Significant Quotes in ATKM

Significant Quotes In ATKM

The chapter I would love to discuss is chapter 7. The topic knowledge vs. ignorance is demonstrated in several quotes throughout this novel. It is apparent that Jack is knowledgeable, but wants to be in this sea of ignorance, “They say the drowning man relives his life as he drowns. Well, I was not drowning in water, but brass days and black velvet nights. It took me seventy-eight hours to drown. For my body to sink down to the very bottom of West and lie in the motionless ooze of History, naked on a hotel bed in Long Beach, California (Warren 408).” This is significant because it shows that not only does he escape from reality to through sleep, but also wants to go through water. The drowning and arises acts as a rebirth of a new person. He goes west after becoming knowledgeable of Anne’s’ discretions and is reared “motionless”. It is a state of lifelessness and this connects to 226 where life is described as motion toward knowledge. The fact that Jack only wakes up in order to have the chance to go asleep shows, the non-motion or ignorance he wishes to live his life through. I do  not  understand  why he does not stop living in this lie. He in fact is very knowing of the evil and wrong doings that his boss commits. This could be what is leading to his “black velvet nights”. I believe he knows it’s his fault why Anne was driven to Willie and wants to drown away in regret. This novel constantly makes you fight with if the characters innate characteristics are what is leading to their downfall or if the relationships they maintain are the reasons they fail in attempts to have secure relations.

 The theme that humans are made to be a part of collectivism in order to succeed is presented. Jacks satirical character is a good example, “So maybe she was up in the room trying to discover what her new self was, for when you get in love you are made all over again. The person who loves you has picked you out of a great mass of uncreated clay…and the poor lumpish clay which is you wants to find out what it has been made into…” (423-24).This is significant because it shows how everyone as a whole has to be created by someone else. When you are apart the world grinds, which shows that it does not even make sense to you when you are alone. This can be seen as dependencies not even truly love. I believe that is why Anne attaches herself to the boss. She desperately wants to be attached to a man that does good for the sick not Jack a man with no aspirations. It is almost more of a fantasy and ignorant statement that Jack uses here. This chapter explained that Jack wants to be loved, but his innate ways repulse even Anne. I now can understand Jacks character and can pity him. Similar to Willie I believe he wants to do good, but something is in him prevents this.