Styles of Criticism Considering Alternative Viewpoints
The Boat
Write your own definition of the following.
Practical/New Criticism.
Feminist Reading.
Marxist Reading.
Modern reading.
Postmodern reading.
Reading the following statements about stories from The Boat. For each
1. Identify what type of reading it is.
2. Explain whether you agree or not with the interpretation.
“…. Crucially Claudia is left outside, while Ron, the man of action confronts his destiny. Consider the description ‘Claudia clings to me. Her body is warmer than normal’ She is the weak, needy female who desperately tries to hold onto her man/boy, who only hesitates to consider her body, not her role in his life. Unsurprisingly, we see Ron met at the front door by Damita (obviously answering the door is too complex for men) the femme fatale, whose ‘hips bump’ as she exposes her ‘bare stomach’ in an obvious male fantasy of seduction.”
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“… as difficult as the relationship seems to be, we need to consider whether his father has ever had a chance. He is forced to confront the horrors of war as a young boy while his superiors lived a comfortable life in Saigon, what did they care that they were creating a generation that were to be scarred by the reality of war? Forced to flee his homeland, we assume he holds menial jobs as his dexterity at washing up suggests. A failed marriage, another consequence of his brutal war experience, leads to poverty. Is it any wonder that the only character he can empathise with is the homeless man who murmurs ‘Welcome to America’ This is the gritty reality, despite all the apparent glitz.”
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“… he uses, and overuses the image of glass. When Sarah is at the airport, she notices a young man ‘watching her through the glass’ This suggestion of a barrier, while at the same time exposing the complete Sarah, is picked up with the description of Sarah, who ‘pressed her face against the glass’ She seems to be safe, yet she, and the baggage she brings with her, is fully exposed. Her lack of growth is suggested in the closing image, a man, this time Mahmoud, calling her from his bed as Sarah ‘pushed herself against the glass’ Clearly, Sarah hasn’t grown at all.
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…. Olivia calls him ‘a dirty old man’ and should we care what happens to him? He’s an avante garde artist who has fooled the public enough to make a comfortable living. Has he learnt his lessons or is he looking for a new distraction now that Olivia has died? Is the delusion continuing or is Olivia calling him to his death. Le lets us please ourselves.’
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… we are frustrated by Quyen’s inability to play the mother’s role. Truang is clearly in need of affection that is provided in the comfort and songs of Mai. Although they are searching for a better life by boarding the boat, we are quite sceptical of the possible outcome. Quyen, and the reader are able to realise that for hope to exist, Mai must become his mother.
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