Please post your blog response to the story here. You can feel free to respond in any substantive way you choose (that means going beyond superficiality: likes, dislikes, summary, et cetera; none of that will be acceptable or given credit), but some starting points to consider are the structure of the story, the way in which it uses vignettes, connective threads between vignettes, the effect and themes of the story, the language and craft, et cetera.
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ReplyDeleteThe Largesse of the Sea Maiden was confusing at first, being that it jumped straight into the stories and vignettes of the main character. It was hard to tell what exactly the story was, but after reading the first few stories, it was clear that they were all intertwined, some happening right after one another on a time line. As I continued to read The Largesse of the Sea Maiden, I started to realized that each vignette was connected with another vignette, somehow. Some stories seemed to be completely random, not connecting with a previous vignette, or even seeming to stray from the original intent of the story. However, as I continued to read the stories it was obvious that some were meant to lead to another story and come full circle, like the vignette about his artist friend, Tony Fido. It seemed like there was no clear correlation between the individual vignettes but as I continued reading, it became obvious that they each linked in different ways. Different themes of the stories were that each story had multiple vignettes, linking to each other. It was not always obvious initially as to how the vignettes would link, but as the stories ended, the characters between stories seemed to connect with each other. I noticed that many of the stories started with the present and developed into a backstory, as the narrator, Whit, continuously had another story to tell. The end vignette seemed to not be as connected as the vignettes in the middle of the story, but it did allow for a story that ended with a sense of mystery, similar to his vignette about his bank ad.
ReplyDeleteI actually didn't notice this at first but you're right, some of the vignettes didn't really seem to make any sense at all or seem to connect to the overall picture until after you're done reading the story. Looking back on the story they did all have a purpose, like you said, to come full circle and link to a following vignette. The correlations were not always clear right away and I'm glad you pointed that out, I agree but I also feel each story was a part of the main backstory of his life.
DeleteWhile reading “The Largesse of the Sea Maiden” by Dennis Johnson, I noticed that each vignette started as like a snapshot, zoomed in, without broadly explaining everything right away. The story starts with a specific moment, and only then starts to zoom out to add more context, still without ever fully explaining everything, like an autobiography would. I also noticed how each vignette was connected, sometimes more obvious that other times, but each vignette seemed to be a continuance of the previous, however it could also make perfect sense to read as a story on its own. I admire Johnson’s writing style, as it never starts off with explanations. It lets the reader figure out what’s happening, while only briefly explaining things as needed. Throughout the whole story, I had a completely separate view of who the narrator was, until the last vignette where he revealed his age. It wasn’t something that ruined the stories, it just changed my perspective. By revealing his age at the end, even such a minute detail, it caused me to rethink about each the stories. Almost like a reflection. As for the vignettes, many times only a few things were related among them, but yet each vignette fit together, or accompanied each other very well. Each were completely separate stories, but continuing to the next vignette felt like a stream, versus a dead end and a new start. I also enjoyed how each story was in a sense, more than a story. Each story conveyed some sort of deeper meaning, whether it be a lesson about regrets, or a new way of viewing art. The messages sometimes were a way to close out each story, which was a perfect way to split up each vignette.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%. I really enjoyed how Denis Johnson started out very broad in his explanations and slowly increased the details to help develop the story. He found a way to interconnect each vignette in such a small mannor. Great job on explaining how Denis Johnson starts out with minimal detail but adds to the story as it goes.
DeleteI agree with your statement on how each vignette started with a snapshot only to broaden out as each vignette goes on. I also admire your explanation that each vignette could be seen as its own story. I definitely think that even though the vignettes are meant to be connected in some fashion or another that they are written so well that they could be their own stories.
DeleteWhen I first started reading "The Largesse of the Sea Maiden" by Danis Johnson I was very confused as to what was going on. It starts out very broad and doesn't explain who the characters are. It doesn't give you any detail on the background of the characters. However, the more you read the more you get a feel for the characters. I really enjoyed this type of writing because it really makes you think about the story and who the characters really are. The way Denis Johnson wrote this was different than anything I have ever read before because it was written in vignettes. In each vignette he starts out broad, no detail. As the vignette goes on he adds more detail and you begin to understand more of the story and who the characters are. What I really liked most about "the Largesse of the Sea Maiden" is that each vignette gives you more insight on who the main character really is. You learn about who he is more in each vignette. You finally learn his name in the last vignette. Overall I really enjoyed this reading because each vignette had a deep meaning. The one story that stuck out in my head the most was the one where he meets the painter and a few times a month they would get coffee and talk about are and life. The artist kills himself eventually and the writer comes to learn that the artist considered him as his best friend. This just goes to show that you never know how much of an impact you make in someones life. You may just think of yourselves as friends but the other might have a totally different view on it. I also have a great deal of respect for Denis Johnson for being able to put together such a good story using small events.
ReplyDeleteI also found it confusing when I first started reading. I also liked how the vignettes slowly told you what kind of person the main character is.
