Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Making the Most of Moments
As with life, Ron Rash's One Foot in Eden can be defined by key moments. Identify the moment, the passage, the sentence, or the phrase of Rash's novel that you found the most fascinating and why it was key for you for some serious major insight into the book. Make sure you cite the moment and then offer at least 10 thoughtful and thorough sentences which show your clear opinion/voice on this matter.
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The most fascinating moment for me was when the Sheriff found out his dad had had a heart attack, and then drove to the hospital to see him. When he got there and started talking with Travis, Travis told him that he hadn't tried to call him last night to tell the news because, "You ain't given a damn about him for so long I didn't think you'd want your sleep bothered." They then start fighting and only stop when the sheriffs nephew, who is named after him pulls a knife on him to make him put down Travis. This was a huge realization scene for the Sheriff. He realized that even though he loves his father, he has been ignoring his whole family since he went to college. He didn't even know his nephew with his name well enough for the nephew to know not to pull a knife on him. All his family issues are coming to light In such an intense way that the Sheriff just gets overwhelmed. And when the sheriff does end up talking to his dad, he's not even sure if he heard him because his dad is unconscious. All the sheriff said was that he was sorry, even though he knew it was too late. He always felt guilty about not spending time with his family, but never did anything about it. In the end, he was too late to do anything. This moment stuck with me and really showed the guilt the sheriff is living with. I think everyone has a fear of their last words with family being an argument, or growing apart from their family. The sheriff went through that exact experience and it was just horrible. It was a powerful moment that I think was a great part of the book.
ReplyDeleteI think that the most fascinating moment was when Holland takes the barrel of Billy's rifle and holds it to his own chest. This moment symbolizes the choice Billy has to make, to kill a man, or lose his wife and soon to be son. This shows how Billy has to lose a part of him either way, either the woman he loves and the boy he would grow to love, or he has to get the blood of a man on his hands. This moment is the catalyst for the entire plot, it is the reason why "One Foot in Eden" is a murder mystery. No matter what the choice is, this will effect him for the rest of his life. The other reason why is because of the fact that Holland has sort of dared him to do it. He tells Billy that he would kill a man who had done to him what he had done to Billy. He almost forces him to do it because he tells him that if he doesn't kill him here and now he will never stop coming for Amy and Isaac. It is also one of the most crucial moments in the plot is it interesting, and that it explains part of the plot, and makes Billy not look like some kind of murderous hillbilly. I also think the most important reason it is the most fascinating image is because of the image that it puts in your head. You can picture it, be there, feel the heat of the Dog Star beating down on your head, the smell of earth and fresh air, and you can hear the two men yelling at each other as the wind rustles in the background along with Amy. That image is why it is the most important image in the book.
ReplyDeleteI was fascinated by the moment when the sheriff thought that Holland's body was buried beneath Sam. You had Will's opinion first, when you think he must be about to find the body and arrest Billy. Then, when Billy narrates the story, you already know what's not going to happen, and you only hear about Billy's worries. Also, I find the idea that once the sheriff has checked this part of the clearing, he will never think of the tree, very interesting. Having the same scene told from two different points of view makes it much more interesting and much easier to think about than if it had been told from one perspective, or an omniscient narrator so you know everything at once. I also find it interesting that Billy, who thinks it is over, at least at first, doesn't try to flee into the darkness. This scene shows how devoted he is to family. Even though his wife cheated on him, he still sticks by her and her son by Holland. He treats the child as his own, even though it could have been the death of him. This could also be seen as an example of people being portrayed as better than they are, if you view the story as a tragedy.
ReplyDeleteI thought the most important paragraph of this novel was on page 111. The quote is from Amy and it says, "Yet thoughts of those bad times laid deep in my mind like River snags... I'd pay for all that happened..." I've brought up this paragraph in the past few days because I thought this was very important to the story because she admits that she did the wrong thing in the situation. It also shows the kind of character that she is, making us appreciate her and her ability to know the difference between right and wrong. In this case, I still like her even thought she had an affair which to me, is almost unforgivable, but this quote, along with many others, makes me see that she had good intentions the whole time. I think it is important to be able to see the side of the character that knows the difference between right and wrong. If I hadn't seen this side of Amy, I would not feel the same way about her as I do now. I think I would be more harsh with my negative thoughts about her. I feel like if she didn't show she cared I would not feel any sympathy for her situation what so ever. But since she did show this side, she is actually one of my favorite characters in this story.
