Sunday, November 24, 2013

The Wine of Astonishment - Chapters 8-10


 ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’

Edmund Burke – English Philosopher


Chapter 8 – The Beginning of Bolo’s Reign of Terror
  • Bolo terrorizes men women and the authorities
  • He makes an attempt to fit back into society – he uses brute force
  • Moves about with a sense of emptiness – engaging in activities to try and fill the gap
  • Targets Mitchell (pg. 106-107) – saw him as part of the problem why the community is not what he expected (going back to the time of the Americans).
  • Charleau (pg. 110-112) and Cap (pg. 112-113) – Symbolic characters – they demonstrate what is needed to bring Bolo down – somebody who is willing to stand up for what is right regardless of the consequences.
  • Tales of Bolo spread like wild fire – Bolo becomes a Legend pg. 114-115.
  • The echoing of the collective responsibility for  Bolo’s action
ü  Eva admits that he is going crazy but that the craziness had too much sense in it. pg.106
ü  Cap – asking if everybody isn’t responsible pg. 114
ü  Eva asks “What we do to make a man like Bolo what he turn out to be” pg. 115
  • It is ironic that Bolo is still known and feared – moved from famous to infamous.
  • Premonition – some ‘calamity’ had to happen to stop Bolo – Eva hints at this. Although the reader is already aware of this from chapter 1 when Eva said it was the last time they saw Bolo in church.

Chapter 9  The Calamity – Bolo’s Demise

  • Eva fills the audience in about her family and the lapse in time
ü  Joyce getting married – traditions upheld – Clyde asks Bee’s permission
ü  Taffy basically abandons the family
ü  Ivan still not doing anything to help the church – Bee could not conduct the wedding in his church – illegal.
  • Bolo’s reasons for his actions explained – His frustration with the passive and cowardice nature of his people – their inability to fight for their community drove him over the edge. Pg. 123 ‘The Yankees do as they please…’ and pg. 124 ‘ want to be a man…’
  • Bolo’s final attempt – Kidnapping
  • Bee demonstrates his ‘manness’ – ‘We have to kill him…’ pg.125 ironically this premeditation puts him on the same level with Bolo – this is arguable.
  • Bolo is shot by the authorities – His death is symbolic – how he died as well as what he died for.
  • Pathetic Fallacy – nature weeping at Bolo’s death and funeral – the heavy rain. Pg 133 &137.
  • Ironic that his death brought more sorrow than the havoc that he caused.
  • Bolo’s final act was what put the community of Bonasse in the public’s eye – ironic
  • Ivan and Bolo are presented as failed leaders.
  • Bolo’s death may be seen as a pyrrhic victory – the price or cost too heavy – he is dead but what have they lost.

Chapter 10   Free at Last
  • Social problems continue to plague the community pg. 138-139
  • Heavy use of suspense – Reggie brought the news to his mother – Eva told Bee pg. 147-148
  • Bolo’s spirit lives on pg. 142
  • Pathetic Fallacy – nature rejoices with the people in their victory – pg. 149
  • The spirit of the church, village is reincarnated into something else – there is hope for the resurrection of the culture of the Bonasse people. Pg 152.
  • Freedom to worship a pyrrhic victory – took too long the spirit gone. Pg. 151 Victory came at too great a cost.
  • An anticlimactic ending.


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