October+6+-+KAVALIER+AND+CLAY+PART+THREE+DISCUSSION+-Steven+Manwaring

In class we continued our discussion on Part Three of Kavalier and Clay. We focused on the idea of conflict between fantasy and reality.

We began our discussion with a summary of the bomb scare: After noticing a sign for the //Aryan-American League// hanging in an upstairs window, Joe decides to break into the office. Finding the building empty, Joe picks the locks and searches the small, disappointingly pathetic and ordinary headquarters of the AAL. He is surprised to find that the occupant of the office (Carl Ebling) is not only a supporter of Hitler and the Nazis, but a devoted reader of //The Escapist//. Overcome with hatred and a desire to make a real difference, Joe ransacks the office. He smashes possessions and empties file drawers until he is interrupted by the owner of the office returning. The two get into a fight that ends with Ebling lying unconscious on the floor. Before exiting, Joe leaves a quick sketch of The Escapist with the words "//lots of luck, The Escapist//" signed at the bottom. Convinced his attacker was Sam Clay, Ebling plans his revenge. In response he leaves a fake bomb in the offices of Empire Comics. Joe, knowing there is no real threat, handcuffs himself to his desk and refuses to evacuate.

In response to this, Robby questioned what lead Joe to go looking for trouble. Mr. Neal explained that Joe is frustrated that in his fantasy life (//The Escapist//) he can fight Hitler and the Nazis but in reality he can do little to actually help. His family is still in danger and his father is dead. His growing frustration leads him to reach out in more tangible ways.

This brought up the important motif of the conflict between fantasy and reality. We explored the idea that the comic book world is influenced by the reality of both Sammy and Joe's lives. We also discussed how reality and fantasy meet when Joe encounters Ebling. Noah noted that, like the Escapist, Joe believes he is making a difference. In reality however, Ebling is insignificant. He is insane and unimportant, not the villain Joe believes he is. Joe needs a real villain but he is unable to find one so he takes his anger out on Carl Ebling. Mr. Neal observed that Joe sees Ebling as a real villain because "if Joe admits that Ebling is a sad pathetic man, what does that make Joe?" We finished class by working on our "This I believe" essays.


 * Where is the connection to the larger world?** **Try to bring in some video, anecdote, or example from somewhere "outside" the novel and make a connection to the "big idea" of class that day.**

The next scribe post is...Abe Gobel!