ReplyDeleteThe quote also brings in a factor of fear of what will happen, which is important to this book. Especially in Amy and Billy's situation, there is a lot to be feared. This also makes me appreciate Amy despite what she's done.
I thought the most fascinating moment was when Billy opens his chapter talking about the Dog Star and all that it brings. He talks about how it drives dogs mad and causes the crops to shrivel up and die. Billy also mentions how it can drive a man mad as well. It gives insight to the many spiritual beliefs of people in the valley. I think it also shows the guilt that Billy feels for killing Holland. The Dog Star gives him some justification even if it is just the slightest bit. I think he doesn't let on about how bad he feels about killing Holland. This scene also gives a feel for the mood of the story. It is mysterious and seems to have some magic or witchcraft involved. The way the land contributes to everything a person or animal does is key in this story. All of the bad things that happen while the Dog Star is out makes you think maybe the superstition is true.
ReplyDeleteThe most fascination moment of the book for me was when Billy asks Amy whose child it is. He talks about how he knew she was pregnant and having an affair before he confronted her, but he wanted to ask her at exactly the right moment. This shows his fear of her leaving him and when you see that fear you can also see how deeply he loves her. Also Amy’s reply shows that she is strong and doesn’t regret wanting the child. However, we do see that she wants to raise her child with Billy. In this moment we can also see their understand and compassion for each other. Billy talks about how he can sense Amy’s happiness since getting pregnant, he truly understands how much she wants this baby. Also when he asks about Holland he shows hesitation in mentioning Holland’s name because he doesn’t want to picture Amy with him. When Amy tells him that she is Billy’s wife not Holland’s it shows how she really does want to be with Billy over Holland.
ReplyDeleteI think that the most important scene in One Foot in Eden was when Billy and Amy went to the doctor and learned that they couldn't have a child together. It was this point that led to almost everything else that was important in this story; Amy has an affair with Holland because she wants a child so badly which causes Holland's death and Isaac's birth, and eventually Amy's and Billy's death in the river. At this point in the story, you also start to realize how much having children is important to the people during this time period, and it shows that being unable to have children makes a rift in the whole family. Amy says "going back home that afternoon was a long and silent ride. I looked out the window and the world seemed dead" which shows how Amy and Billy already started to have a gap in their relationship, and they never really end up talking about it. It also shows that the fact that she can't have a baby makes everything else seem lifeless. The reader also learns how much polio affected Billy's life and how much he suffered and lost from it. This passage is very important because it leads into everything else that happens in the story.
ReplyDeleteOne key moment in the story for me was when Holland shows the Sheriff the ears and Holland asks if the Sheriff thinks the ears can still hear. To this the Sheriff says no. "Holland held one up to me. 'You reckon them ears can still hear?' 'No' I said. 'You sure about that.' 'Yes,' I said, 'The dead don't hear and they don't speak.'" This part is important because the Sheriff's reply symbolizes how there are things in his past that he wants to push away forever. For instance, Janice's miscarriage and how it made their relationship disconnected. This line however applies to most of the story and most of the characters. After Amy has the affair with Holland, she wants to forget about it and pretend that it never happened. This is why she pushes Holland away. Also, after the Sheriff stops looking for Holland, Amy and Billy try to forget about Holland and Amy's affair and Billy killing Holland. That is why when Isaac asks about Holland, Amy tries to pretend it never happened, she doesn't want to face the past. This might be the reason why the Sheriff doesn't go back to see Travis and his dad very much. The Sheriff got them off on a bad foot after Clemson, and he wants to forget how separated he has become, so therefore he doesn't visit because it will remind him. Overall, this scene with the ears represents how most of the major characters want at least some part of their past to disappear. And, at least to the Sheriff, the thought of the dead still being somewhat alive connects to the thought of the past still being there, needing to be faced eventually.
