You ever get that feeling that something just isn't right and then WHAM! soon after you are slamming on your breaks because someone blew a stop sign? Well, after reading your blogs and NOT seeing anything written on Jarhead yet, I have this feeling that everyone is going to come into class knowing lines from the film very well but not the book. There's this feeling in the pit of my stomach that when I ask you on the quiz who the main character of the book is, you are going to say Jake Gyllenhal.
If that's the case, you are going to be missing a lot. The book is a tough, brutal and somewhat tender look at being in the Marines and it is certainly important to read.
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I've noticed that my posts have been getting longer and longer, so I will keep this one short. I just read read the first half of the book today and these are (some) questions that I am thinking about:
1)why did Swofford join the Marines? He seemed to hate it as soon as he signed up. Or does he?
2)What is Swofford's relationship with his Dad? He seems to not get along with him although the father seems to care for him (is it because they are both alike)?
3)The relationship between sex and death is throughout the book. Why are these two connected so intimately?
4)Why is there a need to degrade women so much? Is this just "boys will be boys" macho stuff or is there a deep rooted hatred of the female body?
5) If there is no such thing as a war film that promotes peace, what is this book promote?
6)Why does Swofford want to drink away from other marines?
7)What are Swofford's thoughts about why he is fighting this war?
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Okay, all, these are just a few thoughts. I hope you start asking your own. I want to hear what you have to say in class and I am looking forward to an interesting and though-provoking discussion.
Take care!
1 comment:
If I were not reading the book (I am, though; rest easy), I would rather fail a quiz than watch anything with Jake Gyllenhaal.
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