In what ways does Malamud plays with myth throughout the novel, and how does this motif illuminate or contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole?
The fact that most of these mythical or fantastical moments happen on the baseball field is significant. When Roy's not playing baseball, he's subject to failure, especially in courting women and just in social skills in general. When he hits the field, however, he becomes a superhuman capable of tearing the cover off the ball and hitting the ball wherever he wills.
I definitely agree with Alex that it is very important that most of the mythical moments happen while he is playing baseball. It's as if Roy was born with some sort of supernatural baseball talent. However, I feel that the book centers more around how Roy uses his special "talents" off the field than how well he performs with them on the field. Just like in any superhero movie, the way a character uses his talents can either have very satisfying results for the character or very drastic. In the case of this novel, Roy uses his talents to satisfy his greed and selfishness. Roy doesn't play baseball because of the love he has for the game, but because he wants to receive the fame and money that come in return for good playing.
In addition to what Alex and Ben said about the baseball and "special talents" motif, I also noticed the motif about the moving train inside Roy's head. At different points in the story the train would speed up and slow down according to the way Roy's life was going. For example, on page 111 Roy says "It rested him by cutting down the inside motion-that which got him nowhere, which was where he was and she was not, or where his ambitions were and he was chasing after" (111). The "inside motion" he is referring to is the movement of the train and in this quote he implies that the train is chasing after his ambitions, specifically Memo. Throughout the novel he makes references to the train and its speed; a few time it even stops all-together when he feels completely content.
Roy Hobbs is a character with farfetched goals and expectations, so it is only fitting that farfetched elements exist in The Natural as well. Throughout the novel superstitious behavior is practiced, fantastical dreams are had, and power beyond that of a human is exhibited. But why is any of this relevant? Because, simply, through exaggeration The Natural is able create scenarios that draw forth emotions and reactions from the reader that otherwise would never have surfaced. Unlike the other players on his team, Roy doesn't undergo hypnosis before their game, and he's still able to play well. This action further promotes the reader to believe he's a "natural". The same applies to him hitting the cover off of the baseball; he's able to do what no one else has ever done, and as a result he's held in even higher regard and becomes a greater phenomenon. By making this larger than life reputation for him, Malamud is able to make Roy's eventual downfall all the more dramatic.
Malamud chose the title with a purpose. Through Roy's baseball journey, we see how this title comes into play. To portray Roy's natural ability, myth and exaggeration are used. Whether it is his attachment to a wooden bat, breaking many records, or catching a bird, the author uses this motif throughout the novel. The motif continues as Roy's extensive eating leads to his downfall. All the previous buildup of his natural talent catches the reader's attention and keeps us guessing. In the end, we realize Roy is in fact a tragic hero.
I think Roy's life resembles the life of a character on a quest for some sort of grail. To Roy, his "grail" would be to become the best baseball player who has ever lived. At the beginning, it seems that he has what it takes, but of course obstacles get in his way. After being shot, it takes years for him to return to his quest, but first he must prove himself worthy. When he gets the chance to play, he breaks records and garners plenty of attention from the press, all with the help of his trusty bat Wonderboy. It seems as everything is going well, but then he hits a slump. This slump is a result of one of his several flaws - his longing for Memo. His other flaws include, like Ben said, pride and selfishness. He wants to be the best, just to be the best, and that is why his quest fails. Malamud also uses exaggeration and myth to emphasize points on Roy's journey.
I completely agree with Emily and Carolyn about how Malamud uses exaggeration to draw in the reader and build up his dramatic fall from the top. The exaggerations of plot, as well as expressive analogies and similes helped to keep the book interesting. As Emily said, the end of Wonderboy in a flash of lightning, contrasted with Roy's moments of grief over his desire for Memo gave the reader a full range of emotions. However, I don't believe that Roy himself is a tragic hero as I don't think he fits all the criteria. I don't see much of any virtue or nobility in him to begin with, and I believe his fall was wholly deserved. Although I do think Roy learned from his experiences, at the end of the book I saw Roy's fate as merited and depressing.
Roy Hobbs is a character obsessed with his own abilities and shows no modesty to those whom he views as his subordinates. In this egotistical personality he develops, he can relate to the mythical Greek character, Narcissus. While Narcissus falls in love with himself, Roy falls in love with the perks that he believes his natural abilities should provide. For example, he becomes infatuated with Memo because he thinks he deserves the best. Because Bump was originally with Memo, Roy must assert his power in an attempt to be with "the best" woman. In this venture, Roy sets out for the wrong qualities in a woman, as Iris proves to be a much better person. Roy is too conceited to love a girl who is slightly overweight and a grandmother; he sees himself deserving only of the best, and, because Iris is the less attractive of the two, Roy refuses to be with her. His arrogance prevents him from ever being happy, just as Narcissus's hubris prevents him of the same goal.
