"Garp" was written at a time when the issue of rape had suddenly become very politicized due to the women's movement. A tremendous best-seller at the time was "Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape" by Susan Brownmiller, whose thesis was that rape had a traceable history as a means of keeping women downtrodden and and their bodies a symbolic battleground for men to purusue their agendas. Some of her theory has since been shot down, partly due to women's advances in the work world and more sexual freedoms, though the incidence of sexual exploitation has probably gone up with all the crap on the Internet.
Anyway, the relation of this to "Garp" seems to be that there was a element, or perception, of rape in most of Garp's sexual enounters, at least initially, and that the juxtaposition of his infidelities to Helen's sole attempt at extramarital sexual expression, the horrible death of their child, his encounter with the true victim Ellen James, the voluntary castration of Roberta, and the lifelong resentment of Pooh Percy, somehow represent the guilt men ought to be feeling. Or whatever!! In some ways, the book IS a product of its times.
"Shake me up, Judy!"
reply
share
MTulliver
17 years ago
Which is interesting considering his mother basically raped his biological father, although she didn't consider it as such.
reply
share
pacific_rim_lady
16 years ago
My spin: Ellen James didn’t like the fact that those women seemed to be making a big thing forever and ever about her being a victim rather focusing on her potential strengths. Yeah, what happened to her was awful. But I loved the way she ran out in the street and flagged down that taxi! And that was after she had helped save Garp from an angry mob! She wanted to put the rape and mutilation behind her and just be strong. And she was! And Garp (and Irving) got it right.
reply
share
kamarya89
16 years ago
it's amazing because when you hear about ellen jamesian you think this is so far fetched it COULD be true!!!
same thing about the novel, it's so outrageous that it rings true!!!
there must be some society that does something like that, there are people who are crazy enough, god bless them!
reply
share