ReplyDeleteI think the most compelling moment in the text is when Bobby looks down at the lake and pictures someone waving back up at him. This is not only a spectacular conclusion to the novel, but it brings a sort of eerie nostalgia to the scene. Bobby mentions that he knows exactly what road he sees when he looks down at the lake, which suggests that he has spent a long time in the valley, and possibly remembers times of driving up and down that road and interacting with the people on it. It makes the reader question if possibly Amy and Billy will ever be found, or if they’ll rest at the bottom of the lake with Widow Glendower forever. Bobby was involved in the search for their bodies, so he knows that they are the only two left in the lakebed before he throws in Widow Glendower, so who else could he picture staring up at him? It also brings the reader full circle, connecting them with all the previous narrators and their stories of Jocassee. You can see the road through Bobby’s eyes, and watch the sheriff’s truck drive up to see his family, see Isaac drive his parents to the riverbed for the final time, and feel Bobby’s pain as he ends the book with a single thought: “This is a place for the lost.”
ReplyDelete"I knew at that moment I had to make a choice between the man who raised me or the sack of bones and dirt in my hand, and that choice had to be made on the side of the river. It wasn't near that simple, of course. It wasn't a matter of what was the right or the wrong thing to do or what I owed the man who claimed me as a son or to momma or Mrs. Winchester. The only thing that mattered was what I could live with."
ReplyDeleteThis is by far the most important passage from the book. It explores a theme that had been built up to this point. The quote sparks controversy, due to the multiple views a lot of people can have on the subject. Added to the fact of how short a time Isaac had to make a decision, the situation this happened in, and just how much weighed on this decision. Throughout the book, readers are trying to decide who is to blame, and whether or not Billy is justified in killing Holland. It almost seems as if Ron Rash is expressing his opinion on Billy's actions through Isaac's actions. The fact that Isaac threw the bag away (which allow Billy to continue to be free), only for him to die right after is extremely powerful. I do wish we were able to get more of Isaacs thoughts and perspective after the events that occurred in his chapter. It may be a bit of a stretch, but the entire book could just be to lead up to this one, powerful moment. ~~~Jaliwa Albright
I think that the most fascinating scene was when the sheriff first went to the Widow Glendower's house. At that time reading it, we didn't know her story and the class as a whole was a combination of suspicious and surprised. It stood out to me because it gave a definite hint that she knew what had happened and maybe even encouraged it. (As she did, to some extent). It especially stood out after reading other scenes where she was involved, particularly when Billy is going to deal with Holland's body. I thought that it was a great introduction to a very interesting character. When Amy was talking to her, I thought back to this scene. Furthermore, I thought that Rash did a superb job with the character of the Widow Glendower. He didn't go too into depth about her, which is probably intentional and very fitting based on her mysterious demeanor. When she was present, she brought forth an atmosphere that I thought really enhanced what else was going on in the plot. So, yeah, her opening scene stood out to me.
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ReplyDeleteThe moment that I think is the most important and key to One Foot in Eden is something to do with Billy Holcombe's polio, specifically him being diagnosed with polio at a young age. The scene specifically is a flashback: "Can you move your legs?' [Doctor Griffen] asked. 'No sir,' I said. Doctor Griffen just nodded to that... He put his hands on my legs, the softest hands I'd ever known for a man. He took out the thermometer and studied it. Then him and Momma went out on the porch for a few minutes." I think this is an important moment because it is kinda the cause of every event that happens. The events that happen because of his polio cause other events that lead up to the murder, which is the main idea of the story. The polio makes one of Billy's legs shorter than the other, causing him inconveniences for his whole life. However, the main problem is that he is not able to father a child. This causes the years of trying and failing to have a child between he and Amy, until they eventually find out that the two of them cannot have a child, although Amy can. Amy is desperate for a baby, and consults the widow Glendower, who tells her to have an affair with Holland Winchester so that she may have a child. Billy finds out, and when Holland falls in love with Amy and attempts to get her to marry him, Billy murders Holland. This murder brings in Sheriff Alexander, who is another main character of this book. Eventually, Amy and Holland's child becomes another main character of the story when he wants to find out about his real father. Billy would be his real father instead of Holland, if only Billy had not been diagnosed with polio and become unable to have a child.
