The book’s opening chapter seems to be just the start of something greater to come. Conroy, a young man looking for somewhere to work manages to entangle himself between working at a school and going to the Peace Corps. He finds himself sitting in front of the superintendent asking to work at a school that is in great need. Yamacraw, where the school is located is nestled on untouched land. The prominent population is black people, with only a handful of white families. The connection between the island and the mainland are non-existent. After being impacted by the oyster factory shut-down, many people left the island to avoid starvation. During this first chapter, Conroy not only gives a description of the island but a view of his ignorance of how he treated people. Conroy gives account of some events, like the “sit in” demonstration in Greensboro which should have caused an impact of the ignorance of his thinking, but did not. He integrates history into this first chapter of the progression of law, desegregation in the schools. However, Conroy’s trip to Germany to tour the concentration camp at Dachau leaves an impact on how he views the goodness of man. “The imprint of Dachau branded me indelibly and caused me to suffer the miscarriage of my helpful philosophy.” Conroy experienced firsthand how the death of Martin Luther King Jr. impacted the black community. It seems that in this first chapter Conroy's past will not define how he is going to treat people in the future. He seems to be in a battle of finding good in man. The hurt people displayed, the Vietnam war, and the torment of the children at Dachau seem to plaque the thoughts of Conroy. I feel he is on a mission to help, to save something, save someone. Conroy’s past experience will most likely impact the compassion he will display to the families and children on the island.
When I first read the part of the book you blogged about, I did not put the pieces together about the impacts on how the different groups of people were affected and the similarities in their situations. I also did not make the transformation that this was when he was transformed. I knew that he was starting to question that people where good but I kept wondering when he transformed and why. I agree with you and feel that this was a turning point where he realized he wanted to find the good and the help change occur in the community. Also, that this will help with his patience and understanding with his students on Yamacraw Island.
ReplyDeleteI felt like Conroy wasn't an evil person or even a true racist. Instead I felt like he was guilty of what so many other are guilty of; indifference and following the actions of those around him. In many ways Conroy was an idealist. He believed that the world was innately good and he couldn't imagine true evil even though it was happening all over the world and in his own backyard. I think the visit to Germany was a wake up for him. Seeing the terrible things that occurred first hand forced him to acknowledge the evil that exists. After this point he started to recognize things everywhere he went. He was forced to look differently at the seemingly "harmless" actions and words towards blacks and I believe he was surprised at the realization of what was actually occurring.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on chapter one especially the part at the high school with the murder of Dr. King Jr. and how the students are handling the sadness. He's not very compasionate toward the girls and I guess during this time you had to be because of scandle and being seen helping someone that was different than you. Society really had Conroy in denial. In this chapter, I was thinking; why is it that he wants to go to an isolated place and teach? Is it to undo his true feelings or is it out of guilt of how he has felt in the past and now realizes that those ways and thoughts are very wrong. I don't know, I think as I keep reading that he will be kinda like a reborn person when it comes to treating others equal.
ReplyDelete"I feel he is on a mission to help, to save something, save someone. Conroy’s past experience will most likely impact the compassion he will display to the families and children on the island." - Yes - I completely agree. This was an excellent sentence to use this week. It has so many ramifications for why he is there and why he changed from that younger boy who had played that awful game he described. Good post!
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