Further Insight on "Waiting for the Barbarians"

The thing I have found to be most interesting thus far in reading Waiting for the Barbarians is the relationship between the narrator and the Barbarian woman that stays with him in his room and accompanies him on the road. This relationship seems to be the center of the novel, which means that it serves many purposes. Although one would think that it would be the woman prisoner who would want the most out of the relationship, it is in fact, the other way around. The magistrate always seems as though he is going out of his way to please his guest by healing her wounds, massaging her body, and keeping her well fed. At one point, in order to simply make conversation it seems, the magistrate declares to the woman, "People will say I keep two wild animals in my room, a fox and a girl." Then, realizing his mistake by her facial expressions, he is quick to correct himself: "'I am sorry.' 'Of course it is not the same.'" The magistrate seems to get himself into trouble by being the only one who feels the need to continually talk. It is as though the woman places some sort of spell over the narrator, without even having to speak. He is also willing to trudge for weeks through snow and storms in order to bring her back to her people. In addition, when they finally do reach their destination, he pleads with her not to go: "Only, now that I have brought you back, as far as I can, I wish to ask you very clearly to return to the town with me." Although the woman decides to leave the magistrate, she has left with him not only the memories of the times they had shared but also the knowledge of how unfairly the Barbarians are being treated. Although the narrator has clearly changed the woman's life by treating her so well, it is apparent that she is the one who has really made an impact on him. 

To read or not to read?

My section focuses on the benefits and drawbacks of reading Heart of Darkness. Its major points include:

• The only way we, or any reader ever, can or should determined whether or not this novel should be read is by reading it, which then contradicts the argument that it should not be read. 
• One reason that Heart of Darkness should be read is the fact that it is a literary work, rather than a historical piece or other type of writing. It is clear that the novel is literary because of Conrad's use of rhetorical devices, irony, and personifications of Darkness. Conrad also uses similes regularly in the text, which Miller refers to as "a powerful under-text beneath the first-level descriptive language."
• One reason that Heart of Darkness should not be read, according to some, is if the reader understands the text to be sexist or racist. Two type of views of women are evident in the novel: "the European male's tendency to personify the earth as a great mother..." and the view of women as being inferior to men.  In addition, Marlow sees the Africans as "others" or "savages," although this should not be confused with Conrad's view of other cultures. 
• If Heart of Darkness is read in the "right way," or the way in which Conrad intended it to be read, then it should be read and it is our duty to read it.  

All Good Things Must Come to an End

As I pondered the significance of the ending of The Sound and the Fury, the thought crossed my mind that the significance of the ending might in fact be that there was no true and obvious ending. By saying that the book does not have a true ending I am not implying that Faulkner simply decided against concluding the novel in the standard way- with a solution to an ongoing problem or insight into each character's future. Instead I am suggesting that because events in the Compson household seem to continue as normal, and in addition a different story line (that of Jason's chase after Quentin) is introduced, Faulkner is concluding the novel by not logically concluding it. The fact that Jason is on the search for Quentin because he is positive she robbed him of his money shows the essence of Jason's character; always the first to blame, seek revenge, and never take the fault. Faulkner chose this part of the ending for a reason; like Jason, each other character is in his or her own element. There are no huge surprises or even much in the way of final remarks because the story finishes itself.