I agree with you about the Tentacles and Anchors. It is interesting how he categorizes different aspects of his life into those two words-He has such an open mind, he is just so afraid of failure that he keeps it closed. The section intrigued me, as well. Two specific parts in particular caught my eye.
Craig has conversations with himself in his mind that are sad, yet fascinating. He is pretending to be a soldier talking to his commander. "Get up there and fight, soldier! The enemy is there!" "The enemy is too strong. I can't fight them. They're too smart"..."So you're just going to give up?" "That's the plan" (29). He has no hope or faith in himself, putting that into a scenario. Another one is, "Are you still concentrating on the enemy, soldier?" "I don't think so." "Do you even know who the enemy is?" "I think...it's me" (45). <---that last part stuck out to me a lot. It is significant because it shows Craig's acknowledgment that he is his worst enemy and he is the only one who can really save himself. No shrink or friend or drug will ever be able to make him happy but himself.
Another part I found interesting was when he discussed different relationships with parents, friends, air, water, and food (32). I am still trying to figure out what this part may mean, for it seems significant although it confuses me. Do any of you have thoughts on that part of what we've read?
It's interesting how most of this story is told in the structure of Craigs thoughts, which at first I found annoying but after awhile I got used to it. I like the way he uses his own 'lingo' including the words Tentacles and Anchors, because it gives us a more insight into the way he thinks of things. He also often talks about things in a cause/effect way (If I don't do this, then this will happen, which will cause this, etc.) I also agree with Holly in that I want to know what caused him to become suicidal. I found one quote particularly interesting, whereCraig said to a therapist, "Of course I wasn't abused. If I were, things would be so simple. I'd have a reason for being in shrinks' offices. I'd have a justification and something that I could work on. The world wasn't going to give me something that tidy" (10). This leads me to think that maybe nothing actually happened to him, but rather he just became overwhelmed with life.
ReplyDeleteYeah same!! I tagged that quote in my book, too, and it seems interesting because his reaction to being abused was very shocked. It must have been a personal inner issue, like what you said. I guess we will see!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Maura, when i read the quote "Of course I wasn't abused..." (10). I too got the idea he's overwhemled with his life and he wishes an actual 'problem' was the cause of his own. He mentions when he leaves Dr. Minerva's office that he feels bad for the money that his parents have to pay for his condition, "they've spent alot of money on me. I'm ashamed" (38). This kid is lost in his own world and doesn't know what to do. He feel's bad for it. Holly menitoned in her post about how they keep mentioning what happend with Craig last fall. I definitely have a feeling that has something to do with his condition.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Craig has not been physically abused, he is being abused mentaly in a twisted way. His depression has started taking over many aspects of his life such as his eating habits for example. I definitely agree with Holly that something that has happened too him the past fall triggered the strength of his changing mood.
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