Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Age of Invention
One thing that I was wondering as I read was WHY did each person that the narrator spoke to talk about it being such a wonderful age of invention that they live in? Poe starts with the General himself telling the narrator "we are a wonderful people, and live in a wonderful age." Then he goes on to list what exactly makes this such a wonderful age and all the technology of the time. Basically the different inventions. Then the other characters later actually use the word "inventive" to describe the time period they are in but why mention that when they are being asked about the General and not the age they live in? Is it because inventions and this new age helped the General survive the battles against the Bugaboos and Kickapoos? Or is it because they know the General's secret of his mechanical body parts (and obviously that is a new invention) so they are hinting to the narrator about this? No one ever seems to answer the narrator in a straightforward fashion about the General and they all have similar yet almost disjointed comments. But one thing that most of them did seem to definitely mention was this wonderfully inventive age. Yet I don't see the reason for it except what I tried to guess at.
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6 comments:
I think the use of the word "inventive" does hint at the general. Like you said, the fact that he can be put back together is something new. Also, it seems like he is the "invention" or the "product" of war.
I was intrigued by the repetition of the "wonderful age of invention" in this story. I’m writing my final thesis on Poe and the marketplace, so often I find myself reading his texts for that purpose. So when I began reading the text I felt that Poe was commenting on the era of his time. Writing out of the industrial revolution, Poe DID live in an extraordinary age of invention. This had a major impact on his life and his writing. When we find later in the story that the General is in fact practically a machine I agree that this continuous reference to the "wonderful age of invention" was certainly some sort of clue into the Generals background. I still feel that Poe was also using this to comment on his own era...its over exaggeration hinted to me that there is some negative implication attached to it, though I’m not quite sure what to make of it myself quite yet
The point you bring up about Poe talking about his own era makes a lot of sense. And a lot of authors' writings are influenced by their environment as it is. As for the negative implication...
hmm...the repetitiveness of it now does make me think it was almost sarcastic? Perhaps he felt that in the future if there are too many wars, with ongoing inventions and technology, humans would soon really cease to be humans and end up being machines with souls? Okay that was a very random thought that just popped out and going totally sci-fi but I would definitely see that as something negative!
I agree that the "wonderful age of invention" reflects the make-up of the general. I think it definitely correlates to the era in which Poe lived. I think it's interesting how everyone that the narrator asks is very familiar with the general and they always insist the notion that the times are that of a "wonderful age of invention," but the narrator isn't familiar with it. The narrator then must find out for himself because he can not get a straight answer out of anyone. In regards to the original post on this topic, I think the narrator is just as frustrated with understanding the true meaning of this era of "invention," as we, the readers are.
I definately think that the repetition of the "wonderful age of invention" was said in a sarcastic tone. The General was "used up" because he was not himself anymore- he consisted of parts from other people. Maybe that is why nobody really knew anything about him- he had lost himself to the advancement of technology.
I too was intrigued by this story's motif- then I got closer to the end and saw the "age of invention" (the general) put together by Pompey. The devoted slave who seems to represent the past and history.
This story is interesting and wonderful and I do think it's purpose is to deconstruct. I could not help but cringe at Poe's statement on modern women and men and appearances, and their penchant for romantic drama.
However my favorite image of this story is:
"Pompey, you rascal," squeaked the General, " I really do believe you would let me go out without my palate." (316)
There is so much in this statement. The general needs his slave to return his voice. Without Pompey's passive help the General would continue to Squeak. Interesting huh?
What do you all think about this?
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