As said by Bookforum, "Lack is everywhere in All the Living". Although
Aloma and Orren lack many things, none of these is as expressed as satisfaction
within their relationship. During the formative years of this relationship,
they spoke with desire and longing for a wonderful future together - "She
told him that she would someday get out of the mountains to study piano and he
told her again and again of the farm he would own and if these two strands were
like roads that could never converge, neither Aloma nor Orren cared to
notice" (21). This two-pronged statement, showcasing said wonderful
future, exposes exactly the fatal flaw between the two love birds. Feasibly,
these paths through life do not intertwine as they would hope. Ignoring and
under-analyzing the world's realities brought them to the current situation,
one of simply settling for what they have. In a constant state of ignorance,
Orren has turned a blind eye to Aloma's passion for piano. Speaking of the
dilapidated piano in the old house, he says "Last time I checked, Aloma,
that was a real piano" (44). This would be passingly excusable if Orren
worked a sprawling, successful farm, but he says himself that they have
"No money" (51). Another lack which they possess, the lack of money
emphasizes how Orren's own dream is falling short of where it should have
ideally landed. Without succeeding in the way, she desires, Aloma turns to
petty victories to feel vindicated. An example of such being the execution of
the unruly rooster, also using this a vehicle for her desire for a piano.
"I want a piano right now, and I want you to kill that rooster right now!
If you loved me, you could just do one simple thing!" (58). Evoking
thoughts of an avalanche, anger forces any human to make statements from
outside the realm of the current conversation, but these statements are very
relevant to the overall situation. Stemming from the fact that Orren either
refused or simply did not care to fix the piano, Aloma acted under her own prerogative
and secured a job as a pianist at the local church. In an unexpected
occurrence, when Aloma shared the good news, Orren "said nothing in
response, only kept on, and that stole the slightest pleasure from her
telling" (74). It’s as if he has forgotten that Aloma has wants that exist
independent of his. It is arguable that their relationship is not which is
typical, but regardless, in any semi-functioning relationship one should be (or
at least act) elated when their significant other receives a great
opportunity.
I agree that both Aloma and Orren feel significant lack and it certainly exacerbates the issues in their admittedly flawed relationship. However, I am not sure the flaws are fatal. Aloma certainly doesn't end the novel happy. Saying "she couldn't trust the world to make her happy for more than a minute at a time, and generally less than that" (197). It is clear Aloma feels like she has to make her own happiness. Furthermore, as you said Aloma's dream is to "get out of the mountains and study piano" (21). Yet, Orren is "fastened to this place, to these foothills" (197). The main conflict appears to be Aloma's desire to leave and Orren's attachment to the foothills.
ReplyDeleteAt first this conflict seems unresolved at the end, but upon further inspection it is possible this conflict is actually beginning to ease at the end of the novel. After being married Aloma finally finds the courage to make some changes to the house "Let's get rid of this piano. . . And maybe move some of these pctures. We don't need them all on one wall" (195). Orren surprisingly accepts Aloma's changes. This is significant because throughout the novel Aloma never accepts the farm as her home. Yet, at this point she finally begins to accept the farm and try to make the best of it. Orren for the first time allows Aloma to make changes. This scene offers a glimmer of hope that Aloma will make the farm her home and that Orren will let her do so. Thus, perhaps they could be happy in the end.
I believe the novel tells us at the end that Aloma and Orren's relationship is going to last, but it won't be great by any means. As Drew mentioned in his post, there has been some improvement in their relationship as Aloma is finally voicing her opinion, telling Orren to not smoke in the house (197), and finally showing her acceptance of her new home. However, Aloma knows this relationship is not ideal and when she pleads with Orren for them not to fight anymore, she "heard how useless it was, all the longing and futility that it encompassed, and she saw too that she would say it many times in her lifetime, perhaps many times, and it would be as tiresome then as it was now" (196). She seems resigned to her new life and her relationship, not thrilled about it.
ReplyDeleteBut I would like to add that she does seem to finally be in a position to take control of her life. It is significant that she wonders "is it really him who makes me unhappy or is it just me after all?" (197) because she is pondering taking responsibility for her own life. It might be that because of her childhood, she isn't in a position to have an ideal life in a loving relationship. I think the book is intentionally ambiguous in its ending, mixing dread for the future with a hint of optimism and acceptance for the main characters.
DeleteBoth Aloma and Orren are lacking what their heart desires. They wanted their freedom. For Aloma this was leaving and becoming a famous musician. “She wanted nothing more than to study the piano in some faraway place” (15). To Aloma, the piano was love, but it also provided a way out, a way to the real world. Orren does not feel this burning passion to leave. He strives for a better life, a bigger farm. When Aloma and he first begin dating they talk about their futures. “He told her how big a farm he was going to own someday – bigger, much bigger than the one he had grown up on” (19). Orren strives to do better than what his family’s farm is. When his mother and brother die Orren is left to run this farm. He struggles with the debts that come with it and talks about how the have “no money” (51). With his family’s death, his dream dies. By bringing Aloma with him to the farm, he is asking her to choose between him, and with him love, or to pursue her dreams of becoming a musician. Orren had no choice but to take up the family farm, and with it put his dream on hold. Aloma struggles with her decision and is frustrated that she can’t satisfy both wants. Towards the end of the novel, we see both of them accept their fate and understand that the other is frustrated with the loss of their dream.
ReplyDeleteI agree that satisfaction in Aloma and Orren’s relationship is something that is lacking in the novel. Right from the start of their relationship, when they tell each other their dreams, it is clear that neither one of them will be satisfied. Aloma wants to move away, while Orren wants to stay put. In the end they settle for something less that ideal. Aloma is particularly affected, when she moves with Orren to his family’s old farm. She doesn’t even have a proper piano to play as when she touched the key “there was no sound, just a sponging broken depression. She pushed down the neighboring keys and the pitches yawed out, one string buzzed hideously” (28). She is unable to pursue her passion, and Orren does not support her in her dreams. This lack of satisfaction causes Aloma to do things because she feels it is what she must do and not what she wants to do. Despite the lack of satisfaction in their relationship, they still continue to be together. I think this theme shows how satisfaction in relationships and in life overall is important. The lack of it can drive negative behaviors and hold people back from their dreams like it did Aloma.
ReplyDelete