"Minor Characters" resonated on a deep level with me. The feeling of excitement and eagerness over being a writer, being a female writer, only to be told you're too late, the men have already done it better. Told be told to go out into the dangerous world, a place far more dangerous for you than it was for Kerouac, Twain, London, any of the rest - go out and "live" because nothing about your life is interesting enough yet, there's no way you're good enough on your own. Once you do of course, once you take up or pack up, once you move or leave everything behind, suddenly the questions come. The concerned glances and fearful leading questions, "You're not running from something are you?", like when the super asks her mother if she's pregnant (3001). I feel such a kinship towards her and her bravery is inspiring. This move of hers was a true movement, in every sense of the word. Young women leaving their homes, taking charge of themselves; this wasn't an en mass bra burning or march on Washington, these women weren't trying to be political, they were trying to live for themselves. Unlike men such as Kerouac and Burroughs, leaving comfort for the thrill of a fabricated adventure, these young women were in danger of being completely cast out by their families, many moved to dangerous neighborhoods or couldn't find work. They made real sacrifices following their dream. Why then are they not remembered?
I like your post a lot. It is very inspiring to think about how these women took big risks to write their books and have their say. I am not sure why they are not remembered or talked about like Kerouac and Burroughs etc. Maybe woman have not come as far as we think.
ReplyDeleteIt's just the same old story really: women fading out because our country makes such a point to make the men heroes. Our society is male-dominated, even after all the work to change things. Johnson may not entirely be remembered as Kerouac because of this. And it's sad, and it really sucks, because I loved our readings from her this week. She is very strong, and she is very brave, and she doesn't want to follow societies way of putting women in the back seat. Johnson wants what she wants, and she won't take a back seat to anyone.
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