Friday, January 27, 2012
Controversial?
I'm going to put this right out there and confess that I hate Stowe's style of writing. She manipulates the feelings of her readers to pity the characters of her choosing. While some may consider that good writing, I hate having my heart strings tugged at. I think that this more than her controversial topic of setting slaves free may have been what critics of her time disliked about her story. Then again, if she drew back even slightly from her intended style, her book may not have been the success that it was and still is today. The fact that we're still reading it means someone must like it.
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That's really interesting. I definitely think that she's trying to make the reader feel one way, and one way only. I think this type of writing was necessary for her though to gain the attention and compassion of her readers.
ReplyDeleteI would actually agree with you Stephanie.
ReplyDeleteI feel like Stowe just wants us to pick one side and stay with it, but when in reality we change our minds often and the more we read we might change it again or feel as if we are that one character.
Steph,
ReplyDeleteI ,may be on the fence about Stowe's writing style as well. I enjoy the way Stowe makes her characters sincere and even martyer like. The characters are awesome and self-less, the reader is forced to care for the seemingly infant like and helpless character that is dooped by the unfortunate cards that destiny has dealt them.
However, I can see where the favoritism comes into play and can be frustrating. The ability of free thought among readers about characters is taken away from the reader by Stowe. We must remember that a book can be a child to an author, and what parent wants people talking crap about theirs kid and his/her characteristics.
I will even go as far as suggesting, maybe Stowe meant for readers to be frustrated and upset with her writing. The writing style may have been purposeful to help relate the frustration Stowe had toward slavery. Just a thought...