I would like to focus on the idea of “showing off” to others. We discussed this a little in class, but I would like to discuss it in greater detail. Mark Twain brings up “showing off” twice in this story.
When Tom sees the new girl in the garden at the Thatcher’s house, he reacts in a somewhat peculiar way, but for a boy his age his reaction was probably normal. “He worshiped this new angel with furtive eye, till he saw that she had discovered him; then he pretended he did not know she was present, and began to “show off” in all sorts of absurd boyish ways, in order to win her admiration. He kept up this grotesque foolishness for some time; but by and by, while he was in the midst of some dangerous gymnastic performances he glanced aside and saw that the little girl was wending her way toward the house” (Twain 419). I thought this was a really funny scene because little boys really do do strange things to try to get girls attention. After reading a couple stories about the American boy and their role in society I find it a little ironic that they are supposed to be the authoritative figure over women and make decisions in and out of the home, yet they can not express their emotions. Perhaps this goes back to the idea that men did not need as much “training” as women so they do not really know how to properly express themselves. When Tom looks to make sure no one is around when he picks up the flower, this I thought this showed that men do not like to show weakness, but rather they must be strong, independent individuals.
Later in the story when Tom is at church showing off is introduced again. There is a whole passage about how the different people in Sunday school show off for their visitor. “The young lady teachers “showed off”—bending sweetly over pupils that were lately being boxed, lifting pretty warning fingers at bad little boys and patting good ones lovingly. The young gentlemen teachers “showed off” with small scoldings and other little displays of authority and fine attention to discipline…”(Twain 434). I think this confirms, again, the role of men and women in society. Women are there to teach the children and love on them, while the men are above the women and have control of the classroom.
I really like the quote you used in your second paragraph, I also thought that was a funny part of the novel. I also really like the topic you chose to discuss in this blog. Boys really do crazy things to get a girls attention and this novel shows it. We see the role of men and woman clearly defined in the section of the reading when they are at church, but I also find it ironic how men are suppose to be superior even though they can't even express some of their emotions. Overall great post!
ReplyDeleteI loved your post because I discussed the same thing! This was one of my favorite parts of the novel that we read because it was so funny and we see the vast difference between boys and girls and adult men and women as well. Great post I loved this discussion.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this post a lot. I find it so funny what little boys do to get girls attention. In the first paragraph the quote was about how Tom got this angel's attention by staring her down and then he ignored her, trying to play hard to get but showing off at the same time. We still do stuff like that even when we're grown up, not to the same extent, but human nature is the same, and your second paragraph about the adults showing off kind of proves this.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you touched on the differences between men and women and the way that can show their emotions. I thought it was so funny when Tom danced around for his "new angel" but once no one was around was able to pick up the flower and hold it to his heart or stomach, showing that he did have real emotions. I feel that these differences are still seen today
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that you mentioned how men are the ones that are supposed to make the decisions and reign over women when they can't even properly show their emotions. I totally agree with your idea that this is ironic because from the past stories we have read, I have noticed that most of the men are very distant when it comes to emotional situations. For example, with Ellen's father in The Wide, Wide World; he seemed so cold and unemotional when Ellen was departing. I think men showing very little emotion shows bad judgment from their part because they are not thinking thoroughly about the decisions they make. Therefore, teaching boys to not show emotions like with Tom is a bad idea because it teaches them to not be honest about their feelings and to not think more deeply about things.
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