The Sirens of Titan: Chapters 1-3
What goes here?
The craziness, the confusion, the interpretation.
Tell to the world what you think about this book.
What did you find?
posted by D. Robin @ 11/16/2007
18 comments
Friday, November 16, 2007
The craziness, the confusion, the interpretation.
Tell to the world what you think about this book.
What did you find?
18 Comments:
I think that Constant climbed the empty fountain, not only to see where he was going and where he had come from, but also to see things in a different way. Everything is so normal at eye level, but when you stand up at a higher place, there is a whole new perspective. It's kind of like when you are on an airplane, you see the land at a new perspective. It's the same idea for Constant standing on the empty fountain.(Ch 1) i do not think Rumfoord is bound by destiny as much as everyone else, even though he cannot change the past either. People like Constant or Beatrice are more bound by destiny because they do not exactly know haw things are going to happen. They do not know how they are going to die. They do know where they are going to end up, but they do not know how they are going to get there. (Ch. 2) Rumfoord is not really a bad husband. He respects his wife's wishes of not seeing each other, and of him not telling her about the future. If anything, Mrs. Rumfood is a bad wife for basically shunning him from her life. She does not really care so much about him, and she is thinking of letting people come in and watch his materialization, even though he has asked her not to do that.
I was really excited about a connection that I made in Chapter 3 of The Sirens of Titan. On various pages, while talking about Noel Constant’s method of investing, the narrator mentions that Noel not only uses the Bible, but the Gideon Bible. I thought the specifically of the kind of Bible was very interesting for two reasons. Because religion is such a big theme in this book, the narrator would obviously know more about Bible’s than the simple one, there are so many variations. Mostly though, I found the Gideon Bible to be a good choice for the following reasons. Firstly, Gideon Bibles are distributed by Gideon’s International, which is an evangelical Christian organization that distributes the Bible to those who might not otherwise encounter it. The fact that Noel has obtained one obviously means the Bible would not be available to him, most likely because he is very poor. This also means that the Bible (and the seemingly magic code of investment) was given to him by a messenger (Gideon’s International). So there’s the messenger theme again. Also, my favorite part about this Bible is that the organization is most famous for distributing Bibles in hotel rooms. And it just so happens that it is at a hotel that Noel resides and becomes filthy rich.
-Vanessa Vanderzee
In chapter 3 the 31 story Corporation building reminded me of the many branches of Christianity that were once all based off of one. Pg 62 “Some of these corporations, having been sold by Magnum Opus, were moving in.” The corporations moving in were different branches of the same common religion, being Christianity. The following paragraph shows a catalog of the different tenants moving in “Moon-Mist Tobacco, Fandango Petroleum…Company of California.” Pg 63. The tenants being named can heuristically be looked at as branches of Christianity. The building is described as a “Twelve sided shaft, faced, on all twelve sides with blue-green……at the base.” on page 63. The building being described is a church and a home for the religions named in the catalog on page 62. The names of the religions were not named by the creator, but by the disciples of the religions. What caught my attention was how “That was lucky, because he couldn’t have done it.” on page 62 . Do the people of the twelve religions feel that it is their duty to make these names. Even if they would have asked the “architect” about what the names of the twelve religions were, why would he not be able to answer? Does the “architect” not have free will and can’t decide for his own?
I made a lot of little connections with this book. They’re experiential connections, but experiences with other forms of text. I don’t think they’re textual connections because they aren’t allusions, but anyway, here they are: Malachi Constant reminds me a great deal of Douglas Adams’ Zaphod Beeblebrox. They are both self-absorbed and famous for nearly nothing at all. (Granted, Zaphod does have an extra arm and face.)
The remnants of Constant’s drug fest reminded me of Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. “...A whole galaxy of multicolored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers...” Vonnegut’s catalog brought back the images of Raoul Duke’s trashed hotel, flooded with ketchup and grapefruits and portraits of Barbara Streisand.
The entire story (so far) reminds me of C. S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy. It reminds me specifically of Perelandra, the second book, because they are both science fantasy, they are both drenched with religious symbolism, and they are both Eden allegories. I think it’s largely irrelevant, but both have characters named Ransom, which I think is an awesome name.