DeleteI agree that the style of writing is very unique, and that is what makes it interesting. The way the vignettes are written to allows for the reader to become completely involved and what to find out more about each character, making it easier to follow and get into the story.
DeleteAs I began reading “The Largesse of the Sea Maiden”, by Denis Johnson, I was slightly confused. The work seemed disconnected and random at first, but once analyzing the organization of the text approximately three pages in, I began to understand each story's purpose. To me it seemed as if every substory affected the main character's attitude towards life. In each section, he seemed to learn a lesson that not only changed his original perspective, but taught him new life lessons. Each story in this vignette may not seem important enough for its own tale, but the cohesive piece tells the reader how the main character developed a strong sense of empathy and care for others through many small interactions. For example, Tony had told Anne, a friend of his, that the main character was his best friend. Although the main character seemed confused by this statement, he was ultimately taught the unknown influence he has had on people's lives and praised for his kind and friendly manor. Another aspect I noticed about this piece was the connection from the subtitle to the story itself. The subtitle seemed to reflect each story, however, with a deeper meaning. An example of this would be the substory titled “Mermaid” (Johnson 133). The tale told about a blonde woman in a seemingly typical bar. The main character described her as “attractive” and “poised” yet crying at a table. He also mentioned that she said “I am prisoner here,” (Johnson 140). Although this story has nothing to do with mermaids, the title seems to have a deeper meaning and reveals the main characters thoughts on the events that took place. The clearly beautiful woman in the perfectly arranged bar felt as if she lacked the freedom to do as she pleases. Consistently, mermaids are envisioned as beautiful people living in a magical land, yet limited to the sea because of their lack of real legs; The Little Mermaid. The cohesive story and smaller sections of “The Largesse of the Sea Maiden” give the reader a broad view on the main characters experiences which shaped his perspectives on life.
ReplyDeleteConsider this, however. Instead of looking at Whitman developing a strong sense of empathy and care, look at the outer pieces of the vignette. Each vignette ties in with death, and all the sub-titles to each vignette have some correlation with death. By the end, you have Whitman saying "Memory fades, not much of the past stays, and I wouldn't mind forgetting a lot more of it."
Delete"The Largesse of the Sea Maiden" threads each vignette in a matter where the reader can eventually figure out that each one is connected to one another to create this world in which the narrator is living in. I will admit that I had some difficulty piecing all the different vignettes together as some just seemed out of place, but I appreciate the messages conveyed in each one whether it be obvious or subtle. I thought the transitions between vignettes were beautifully crafted such as from "Silences" to "Accomplices" where the message and theme of silence was continued across. There is no one overall theme in "The Largesse of the Sea Maiden". There are multiple themes spread across different vignettes just like we have different themes and lessons learned in our life. I think Johnson's purpose for these vignettes were to be read as if each one was their own story. The vignettes may or may not refer to the original story told in the beginning, which is a reflection of how different stories in our lives may or may not connect to a single point in our lives. Each story the narrator tells starts off as its own and says what needs to be said before going off into the next one. I admire how Johnson doesn't explicitly tell every single aspect of each vignette and story because it would take away the reader's interpretation of the vignette. Nothing in "The Largesse of the Sea Maiden" is vague to the point where the reader is left confused or so obvious where the reader is told what to think. Each aspect and detail that is given gives enough context for the reader to figure out for themselves and interpret what each vignette means to the narrator and themselves.
ReplyDeleteI think i'm going to have to disagree with the statement where you said that the cohesive story did not have an overall theme. Although each story did convey a very specific smaller theme, I do believe the ideas of hope and empathy are found throughout entire story. This could be created into a cohesive theme for the whole story.
DeleteI disagree with your statement saying that the author's purpose was for the vignettes to be read as if they were their own story. Although they do not seem to intertwine, I believe that each story is needed to allow the reader to visualize who the main character really is and understand what his life is like.
DeleteThrough a series of vignettes, Bill Whitman is able to depict his memories with intricate detail. As a reader, it is tough to understand what is going on from the start. However, with each vignette, it becomes noticeable the author connects the memories with the harshness of life. One very notable quote from the story is when Whitman speaks about the difference between repent and regret: "Repent what you've done, and regret the chances missed." Moreover, "the Largesse of the Sea Maiden," translated, means the gifts of the sea maiden. After having read the story, the title helps understand what the author meant, and Whitman's view on life. In other words, Whitman has an obsession with death. Whitman talks about his past, what he's seen, who he's met, and where he's been. Much of it ties in with death, some sort of pain, or a connection with two beings. As a result, he has "more to remember that to look forward to." One thing that really caught my eye are the sub titles; all of them are a characteristics of death in some way or another. The syntax used by Johnson is very open, and sometimes vague or very straight forward. This allows the reader to formulate their own thoughts or connection with Whitman. The overall tone Johnson sets is reminiscent and accepting. This reinforces his obsession with death. To sum up, Johnson wrote a brilliant short story, that keeps its audience engaged and curious in Whitman's past experiences.
