Sunday, September 9, 2007
Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man Ch 6-9
I found this section of the novel very interesting. The reader sees the narrator in his new life in the city. We see him get into gambling and going to the clubs. What I found most interesting however was his fascination with the clubs. When I was reading and the narrator went into the club for the first time and heard the rag time music I could completely understand why it was so fascinating to him. Music had been such a major piece of his life from the time he was a child that it was really no surprise to me to see that he would later get into playing rag time himself. His musical training served him well in his stay in NYC. He began to play in the clubs and make some decent money. Then he meets the person he calls his benefactor. This man pays him well to entertain him and his guests. The benefactor even takes him to London and Paris and has him play there as well. I find it interesting that the narrator would choose to give up all he had, his promising career as a musician and the money and attention of his rich benefactor, to return to the south. I'm left wondering what will become of him and if he will regret giving up the life he has made for himself through his musical talent.
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10 comments:
Good point Alyssa. I hope we find out more about his reasons for making this move.
I found the part of the novel when the narrator goes to New York to be one of the most interesting sections also. The narrator’s stay in New York seems to be a very important experience for him. I could also foresee that the New York nightlife was going to lead the narrator back to music and expose him to influential musicians and new styles of music. It is very clear that music is a significant part of the narrator’s life.
I was surprised that he left London as well. But, I do think that the benefactor allowed him to explore music and made him realize what makes him happy. Although the benefactor thinks he won't be successful as an African American musician, I think this is only the beginning for him and he will continue to play music and become successful. I believe that the benefactor gave the narrator confindence and allowed him to find himself, which will only allow him to succeed from here on out.
I think the narrator realized that he needed to do more with his life, something that holds meaning to him. Obviously touring Europe is most people's dream, but to do it for such a long period of time is something different. It seemed like the benefactor wanted to share his life style with the narrator, but he had other plans in mind.
I find that the thought of going back to the south is where his internal struggle is resolved. He has been externally battling everything up to this point and it seems that this is something he needs to do for himself to be completely happy.
I think it was just that- he wanted a promising career and not to be "under contract" in a way to the millionare. He wants to make something of himself on his own to bring pride to himself and his race.
You have a good point here. I could not believe that he would give all that up. But music has also been all throughout the book so I'm thinking even though he gave up the chance here to be a musician something with music will come around again.
I think it's interesting that you view his return to the South as an abandonment of his musical talents. I think that because he has pondered upon this return to the United States with such excitement and power -- and keep in mind that he plans to use his musical skills -- he will only continue to grow using his music. That's just my prediction...I'm not sure where the story will go (because I never am) but I'm interested to see what happens to the narrator's music, as well!
I really think what draws him to leave for the south is a desire to prove himself, we assume, as a colored composer. It seems after his conversation with "the millionare" he really feels as if he has a goal or purpose. Maybe just to prove him wrong?
The scence's with him in the clubs to show that he was very interested in listening to the music his friends had to pull him away form the piano. then he became to play in the clubs what he wnated to do.
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