe Christmas was described as these things but what if he hadn't been treated like he was as a child? Would he have been the same as he is now or become a much more open person like Byron? I've noticed that many say that Christmas may never move on but what if he does throughout the story? Because when we where first in his perspective for the first time he didn't seem so cold, since he did have a relationship with Ms. Burden. So there still may be that possibility that Christmas did not kill her like Brown claims. So he may still have a chance to change in the story.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with your statement. I think that Joe's past is the factor that is holding him back from living a life that he has always wanted. Also, I too don't know how Christmas is supposed to move on though since he pretty much grew up in an environment full of hate and sorrow. Like today, many children who are raised in a non-caring or hateful environment sort of grow up to model the way their childhood was and apply it to their daily lives. It's sad how Christmas had to go through so much pain which caused him to grow up an abusive and unstable man.
ReplyDeleteI see Christmas as a broken man. All of his experiences in his childhood has led him to be the man he is today. Possibly the only way he feels he can cope with his broken spirit is through becoming "violent and dangerous." I do agree that he does need to face his struggles that he experienced as a child in order to move on in life and not be stuck in the past.
ReplyDeleteYou know, this post made me think: At what point did Joe lose his innocence in the sense that he started hating the world. I think that from an early age he never really belonged anywhere, he didn't belong at the orphanage, and he surely didn't belong at the McEachern household. And now, he doesn't belong in his community. I think that because of the fact that he has never felt a true sense of belonging, he has never been able to feel a true sense of identity. Also, does Joe Christmas wear a hat like the one in the picture?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if Christmas wears a hat or not lol, but I agree that he never really belonged in anywhere at all.
ReplyDeleteThe hat is pretty snazzy
DeleteThe men at the bar Joe and McEachern attended tilt their hats. He must of gotten it off from them.
Deletei especially agree with the irony of McEacherns way to teach Joe about religion. I find their relationship very interesting, they both seem to understand each other and see violence as inevitable... This is projected in Joe's adulthood through his own violent acts.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree what you have to say. That hew never really had a place to belong. He grew up being hurt and a broken child and now that he is older he is still that same. The same broken man who has not found a place. He can not escape his past but only come to peace with it, it will always be there.
ReplyDeleteNot to be a Debby downer but I feel like Joe Christmas wI'll never truly belong. He may have endured his bitter childhood, but the memories will always be repressed in his thoughts; control his everyday actions. Also he is living in the 1930s which is full of racism and constant stigmatization. Peace for him does not seem tangible at this moment in the book.
ReplyDeleteI didn't see it that way... It's sad to see that Christmas future may not end up as great as we hope but I truly wish he could be the character to find the way out of this life that is torturig him.
DeleteAlthough I want a happy ending for the book, I wouldn't mind the book ending as a "debby downer".
DeleteI agree with how Joe growing up in a abusive childhood made him the way he is now as an adult. He learned at such a young age about violence and he carried on his thought that fighting through his way would solve problems. He would express his emotion through violence. I think Joe does not belong to any community, "black" or "white" for he will be judged in both sides. Joe only finds serene in nature where he could be himself and not be looked upon by society.
ReplyDeleteMaybe if Christmas lived in the present he could've recovered and may be a different man...
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, he very well could have been raised with the same toxic idea of masculinity, one centered around violence, strength, control, stoicism, etc.
DeleteJoe Christmas has a terrible childhood filled with violence and hate but to bring an out side source Dave Pelzer, author of his autobiographies: A Child Called "It", The Lost Boy, and A Man Named Dave. Dave was a victim of parent abuses but at the end he is able to change and forgive his mother. Relating the two, I believe as the story progress Joe can change his future and identity.
ReplyDeleteI believe that our past does define us, but to a certain extent. You can not use someone's past to justify their actions. A person can take what they lived in their past and try build from it and choose to be different to live a happier life.
ReplyDeleteBut doesn't this make you question whether or not we have the power to change ourselves? If we are brought up in a household that is filled with hate, couldn't we still learn to love? If we are brought up in a household full of love, couldn't we still learn to hate? If we are born in a household filled with unsuccessful people, does that mean we have to be unsuccessful? I think it's all a matter of motivation, both intrinsic and extrinsic. One must want to bring about change and Joe just accepts his reality. He never tries to change it or even question it.
ReplyDeleteI think we all do have the power to change. Just because we have had a bad past does not mean we have to be bad later in our life. I think you are right, it does not seem like he has even tried to change.
DeleteChristmas is someone with a broken past but that does not mean he will have a broken future. He has the capability to make himself into whatever kind of person he wants, and maybe in the future he will be able to forgive and forget.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you I feel like unless to try and change yourself for the better you have to confront whatever is haunting you from your past and accept it if you don't you will never be able to move forward and have the life you want for yourself
ReplyDelete-Alexandra perez
I agree with you but how can a person move on when their whole life has been filled of hatred memories?
DeleteI really like how you described that Christmas cant move on because of how badly he was treated. I agree with you, it can be very difficult to move on from your past
ReplyDeleteLiving in a home of violence. Joe has seen the way of equality. His view about his mother is that she is trying to weaken him. Joe from the view of his father thinks that women are below him and men above any one. Poor child he has not felt love I don't even think he has ever felt love.
ReplyDelete