ReplyDeleteYou can see the visibility of the theme of depression and sadness in the vignette. Between his leg being blown off, his bad day of locking his keys in his car and dropping everything in his brief case, as well as his pinched nerve, sadness and pain is a clear theme. It is intricately placed in all the episodes of the vignette. Confusing at first and understanding as more is being read. Death is a big theme in this vignette, especially with Ginny being on her death bed, however I don't think the author is obsessed with it
DeleteIt's really interesting that you pointed out the connection between the subtitles. I noticed the theme of death throughout the vignettes as well, but I didn't notice the subtitles. That makes my perspective on the overall story even sadder, because it isn't a gradual depression as I first thought.
DeleteThe Largesse of the Sea Maiden uses vignettes by starting the story with everyone talking about the loudest noises they have ever heard. The story was then contrastingly connected by then the characters discussing the quietest noises they have ever heard. The silenced noise Chris had ever heard was when his leg was blown off in a land mine in Afghanistan during war. This then connects the story to turn to talk about kissing his leg and kissing. The language of the word kissing is used in a loose way of portraying it more as an absence. The use of silence connected the story to art, where the word art is used in a language as it is referred to as a person... "art doesn't own it. My name ain't Art (124, Johnson)." The story is then connected to sadness and pain. Emotional pain from the character locking his keys in the car and spilling his briefcase everywhere, and the physical, bodily pained of his pinched nerve in his back. The last couple of vignette episodes are connected by a description of a painting being called "...slyly designed, intricately patterned, and coherent" (Johnson,126). The entire vignette is written in this way to keep the episodes connected and meaningful. It was coincidental and connective when he was at the chiropractor and his first wife, Ginny, called on the wall phone. He was meant to answer this phone call to find out the news of Ginny dying; to get rid of the bitterness that was between them. The entirety of The Largesse of the Sea Maiden was so carefully designed and intricately written in a language that connected all the episodes of the Vignette. The language used was meaningful beyond defintion.
ReplyDeleteThe story does indeed become one of sadness and pain. Both physical and emotional pain is portrayed by not only Whitman himself, but by other characters in the narrative such as Ginny, Whitman's ex-wife who is dying, and Jenny another ex-wife of his in which he betrayed. All of these people and their stories tie back to Whitman's emotional and physical pain, as you have clearly stated. The diction was extremely meaningful, and the story, although confusing at first, is methodically connected through vignettes in a beautifully systematic fashion.
DeleteDenis Johnson’s “The Largesse of the Sea Maiden” is simply a personal short story. It is somewhat of an auto-biographical narrative that is organized through vignettes in a sequential manner. Johnson begins this narrative by descriptively introducing a dinner scene with some friends. At first, I was very confused as to what was going on. The story seemed to be about just some guy, Bill Whitman, rambling on about what he’s seeing or feeling, and recounting past occurrences. Then, as I continued to read, I realized that his format was in some type of chronological order, yet the memories he was describing seemed to be scattered at random times throughout his life. Vignettes! The entire narrative is written in vignette form, and has somewhat of a sulky, morose tone. The syntax, the imagery, the diction, and even the titles used within the narrative helped display this. Most of the titles that act as transition points from one vignette to another, symbolize something associated with death. That was one of the very first things that I noticed as soon as the resentful, depressed tone came to light. Bill Whitman leads a tough life; he was divorced twice, has constant body aches as well as nerve pain, and is somehow tied back to the deaths of people he once knew or barely knew. Whitman discusses the people that he’s met through vignettes, and he also shares the stories of these people such as Tony the painter, or Chris Case, the amputee. All in all, Johnson’s short story is a very well-written, and emotional piece of work. It is an interesting read for anybody, because it keeps readers on edge and locked in as they try to piece the vignettes together.
ReplyDeleteThe theme of death and his depressed tone was too one of the first things I noticed while reading this short story. I found his memories painful and dark throughout and brought me to question why he chose to write about these instead of happier times in his life. I do believe his life has been tough and that these situations have taught him a lot. I also found interesting how he shares other people's painful stories, it can be relatable to some readers and it adds connections to his own experiences.
DeleteWhen I first read "The Largesse of the Sea Maiden" I didn't really understand it that much. It jumps right in without giving you any background information, but as you read through the vignettes everything fits together. I have never read a story written in vignettes until "The Largesse of the Sea Maiden". At first it seems like a bunch of random stories that can't stand on their own, but as you keep reading you see how they all connect. The way the story is written makes you feel like you have a personal connection to the main character.By the time I reached the end, I felt like the main character was someone that I know in real life.I didn't think the story had one large theme, but instead has several smaller themes from the vignettes. In some of the vignettes there is a theme of hope and happiness when Chris and Deirdre get married, and in other vignettes I think the theme is sadness when the main character is sad about the "distance he's traveled from his youth" (Johnson 124). The vignettes about Tony and the deathrow inmate have a theme of death. Another theme is that you can impact peoples lives without even knowing it, like the main character did with Tony. Even though I found it a little confusing the first time I read it, I think the vignettes do a good job about using the main characters past experiences to show what kind of person he is.
