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cormier and hope
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From: terry northcutt <woodndance>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 10:41:07 -0400
I think in reading Cormier it is important to consider the time period in which he was born and grew up. Currently we are seeing more realistic young adult novels that are characterized by some as just dark and grim and full of despair. By contrast the history of children's literature and textbooks until the very recent past has been to present a sanitized view of American history and American leaders as well as life in general. When I was in school there were no negative traits presented regarding the human flaws of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson or any other famous American leaders. In Children's literature, in school on the television and in the movies the good guys always wore white hats and they always triumphed. The American belief system as I experienced it growing up was: Americans are the good guys; they are easily recognized as good because they have few flaws or trivial flaws; their enemies are always clearly bad and easily recognized as being bad or evil; and despite overwhelming odds and obstacles a lone but powerful good guy will rise to the threat of evil and always triumph. While this belief system is extremely important in our society and sustains our positive view of overcoming problems and obstacles, it has its down side when it is predominate and unquestioned. It does not prepare people to recognize evil much less to cope with it or fight back. Although I am somewhat younger than Cormier I would have to believe that he grew up in a similar American culture. His biography suggests that although he encountered some encouraging adults in his catholic school he also experienced and witnessed the abuse of power by these adults. Quite a discrepancy between the unflawed adults of American children's literature and movies. I wonder if Cormier's books are an attempt to warn young people of evil. Living in a sanitized American culture and in a society that would not at that time even begin to consider the abuse of power by nuns and priests or teachers in general and yet experiencing and witnessing the abuse of power first hand perhaps Cormier decided that it was important for him to resist and to disturb the universe in the hope that others would stand with him collectively.
The hope in Cormier did not come to me until I began to "tune into" the dark and grim and despairing view of life and reality that some heavy metal groups as well as other popular music groups are now portraying. There is much in this music that says the world is a terrible place, every one is corrupt and there is nothing you can do but join the singers in shouting out the anger and misery of it all. This is abdication and ensures that evil will triumph. I would think that those listening to this music would feel better at being able to express their anger at this imperfect and at times evil world but there is nothing to help them. The lyrics are filled with cynicism, rage and despair and offer no way of coping with an imperfect world much less combatting evil. I would think that this despair combined with complete abdication would also be dangerous. I would see these grim and dark messages even more dangerous than Cormiers books in sending young people "over the edge" because in a very subtle way Cormier does advocate a way of triumphing over evil.
This brings me to the hope in Cormier which is so subtle. He attempts to illustrate that evil only wins out if we do not resist. The students in Brother Leon's class and members of the Vigils are often uncomfortable with the actions of Brother Leon and Archie but they let their distrubring thoughts and feelings pass and do nothing . Cormier writes: _ [[Emile] had discovered a truth early in life..Nobody wanted trouble, nobody wanted to make trouble, nobody wanted a show down.In this statement along with the poster about daring to disturb the universe Cormier shows how Leon and Archie triumph. The plot line shows what happens when we persist in avoiding trouble at the expense of resisting evil and what happens when we don't dare to disturb the universe collectively. By showing us what happens by doing nothing he offers us a solution, we need to resist collectively. The long held American belief that a lone hero will emerge to save us is just a myth. We can't stand by and wait for the hero to emerge and make the world right for us. A lone hero cannot always triumph. We need to resist collectively. Cormier stays with reality when he shows that there will be a high cost to restisance. He illustrates this through Jerry's experiences as he refuses to sell the chocolates. Evil when resisted threatens and intimidates and creates fear. So there are warnings and frightening phone calls and a physical atack. The hope is that there will always be people like Jerry who will try to resist but the greater hope is that people will not avoid trouble, that they will not remain silent and passive and that they will collectively disturb a universe in which power is abusive and evil.
Because Cormier shows that evil can defeat a lone hero, because he does not guarantee success in confronting evil, I agree with others that if this novel is not carefuly presented and carefully discussed there are many who may percieve it as no different than the grim ,despairing music that simply shouts that the world is terrible and there is nothing you can do. I do not think despair and abdication were what Cormier was trying to achieve. However I think it takes alot of careful thought and consideration to see that by showing abdication he is showing that hope lies only in resisting collectively. I know that too many adolescents do not have access to adults who can help them consider all possiblities. However I think Cormiers writing is brilliant and his courage to explore evil is important and contains more substance than much of what is being presented to young people.
