The Same River Twice: section three.

Is it just me or was this section boring?

I am easily bored with a story that does not progress. This section was easily the same as the last without the circus but add a lesbian couple. Chris in his former life is still not dating, he cannot keep a job, and he will not start writing. In his present life, he keeps resorting to nature with overly detailed descriptions of the woods.

In the first few pages, which is in the present, he starts speaking of humanity in comparison with animals. This is continued throughout the rest of the section. "As we lost our animal instincts, we replaced them with the veils of reason, love, superstition, and hope. No fox ever hoped for gender. Only humanity hopes, which makes us the most hopeless" (112). I like this quote. I think it refers to setting oneself up for disappoint when you have hopes. But, can animals hope? I don't think they have time for all that. They are more focused on self and how they will survive another day. But at the end of the passage, Offutt talks about dreams: "Trees dream about the death of an ax. The snowflake dreams of finding its twin" (114). I can't tell if this would be a counterargument to his first claim. I always thought hopes and dreams were paired together.

Shadrack is introduced in the past section that follows. I think he is a good friend for Offutt, and that he will ultimately get him on the right track with life. He calls them "inverted Siamese twins, connected at the intellect". That's quite clever, seeing as, Offutt "had quit painting to write, and he [Shadrack] was a poet who now painted" (115). I love their relationship described as the "knowing he either owed me money or would lend me some took the edge off hunger and despair.." (116). In fact, it reminds me of an old guy friend named Courtney. For some reason, everytime I needed money, he would spot me and vice versa. We never kept up with who owed whom what, but I knew that if I needed money for whatever reason, he would have my back. I don't speak to him anymore, have no clue what he is doing with his life, but I thoroughly enjoyed that...partnership? Shadrack also tried to hook Offutt up with the ladies. But to him and myself as well "the whole courtship dance seemed archaic, silly, and expensive" (117). After Shadrack took off with a woman for "Joseph's sake" which was quite hysterical, Offutt showed his alcholic side to the bartender. He order some drink that supposedly only the privileged drank. Knowing he was not of the elite, the next morning he woke up in a baseball field. Can someone say wild night? His younger, intellectual, professional brother decided to come pick him up for his wedding. They get in an argument "that lasted the next several years" (122). Isn't it crazy how when an argument starts that you never know how long you will stay upset? Or the next time you will speak to that person? I think it is one of the craziest things and that is when many people die, when an argument that was maybe petty had never been resolved. After the marriage of Dane to Ellen, Offutt states that "her family lost on all fronts" (126) which suggests how he truly feels about his family that they have nothing to bring to the table.

Jumping back to the present, Offutt is becoming increasingly selfish! He bluntly states at the bottom of page 129 when contemplating which is worse: losing his wife or raising a baby alone, "I want her alive to make life easier for me". This is furthered with him actually self-proclaiming his selfishness: "I become conscious of the self, which marks the fearing of death, our fatal flaw" (131).

Shadrack refuses to take him in and Offutt has to live in a rooming house. At this point, I stopped actively reading. But a few things still stood out enough for me to underline. He "exploits the oppressor" which I feel is a nice way of describing how hard it is to survive on one's own two feet. Not that I have had that experience, but I understand. Shadrack is such a good friend and wants to help Chris better in his hygiene as well as his work. He simply says " 'Now leave me alone...go write' " (145) and disappears. I love it.

In the last section of the day's reading, the only thing I underlined was "I have never owned a watch" (151). A simple sentence that says so much. If one is unable to keep track of time, he or she is bound to get lost within the calendar. What he thinks was yesterday might have been two weeks ago, and he continues to waste his life away. This reminds me of a quote that I live by: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail". I always need a plan. A daily one that breaks down the hours of the day. If I am not doing something productive, time is wasted. I think Offutt has proven that he is not unable to work hard, but he just refuses to. He quits when things get tough and that is not a good life to live.

Will post edited version of in-class poem later :)