ReplyDeleteAlexandra Lewis
DeleteI agree with you. I did not understand at first either, but it became clear as I kept reading that all the stories go hand in hand in some way. I too felt as if I knew so much about the main character just from the few vignettes provided, and the author did a great job with portraying the kind of person the main character is.
I also noticed that the story was confusing at first. Since many stories provide a lot of background information in the beginning, I feel like it's customary to rely on extra information to 'get-in' to a story. Writing in this vignette style is an interesting way of telling a story since it makes readers predict, and assume more, in order to understand what's going on.
DeleteThe story was indeed confusing int he beginning. The author did a really good job with the descriptive wording to make it seem like your living life with Billy, you're actually experiencing what he is. The deaths of his friends really took a impact on me and goes to show how life continues to go on and you leave a mark.
DeleteBill Whitman's collection of vignettes, "The Largesse of the sea Maiden", showed connection with different characters and situations in his life. Although some vignettes seemed to follow the same theme overall, others had complete different ones that somehow still managed to make sense and be useful as a whole. A lot of the vignettes were described happening during dinners or lunches and with a variety of characters which allowed for some conversations and/or controversies. Some vignettes were also similar in the sense that they were stories told by friends of the author and he shared with us while still adding his input. Some characters, such as Elaine and Tony Fildo, were in more than just one vignette which showed their importance in different parts of Bill's life.While other characters (some that were even the focus of some of the vignettes) were deceased when these stories were told, which brings us to a theme very common throughout these, death. In sharing his memories, the depressed and regretful tone becomes apparent throughout. Although vignettes are not necessarily supposed to be in chronological order, the author did place some in order which connected them even further. The people Bill met throughout his life seemed to have added to his life and knowledge and he sure brought their memories to life in this short story.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend this short story because it was very intriguing and fun to slowly unfold how it all ties together.
Hi Ana,
DeleteI agree with you that in this story, these vignettes had to be read in chronological order in order for the story to make sense as a whole. I never though of the story as having an overall theme of death, but after reconsidering the vignettes of "Farewell", "Widow",and "Memorial", I understand where you got that theme. On the other hand, I did not sense a tone of regret and depression as I felt he was simply telling his story through memories due to not all of his stories being about death. All in all, I liked your response as it gave me a different outlook on the story.
Sayawni Lassiter
Alexandra Lewis
ReplyDeleteWhen I began reading The Largesse of the Sea Maiden, I had a hard time understanding the point of the vignettes. Although I had not yet grasped the purpose of the stories, the writer still allows the reader to learn about the main character. For example, the main character had two failed marriages, attended Columbia University, and, assuming from the amount of people mentioned in the vignettes, knew a lot of people. Once I was a few stories in, I realized that in some way, the vignettes do intertwine and relate to each other in some way or another. The vignettes were always casually threaded together, such as when the main character was discussing his artist friend Tony, and at the end found out he had passed away. The very next story went right into the cause of death. Each story had a different mood, whether it was gloomy because of a death, happy because of a get together, or neutral because it did not directly involve him, each vignette set a different tone to further allow the reader to have insight on the main character’s life and struggles. The most interesting part to me is that until the very last vignette, the character’s major life details such as name, age and family was not specified. In the beginning you hear of Elaine, and one would assume that it was his significant other, but there was no confirmation of this until the end when it is mentioned they had been married for twenty-five years and have two children. I felt like I already knew so much about Bill Whitman, I had so many visuals throughout the reading of his life that a detail such as his name did not even cross my mind. Reading this showed me how to portray my life in stories while being entertaining, interesting, and painting a picture without giving a ton of information.
I also think the fact that this story was told through vignettes makes it become much more entertaining. I feel like it was much more personal and I enjoyed how all the stories intertwined together.
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ReplyDeleteBefore even starting the story, I first looked up what largesse and sea maiden meant. Largesse means money or gifts given generously while sea maiden means goddess of the sea or mermaid. After finding out these definitions, I began to read with an eye for connections to money and mermaids. At first, I was confused because at first glance these vignettes are solely personal moments in Bill Whitman's life. But as I dove deeper into the story and looked at it as a whole rather than separate vignettes, I figured out that money and mermaids have a connection to his stories. Money is a tangible entity while mermaids are intangible due to being fake and unknown.
ReplyDeleteTo connect with the first vignette called "Silences", I related the part where Deirdre was going to kiss Chris Case's amputated leg to mermaids. I connected this to mermaids because Deirdre is trying to kiss an intangible object, his leg. Although there is still a stump that remains, she is still trying to kiss something that is absent, or intangible in this case. I was able to make this connection when Bill Whitman says, "How often will you witness a woman kissing an amputation?"(122). The word amputation triggered my connection to mermaids because when one thinks of an amputation, one pictures a body part being removed and becoming absent from another person's body.
In terms of money, the vignette "Memorial" really captures the idea of a tangible entity. I believe the tangible entity in this story is Bill and Tony's friendship. While Bill is uncertain of the level of their friendship as he says, " Tony's best friend? I was confused. I'm still confused. I hardly knew him,"(134) their friendship is very real. Bill and Tony would hang out at Tony's house, they would talk about paintings, and ultimately do what friends do, making their friendship tangible.
