"The Breeze": Besides for "This Is Not a Love Song," this story is probably one of the most innovative stories we're read this term. As Tysean and Carllene have pointed out, this story seems to revise itself as it goes along. In his bio, Joshua Ferris says that he wrote this on his phone which seems to suggest that this is why the story is this way. I'm skeptical. (If you want to see a story from 1969--long before smart phones existed--which does something similar, you should check out Robert Coover's "The Babysitter".) This is clearly an intentional story that has little to do w/ the technology it's written on. Why is the story written in this form? What does the form have to do w/ the content? Why is this story called "The Breeze"? What does the breeze (the wind, not the title) have to do w/ this relationship? What do they both have to do w/ living in NYC?
"God": We're back in first person in this story. It's Oprah's story and it's a closet/coming-out story. How would it be different if it were in third person like the other story? What does this story say about being a gay man in this society? What does it say about fraternities and friendships between men? What is the significance of Oprah's fantasy about the future consulting firm that he and his brothers will found and run? The insignia of a clockface in the talons of an eagle?
I believe that Breeze is a symbol to how their lives are, simple not spontaneous at all. They do the same thing, nothing too crazy but Sarah keeps wanting to have sex in the park, not caring who will see them but keeps shutting it down because she knows her fiance won't be down for it.
ReplyDeleteI think the form of " breeze " was written in different scenarios of how there night was and also could have been if they could of actually decided on something to do I think they call it the breeze because when she was on the brig that breeze air that hit made her want to do something and she tried to find different ways to bask in the spring breeze. If I had to relate it to their relationship it's something that may blow away. She doesn't seem content in it as she was
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ReplyDeletethe breeze was a bit dificult to read so i had to read it a second time. the story is very strange. the lady plans a night out with her husnbad but it does not go as planned, she is ver undecided about where to eat which ruins the whole night out she has planned. the main conflict in the story is where to eat but this showes that the couple are in two different world ad not on the same page which is causing a conflict in their relationship.everything the lady planed that night did not happen. the seem to be arguing over something very simple but i think the lady is really undecided about their relationship.
I loved this story. I believe if it would of been written in third person the writer may have not been able to capture Oprah's true feelings towards Nutella. Of course this story says gays in society could be outcast because he begs Melanie not to say anything because he knew the word would spread and they may make fun of him or not talk to him anymore. I think the relationships in fraternities are strong, they can share women and still remain friends hang out and drink. I don't know anything about the consulting firm there were other exciting things that caught my attention in this story
ReplyDelete"God" needed to be told in a first-person, primarily because this story is so personal.Coming through the eyes of a gay person, being in a fraternity is a scary place. Homophobia runs rampant within its society and you can see how careful the narrator is. He is calm and never fully extroverted, even though he isn't entirely sure about his sexual orientation. If told through the 3rd person the story would lose it's focus but because it's told through the eyes of a man keeping a secret we see how he views the world, and how he can't be free.
ReplyDeleteI liked how his name is "Oprah". Oprah is viewed as a caring and thoughtful woman, and the narrator is described as a person the men can come and talk to. Even when five-hour was hungover in the kitchen, the narrator was listening intently and making him some food to get over the hangover.
In "God," certain social embarrassments such as premature ejaculation and minor erectile dysfunction are laughed off over time, while Oprah, the story's protagonist, can sever his social ties with something equally harmless in homosexuality. This goes to show that homophobia is deeply ingrained in our society because many heterosexual adult males are too insecure to laugh it off unlike something as simple as the aforementioned instances of social embarrassment.
ReplyDeleteIn the story "God" being gay and in a fraternity, you have a certain rep to protect and still to this day some people don't except it. Friendships between men especially in a fraternity can be tricky, you have to dot your I's and cross your T's. I feel like you have to completely change who you are to fit in, even it means being straight
ReplyDeleteI think the story was written in its form to show you different ways of how the night could of went or either to show that nothing was organized and a lot was going on. I feel as if the story is named "The Breeze" because i guess it let her know change was coming. They are both different. The breeze seems to be something important to her. I'm not really sure what it is referring to.
ReplyDeleteIf "God" was written in a third person point of view, the narrator would basically explain what's going in a scene. But we wouldn't how Oprah views a particular scene, first person point of view gives us readers an insight of the main character's view. In a way, first person point of view is better suited than third person.
ReplyDeleteIf God was written in third person, we, the readers, wouldn't be able to see and experience the thoughts, the adoration, and the turmoil that occurs within Oprah's mind. We wouldn't be able to understand why he acts the way he does and the thought process behind his actions.
ReplyDeleteA gay man in "this society" is seemingly fragile. As Oprah clearly doesn't want his relationship with his fraternity brothers to break apart, he performs one action which will most likely have a severe consequence--having sex with God/Melanie. That becomes a deal-breaker for him when she realizes that he ejaculated while thinking about Nutella/Newton. And honestly, it's a little hard to build a solid relationship between men. Especially the time that it takes to get close with one another. And this one thing will just mess that all up.. Relationships are something to treasure, but to lose it like this is just ugh.
First person gives a more intimate feel than third. Especially with a coming out story in my opinion. Oprah freaked out when God said she would tell her friends about what happened. He then went on to say how his life would fall apart and flip upside down if the frat boys found out. This insinuates that it's not very accepting among his peers to be gay...although all of the frat boys relationships seem very close. I was surprised when I read about Five-hour openly crying to Oprah and him pinching his cheek. I don't normally expect guys to be so open with crying to one another. They also mixed pancake batter together which also seemed a tad bit girlish. It's also interesting to me how God seemed like one of the frat boys. She was involved in Otter night and hung with the guys like she was one of them.
ReplyDeletei believe the "breeze" signifies how easily a situation can change. something so small can change a persons whole day and even their whole life. i think the story was written like this to show the change in emotion of the story in its different scenarios. i think it took place in New York because New York is the the type of city where one can actully do so many different things and in new york things can change instantly...
ReplyDeleteI think that if "God" were written in third person then we wouldn't feel the emotion and hidden feelings of the narrator. I think that the story shows a masculinity to frats. The brothers were described to be very playboyish when telling about the dancing scene. I think that being gay in this society would not be accepted because...
ReplyDeleteI think the story, "god", was extreme and all over the place. There is a lot going on in the story and it is difficult to understand everything that is occurring. I had to read the story over again to grasp a better feel for it. Also, "the breeze" felt the same way to me, but a bit different. It differs from "god" in the way that it is a unique and strange story. Not as much is happening all at once like "god", but it is nevertheless a quite unusual story. Both stories seem compelling but at the same time overwhelming to me.
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ReplyDeleteI think the story was written this way because the narrator was trying to show us that, there were different ways the night could have went if only the couple would have communicated better. The story was written this way because the narrator was hoping her boyfriend would eventually realize what she wanted to do. She was frustrated by his lack of adventure. The story was named breeze I guess to signify that NYC had a lot to do and the way the boyfriend lived his boring life, she wanted him to come out his box, of normal things they did. If she wanted more from him I feel like she should have spoke on it and tell him exactly what she wanted, communication would have set their tone in the relationship and there wouldn't be room for confusion or disappointment.
ReplyDeleteI think the story starts off the way it does to hint that the story is more about Caleb and less about God. The first sentence uses she for God but the author uses Calebs whole name. So although it may seem at the beginning that the story is about God, it isn't.
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