One thing you have to realize in this chapter is that just because Jason's grammar and chronological writing is well done, does not mean he is intelligent. He is simply a racist, sexist, bigot. I'm with everyone else, I take no liking to this character, but I think the way he behaves is deeply rooted in his obsession with family image. This is very obvious in his interactions with Quentin because she refuses to act like a "lady" acts, just like her mother. Jason says, "I've got a position in this town, and I'm not going to have any member of my family going on like a nigger wench"(119). Jason thinks his family is ruining his image, when really he's just ruining himself, trying to hold onto the "old south".
I'm not quite sure if I'm getting this right, but Jason has been giving fake checks to his mother to burn to save her pride, but then cashing them in, then putting them in cotton stock. His mother says, "Let me never see the day when my children will have to accept that, the wages of sin"(138), showing once again how holding on to the "old south" will do nothing but hinder them. He screams idiotic when he explains how New York as a whole is so greedy, he doesn't even understand the process of buying stock. Jason's never up to date on the points, then blames others when he forgets to check up on his stock frequently.
One line I found hysterical was when Jason explains, "If there's one thing gets under my skin, it's a dam hypocrite."(143). Jason himself is a hypocrite in more than one way, making him even more utterly stupid.
fantastic, good insight and taking it in to analysis, not just summary
ReplyDeleteDelaney, I totally agree with you when you say he is a racist and a sexist. I struggled reading all of his chapters simply because of his language and the way he treats people. Although when I finished his chapter I realized he wasn't as bad as all the others. Consider your feelings towards him.. I know no other character in this book stirred up emotion in me like he does, even if its anger. Overall, I do believe he is kind of a flat character, similar to everyone else, but at least he has a vibrant personality, right?
ReplyDeleteDelaney, I loved your insight on how you said just because of his grammatical errors does not simply make him unintelligent, it showed you really looked past the text and took meaning from it. I also completely agree with you about Jason holding on to the "old south" throughout the chapter he seems to never grow from his past and it seems to make him bitterer each time.
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