On another hand, Mrs. Mason is a combination of money and mermaids. While Mrs. Mason herself is a real individual, the story she tells William Donald Mason about her life is fake. I think Bill's use of the word "anonymity"(129) to describe Mrs. Mason puts into perspective the intangibleness of Mrs. Mason and her story.
Sayawni Lassiter wrote the response above
DeleteWhen I first began reading “The Largesse of the Sea Maiden” written by Denis Johnson, I was a bit confused because the vignettes did not seem to fit like puzzle pieces. However, as I began to analyze the texts I realized that each story serves its own purpose. Through each vignette, we slowly get to learn more about Bill Whitman, the lessons he learned throughout his life, and the people he met. The vignettes are organized in an unorthodox order in which you learn the biggest details about the main character closer to the end of the story. For example, we do not learn the main character’s name and age until the very last vignette. I appreciated this structure because it added a feeling of mystery to the story and allows the reader to invest themselves into the character’s life and changes your perspective on the story. I enjoyed reading this vignette style of writing because it allows you to understand how the main character and also allows the reader to visualize in intricate detail the environment that the character is in. Although the stories were about different people in his life and did not seem to be connected, they still flowed together and did not seem out of place. The author intertwines each story by having each one display a lesson or an experience that Bill Whitman learned in his life. By the end of the piece, the reader gets to understand and know the main character very well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about how I didn't understand how these random stories of these new characters were going to fit like puzzle pieces. It wasn't until the third or fourth story that you are able to make connections, like the lessons he learned and the people he met, like you mentioned.
DeleteThrough reading "The Largesse of the Sea Maiden" it allowed me to understand what exactly a vignette is and its purpose to the reader. At first I did not understand what any of these stories had in common, or what the purpose of dividing them was, but as the vignettes continued you got a deeper understanding of the main character, or the narrator of the "The Largesse of the Sea Maiden". In each vignette, a new character is introduced, but at the same time a small detail about the main character is subtly added, as well. You learn that he loves “the big art museum in Balboa Park”, and he has had two marriages. Through these small details, you can make smaller connections. You learn about the main characters age, likes, and dislikes as well. Through the vignettes you also learn about the kind of person the main character was through the people he surrounded himself with. The story starts off with the shocking story of soldier with one leg, and this introduces the kind of humor and personality the main character is going to carry through the rest of the vignettes. This is the first bit of detail the reader gets about the narrator and sets the tone for the rest of the stories. In addition to the structure of the story, the titles of each vignette was interesting in how it was going to be explained in the upcoming vignette. Overall, the explanation of what a vignette exactly is and how it all comes full circle is explained very well in "The Largesse of the Main Maiden".
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way about not understanding what a vignette really was until after finishing this story. The details used in each vignette helped me to understand how vignettes are conveyed and what their structure is supposed to look like. Overall, the story was beneficial towards showing us how a well written vignette is made while giving us a good story to read.
DeleteI agree that through this reading I was finally able to fully grasp what a vignette is. I saw the purpose of this style of writing and how it brought multiple different stories together to make one bigger story. I also enjoyed learning a little piece of the main character through each vignette, it made me want to continue reading after each one.
DeleteAs a reader of "The Largesse of the Sea Maiden" I didn't fully understand where Denis Johnson was taking the story at first. There was no background given about the writer or what he was telling a story about. He started off in a memory and continued to tell separate stories but they all sort of fit together to form major parts of his life. Each vignette seemed to be a small part of Johnson's life that meant something to him to make him who he was, but I did not realize this until after reading the entire story because at the end he explains who he really is. As the story begins it just seems like a random memory but as each memory or vignette is told they start to connect more and more to create one larger picture. Denis Johnson slowly told these smaller stories without background in order for the reader to feel a connection to his stories and characters without knowing why he was telling the story. But each vignette being able to stand on its own was sort of a small lesson within the larger picture of his life. While reading you start to feel attached to the speaker because you can feel his emotions and thoughts throughout each vignette. The language Johnson chose to use is so descriptive yet so relaxed the reader feels as though they are one of his friends or even as though they are in his heads hearing all of his thoughts. Overall, I enjoyed the story and the way he used vignettes, I had never read a story using vignettes but his way was very creative and enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteI also found trouble understanding the story at first until you could clearly see a correlation between some of the vignettes. I like the way you described Johnson as writing the story the way he did so that the reader can feel connected to it in some way, despite not being able to see the full picture. I found that it was easy to get wrapped up in the story while reading it because the themes and lessons throughout can be applied to anyone's life and it is almost impossible to not take something out of it and be able to use it in your own life.
DeleteI agree with what you said about not being able to fully understand the story at first because I felt the same way. I personally was not able to connect with the character right away so I had to keep rereading everything over and over, which was when I was able to understand everything much better. These vignettes gave us a taste of the speaker's life. There's not much I have to disagree with you because I felt similar things you felt and reacted toward "The Largesse of the Sea Maiden." Even though this was someone else's memories of their past, I did learn life lessons. I liked how you said, "...but as each memory or vignette is told, they start to connect more and more to create one larger picture."
