a c0nFuSed OLd mAn

Waiting for the Barbarians is told in the first-person narrative. Its content is in chronological order. It reveals almost all of the narrator's thoughts. How much simpler can it get?

A lot.

The story is told by an old man who doesn't know what he's looking for. Repeatedly in the story the old man searches for physical objects and well as ideas that may bring him a sense of clarity and purpose. But they almost always seem to elude him. Or rather he doesn't understand what little he finds. The old man is too confused about his own sense of purpose to comprehend himself.

He lives on the frontier of an Empire he doesn't believe in. He "protects" the Empire from barbarians he doesn't even find barbaric. Talk about mixed messages.

He finds great pleasure in unearthing artifacts from the past. The barbarian ruins near the town fascinate him. So much so that he even pays money out of his own pocket to those who will search the site for him. The 256 pieces of wood he finds make no sense to him. The number is "perfect," as both a square and a very common multiple. It seems so perfect, like the Empire, but he can't make out the meaning of it. His fascination of the past is apparent, but why is he fascinated so?

Another example of his purposelessness is when he goes hunting early one morning. The old man feels alive again with "all the strength and swiftness of [his] manhood." (38) He encounters a ram during his hunting trip, but pauses before he shoots it. He doesn't understand why his pulse doesn't quicken and why the hunt is "robbed of its savour." Before he knows it the ram has run off and he is left "trudg[ing] on purposelessly for an hour before [he] turn[s] back" home. (39)

But the number one example of his confusion is the semi-blind native girl he keeps in his room. In an ritualistic fashion, he rubs her with oil each night as he massages her. They sometimes talk, but usually he is lost in his own mind, enraptured in an almost stupor-like state. Although the thought sometimes comes to mind, he never "enters her." What does he do this nightly routine for? He doesn't understand why at all, and my bet is she understands even less. And then why does he go on a quest to return her?

This man has no idea what he's looking for, much less what he wants. He speaks of his enjoyment of the quiet aspects of life, his hobbies and recreations. But then he goes searching for trouble when the Empire enters the town. By broaching the subject of barbarians with the new lieutenant and truly answering what he believes the barbarians want, the old man goes searching for trouble. He searches for trouble by fostering his relationship with the native girl. And walks right into trouble when goes into the barbarian land.

What a crazy, confused old man. But I guess that makes the story.

(509)

Hegel's African vs. Darwin's Homo Sapien

The African Character:
Hegel

-it is hard to judge the Africans because in reference to "white" ideals they are totally different

-must lay aside all reverence and morality, in a sense all human feeling, to comprehend the African

RELIGION:
-requires the conception of a "Higher Power," which makes man feeler humbler and weaker
-Hegel argues that blacks, in their "magic and sorcery," attempt to control Nature and disregard the notion of a Higher Power

IMMORALITY:
-Negroes act in contempt of humanity
-"Tyranny is not regarded as wrong" and "cannibalism is quite customary and proper"

SLAVERY:
-Hegel says slavery with Europeans or Americans is not nearly as bad as life in Africa
-men are a Thing...parents sell children...children sell parents...whoever has the first opportunity
-polygamy is common among negroes, leading to no family unit (and any remaining family is sold into slavery)

POLITICAL CONSTITUTION:
-there exist no universal "spiritual laws" (guiding morals)
-Hegel says a despotic ruler must lead since it is the only way to control a rampid "sensuous barbarism"
-Roles in negro government:
KING- leads with despotic power
CHIEFTAINS- counsel that guides King. King must gain the chieftains respect and consent
EXECUTIONER- kills whomever the King wishes, until the Negroes depose the King and have him executed

DISPOSITION:
-Hegel says Negro easily go into frenzied states
- "Destruction is the consequence of their excitement"
-after the King's death riots and mass groups of Negroes ritualistically kill each other, "authorities hurry to proclaim a new governor, simply to put a stop to the massacre."
- they have no regard for human life


In conclusion Hegel says the only link between Europeans and Africans is slavery, since all other aspects of "humanity" are lost on the Negroes. He states the slavery benefits the savages because it humanizes them. Hegel offers the idea to leave Africa and never return again. He says that historically and developmentally the area is insignificant and useless.


On the Races of Man
Darwin

-says that there exist two different anthropological standpoints, all human races are one species (monogenist) or human races are different species (polygenist)
-Darwin explores the vagueness of the term "species" and how it couldn't be differentiable since there was not just a single interpretation of the word.
-says that bodies and minds of certain races are different, but have remarkably similar "little traits of character"

SIMILARITY EXISTS:
-men of all races, tastes, dispositions, and habits share certain aspects
-all have ways of painting, tattooing, piercing, or decorating themselves
-all have a common set of inarticulate sounds and accompanying facial movements to express certain emotions
-strikingly dissimilar to monkeys who have very different sounds and expressions compared to another species of monkey
-human races all over the world independently bury their dead. perhaps shows a common thought process of symbolic thinking?