To address Piotr, I don’t think the “twelve great religions of the world” refer to denominations of Christianity. I think of it this way: a religion is to a denotation as a denomination is to a connotation. It is significant that the architect created the opportunity for the twelve religions, but did not specify them. He's leaving them up to interpretation. The architect is god, and he created twelve sides or facets that fit together. These are the great religions of the world, which we, humans, named and developed. The twelve great religions of the world are the Baha’i Faith, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Taoism, Shintoism, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism. It’s debatable, however. I think that’s why Vonnegut, and the architect, left them unnamed.
And it’s worth adding that Vonnegut is the architect of the book.
Marie Cannes
One thing that really confused me is what seemed (to me at least) like a random reference to the President’s speech to the public on pages thirty-five and thirty-six. The narrator describes the odd pronunciation as giving the words a “special flavor” (Vonnegut 55). He pronounces words like “progress” as “prog-erse”, “chair” as “cheer”, and “warehouse” as “wirehouse.” Is the narrator making fun of political figures? Did Vonnegut choose for the character to mispronounce those words to sound the way they do for a reason? What’s the point of that even being in the story? I’m sure there is one, but I can’t seem to find it.
- Payal Shukla
something i noticed about the first chapter was the title "Between Timid and Timbuktu." it is explained in that all the words between timid and Timbuktu in small dictionaries have to do with time. mrs rumfoord used this as a title to her collection of poems. what i didnt understand is why timid and Timbuktu are out of alphabetical order. alphabetically, Timbuktu should be before timid. what im thinking is that vonnegut puts the words in reverse alphabetical order because he is warning the reader (as this is the title for his first chapter) that what he or she is about to read may throw off or alter his or her paradigm in a possibly uncomfortable way. people are so used to putting things in alphabetical order that when something is not organized like that, it is harder to adjust.
p.s. the title is incorporated on page 6 of the text
After reading the first chapter I could not get over the point or lack of point that Reverend Bobby Denton makes to his love crusaders. I wonder if perhaps this Bobby Denton is actually Kurt Vonnegut preaching his theories. I don’t know Vonnegut’s opinions on space travel, but the fact that Reverend Denton hasn’t appeared again in the story makes me think that there is an important reason for this insert. A common theme in this story is religion or creation and perhaps the narrator brings up this sermon to establish and make clear that religious theme. If these views that Bobby Denton has are actually those of Vonnegut I suppose Vonnegut and I would not agree but I wouldn’t want to get into that.
Chris Corbett
My favorite part of chapter one is the allusion to freewill on page 11 that Vonnegut uses as a means to give the reader insight into Constant as a character. “Impulsively, Constant chose neither one fork nor the other, but climbed the fountain itself.” I think it reveals a lot about Constant as a character. He is not drawn into the false dilemma that is presented to him. His name means “faithful messenger,” but usually messengers are followers rather than leaders. This quote gives me the feel that Constant is more of a leader. I think that he will become an even more intricate character as time goes on, and can’t wait to do so.
-Scott Sobie
-Period 8
In chapter 3, I thought the magnetic furniture was really cool. I thought that the instability of the new furniture was related to the instability of the company, Magnum Opus. The furniture didn’t have any legs, so I saw that as Malachi being cut off at the legs, financially, that is, or having the chair pulled right out from under him, in how he fell so far in economic status. On page 64, Fern is described as wearing all black and being exceedingly thin. I thought that Fern was a symbol fore the “angel of death,” or something to that degree, because Fern is the one who tells Constant of his economic “death.” Thinking religiously still, and also alluding to the Job story, as well, I think that God chose to give Noel Fern, as like a guardian angel for economic success, but what God gives, he can take away, as in the story of Job. So God sends Fern, again, as an angel of death to take away what Malachi didn’t deserve because of his sinfulness.
-Aaron Johnson Period 8
Vanessa's post about the Gideon Bible being found in hotels reminded me of the a time when I found a Gideon Bible in the hotel I was staying at.
I also noticed that a lot of numbers were used. On page 18, the exact dimensions of the broom closest are given, but I do not see a significant relationship between them. There isn't a number that seems to be used more often either.
I think the architect didn't name the religions because each person can only follow one religion. Also, there's no way to measure the greatness of faith.
