ENGL 4310

Josie's comments in Living with Contradictions were interesting. I can't help wondering if Mrs. Whipple did really love her son, but was still "othering" him, that she could not accept him as the same or of the same worth as her "normal" children. He seemed to me to be made so much the animal who could be loved and tended, but who couldn't feel like humans do. The language Porter uses supports this too and there is so much animal imagery, he climbs up the tree like a monkey etc.: "He ate squatting in the corner, smacking and mumbling. Rolls of fat covered Him like an overcoat." Besides the fact that he is eating like an animal, not at the table with utensils, he has an "overcoat." The implication almost suggests a coat of skins, an animal hide. This would be interesting to look at in terms of the lack of ability to communicate, I can't remember who is doing their paper with this focus, but because we are all aware that he is no different, he can feel, it is interesting that what He does lack is the ability to express those feelings in language. There is some body language going on in the story on his part, but it is limited. He runs from the sow. When Mrs. Whipple boxes Him on the ears: "He blinked and blinked and rubbed His head, and his face hurt Mrs. Whipple's feelings." He doesn't cry and it is interesting that it becomes an issue of her feeling. She honestly believes that "He don't get hurt." At least until the end when she does see Him cry. Then she glimpses the truth.