The transformation that Smithy makes is also less clear-cut than it could have been. Sure, Smithy loses a large amount of weight, but he doesn't seem particularly proud, or even aware of the change for most of his journey. The same is true of his previous addiction to alcohol and junk food. Instead of a typical, all-encompassing psychological evolution, only some aspects of Smithy change. His journey, and therefore his results, are very specific; Smithy comes to terms with his past and his primary change is his ability to live happily and peacefully. McLarty's choice to use an alternating chapter sequence between Smithy's past and present keeps the reader focused on the protagonist's pains and possible resolutions. Smithy certainly includes more details from his past, even though his present journey across the country seems a lot more compelling.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Smithy as a Hero
Smithy's story is definitely a big departure from previous hero's journeys we've read, but in many ways it has also a fairly conventional premise in modern literature. Smithy is a typical timid antihero, lacking confidence, a healthy body weight, and any direction in life. Sometimes he says the wrong thing at the wrong time, but deep down he's a good guy that the reader has an easy time relating to. I think these more modern hero narratives in particular can become cliche and simple, but McLarty writes the most convincing portrayal of this character possible. Smithy is not the perfect narrator; often many details are left out, and certain undesirable details (such as his obsession with breasts) are included. Rather than just have Smithy write his thoughts to us as every event unfolds, McLarty uses subtler, less organized phrases to convey Smithy's feelings in what I would say is a more realistic light. He is quiet and unsure, not eloquent and professing.
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Smithy was always an awkward and timid guy. Even after his journey. I think that the changes aren't as apparent to us as readers as you would like because he doesn't notice them himself, but also because not that much changed. He doesn't have the opportunity to really look at his new body and see how far he's come, but at the same time, he keeps the same mentality and shyness that he had before, except for with Norma. I think that the major change he went through, is the acceptance of his feelings about Norma and Bethany.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if Smithy really is a relatable character, in the way he doesn't seem to feel/express sadness when his parents die, his descriptions of women, or his lack of motivation to defend himself against physical and verbal abuse. I do agree that McLarty's use of switching from the past to the present helped keep focus on Smithy's pains and problems.
ReplyDeleteSomething that I really liked about Smithy was how humble he was. He didn't make a big deal of the quest he's on and made sure to include some details in his stories that other people would leave out. But I do think that some of these details could have been left unsaid, like the shape and size of every pair of breast from Providence to Malibu.
ReplyDeleteI think Smithy's heroic journey was much more aimed at himself rather than others. He needed a way to cope with all of the loss that was presented to him in the span of his life, with the constantly declining family situation and the culmination of that in that everyone is his family dies. We can see his progress pretty clearly in terms of not only his body but also in his mental state and ability to express his emotions which happens at the end of the book.
ReplyDeleteI think Smithy's heroic journey was much more aimed at himself rather than others. He needed a way to cope with all of the loss that was presented to him in the span of his life, with the constantly declining family situation and the culmination of that in that everyone is his family dies. We can see his progress pretty clearly in terms of not only his body but also in his mental state and ability to express his emotions which happens at the end of the book.
ReplyDeleteThe weight loss is significant, but not, I think, for the obvious reasons. As you note, he doesn't seem motivated by this as a goal, and he doesn't even seem to notice the weight dropping off as the journey proceeds. It's more a side effect of the main significance of the journey (and it's hard to say this without seeming hokey), but a certain metaphorical weight is removed from his shoulders as he plunges into this ambivalent and emotionally fraught past. It's not some narrowly defined "Biggest Loser" scenario, and it's significant that Smithy's "makeover" at the end leaves him looking scruffy and weird, with his long hair, beard, and beaded ponytail.
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