Larry Ott and Silas Jones Ambiguity of belonging PDF

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Englisch Zusammenfassung...

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DIFFICULTIES AND CHALLENGES OF BELONGING IN HIS CHILDHOOD -Larry is rejected by his peers  his unusual hobbies (e.g. reading, interest in nature) make him an outsider/ misfit; his lack of interest in sport excludes him -he is neither accepted by the white boys nor by the black boys; the black boys frighten him with their superior physical strength -he longs to be accepted but he does not know how  his attempts to attract the attention of the other kids (e.g. by bringing snakes to school) confirm his reputation as an outsider -difficult father-son-relationship  he isn’t accepted by his father, because he would like Larry to be different  Carl Ott thinks that Larry isn’t masculine enough; he dislikes Larry’s physical appearance and hobbies -he has very little self-confidence; he is shy/ timid

AS AN ADULT -he lives in isolation and loneliness -apart from his ill mother, his feeling of belonging seems to be limited to places (garage, house) and animals or things (chicken, tools, books) but not to people -he has always been a member of Chabot ’s community, but lives as a social outcast -he is ostracized by the townspeople -no close connection to any other people; he is only a part of the local community because of his parental roots and his garage -burdens of the past  everybody sees him as “Scary Larry” and thinks that he is a murderer  even after his name is cleared, Larry wonders if he will ever lose his reputation as an outsider and murderer -he longs for a real friend, but he isn’t able to find a real one -he grew up in a middle-class family, but he has economic problems now

WAYS TO ACHIEVE A SENSE OF BELONGING HIS CHILDHOOD -unsuccessful attempts to fit in  once, Larry comes with his zombie mask to school at Halloween and for that day he is popular: lots of kids want to see his mask and try it on; he is invited to take part in the haunted house; after finishing his performance he hopes that the others will now include him, however, they still don ’t want to hang out with him  he insults one of the black girls in school by calling her “Monkey Lips” at the instigation of two white boys from his class in order to be accepted; when he gets beaten up by the other black kids afterwards, the white boys do not come to his aid -tries to establish a friendship with Silas  gives him a gun and spends time with him in nature -close relationship to his mother; competing for fatherly love -seclusion in book reading

AS AN ADULT -he goes to the army and discovers his talent for being a mechanic -daily routines -ambiguous relationship to Wallace Stringfellow -reconciliation with Silas

CONSEQUENCES OF TRYING TO BELONG -critical reflection of himself and the past  he realizes that Silas has failed him as a friend, because he didn’t help him and lied about Cindy’s disappearance -regaining a sense of belonging by spending time with Wallace -realizes his passive behavior as purposeless  tries to break free from his solitary life by communicating with others and reaching out to them -becomes active; faces reality; wants to take his life back in his own hands -active bonding with Silas  attempts at reconciliation and a new start

DIFFICULTIES AND CHALLENGES OF BELONGING IN HIS CHILDHOOD: -he doesn’t know his father  missing father figure and role model -he has to deal with racism  son of a single black mother -he is uprooted from an all-black community of South Side Chicago and displaced to rural Mississippi  at first, he dislikes his new home -lives in poverty; his mother has to work the whole day -ambiguity: Silas is the cool kid in school, but he has a close connection to the outsider Larry

AS AN ADULT: -racial issues -he seems to be an active member of the community, but he shuts himself off emotionally as soon as the relationship becomes close  distanced relationship with his girlfriend Angie -as a police officer he is supposed to uphold the law, however he kept the truth about Cindy Walker’s disappearance hidden for a long time -the discovery that Carl Ott is his father and that Larry is his half-brother makes him question his identity

WAYS TO ACHIEVE A SENSE OF BELONGING IN HIS CHILDHOOD -he finds it easy to integrate at his new school  assimilates quickly and is accepted by his peers; he fits in with the other black boys helped by his baseball skills -starts playing baseball -secret relationship with Cindy Walker -getting the rifle from Larry and becoming a member of the baseball team makes him feel like he belongs to Chabot -competing for fatherly love

AS AN ADULT -figure of respect in Chabot because of his job as a constable -introverted but well-liked colleague in the police department -socially well-integrated -as a police officer he rights the wrongs -loving girlfriend Angie -reconciliation with Larry  tries to make amends for the damage done in the past

CONSEQUENCES OF TRYING TO BELONG -he opens up to Angie and starts telling the truth about his past (Cindy as his secret girlfriend, Larry as his half-brother and childhood friend) -realization and acceptance of guilt; takes responsibility for his actions in the past -he realizes that the past influences the present and his relationship to other people -realization of the values of bonding  he learned that a relationship requires honesty and openness -active bonding with Larry  attempts at reconciliation and a new start -he develops a sense of belonging to the place where his roots are...