" He did not try to be quiet. He entered the house boldly and mounted the stairs; she heard him at once. “Who is it?” she said. But there was no alarm in her tone. He didn't answer. He mounted the stairs and entered the room. She was still dressed, turning, watching the door as he entered. But she did not speak to him. She just watched him as he went to the table and blew out the lamp, thinking, ‘Now she’ll run.’ And so he sprang forward, toward the door to intercept her. But she did not flee. He found her in the dark exactly where the light had lost her, in the same attitude. He began to tear at her clothes. He was talking to her, in a tense, hard, low voice: “I’ll show you! I’ll show the bitch!” She did not resist at all. "
For starters, I have zeal for Miss Burden and her general nonchalance attitude. The understanding that she can tolerate Joe, it could be what he needs after much rejection from his past. If she has a perspective, it's not from her point of view, but mainly from the other person. I glorify her independence, endurance of strength, and fortitude; in all honesty, I want that for myself. It's also ironic that her name is Burden even though she's no where near one. Overall, she's becoming one of my favorites already.
I think she knew if she did not react to joe and let him do as he pleased it would help vent out his frustrations. So by letting him do this I think she was actually helping him.
ReplyDeleteAh, I can see how that works
DeleteShe's not being openly kind like his foster mother or disgusted like the prostitutes he "punked" or beat. She's silent and emotionless seeming.
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DeleteYeah, when i read about her character she almost seems lifeless, like she has no say in how her life will go. Maybe since since Joe is the only person she can relate to, she sacrifices her dignity and doesn't go against Joe so that he wont leave her.
DeleteI agree with your view on Mrs. Burden. Her independence and place, especially in the African American community, is remarkable. I never really understood her love affair with Christmas. Maryan said that it was a way for him to vent, but I think there is something else...
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I feel like there is something more to their relationship that is playing a role on their charter. Even though she is independent, i feel like she is alone and so is Joe and that what brought them together. The need to feel like someones is there for you.
DeleteI really like how you were able to add in the passage to help support your statement. I'm also on your side that Miss Burden is such a strong character. I was very surprised at Miss. Burden's reaction toward Joe just taking her by force. I don't know if i would call it force because she wasn't resisting. What do you guys think? Either way i really admire her character being so independent and looking out for other people. She takes time helping others and still manages to deal with Joe in such a peaceful way. Could there be a reason why Miss. Burden doesn't retaliate against Joe? Could she be doing this to help Joe or to help herself?
ReplyDeleteHaha, I just got the Burden irony, thanks. Her situation reminds me of Hightower's situation. She's an outsider in her town but she's allowed to live in it. But I really like her silent but obvious power she has over Christmas, that he himself is frustrated over it and acts like a child (instead of being abusive). It's great.
ReplyDeleteThe Burden Irony is so clever! I never thought of it!
DeleteI was wondering about their "love" scene... "...He began to tear at her clothes. He was talking to her, in a tense, hard, low voice: “I’ll show you! I’ll show the bitch!” She did not resist at all. " When I read that it sounded like rape. Just because she didn't resist it doesn't mean she gave consent.
ReplyDeleteThat is true, her last name is Burden, but she clearly isn't one at all because she has pretty much helped out Joe Christmas in his struggles of fitting in somewhere and being accepted. I see her as a good character that wants nothing but the best for Joe. You make a good point.
ReplyDeleteI disagree, I think she was a burden. Hence why her name is 'burden''. He doesn't like how she's independent & more masculine than feminine she is. It's bothersome for him. She also made him pray, even though Christmas isn't religious.
DeleteI like how Christmas dislikes how Miss Burden is so independent. She is masculine and independent, but at the same time she is feminine and nurturing. This combination seems to threaten Christmas which may be why he reacts the way he does- with violence.
ReplyDeleteI never would have noticed the irony of her name until you pointed it out. Maybe Faulkner chose the name because although she was not a burden to others she became one to Christmas when she began to be no use to him as he put it.
ReplyDeleteI find myself strongly doubting that Miz Burden's motivations are as admirable as they seem at a glance. Though I have no reason to believe that she's anywhere near as damaged as Christmas, this is a novel about the way our upbringing forces us to be. It's about cycles and circumstances; Lena didn't have many other options after she made the mistake (if you can call it that) of falling in love, Hightower was doomed by his zeal, Christmas was infected by a masculine disease in his upbringing, McEachern almost certainly caught the same disease.
ReplyDeleteThere is a coldness to Miz Burden that suggests an inner pain- and it does beg the question; where did she get her taste for forceful, impersonal, violent sex? I doubt that her name is ironic- she's a widow with an estate and a lot of responsibilities. I suspect that burdens are all she knows.
I have to agree with Gilhooly, i don't think Faulkner intended for her name to be ironic.
ReplyDeleteLike Zion, when i first read the passage i assumed that he was raping her because she didn't give him consent. Then as i kept reading i noticed that it was something that Burden seemed okay way and maybe even advocated. She planned a lot of their nights together. I am not to sure that Miss Burden was with Christmas to help him, or to help herself. Also near the end of chapter 12, Joe discovers that the gun had two bullets in it, meaning that Burden intended to kill Joe and then herself. What does that say about her character?
I don't agree with your thoughts about ms.Burden since I feel that she does have many. I believe that one of them is that she feels like she has to have a life with Joe when she think she's pregnant. She presents herself as this independent person but she quickly needs him when this occurs.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree. I believe that she is a burden to Joe. Yes, she helped him but as the story progresses I feel like she becomes more of a burden to him. Their "relationship" doesn't seem so real to me.
ReplyDeleteYea, I agree that Ms. Burden is indeed a strong and independent character yet also with a touch of femininity. Joe isn't accustomed to this sort of behavior and would act, of course, violently. However, Ms. Burden would let him do his thing by force and she still manages to cook for him and do her job. But I think Ms. Burden is carrying the pain in silent until she finally breaks and tries to kill him and herself. She thinks that she can't help him and they would be better off dead. It saddens me that she is going through so much pain for Joe until she had enough.
ReplyDeleteI understand how she could be very idependent but after I fully ready the chapter I realive that Ms.Burden has internal struggles of her own. She has lived alone all her life as a virgin. Joe comes and she suddenly wants to a family, force him to go to college, and make him pray. She might be scared that Joe might leave her; she is possesive over Joe
ReplyDeleteI think Ms. Burden a great model of a strong, independent woman.... on the outside. But on the inside she was broken. She used Christmas to fill that emptiness in her life. When she said she wanted a child, I believe part of the reason why she wanted a child was to keep filling that emptiness.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand Ms. Burden's and Joe's relationship. I feel like they are both together because they need each other for the pleasure. They both seem to have lonely lives and they give each other company that no one else gives them.
ReplyDelete