DeleteWhen I first started reading "The Largesse of the Sea Maiden" I was pretty confused about what was happening because it began as a scene without introducing who the characters were at first. As I read the different vignettes, the story began to piece together and I got to know the characters a little bit better. There are new characters in each vignette, but their stories and what they have to do with the main character always tied in to his telling of the story. It was interesting to see the little details about the main character unfold and we aren't truly introduced to him until the very last story. This was one of my first times reading a vignette or anything written in the style and I enjoyed the different smaller stories within it to show the bigger picture. Each story gave a glimpse into Bill Whitman's life, and telling it this way made it seem much more personal. Each vignette stood out in it's own ways and it was not necessary to read the previous ones to know what was going on or who the main character was talking about. This aspect of vignettes is very cool to me, the fact that the main picture is broken into smaller moments helps to make it more enjoyable to read. The added titles of each vignette helped to give a little insight to what was going to be talked about, but at the same time they were very vague so it was often a mystery and made me want to keep reading to see what it was about.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the fact that it was difficult to read in the beginning because no characters were introduced, but it was for sure gratifying when you figured out who was speaking and what their story was. The titles also helped me understand what was going to happen in each vignette such as the title "Farewell" in the short story when one of Whitman's ex wives was dying. Those little clues majorly contributed to the story as a whole.
DeleteReading “The Largesse of the Sea Maiden” was very interesting to me after I caught on to the author, Denis Johnson’s, structure and order for his vignettes. It took a few vignettes before I realized the sort of ‘cycle of life’ he conveyed. Each cycle sharing a valuable, yet almost cryptic lesson. Johnson starts with a joyous and youthful time shared with good company and, eventually, a marriage. He follows with another time of spending time with friends, but this time there's a developing anger and identity crisis, a struggle to still feel in control - maybe of one’s life and aging. The rest of the vignettes follow the same chronological order. We discuss the moments before one’s death and ways of mental or emotional preparation, from different perspectives. One of the really important lessons brought about was the difference between repentance and regret, which is an underlying lesson throughout most of the vignettes because of the common motif of life versus death. The vignettes eventually carried from death and the surrounding irony of it to the life of those left behind ‘post-you’. There's a certain sadness that each individual story delved deeper into as it went, and you could compare it to aging, and a feeling of dissatisfaction after a reflection of your life and your accomplishments. The vignette titled “Mermaid” had a slow, lonely atmosphere to it. You could could feel a cold depression and it almost feels like the end. The very last vignette, however, has a more reflective tone. The main character doesn't feel all too accomplished aside from his award-winning ad. He didn't feel any strong love for his wife or pride in his daughters. It seems the collective message of the vignettes is to never settle - you never know when life will creep on you and you don't want to reach your final days angry, resentful, or regretful.
ReplyDeleteWhen I began reading “The Largesse of the Sea Maiden”, I thought of it as being a collection of one man’s memories that would all come together to form a simple short story of his life. However, after finishing I thought of it as being like some sort of character study of Whit. I did not see a plot in this story considering that Denis Johnson wrote this story in vignettes and that they seemed to be placed in a random order for the most part. I was slightly confused at first due to his story being written in vignettes, but half way through I was able to understand how all of them were tied together in some way. I noticed that almost all the vignettes were about similar subjects, like death and just peculiar occurrences that the main character encountered throughout his life. Denis Johnson writes in a way that makes Whit have a seemingly constant, steady tone through every vignette no matter what was going on in the scene. Even when he was talking about the death of Tony, his tone remained unchanged. By the end of story, it felt like I had just read a novel. Johnson wrote so well in the different time perspectives as if he had lived them himself and was writing them down as they were happening. It is very obvious to see how much he enjoys writing and how he takes his time to create a piece like this one. He paid so much attention to detail to create a vivid time hop of one man’s life and the lessons he learned throughout his experiences. Every vignette in this story all connected together to contribute to the readers’ understanding of the character himself and the events that led him to where he is now.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed the reoccurring theme of death in the separate vignettes and enjoyed how they tied the individual scenes together. I would also argue that heaven/hell is a reoccurring theme in the way that each character has their own "motivation". I didn't really pick up on the fact that Whitman remained stoic throughout but I agree with the point that you made and do find it interesting. I believe this constant attitude is what allowed us to see the full insight of other characters without the speakers emotion interfering.