I like how Emily used the title of the book in her explanation of Roy Hobbs. Malamud portrays Roy as a character who has gone through a lot to get to his baseball fame. After being shot and keeping his life before baseball a secret, Roy is seen as a "natural" to those watching. Although Roy was old to be starting his career, his attitude of, "I came for more than the ride and I will leave my mark around here" (58), shows the reader his true nature. Malamud uses myth to capture his audience. Roy's ability to eat more than humanly possible and to hit the cover off a baseball makes his story known. Without the exaggerations of the author, Roy's downfall would not be as tragic. The "stricken hero" (35) as Roy is described after being shot is not far off from the center of gravity. This idea makes the spectrum between what's real and myth more drastic captivating Malamud's audience.
I like how Emily used the title of the book in her explanation of Roy Hobbs. Malamud portrays Roy as a character who has gone through a lot to get to his baseball fame. After being shot and keeping his life before baseball a secret, Roy is seen as a "natural" to those watching. Although Roy was old to be starting his career, his attitude of, "I came for more than the ride and I will leave my mark around here" (58), shows the reader his true nature. Malamud uses myth to capture his audience. Roy's ability to eat more than humanly possible and to hit the cover off a baseball makes his story known. Without the exaggerations of the author, Roy's downfall would not be as tragic. The "stricken hero" (35) as Roy is described after being shot is not far off from the center of gravity. This idea makes the spectrum between what's real and myth more drastic captivating Malamud's audience.
As you can tell throughout the entire novel, Malamud plays with the perception of myth and lets it continue until the very end. He shows that even the main character of his novel can be taken into a "mythical" situation. For example, Roy's over eating habits are what bring his career to an end, and even that can seem somewhat mythical. Now Roy can be seen as somewhat of a "stricken hero" (35) and that also goes with the myth of his story. Thats why this book was interesting in the fact that the motif was played out very well by the author.
Malamud uses several examples of myth throughout this otherwise realistic fiction novel. Most of the magical moments have to do with Roy's bat. During one of his first at bats in the major leagues, Roy is asked to knock the cover off the ball, and he does just that. Then when he is trying to hit the ball for the last time in his career, Wonderboy (his bat) breaks cleanly in half. These moments sort of serve as starting and ending points for his career in the novel. His whole career is kind of a magical journey in itself, and so having these distinctly magical moments serve as breaking points between different parts in the novel: the dreary beginning, the magical career, and the tragic end.
I agree with Emily and Rebecca. Malamud's use of myth on the baseball field is crucial in displaying Roy Hobbs as a Baseball God. He is able to do things that no other player would be able to do. For example, Roy's superhuman ability enables him to aim at and hit Otto Zipp with a foul ball. Thinking about the use of myth reminds me of Tim O'breins thoughts on truth in a story. He explains that in order for a writer to display the true emotion of a scene, exaggeration and fiction is crucial. If the writer does not add these aspects to his story, then the reader is incapable of capturing the real truth the author is trying to display. So if Malamud had not used myth, then we as readers wouldn't be able to connect as well with the text.
In the novel there are many different examples of myth. Roy's intellectual capacity fall short of his baseball talents. Yet, his baseball talents create the potential for mythic heroism. Even his "comeback" after being shot is somewhat unbelievable. To return to the game with the same talent level if not more, is a bit of a stretch from reality. If this had not been like this, though, it would not have been a very interesting story. Malamud uses this to create a story that people would be willing to read.
The hero status that is given to Roy Hobbs serves to portray him as mythical. Malamud contrasts two aspects of Roy's life that makes it seem like you are backstage with a celebrity. On the field he is perfect, but off the field he struggles with almost everything, falling into hard luck and uncomfortable positions regularly. Like all other heros, Roy's hubris leads to a downfall. Faced with this adversity he self destructs and fails even worse. Miraculously rising up again, Roy "cleans up" and gets back to performance shape. His mysterious past catches up to him however and Malamud has roy eat inhuman amounts of food. In his fit of desperation he decides to take a bribe so he can live happily with Memo, but coming to he senses in an epic and theatrical way, Roy decides to follow the good in himself . Malamud uses this impractical, whirlwind of a life to represent the uncertainty that life carries and to enjoy it while you can.
Throughout the novel, Roy Hobbs transitions from a modest, average man to the stereotypical all star athlete. However, Malamud portrays Roy's image as a baseball player in a mythical way. He hungers for women, food and fame. Once he discovers his "powers, " he no longer possesses the modesty that he once did. Also similar to image the superhero or mythical creature, Roy has one clear weakness- Memo. It is his kryptonite.
