Brother Rivalry? -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: [1], 2 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 14:00:34 03/27/08 Thu
Author: Shannon
Subject: Brother Rivalry?

Maybe I am just questioning too much, but I wonder about the veracity of Jamie's "confession" to Edmund towards the end. His sincerity and own belief in what he is relating seems very real, but in light of all the accusations throughout the play and mimetic desire, I wonder if he is in some way appropriating his parents' view of the brothers' relationship:"Want to warn you--against me. Mama and Papa are right. I've been a rotten influence. And worst of it is, I did it on purpose." When you skim through the list of "sins" Jamie then gives, each one is a repeat of something his parents have said earlier...down to his mother's blaming her "illness" on Edmund: "And it was your being born that started Mama on dope. I know that's not your fault, but all the same, God damn you, I can't help hating your guts--!"

I know that the relationship between Jamie and Edmund is perfect for mimetic rivalry: Edmund has taken Jamie as his model, and in many ways Jamie seems to wish he could be more like Edmund, the beloved child. Jamie even voices the connection between love and hate, following his cry of hatred with :"But don't get the wrong idea, Kid. I love you more than I hate you." Perhaps I just wonder at Jamie's consciousness of this rivalry and suggest that perhaps what he sees was first conjured by his parents' accusations.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Re: Brother Rivalry? -- Erin Risch, 20:13:25 03/28/08 Fri
- Re: Brother Rivalry? -- Kiernan, 10:45:41 03/29/08 Sat
- More of the double bind in Long Day -- Erin Risch, 14:09:00 03/29/08 Sat
  - Edmund's models -- Erin, 10:53:43 03/30/08 Sun