DeleteJohnson’s use of intertwining vignettes really allowed for a deeper meaning of each vignette and a deeper read as I continued throughout the text. I noticed many reoccurring themes and symbols as well. The theme of death was present in almost every short story, whether presented as the main subject or not. I feel as if though the stories represented the mishaps and dark aspects of everyday life. The dark color imagery was also a reoccurring image throughout the stories. The dark spot on the painting as it hit he fire, dark attire the men wore at the banquet, and even the description of his wife, all had a dark and somewhat gloomy presence. I noticed fire imagery was included in many of the vignettes as well- emphasizing the “hellish” aspects of the characters lives. Johnson also includes a lot of the same structure throughout his vignettes. The varied sentence structure is evident and his use of catalogue in the different vignettes gives each story a feeling of chaos. This hectic tone could also possibly have a lot to do with the mention of death. I feel as though it is suggested that the only escape from the chaotic world, or in the speakers case a mundane life, is through death. Although Whitman has a slight obsession with death (in my opinion) I think he controls himself through his use of memory and imagination. This is why his role as the speaker creates a perspective which is so critical but also imaginative; Johnson creates a more vivid story for the reader and gives a better understanding to the work as a whole.
ReplyDeleteMichael Busck
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I noticed when reading "The Largesse of the Sea Maiden" was the regular contrasting tones the author conveyed when telling his vignettes. The story seemed to be a rollercoaster from humorous moments to melancholy tales back to joyous moments. After each vignette, it seemed apparent that the author had a recurring theme of using almost ironic tones that connect each one. A major theme that stood out to me was his use of silence throughout the vignette. The author used silence so effectively that even the reader felt the sense of uneasiness. One part of this reading that surprised was how well the author was able to illustrate his main character, Bill Whitman, to the reader through his series of vignettes. I feel that this was much more interesting that would be a few page long summaries of the character explaining to the reader who he is. Through each of his different experiences, I was able to see more through the window of who Whitman really was, and how these experiences affected him. I also found that vignettes are incredibly interesting to read, as each story has a new tone and characters in which the main character interacts. This entire story was definitely not stagnate in any way, and kept me involved throughout the reading. This story also allowed me to better understand what a vignette is and how they can be written using similar types of themes, tones, and other literary devices. Each vignette can be connected in some way to another, allowing the stories to flow together.
Bill Whitman conveys a period of his life through a series of vignettes described with a mix of happy and sad tones. The story starts with a vignette of a family sitting together happy at dinner to another vignette of a inmate getting interviewed hours before his death. Although some vignettes are described in a happy tone and others are sad, there seems to always be an awkward moment of silence. Bill, being the main character, talks about rather odd scenarios that would not come up in typical conversations, but after all of the vignettes are told everything somehow made sense. What really helps connect the reader with all of the vignettes is how each narrative is told with intricate detail. With such detail I was able to connect with text which helped to piece every vignette together and connect all the pieces together as a whole. The vignette that grabbed my attention the most was Bill’s relationship with Tony the painter and how Tony cherished Bill so much as to call him his best friend but Bill did not feel that way at all. To me, it was easy to pick up that Tony was so emotionally invested in Bill because of how in-depth Tony’s conversation was with Bill, but Bill never realized it until it was too late. This instance happened when Bill had a recollection of Tony mentioning that, “We live in a catastrophic universe - not a universe of gradualism” (Johnson 135). Thinking of it as just another one Tony’s typical remarks, Bill thought nothing of it, but after Tony’s death Bill realized how much he truly meant to him.
ReplyDeleteThis series of vignettes was quite confusing in the beginning. The main character doesn't revel his name, or his personal information until the last page which created suspense through the story. The dinner party on page 119 was very interesting because I couldn't understand how these people are all connected. There was Tia Jones, and Chris Case who were the complete opposites of one another, yet they were all at the same event. Bill Whitman in "The Largesse of the Sea Maiden" comes across as overdramatic, entitled, and depressed. He couldn't even tell the difference between his first wife and his second wife when she called telling him that she was on her death bed. He could've been considerate by figuring out who this woman was because "the phone had preserved caller's numbers...but I didn't look for it" (127). He must have never cared for either of his ex wives taking into consideration that he does not care if they pass. In my opinion, the best vignette in this excerpt is about Tony Fido. I loved how Denise Johnson really developed this character. At Tony's funeral, the best part was how each person didn't know anyone else, but they all had interesting facts about Tony that the others didn't know. This all came as "new information" (134) for the other 4 people at his memorial service. There were many instances of foreshadowing included in these vignettes. On page 141, the line reads, "the little narrative ends, on a note of complete uncertainty". This is completely true for this story. Bill Whitman's life seems unknown and unpredictable because he will always be reminiscing on the past and not focusing on the present. By using vignettes, Johnson was able to introduce and develop multiple characters, without having to give the audience much background knowledge. Each vignette was a piece of Whitman's life that was either a fond memory, or an embarrassment. In each vignette, I learned of a new struggle that Whitman had to endure, and the new people he met along the way. In the end, all of the vignettes came together as a whole to complete Whitman's journey thanks to Johnson's writing techniques such as vivid imagery.
ReplyDeleteWhitman was definitely not the most pleasant man ever, and seemed to have a odd sense of morality. I really thought Denis Johnson did a great job at developing his characters using these vignettes. The excerpt about Tony Fido was also one of my favorite stories, although a little sad.
