Well...this one was interesting. I usually write blog posts a lot earlier because I feel pretty inspired after reading a book...but this week was different. I've delayed writing this because quite frankly I've been left a bit speechless and don't know what to say. It's not that I didn't enjoy the novel...I'm just left a bit weirded out, and confused, but also intrigued at the same time. Last week in class we spoke a lot about whether or not a novel is feminist and what makes a feminist novel be viewed as such. At the time, I argued that almost anything can be feminist depending on how you look at it. However, this week made me realize I spoke too soon.
I don't really know where to begin, but I guess I'll start with the hyper-sexualization of his mother in a way that would make even Freud clutch his pearls. I thought it was an interesting narrative to have the mother be only viewed through the lens of young boys. There was the existence of her young adult lover in the novel, which could have been a potential narrative/character, however, having the only female character in the book be portrayed through the eyes of young boys was an interesting choice for me. I think this could speak to how feminism isn't inherently attached to sexual realization and puberty. I think this can ring true in many cases today with young men learning about sex through violent porn or hyper-sexualized social media. The somewhat passive role that Agostino takes when the gang of boys discusses his mom can also symbolize how much a person can be passively influenced during sexual puberty. This speaks to the importance of having positive role models for men (and women) during these times of sexual exploration.
While I think writing about the tendency that young boys have to hyper-sexualize women during sexual maturity is very important, what's left me really struggling is why Moravia chose to exhibit this point with the guy's mother...I mean...why? I think this is made even weirder by the fact that his mother seems to almost baby him throughout the book. I'm not going to lie, usually, I have more deep thoughts attached to these posts, but my speechless nature has left this post brief.
Question for the class: Do you think this novel is a feminist novel? If so, why, if not, why not? Why do you think Moravia chose to use Agostino's mother as the object of sexual desire when he could have easily placed another female character in that role instead?
"However, this week made me realize I spoke too soon." This has caught my attention a lot. Even if you don't like the novel, and even if you dislike the novel or the subject matter, allowing yourself space to question your own ideas is already a point to keep in mind about that work of fiction. It will not be the first time, nor the last, that what we read over the weeks provokes deep questions in us!
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