Then Professor Newby asked the class, "What if I told you Simon wasn't written into the play because Gilman didn't want to write in a black character?", and some of us just stared. So then we talked about how that's kind of a cope out answer to the question of "Where's Simon". But, I think that maybe it's not a cope out answer but the truth and maybe Sarah's monologue is from Gilman. Maybe Gilman's the racist and she wrote the play, just like Sarah wrote the list, to get all out. Mo'e said how the feelings in the play had to come from someone with that experience, but Mo'e was talking about how Gilman could have talked to some black people to be able to write them. Taking that to heart, could the source of Sarah's monologue be Gilman?
I absolutely think that Gilman did not write Simon into the play for that very reason. I just finished my own post, and I'm hoping that it doesn't come across as "Aimee, The Racist" but I feel like everyone has a desire not to be "politically correct" but to simply accept people for who they are, despite race, gender, sexual orientation, etc., but given the society we live in this is almost impossible to do 100%. I think that Gilman's play is a direct result of this struggle, which everyone experiences, even if they don't necessarily realize it.
ReplyDeleteThis is also part of the reason that Sarah remains largely (though perhaps not entirely) sympathetic--it is a familiar struggle, especially in a college setting. Where do you feel the most pressure to be PC?
ReplyDeleteYes, I wasn't saying this is exactly why I think Gilman didn't write Simon into the play, but I do think it could be a possibilty. As said in class, some writers do write from experience and from personal emotions and I was just throwing out there that possibilty that what Sarah feels is how Gilman feels. Maybe in an exagerated over the top way, but still from some underlying hidden emotions. Because the World has become a place where everything you say or do has to be politically correct, especially in college. To be honest I come from a small town and have known maybe four black families. Then I came here and to be honest I don't really pay any attention to who's black or not; it doesn't make a difference to me, I judge people based off their personality. But, I've heard on a number of occasions "white people" do this or that and I think, "I do what?" So, I definitly feel the most pressure to be PC here at MCLA because I'm afraid of being like that "white" person people talk about. Also, I find that when trying to be PC you end up doing the opposite and saying racist things even when you don't mean to.
ReplyDeleteI was going to respond directly to your blog, but the prior comment hit a perfect note for me. I am also from a small town, the only black people in my school were African exchange students. I don't even think I met a black family in my town, we had some other races, but it didn't matter. We just lived there. I meet people, and I don't think "oh she's black or he's hispanic or they're white." People are people. I think the only time I thought about someone in terms of "being black" it was because I was talking to someone about an unfortunate incident where someone was the exact reason for the stereotype. And I was even talking about the fact that it's unfortunate that some people give reason to the stereotype, and I felt really racist for saying it wasn't a good thing...
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