Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Ana de Oliveira
Class: Mr. Salsich - English 102

Adaptation:
Just like a Chameleon


Chameleons are adaptable creatures or at least we think of them as adaptable, but not all chameleons have the ability to change their colors and blend into to the landscape which brings us to the following three short stories on adaptation and assimilation. The first short story is titled “Soldier’s Home” by Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), “Battle Royal” a short story published in 1947 written by Ralph Ellison (1914-1994) and lastly “A White Heron” written by Sarah Orne Jewett (1849-1909). All three short stories enlighten the reader on the main characters personal struggles in adapting to their community, their identity and environment.

Ernest Hemingway’s story titled “Soldier’s Home” begins by telling us about Krebs the protagonist, who after college in 1917 enlisted in the Marines and goes to war only to return to his home a stranger unable to adapt to his old life. Sadly Krebs has difficulty reassimilating to home life where everything is unchanged and people are disinterested and tired of war stories, even when he embellishes and tells lies. In fact years later his father still owns the same old car, the exception being that the young girls have grown and ironically Krebs is now permitted to use the vehicle. He loves to watch these young women who now sport short hair cuts and wear sweaters with short waists and neat Dutch collars. Conversely, Krebs is not interested in having to obligate himself to a relationship just to get a girl. Krebs simply is not interested in complicating his life, he does not want to have a conversation or have to adjust or compromise himself to court the young women in town. Unable to settle in, Krebs often reminisces of French and German girls, where talking and courting was unnecessary, and life was simple. In time, Krebs mother asks about his plans telling him he cannot remain idle and she also asks him “Don’t you love your mother, dear boy?” (583), Krebs responds by telling her that he does not love her. His mother begins to cry and tells him “I held you next to my heart when you were a tiny baby,” (583) this comment makes Krebs feel sick and nauseated. His mother then asks him to pray, but Krebs is unable to relate or to pray to a God that he feels is so unjust and in that moment he realizes that he must leave. As the result of war he has changed and he will never again conform to his past life.

In the story by Ralph Ellison titled “Battle Royal” the protagonist narrates the story in the first person and tells of an African-American student struggling to assimilate and establish his own identity. Sadly the story begins with the narrator’s grandfather on his death bed saying, “I want you to overcome ‘em with yeses, undermine ‘em with grins, agree ‘em to death and destruction, let ‘em swoller you till they vomit or bust wide open and learn it to the younguns”, (932) he whispered before dying. His grandfather’s last words came as a surprise as he appeared to be someone who was well adjusted and compliant. Surprisingly, his grandfather had referred to himself as traitor and spy and he spoke of his meekness as a dangerous activity. Almost in agreement with his grandfather’s comments, the protagonist offers an oration on graduation day that focuses on humility as being the secret and essence of progress for a man of color. As a result of his compliance, he is invited to again give the speech only this time to a gathering of white leading citizens; however he would first be made to watch a blonde naked woman dance and then participate in the battle royal. Unlike some of the other fighters he stares down the naked white dancer taking in all the details and would have done the same “had the price been blindness” (933). Some of the other fighters cast their eyes down and shook with fear. Just before fighting the battle royal the white out-of-control audience starts grabbing at the dancer; he exchanges a look with the woman and recognizes the terror and disgust in her eyes as she escapes the room. Then in a most undignified manner he is blindfolded and made to fight other black men only to suffer further humiliation when made to pick up money from off an electrified rug. Bleeding and bruised while their bodies contorted and shifted from the electric shocks they continued to reach for the coins on the rug while the white citizens roared with laughter. Amidst the chaos, the degradation and embarrassment the narrator is finally given the opportunity to read his oration and is then rewarded with a scholarship to the State College for Negroes. The protagonist realizes that he is just like his grandfather, that in being agreeable and meek he was able to focus on the greater objective and get himself an education.

In Sarah Orne Jewett’s story titled “A White Heron”, we are told of a young woman named Sylvia who is “afraid of folks,” (1142) and is made to live with her grandmother and soon adapts to country life. As a daily custom Sylvia goes out to find the old cow, ”Mistress Molly” who would intentionally hide amongst the bushes. The smart old cow had been fitted with a large bell but knew to stand very still and blend in amongst the huckleberry bushes, making Sylvia have to find her. As was routine while walking the cow home, Sylvia is startled by a dynamic young hunter in the woods, who explains that he has lost his way and asks Mrs. Tilley for lodgings for the night. Next morning, the young hunter explains that he is a collector of birds that he shoots and then preserves by stuffing them; he expresses an interest in adding the white heron to his collection. Sylvia recalls seeing the white heron and is conflicted especially at the thought of the ten dollar finder’s fee the hunter was offering for the heron. Sylvia later accompanies the hunter into the woods while he looks for the elusive white heron. Early the following morning Sylvia decides to find the white heron and its hidden nest and makes her way toward the forest. Eventually, the young girl finds the perfect tree to climb giving her a magnificent view where she is able to spot the white heron and locate its nest. When Sylvia gets home she considers telling the young hunter of the dead hemlock tree where the white heron made its nest and considers that the information could make her rich. Sylvia has truly adapted to country life when out of loyalty to the bird she decides not to share this information, valuing the bird’s life over the money.

In the first story “Soldier’s Home,” the protagonist having returned from war has experienced great changes and can no longer relate nor adapt to his previous home environment and eventually realizes that he must leave if he is to survive. In the story of “Battle Royal” the narrator adapts and assimilates well in his role as a Negro in a white man’s world, showing humility and compliance just as his grandfather had done and in so doing, he too becomes a traitor but with a greater objective in becoming educated. In the last story, titled “A White Heron,” Sylvia leaves behind the city and goes on to live with her grandmother in the country where she adapts and metamorphosis and gains an appreciation for life and freedom that she will not trade for money. In all three stories the main characters have experienced a transformation and self realization as to who they are and in so doing are able to adapt to new and ever changing environments just like the chameleon.

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