Terry Northcutt
Received on Thu 23 Aug 2001 09:41:07 AM CDT
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 10:41:07 -0400
I think in reading Cormier it is important to consider the time period in which he was born and grew up. Currently we are seeing more realistic young adult novels that are characterized by some as just dark and grim and full of despair. By contrast the history of children's literature and textbooks until the very recent past has been to present a sanitized view of American history and American leaders as well as life in general. When I was in school there were no negative traits presented regarding the human flaws of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson or any other famous American leaders. In Children's literature, in school on the television and in the movies the good guys always wore white hats and they always triumphed. The American belief system as I experienced it growing up was: Americans are the good guys; they are easily recognized as good because they have few flaws or trivial flaws; their enemies are always clearly bad and easily recognized as being bad or evil; and despite overwhelming odds and obstacles a lone but powerful good guy will rise to the threat of evil and always triumph. While this belief system is extremely important in our society and sustains our positive view of overcoming problems and obstacles, it has its down side when it is predominate and unquestioned. It does not prepare people to recognize evil much less to cope with it or fight back. Although I am somewhat younger than Cormier I would have to believe that he grew up in a similar American culture. His biography suggests that although he encountered some encouraging adults in his catholic school he also experienced and witnessed the abuse of power by these adults. Quite a discrepancy between the unflawed adults of American children's literature and movies. I wonder if Cormier's books are an attempt to warn young people of evil. Living in a sanitized American culture and in a society that would not at that time even begin to consider the abuse of power by nuns and priests or teachers in general and yet experiencing and witnessing the abuse of power first hand perhaps Cormier decided that it was important for him to resist and to disturb the universe in the hope that others would stand with him collectively.
The hope in Cormier did not come to me until I began to "tune into" the dark and grim and despairing view of life and reality that some heavy metal groups as well as other popular music groups are now portraying. There is much in this music that says the world is a terrible place, every one is corrupt and there is nothing you can do but join the singers in shouting out the anger and misery of it all. This is abdication and ensures that evil will triumph. I would think that those listening to this music would feel better at being able to express their anger at this imperfect and at times evil world but there is nothing to help them. The lyrics are filled with cynicism, rage and despair and offer no way of coping with an imperfect world much less combatting evil. I would think that this despair combined with complete abdication would also be dangerous. I would see these grim and dark messages even more dangerous than Cormiers books in sending young people "over the edge" because in a very subtle way Cormier does advocate a way of triumphing over evil.
This brings me to the hope in Cormier which is so subtle. He attempts to illustrate that evil only wins out if we do not resist. The students in Brother Leon's class and members of the Vigils are often uncomfortable with the actions of Brother Leon and Archie but they let their distrubring thoughts and feelings pass and do nothing . Cormier writes: _ [[Emile] had discovered a truth early in life..Nobody wanted trouble, nobody wanted to make trouble, nobody wanted a show down.In this statement along with the poster about daring to disturb the universe Cormier shows how Leon and Archie triumph. The plot line shows what happens when we persist in avoiding trouble at the expense of resisting evil and what happens when we don't dare to disturb the universe collectively. By showing us what happens by doing nothing he offers us a solution, we need to resist collectively. The long held American belief that a lone hero will emerge to save us is just a myth. We can't stand by and wait for the hero to emerge and make the world right for us. A lone hero cannot always triumph. We need to resist collectively. Cormier stays with reality when he shows that there will be a high cost to restisance. He illustrates this through Jerry's experiences as he refuses to sell the chocolates. Evil when resisted threatens and intimidates and creates fear. So there are warnings and frightening phone calls and a physical atack. The hope is that there will always be people like Jerry who will try to resist but the greater hope is that people will not avoid trouble, that they will not remain silent and passive and that they will collectively disturb a universe in which power is abusive and evil.
Because Cormier shows that evil can defeat a lone hero, because he does not guarantee success in confronting evil, I agree with others that if this novel is not carefuly presented and carefully discussed there are many who may percieve it as no different than the grim ,despairing music that simply shouts that the world is terrible and there is nothing you can do. I do not think despair and abdication were what Cormier was trying to achieve. However I think it takes alot of careful thought and consideration to see that by showing abdication he is showing that hope lies only in resisting collectively. I know that too many adolescents do not have access to adults who can help them consider all possiblities. However I think Cormiers writing is brilliant and his courage to explore evil is important and contains more substance than much of what is being presented to young people.
Terry Northcutt
Received on Thu 23 Aug 2001 09:41:07 AM CDT
