I think for this blog post I’d like to try to put into writing the thoughts my group had on the theme of Imagination vs. Reality within the novel. I’m sure that what I was trying to say was a bit hard to understand so I’m hoping it comes across better in writing.
In referring to imagination within the novel, Ray and Davis seem to have competely different viewpoints, although Davis finally feels for once that someone seems to understand him. We came to the conclusion that between writing the novel and Davis’ box that communicates with the dead shows a play on imagination. To Ray, if you use imagination to create fictional characters than that is acceptable, but he thinks Davis is crazy because he’s using an imaginatory communication device to try to connect with the actual dead. Apparently, Ray thinks the line was crossed through imagination because Davis is no longer using imagination for fictious reasons only (as Ray is with writing a novel based on characters), rather he is using his imagination to connect with a real thing, the dead.
Ray expresses his feelings toward Davis and his imagination when saying, “I’ve been calling Davis crazy from day one, but in all that time I missed out on the fact that he’s actually crazy, as in nuts. A genuine bug. A bug who thinks he’s built a machine that can talk to ghosts” (104). This shows the difference that Ray feels between his use of imagination and Davis’ use of imagination, and how Davis’ seems to be completely inapropriate to Ray.
Overall, I feel as though I’m really getting into this novel. I’m wondering how Egan is going to tie everything together from the story within the story. I’m looking forward to the ending!
I like that Egan is making a play on the importance of Imagination..and I think she is definitely saying something about our society. When we are children we are fearless, truthful, and always use our imagination. However as Americans we are taught to go to college after high school, then get into the workplace. So where does that leave room for imagination? It doesn’t. I believe with this novel, Egan is definitely trying to activate our imaginations to start having fun, and not be serious all the time! Nice post!
Comment by sjordan740 — April 7, 2009 @ 6:32 pm
I agree that there is definitely a difference between the uses of imagination in this novel between the two characters. I feel like Ray has grown up, Danny is connected to the outside world with his satellite and Davis is trying to keep sane by having a connection in prison with those from the dead. Sometimes I wish I could bring back all the imagination we had as children.
Comment by silentwriter1222 — April 22, 2009 @ 11:48 am