In parts one and two of Eggers’ AHWOSG, we join Dave and his family (minus his dad [only his fragmented memory/recollections of a few poignant instances, including his last days]) in their home, then hospital, for his mom’s final hours. The nosebleed, stemming from her cancer, brought the end. Here, we see Dave using a variety of strategies to navigate this moment they all knew was coming, but ultimately, could not control: mortality itself (there’s two of our themes: control and mortality!). 

Subsequently, a new Identity (our third theme) was born out of this loss. Note how Dave begins part two, a majorly significant Identity chapter, invoking us to, "Please look…Can you see us, in our little red car" (47)? The paragraph continues with Dave’s pronoun use of "us" and "we" (14 "We/We’re" instances, and at least 7 "us" references on this first page of part two). Thus begins their new identity, in Dave’s perception: Him and Toph. It’s the two of them, one entity, we/us, and he wants to be sure we (and everyone else) notice.  Of course there’s the great (one of the great) Identity example(s) on pp. 57-58, at Toph’s Little League practice. Notice how numerous paragraphs on page 57 begin with "I" (this occurs when Dave is feeling his Identity is outside of the moment/not part of the conversation…separate from others and the security of "We"). He questions who he is to the other parents (mothers, in particular), internally processing, "Am I them?" and noting how "they don’t know what to make of me" (57). Who does he feel he is in relation to the other parents? He’s not actually Toph’s dad (or mom), and he feels quite conspicuous (like someone driving a car in a clown suit?!). And so, he rejects these other parents with "Fuck it. I don’t want to be friends with these women anyway…I am not them. They are the old model and we [Dave/Toph] are the new" (57).  Dave is struggling to find an Identity location.

If you haven’t read this section of text, make sure you do so. It’s not the only example of important thematic instances in the chapter, but I’m trying to suggest/model ways to recognize and engage the text. Also revisit pages 67-69, the last few pages of part two, and notice, at arm’s length, the pronoun usage, as well as Dave’s internal struggle with mortality, and projection that spills over into how he fears, then hopes, his identity might be perceived by Toph.

Then there’s the frisbee game itself, which transcends the actual game, and represents a metaphoric opportunity for Dave to project the new Identity of which he is so proud: Him and Toph. "No one has ever seen anything quite like" them (69).

It’s your job, this week, to apply the analytic skills you have been practicing so far in your reading, to the next two chapters in AHWOSG. Look for opportunities to specifically point to themes in parts three and four (Control, Mortality, Identity). 

In your Discussion, you should identify at least one theme in part three, and one theme in part four, describe the situation in which that theme is present, then briefly analyze what Dave is showing us by using that theme. Work toward citing specific passages/pages. You’ll need to do this for your next paper, which I will assign soon. 

After you have posted your Discussion, please reply to two classmate’s posts. You will be graded on your Discussion (up to five points) and your replies (up to five points). As always, your replies should be more than one sentence, and you should start sooner than later!

Prof M