The Floating Opera Day 3

The Floating Opera, by John Barth

Blog Post due Tuesday, Nov. 18th

Margo Tanner, Christine Flynn & Thomas Brown

Calliope Music

He opens the chapter with two columns of different “voices”, is this a method to show how he is conflicted about suicide?  We talked about how he is torn between cynicism and fate in a way, is it his representation of the voices in his head? (pg. 170)

Todd describes the Morton v. Butler case and how it re-emerged after years of dormancy, is this an example he pulls to support his fear of commitment to anything?  Could it be one of his reasons for believing things don’t really “finish”?

Coals to Newcastle

Is there symbolism in the father’s appearance being pristine post-suicide?  Do you think it could be a bigger statement on people who are depressed looking alright?  Maybe this is how Todd feels too?

• can we maybe account the suicide to the massive financial burden?

We found it odd Todd thought of his father killing chickens when he released the belt from his neck, why did he do this?  What was your reaction?

When he gives away the $5000, this seems to be the moment he chooses to live day to day.  Why does he do this?  Is it to fully release any sort of responsibility, like paying off his father’s debt?  Why does he refuse anything in return, even work?

A tour of the Opera

Relationship with Jeannine very father/daughter, do you think she is his?  Is the mystery behind it again related to his unknown future?

With Jane and Harrison moving to Italy, what will happen to Todd whose life has been built around them?  Why are they trying to call off the arrangement?  

• admitting their lax attitudes weren’t all too true

Role of Death in the Novel

-How should the reader view Mr. Haecker’s attempt at suicide? What drama does this cast in the end of a novel, in which a mass murder has just been averted?

-Does Todd’s decision to kill everyone in town seem feasible and believable?  Or is it rather too contrived and merely act as an author’s way to make a point?

Todd’s Character

“Although my law practice pays my hotel bill, I consider it no more my career than a hundred other things: sailing, drinking, walking the streets, writing my 'Inquirey', starting at walls hunting ducks and 'coons,reading, playing politics, and whatnot. I'm interested in any number of things, and enthusiastic about nothing.”

-How does this quote shed light onto Todd’s character?  In what ways does this one extraction from the novel encompass up his complex personality?

-How does Todd’s storytelling affect the way in which we understand his story?  Does his storytelling indicate that we should believe him to be a reliable narrator?

“I would in all probability, though not at all necessarily, go on behaving much as I had thitherto, as a rabbit shot on the run keeps running in the same direction untildeath overtakes him.” (252)

-Does Todd feel regretful in they ways that he has lived his life? Or does he rather have a sense of pride in how he has escaped death?