Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Moviegoer
When first introduced to Binx in this novel it easy to judge he is a strange character. He is inconsistent in maintaining relationships. His aunt believes he cut himself short in the means of an education and occupation. He is unsure about his religious standings. Binx is racist and judgmental to people. Binx also goes to see movies frequently as a way to sort of escape from reality. He can better relate to and find joy out of a film rather than his own life. His Aunt Emily is probably the most influencial character in his life. He receives a letter to go and see her. On his way there “the idea of a search occurs to” him (13). “The search is what anyone would undertake if he were not sunk in the everydayness of his own life. To become aware of the possibility of the search is to be onto something” (13). This search I believe entails him finding his religion, his romance, and his place and attitude toward the new south. Binx’s mother was catholic therefore he is catholic. Although he is a practicing catholic he still questions his standings with god. At the end of this novel this seems to be the only unanswered question. At the end of the novel readers are taken to a scene at a church and Binx sees a black man. He respectfully wonders what line of work this man succeeds in and also his relationship with god. Binx sees him as an equal. Throughout the entire novel it is evident that one person Binx truly cares about with his whole heart is Kate. He watches out for her and constantly tries to reassure her happiness. It was not until later on in the novel Binx pursues the relationship readers knew all along was the right fit for them both. Binx marrying Kate another answer to his search. Although Binx is a complex character I believe he starts to solve his “search” as the novel concludes.
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I definitely agree that Binx STARTS to solve his search by the end of the novel, especially after he marries Kate. I also agree that going to the movies is Binx's way to escape from the real world. That is another reason why he admires actors so much. Movie stars' jobs are to pretend, to live the life of their characters as well as their own. Every day and every movie is different from the last, which is what Binx intimately wants: escape from the malaise.
ReplyDeleteI like the reference to Binx watching the black man go inside the church and wondering about his occupation and religious views. I think perhaps Binx was trying to relate to the man somehow, and maybe he was even slightly envious that the man was confident with his standing in life. He knows what he believes in, he knows what he wants from life, and he knows the purpose of his existence, which is something Binx struggles to figure out.
I agree with the thought that from the beginning, readers knew that Binx and Kate were going to end up together in some way. Binx is a strange character who cannot commit to anyone, but it is obvious Kate is the only female character he can relate to. Binx and Kate both need eachother, but in different ways. Binx feels security from her because he is well aware of the fact that Kate trusts him and confides in him. Kate is secure with Binx because she knows he will always be there to take care of her, since he has been doing so for years.
But I most definitely agree that Binx BEGINS to solve his search towards the end of the book. He by no means has everything figured out yet in this novel.
Yes, Binx is a very strange character, and it was often hard for me to follow him. The novel was a very perplexing read for me. I also believe that family interactions are very important in Binx's life. However, I feel as if his search begins from the movie scene in which he sees his old neighborhood. This scene makes Binx realize that he needs to find his place in life or the meaning of life. He is tired of the mundane routine of everyday life, and needs something more. To me, Kate is the most influential person in Binx's life. Ultimately, their relationship leads Binx to discover that he can be compassionate and care for others. And that this is the meaning of life, humanity. Binx's Aunt Emily is a very controlling person. She wants Binx to live his life the way she sees fit. By the end of the novel Aunt Emily doesn't accept the path he has chosen, but she forgives him for it. Aunt Emily does not think that Binx has behaved properly, and she scolds him for it.
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