The fact that most of these mythical or fantastical moments happen on the baseball field is significant. When Roy's not playing baseball, he's subject to failure, especially in courting women and just in social skills in general. When he hits the field, however, he becomes a superhuman capable of tearing the cover off the ball and hitting the ball wherever he wills.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Alex that it is very important that most of the mythical moments happen while he is playing baseball. It's as if Roy was born with some sort of supernatural baseball talent. However, I feel that the book centers more around how Roy uses his special "talents" off the field than how well he performs with them on the field. Just like in any superhero movie, the way a character uses his talents can either have very satisfying results for the character or very drastic. In the case of this novel, Roy uses his talents to satisfy his greed and selfishness. Roy doesn't play baseball because of the love he has for the game, but because he wants to receive the fame and money that come in return for good playing.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to what Alex and Ben said about the baseball and "special talents" motif, I also noticed the motif about the moving train inside Roy's head. At different points in the story the train would speed up and slow down according to the way Roy's life was going. For example, on page 111 Roy says "It rested him by cutting down the inside motion-that which got him nowhere, which was where he was and she was not, or where his ambitions were and he was chasing after" (111). The "inside motion" he is referring to is the movement of the train and in this quote he implies that the train is chasing after his ambitions, specifically Memo. Throughout the novel he makes references to the train and its speed; a few time it even stops all-together when he feels completely content.
ReplyDeleteRoy Hobbs is a character with farfetched goals and expectations, so it is only fitting that farfetched elements exist in The Natural as well. Throughout the novel superstitious behavior is practiced, fantastical dreams are had, and power beyond that of a human is exhibited. But why is any of this relevant? Because, simply, through exaggeration The Natural is able create scenarios that draw forth emotions and reactions from the reader that otherwise would never have surfaced. Unlike the other players on his team, Roy doesn't undergo hypnosis before their game, and he's still able to play well. This action further promotes the reader to believe he's a "natural". The same applies to him hitting the cover off of the baseball; he's able to do what no one else has ever done, and as a result he's held in even higher regard and becomes a greater phenomenon. By making this larger than life reputation for him, Malamud is able to make Roy's eventual downfall all the more dramatic.
ReplyDeleteMalamud chose the title with a purpose. Through Roy's baseball journey, we see how this title comes into play. To portray Roy's natural ability, myth and exaggeration are used. Whether it is his attachment to a wooden bat, breaking many records, or catching a bird, the author uses this motif throughout the novel. The motif continues as Roy's extensive eating leads to his downfall. All the previous buildup of his natural talent catches the reader's attention and keeps us guessing. In the end, we realize Roy is in fact a tragic hero.
ReplyDeleteI think Roy's life resembles the life of a character on a quest for some sort of grail. To Roy, his "grail" would be to become the best baseball player who has ever lived. At the beginning, it seems that he has what it takes, but of course obstacles get in his way. After being shot, it takes years for him to return to his quest, but first he must prove himself worthy. When he gets the chance to play, he breaks records and garners plenty of attention from the press, all with the help of his trusty bat Wonderboy. It seems as everything is going well, but then he hits a slump. This slump is a result of one of his several flaws - his longing for Memo. His other flaws include, like Ben said, pride and selfishness. He wants to be the best, just to be the best, and that is why his quest fails. Malamud also uses exaggeration and myth to emphasize points on Roy's journey.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Emily and Carolyn about how Malamud uses exaggeration to draw in the reader and build up his dramatic fall from the top. The exaggerations of plot, as well as expressive analogies and similes helped to keep the book interesting. As Emily said, the end of Wonderboy in a flash of lightning, contrasted with Roy's moments of grief over his desire for Memo gave the reader a full range of emotions.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I don't believe that Roy himself is a tragic hero as I don't think he fits all the criteria. I don't see much of any virtue or nobility in him to begin with, and I believe his fall was wholly deserved. Although I do think Roy learned from his experiences, at the end of the book I saw Roy's fate as merited and depressing.
Roy Hobbs is a character obsessed with his own abilities and shows no modesty to those whom he views as his subordinates. In this egotistical personality he develops, he can relate to the mythical Greek character, Narcissus. While Narcissus falls in love with himself, Roy falls in love with the perks that he believes his natural abilities should provide. For example, he becomes infatuated with Memo because he thinks he deserves the best. Because Bump was originally with Memo, Roy must assert his power in an attempt to be with "the best" woman. In this venture, Roy sets out for the wrong qualities in a woman, as Iris proves to be a much better person. Roy is too conceited to love a girl who is slightly overweight and a grandmother; he sees himself deserving only of the best, and, because Iris is the less attractive of the two, Roy refuses to be with her. His arrogance prevents him from ever being happy, just as Narcissus's hubris prevents him of the same goal.
