Egotist Allen

For this section of the class, we are focusing a lot on the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise. “The book chronicles the life of Amory Blaine from his childhood up through his early twenties. Born the son of a wealthy and sophisticated woman, Beatrice, Amory travels the country with his mother until he attends the fictitious St. Regis prep school in New England. He is handsome, quite intelligent though lazy in his schoolwork, and he earns admission to Princeton. Though initially concerned with being a success on campus, after failing a class he gives himself over to idleness; he prefers to learn through reading and discussions with friends than through his classes.

Toward the end of his college career, America enters World War I and Amory dutifully enlists, forgoing his degree. During his time overseas, Beatrice passes away. Upon his return to America, Amory meets the young debutante Rosalind Connage, the sister of his college friend Alec. The two fall deeply in love, but because of his family's poor investments, Amory has little money, and Rosalind does not wish to marry into poverty. Despite Amory's best efforts to earn money at an advertising agency, Rosalind breaks off their engagement in order to marry a wealthier man, devastating Amory. He goes on a three week drinking binge, which is finally terminated by the advent of the Prohibition.
Amory's quest for self-knowledge begins to be realized. He has a short summer romance with the wild Eleanor. Soon after, Alec is caught with a girl in his hotel room, and Amory takes the blame. Amory then discovers that his last close tie, the dear friend of his mother and his father figure, Monsignor Darcy, has passed away. Further, the family finances have left him almost no money. He decides to walk to Princeton and is picked up along the way by the wealthy father of a friend who died in the war. Amory expounds his new socialist principles and then continues to walk to Princeton. He arrives late at night, pining for Rosalind. Amory reaches his hands to the sky and says “I know myself, but that is all”” -

Existential Allen

Reading: Woody Allen's The Insanity Defense: The Complete Prose, “Notes from the Overfed” pg 57 – 62.

We discussed Fyodor Dostoevsky's 1866 novel Crime and Punishment. “A young Russian student, Raskolnikov, believes himself to be an extraordinary man--one who has the 'right' to commit and crime. In order to prove his stupid theory correct, Raskolnikov 'needs' to murder the old pawnbroker and her innocent sister. Immediately following the crime, the guilt strikes and poor Raskolnikov becomes ill. Upon recovery, he finds an old school acquaintance, Razumihin, who might be the only non-male-jerk of the whole story. Meanwhile, Raskolnikov is visited by Luzhin, who is engaged to Raskolnikov's sister Dounia. Luzhin, being the male chauvanist pig that he is, is merely marrying Dounia to prove his manly nature and ability to dominate the female species.
As soon as Raskolnikov can walk he takes a little stroll to the police station where he practically confesses to the whole murder. Later, he witnesses the death of the old drunk husband, Marmeladov, who spent the entire family savings on vodka and whiskey only to get run over by a horse. Raskolnikov graciously delivers the dead body to his wife and starving children and for some odd reason, leaves all his money to the family. Raskolnikov returns home to find his sister and mother there who have come to prepare for the wedding. Raskolnikov denounces Luzhin and forbids the marriage. To top it off, Svidrigailov, Dounia's former employee comes to town who had also previously tried to seduce Dounia, and Rask., being the big brother that he is, violently detests the man for this.
Porfiry, the police inspector, is interviewing people about the murder. Raskolnikov goes to the station thinking that he is a suspect and once again practically confesses to the murder. Since this time, Raskolnikov met Sonia Marmeladov, daughter of the drunk, and has taken a liking to her. He feels great sympathy toward her since she had been drawn into prostitution to make money for the family. Raskolnikov feels a closeness to her and promises to tell her who the murderer is.
Raskolnikov again meets with Porfiry. He then goes to Sonia and confesses to her. Unfortunately, Svid overhears the confession and uses this information to try to get Sounia to sleep with him. She refuses and he later commits suicide.
Raskolnikov finally confesses the murder to the police after talking to Sonia and is sentenced to eight joyous years in Siberia. Thinking that it will be a great vacation spot, Sonia joins him there to rebuild his life.” -
There was a group presentation for Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment that was very entertaining, in which the group used sock puppets to discuss what was going on in the book. With so many characters running about all the time, it could make the book somewhat difficult to follow, but the group was able to completely differentiate each sock puppet, both in aesthetics, and in personal characteristics. The group was well put together, well thought out, and they facilitated discussion in a very pleasing manner.

We also watched parts from the Woody Allen movie Crimes and Misdemeanors in which a man decides to have a woman that is insanely enamored with him killed. Much of the movie also goes into Woody Allen's character and how dejected he is the entire movie. Allen's character is constantly getting overshadowed by bigger, more “important” film makers, etc. and he never gets any respect. The character who ends up having a woman murdered goes through pangs of guilt and is very reminiscent of Crime and Punishment, no doubt intentionally so.