Delete“The Largesse of the Sea Maiden” by Dennis Johnson is a series of vignettes that each connect to one another. Truthfully, I had to re-read some of the vignettes over a couple of times because I was not quite sure what was going on and how it was related to the previous vignette. For example, it was hard to grasp and truly understand what each character was dealing with and what was on their minds, but re-reading everything over and over helped me. This is the first time that I am being introduced to vignettes, and I actually enjoyed it. These short stories recalling someone’s past memories were entertaining and were filled with life lessons. It showed me how something as small as a small memory can actually be worth plentiful.
ReplyDeleteEach vignette would start off with a different scenery, which did help me visualize what was actually going on, such as Chris Case talking about his leg experience in Afghanistan to everyone in the living room with Deirdre being extra interested in it. Emotion played a big role in “The Largesse of the Sea Maiden.” Each vignette was very detailed when it came to expressing how the character felt, such as the sadness and regrets flooding into the character in “Adman.” As I kept reading, I got more interested in each of the vignettes. Every new title of the vignette grabbed my attention as I kept reading.
The structure of each story did not seem too clear to me at first, but it portrayed a good layout. After reading, I have a much better understanding of what a vignette is.
I agree with this post in the aspect of having a better understanding of vignettes. I also agree with the strangeness of the vignettes at first but it grew on me. I especially like how you pointed out the idea that something as small as a memory can actually be worth plentiful. However, I disagree with your statement about how emotion played a big role in this composition. I feel like it was mostly affected by the detail in scenery and really just creating that setting for the stories.
DeleteBy definition, a vignette is a collection of stories and memories that focuses on a specific topic that often leads to something bigger. In French, vignette translates to "little vine". During the nineteenth century, authors would decorate their pages with looping vines which is where the label vignette came from. I can confidently say that I genuinely enjoyed this piece by " The New Yorker". Like most of my classmates, In the beginning I found the plot and structure odd, however as I continued to read through the composition, I began to appreciate the organized format of the piece. The italicized title before each of the stories were definitely helpful in setting the mood for this composition. I was clearly able to identify where “The New Yorker” formed his titles and the hidden yet recurring theme in them. This vignette in particular is centered around an old man named Bill Whitman. The main idea of his collection of vignettes summarize his past relationships whether it be a spouse, co-worker or a casual relationship in general. The way that “The New Yorker” portrays these relationships is with regret and an inability to recognize the issues that are right in front of him. Overall, the vignette was an interesting recollection of Bill Whitman’s life of events that gives us true insight to his struggles and introduces a dream like scene that makes the reader feel more involved and included in the life of this character. As a reader, I can say that I was attentive and enticed to the composition due to the structure and concept of the vignette in general. I was also pulled in and motivated by the life story of the narrator. I felt that it was personalized and although I still have many more years to experience, it was a great insight on realistic issues and obstacles that I may face in the future.
ReplyDeleteThe Structure of this story is very odd as the narrator chooses to name himself in the last vignette. Usually in almost all the stories I have read the main character’s name is known from the very beginning. We find out what kind of a man he was through the various vignettes before we even know his name. He seems to think it wasn’t very important, that he just some old, washed up old man. I felt like Bill Whitman hasn’t lived his best life and was just telling us about what he believes has been a rather dull and boring life. His first vignette is a rather funny story, something I believe he would have loved to have lived through himself instead of being the one telling the story. The language Bill uses portrays his wife Elaine to be a rather dull person; someone who just keeps him company. He doesn’t despise or hate her but he doesn’t love her as a man should love his wife. His friends Tom Ellis and the painter Tony Fido are both portrayed as much more lively characters with interesting stories told involving them. Towards the final vignettes the author chooses to open himself up more directly towards the reader. He explains his love for New York and the cross country move to San Diego for his family. With most of his life past him he seems to just be waiting on death to come. He reflected on his life’s most important moments in all his vignettes and didn’t seem too happy about it all. This overall theme of depression and regret from an old man made me realize how much I have to take advantage of my opportunities and live my life to the fullest.
ReplyDeleteThe Largesse of the Sea Maiden started off as confusing. It was hard to grasp what the author, Danis Johnson, was writing about. The book just leaped into a group of people meeting up without any other given information sharing memories. Reading along, the reader is strolling down memory lane through the eyes of Billy Whitman, an elderly man. Each snapshot of his memory held a meaning and was bitter sweet and a harsh reality as they were old. The author used descriptive word choice for the reader to actually feel and picture what is going on as Billy Whitman continues to have flashbacks. The author did a very good job at constructing the way the vignettes flowed making it easier for the reader to understand. Each vignette was different in the way it was introduced as well as the tone but each held a meaning to him. They are a piece of him. The reader personally feels like the pinches of Whitman nerves is the pain he had to endure caused by his memories. In the vignettes reviewed by the reader people he knew or he had connections to were dying or were dead such as his ex-wife, an artist, and an old pal from his younger days. It was even more heartbreaking to know that the artist considered Billy his best friend. There’s nothing Whitman can do and that goes to show that life goes on. Billy has to accept his past and continue to look forward to a better tomorrow.
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