Throughout the last few chapters we are given a look back into the life of Joe Christmas. All of his faults, his flaws, and his shortcomings in his former life are explored. It can be argued, while not justified, that many of Joe Christmas' terrible circumstances and life decisions have stemmed from his treatment pertaining to him being biracial by others, as well as himself. Joe Christmas is forced to wander "like a phantom", from both racial districts with no place to belong to. I can relate this to my own life since I am biracial, although the repercussions don't go to such an extent. I have been labeled an "uncle tom" by my African American family, and "one of the good ones" by my Caucasian family. It's laughable to think that ostricism still exists for those who are mixed race, but it does on a certain level. Because of my experience, I can relate closely with Joe Christmas, minus the racism and hate for women, and I can imagine the loneliness he felt growing up. He is traumatized to such a point, that he is unable to react correctly to acceptance when it finally presents itself. In my opinion, the only way for him to find true peace is through isolation, because the time period he lives in does not allow for him to be welcomed by both races.
-Michael Ollis
The isolation that Christmas needs is mentioned in chapter 14.he has been lonely for a while after the death of ms.burden. Have time for himself helps him to look over his life. His character has been depressed and traumatized for 30years and now he is free.
ReplyDeleteIt's is explain through out the novel and chapter 14 that he only feels peace with nature when he is alone. He however is traumatized to the point where he can't accept himself which I begin to understand while the novel goes on. He's been through so much yet he still "tries" like he did with Ms. Burden.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. It isn't that easy to deal with such things. But I believe that Joe at least tries like Guadalupe said. But such treatment has come at a consequence and because of what he went through he acts the way he does.
ReplyDeleteI think even with isolation he still is not at peace because he is constantly thinking he isnt worth anything. For him to truly feel at peace he has to accept himself just the way he is, even with his so called flaws.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. I think that as humans we must learn to accept ourselves, both our flaws and our strengths before we can feel a sense of belonging. If your heart isn't at peace with an idea, you're never going to completely believe it. So if Christmas doesn't accept himself, he won't believe that others can/will.
DeleteI agree with you guys, i too believe it can be very difficult to move on from past experiences but it's for the best to at least try and move on. In Joe Christmas's case, I believe he is trying to make a peace with himself but all the torture he received growing up has shaped him into the person he is. Maybe it's the struggle to find out who he truly is and not what others want him to be. It could be argued that isolation can either give him a reflection of his life to finally help him move on or it could just harm him as much to re-encounter past memories that torment him the most. I guess we will have to find out what path he takes later on in the book.
ReplyDeleteI really like your ideas Michael. I too agree that Joe Christmas has to spend some time alone from everyone and everything to reach some type of reflection or acceptance in his life. However, I think it may prove to be very difficult for Joe to move on so quickly because he can't escape his hardships in the past no matter what. I also like your comparison of Joe being a lonely phantom.
ReplyDeleteI agree when people spend time alone away from it all they get to know themselves they get to know how they truly think and feel without being affected by the thoughts of others I think it will be a good idea for Christmas to step away from it all and find himself.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with you Alex, I think Christmas needs to be alone. He needs time to accept himself.
DeleteWhat if in his time alone, he discovers qualities that he might hated about himself? How can this do him good?
DeleteI enjoyed how you incorporated your own personal experience. Although, i don't know if nature will help Joe Christmas at all. Even when he's in nature, he doesn't feel completely at peace. In the current chapter, he is not comfortable with losing track of time, an essential idea in society. I think that he has to face himself and accept himself completely before he can expect others to accept him.
ReplyDeleteI think its interesting that you say that he needs to be alone to be at peace and that is somewhere he can belong. Its a good point that if he can't belong within people, he can belong in nature.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your experience with us. I really like how you made a life connection with yourself and Joe. It goes to show how the hostility of racism has not left at all.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI completely agree with you. I thank you for making the connection between Joe and yourself, it truly shows that people have their differences in races.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gisselle, it's really nice to know that someone we know is going through some of the struggles that Christmas went through. It help show that even after many year, racism has not managed to die out but strengthen.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Joe being isolated to have time to think will not be a positive thing because he will think about his past experience and turn violent towards others. In order for Joe to be in 'peace', he has to come into terms of his past and accept it. Also, thank you Michael for opening up and making connections between yourself and Christmas. It comes to show that in today's society, we are still judge of our ethnicity.
ReplyDeleteI love how you described him as a phantom. It's like he is seen but not really noticed. I never really thought of it that way.
ReplyDeleteI like how you made a connection between your experiences and those of Joe Christmas.Also I totally agree with you about how Joe's life is extremely affected by the treatment of other due to him being biracial.
ReplyDeleteI believe that isolation for Joe is only a temporary solution because he can't be alone in nature forever, right? What is going to happen when he comes back into society?
ReplyDeleteMany people find themselves not by joining a relationship nor joining groups but when they are isolated and alone and able to make decisions on their own which indeed would help Christmas
ReplyDelete