As far as the formalists are concerned each peace of literature is the one and only of its kind. "Formalism attempts to treat each work as its own distinct piece, free from its environment, era, and even author." Formalist writing is supposed to be creative and uninfluenced by anything around it.
The PWB can indeed me considered formalistic for more than one reason. It is on of the only book of its kind about the Congo and white people living in sync with black people. The Price family did not come into the village and dominate and live well while the villagers suffered, it was the other way around. An unheard of story in that time. Ruth May managed to get the black children playing "Mother May I?" AND get them to understand her directions. That is indeed a unique scene. The characters themselves do not seem to allow themselves tobe influenced by their surroundings. Rachel criticizes the natives clothes, mother did not pay closer attention to Mama Tataba when she cooked or cleaned, Father did not believed Mama Tataba about the garden it goes on and on. The mother's opinion is strangest of all, she is glancing back the story and reflecting on events that have no yet happened for us as readers, that also makes the novel stand out and perhaps fall under the category of formalistic. However Barbara Kingsolver did allow her passion and knowledge of nature effect this book by putting in the endless reference sand scenes about the nature in Africa and describing. That detail may rule it out of the formalistic area.
LINKYYY
An interesting take! This differed from what I saw in the book for a formalistic view but you brought up point that i havent thought of in terms of the actual characters being formalistic within the book. I like that you pointed out how they were not influenced by other around them.
ReplyDeleteLike Glorianne, I definitely did not think of the charcters being formalistic in their actions. Also the fact that the Prices went to Africa at all as a family unit is a rare case considering the time period.
ReplyDeleteI was very interested in your discussion of formalism, but I'm not sure that I agree with all your evidence. For example, you say that "the Price family did not come into the village and dominate" and, while it may be true that they did not successfully take over the village, I would certainly say that they approached their role their from a superior and dominant mindset. I also think it's important to note that even if a book shares some of its elements with other works, that does not necessarily mean that it cannot be formalistic.
ReplyDeleteLike Glo and Alyssa, I like your perspective of the characters and how they are formalistic. I also agree with your statement about "glancing back the story and reflecting on events that have no yet happened for us as readers, that also makes the novel stand out and perhaps fall under the category of formalistic."
ReplyDelete