ReplyDeleteI like how Emily used the title of the book in her explanation of Roy Hobbs. Malamud portrays Roy as a character who has gone through a lot to get to his baseball fame. After being shot and keeping his life before baseball a secret, Roy is seen as a "natural" to those watching. Although Roy was old to be starting his career, his attitude of, "I came for more than the ride and I will leave my mark around here" (58), shows the reader his true nature. Malamud uses myth to capture his audience. Roy's ability to eat more than humanly possible and to hit the cover off a baseball makes his story known. Without the exaggerations of the author, Roy's downfall would not be as tragic. The "stricken hero" (35) as Roy is described after being shot is not far off from the center of gravity. This idea makes the spectrum between what's real and myth more drastic captivating Malamud's audience.
ReplyDeleteI like how Emily used the title of the book in her explanation of Roy Hobbs. Malamud portrays Roy as a character who has gone through a lot to get to his baseball fame. After being shot and keeping his life before baseball a secret, Roy is seen as a "natural" to those watching. Although Roy was old to be starting his career, his attitude of, "I came for more than the ride and I will leave my mark around here" (58), shows the reader his true nature. Malamud uses myth to capture his audience. Roy's ability to eat more than humanly possible and to hit the cover off a baseball makes his story known. Without the exaggerations of the author, Roy's downfall would not be as tragic. The "stricken hero" (35) as Roy is described after being shot is not far off from the center of gravity. This idea makes the spectrum between what's real and myth more drastic captivating Malamud's audience.
ReplyDeleteAs you can tell throughout the entire novel, Malamud plays with the perception of myth and lets it continue until the very end. He shows that even the main character of his novel can be taken into a "mythical" situation. For example, Roy's over eating habits are what bring his career to an end, and even that can seem somewhat mythical. Now Roy can be seen as somewhat of a "stricken hero" (35) and that also goes with the myth of his story. Thats why this book was interesting in the fact that the motif was played out very well by the author.
ReplyDeleteMalamud uses several examples of myth throughout this otherwise realistic fiction novel. Most of the magical moments have to do with Roy's bat. During one of his first at bats in the major leagues, Roy is asked to knock the cover off the ball, and he does just that. Then when he is trying to hit the ball for the last time in his career, Wonderboy (his bat) breaks cleanly in half. These moments sort of serve as starting and ending points for his career in the novel. His whole career is kind of a magical journey in itself, and so having these distinctly magical moments serve as breaking points between different parts in the novel: the dreary beginning, the magical career, and the tragic end.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emily and Rebecca. Malamud's use of myth on the baseball field is crucial in displaying Roy Hobbs as a Baseball God. He is able to do things that no other player would be able to do. For example, Roy's superhuman ability enables him to aim at and hit Otto Zipp with a foul ball. Thinking about the use of myth reminds me of Tim O'breins thoughts on truth in a story. He explains that in order for a writer to display the true emotion of a scene, exaggeration and fiction is crucial. If the writer does not add these aspects to his story, then the reader is incapable of capturing the real truth the author is trying to display. So if Malamud had not used myth, then we as readers wouldn't be able to connect as well with the text.
ReplyDeleteIn the novel there are many different examples of myth. Roy's intellectual capacity fall short of his baseball talents. Yet, his baseball talents create the potential for mythic heroism. Even his "comeback" after being shot is somewhat unbelievable. To return to the game with the same talent level if not more, is a bit of a stretch from reality. If this had not been like this, though, it would not have been a very interesting story. Malamud uses this to create a story that people would be willing to read.
ReplyDeleteThe hero status that is given to Roy Hobbs serves to portray him as mythical. Malamud contrasts two aspects of Roy's life that makes it seem like you are backstage with a celebrity. On the field he is perfect, but off the field he struggles with almost everything, falling into hard luck and uncomfortable positions regularly. Like all other heros, Roy's hubris leads to a downfall. Faced with this adversity he self destructs and fails even worse. Miraculously rising up again, Roy "cleans up" and gets back to performance shape. His mysterious past catches up to him however and Malamud has roy eat inhuman amounts of food. In his fit of desperation he decides to take a bribe so he can live happily with Memo, but coming to he senses in an epic and theatrical way, Roy decides to follow the good in himself . Malamud uses this impractical, whirlwind of a life to represent the uncertainty that life carries and to enjoy it while you can.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the novel, Roy Hobbs transitions from a modest, average man to the stereotypical all star athlete. However, Malamud portrays Roy's image as a baseball player in a mythical way. He hungers for women, food and fame. Once he discovers his "powers, " he no longer possesses the modesty that he once did. Also similar to image the superhero or mythical creature, Roy has one clear weakness- Memo. It is his kryptonite.
ReplyDelete