DIFFERENCES:
-differences in skin color and odor exist, but are due to acquired traits from geographic separation
-the common ancestor changed a little in each geographic region, but only on some minor levels including body stature and certain traits that proved more successful in their environments


Language plays an important role. The universal ability to use language is a key that shows the connection of species since it would not have emerged, or evolved, on multiple occasions.

jstor article: "A Rhetoric for Benjy"

Benjy’s section of the novel is different. It is not only different from the rest of the novel but also different from anything else I have ever read. What makes the section so intriguing and thought-provoking is Benjy’s cognitive handicap. His descriptions and observations are presented in a manner that requires deep thought for true comprehension. His limited grammar and vocabulary, along with his inability to grasp cause-and-effect relationships, make the reader have to figure out what is happening. Benjy gives the basic details and framework, while the reader must figure out the context and situation. The narration requires an involved reading process.

In his essay “A Rhetoric for Benjy,” L. Moffitt Cecil looks at Faulkner’s writing process for Benjy’s narration. Cecil explains how writing in the first person narrative is difficult for any author, but writing in the first person for a character like Benjy would be a formidable task. By comparing it to Mark Twain’s job of speaking through Huck Finn, Cecil shows how writing for a mute idiot would be immensely more difficult. Huck is intelligent, trustful, [and] charmingly loquacious.” On the other hand, Benjy’s scattered thoughts and dumbness—inability to speak—severly limit what Faulkner can do with Benjy’s language, but not Benjy’s section. The fact that Faulkner overcomes the obstacles created by having Benjy as a narrator while still creating and developing a plot is impressive.

Language poses a problem for Faulkner in producing Benjy’s section. Beyond Benjy’s limited vocabulary, his sentence structure is restricted. Cecil explores the different sentence structures that Faulkner “allows” Benjy to use. Many sentences are restricted to solely the noun-verb-modifier format. This and other language barriers pose a problem in giving the reader necessary information. To overcome this obstacle, Faulkner often employs Benjy’s remarkable observational skills. Even though he usually does not comprehend their meanings, Benjy is able to reliably relay quotations to the reader. The lack of punctuation around these quotes serves as a reminder of Benjy’s handicap. Cecil also points out that reader is constantly aware of Benjy’s handicap throughout the section, not just because of quotes. Due to blatant grammatical errors and general confusion, Faulkner ensures that the reader is always in Benjy’s mind. Faulkner’s extraordinary use of Benjy as a narrator draws the reader’s attention due to the necessary involvedness for comprehension.

Benjy’s innocence about cause-and-effect relationships even creates many comical moments throughout the section. For instance when Benjy burns his hand it “keeps going towards [his] mouth,” almost as if it had a mind of its own. My personal favorite part of the section occurs when Benjy is drunk. His mental handicap combines with his intoxication to produce some truly hilarious explanations. In the barn he attempts to support himself on a box when all of the sudden the box “jumped away and hit [him] in the face.” The reader understands that Benjy misplaced his hand and fell onto the box, but Benjy’s explanation is quite amusing.

Faulkner took on a mighty challenge by using Benjy as a narrator. And he succeeded. Benjy’s unique narration is what makes the section so special.

Washed by the Blood of the Lamb

Rev. Shegog's sermon is vital to the last part of the novel. The stark difference between his small, meek appearance and his thunderous, oratorical genius are quite obvious. But it is the message of his sermon that intrigues me.

Faulkner focuses a significant part of the smallest fourth "chapter" on Shegog's sermon regarding the Blood of the Lamb. "Ricklickshun" of the Blood of the Lamb is to remember Jesus's sacrifice on the cross. In old times lambs were often sacraficed to God, but for the sins of all humanity a man was sacrificed. Jesus's sacrifice for all mankind is "de Blood of de Lamb" that Shegog refers to.

By recalling the blood spilt by Jesus, (or "de Lamb") Sehgog says that one is able to repent their sins and start anew.

Life and death. The cyclical process of human nature. Those that are down will eventually turn up again. All three realte to when Jesus rose from the dead. These are the themes of Shegog's sermon.

And also those of the Compson family.

Immediately after Shegog's sermon Faulkner describes Benjy (the fourth section always calls him Ben, but I like Benjy). Benjy is sitting upright and rapt in attention after Shegog's oration. I believe Faulkner draws this focus on Benjy to show the parallels between the sermon and the Compson family.

The Compson family sacrificed Caddy. She was the innocent one. All depended on her, but she eventually cracked and "died." Her promiscuity along with her exile from the family represent the sacrificial "death" that Caddy gave to the family. The rebirth of Caddy, not in a literal sense, is when Quentin runs away. It is the turning point, the end of the downfall for the Compson family.

Shegog's sermon was hard but fun to read because of its rhetoric, language, and spelling. But why would Faulkner put such emphasis on it? What, if not representing the Compson family, could the sermon be about?