-Sanny Lin, Per 2
Wow Aaron, that interpretation never occurred to me. That seems like a great juxtaposition between the instability of the furniture to the instability of Malachi Constant’s company. To further your claim, Conneaut wrote on page 63, “Constant was flying his own helicopter, since all his servants had quit the night before. Constant was flying it badly. He set it down with a crash that sent shivers through the building.” I interpreted this as Constant now had no support from his father or servants, and, like the furniture, has to maintain his companies on his own. But he, “was flying it badly,” which would eventually lead to, “a crash that sent shivers through the building,” and Constants eventual bankruptcy.
-Scott Sobie
-Period 8
I disagree with Sanny Lin from period two about "each person can only follow one religion." If religion is created through the thoughts of mankind then how can there only be one followed. You would have to define what you mean by "religion". The word "religion" can have any number of connotative meanings, if not specified one can misunderstand the message behind the text. The word "religion" to me is vague because it can pertain to any amount of religions, for example "The twelve great religions of the world" as Marie said in a past Blog. My interpretation of this quote is the author is assuming that everyone believes in "religion", and is not considering the audience which has no religion. Are there not "religions" out in the known cosmos that let the people believe in what they want?
Piotr Nowak
I would like to discuss the numerology contained within “The Sirens of Titan”. I have a great suspicion that the numbers within the text have a significance; I am just not clear what it is yet. The numbers are significant based upon the quote Yogi and I found a few weeks ago. On page 27 the line, “they all talk the language of numbers”. Our class had a discussion on this topic, but we did not get very far. If anyone finds anything concerning this topic, I would be really grateful if you post it or tell me. This has potential for a great discussion, we just need more support.
-Scott Sobie
-Period 8
I know that Mr. Robin has hinted at the fact that Rumfoord is not completely omniscient or completely omnipresent, and therefore, cannot be god, but every time he was mentioned in chapters one through three he is accompanied by many religious references. On page 17 Rumfoord says, “You can reproduce and I cannot,” and later, on page 19 he says, “Angels can’t either, you know”. This is an obvious juxtaposition between Rumfoord and an angel, plus, on page 42, Constant’s chauffeur says, “Man-you must have some kind of guardian angel”. I think there is definitely more evidence that can be found in later chapters, but even within the first three chapters, the idea of Rumfoord as an angel rather than a god seems to be more practical.
-Scott Sobie
-Period 8
I think chapters 1-3 set up a background for the rest of the novel. Now that we have read far into the book, it is clear that Malachai Constant is just another pawn in plan much bigger than Rumfoord once established. After reading chapters 7 and 8 it is clear that Malachai Constant will be made example of. He now seems like a story book character within a book itself. I also find it interesting that Vonnegut would lead us in this direction. I'm sure most of us thought that this book would be about Malachai's self discovery, and who knows, maybe it is. However, with each passing chapter it seems that this is less about self discovery as the novel had intially established and more about human nature. The satirical components are clear, but something even more worthwhile to consider is why does Vonnegut strive to use these satirical and ironic elements anyways? Sure, he's a nihilist, but there has to be something bigger than his own ideology here. There has to be something that the intended AND the unintended audience can pick up. It is true that authors box out certain kinds of people, but regardless they want their message to reach everyone.
Salwa Shameem
per.8
In the first three chapters, the Magnum Opus building not just reminded me of all the religions in the world, but the world itself. With lots of chaos going on, how each person can create "a ton of meaningless papers for the Bureau of Internal Revenue to examine"(pg 77) . And the IRS reminded me of god, that must watch these people. When put like this, the thought of God watching over all humnas does not seem at all feasible, and that issue comes down to the idea of blind faith. I think Vonnegut was trying to make his readers see the lack of logic for God trying to watch over all of us in this chapter.
To Piotr Nowak:
How is a person able to follow more than one religion? Surely several of the ideas will contradict each other. When combining ideas together from two different religions, a new concept is created and so a person can follow only one religion. They might decide to change it in the future, but the number is still one.
Maybe I should rephrase my comment better: Even while a person may recognize the existence of other religions in the world, it is only possible for him or her to have faith in one religion at a time.
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