ReplyDeleteThe most intriguing moment to me was when the sheriff checks under Sam's body for Holland and finds nothing. In this moment your confidence in the sheriff, who previously seemed like he had everything figured out, is lost. It's a tragic moment for the sheriff and the deputy and it led to a great deal of thought for the reader. It was obvious Billy had murdered Holland, but in this moment you were encouraged to read on and find out how he had done it. This was the moment that peaked my interest and caused me to read on. This moment also contains many of the overall themes in the book: death, deceit, struggle, and disappointment. The dead body of the horse roped to the car and being dragged away was a graphic scene and in the end the sheriff wound up in the same place he was before he had his epiphany. Struggle for nothing is a strong tone in this story: the sheriff struggled for an education and was instead left with disappointment and a distance from his family, Billy struggles to raise Isaac but in the end dies on the journey to recover Holland's bones, Isaac tries to learn of his biological father but only ends up losing his real parents, the sheriff and Janice try to have a child but end up being distant from each other.
ReplyDeleteThe most fascinating part of "One Foot in Eden" for me was the recurring line "the dead bury the dead" (pg 198, and other pages, which I'm having difficulty finding currently). I find this line pretty important since it provides foreshadowing, it's a biblical illusion, and it relates to a minor theme in the story. When the line is first introduced early in the book, one does not think much of the line. However, diving deeper you can see that it foreshadows the ending of Isaac's chapter. When Billy and Amy die, they are burying Holland, along with their sins. I think Rash is trying to say that, one you kill a man, part of you dies with that man. For referencing, here is one of the two places where the phrase is mentioned in the Bible, Matthew 8:22,
ReplyDelete"…21Another of the disciples said to Him, 'Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.' 22But Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.'"
Wow, I'm really surprised with how well this lines up with the book. It relates especially when Isaac is asking his father to go retrieve Holland. Isaac physically follows him physically, and Amy and Billy actually bury the man they killed. In another translation, the biblical passage says, "let the spiritually dead bury their own dead". Going off of what I mentioned earlier, Billy and Amy have lost a part of themselves, possibly their innocence. Therefore, it can only be expected that Amy and Billy, the "spiritually dead" will bury Holland.
I apologize for the typos.
DeleteI was slightly in a rush.
Here is a corrected version: The most fascinating part of "One Foot in Eden" for me was the recurring line "the dead bury the dead" (pg 198, and other pages, which I'm having difficulty finding currently). I find this line pretty important since it provides foreshadowing, it's a biblical illusion, and it relates to a minor theme in the story. When the line is first introduced early in the book, one does not think much of the line. However, diving deeper you can see that it foreshadows the ending of Isaac's chapter. When Billy and Amy die, they are burying Holland, along with their sins. I think Rash is trying to say that, one you kill a man, part of you dies with that man. For referencing, here is one of the two places where the phrase is mentioned in the Bible, Matthew 8:22,
Delete"…21Another of the disciples said to Him, 'Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.' 22But Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.'"
Wow, I'm really surprised with how well this lines up with the book. It relates especially when Isaac is asking his father to go retrieve Holland. Isaac physically follows him physically, and Amy and Billy actually bury the man they killed. In another translation, the biblical passage says, "let the spiritually dead bury their own dead". Going off of what I mentioned earlier, Billy and Amy have lost a part of themselves, possibly their innocence. Therefore, it can only be expected that Amy and Billy, the "spiritually dead" will bury Holland.
“This wasn’t no place for people who had a home. This was a place for the lost.” I thought this phrase wrapped up the book perfectly. It captured everything we learned throughout the book in two sentences. All the characters in the book are lost, either in their own skin or lost in the present. Amy is lost in her own skin, because she can’t decide what to do, because Billy is unable to have children. Through her chapter we really see her struggle, trying to fit into her society, but also be a good loyal wife to Billy. We also learn that the Sheriff is lost, too. Because of his injury during a Clemson football game, he was unable to finish college. He is also facing problems at home, his wife is unable to have children, and he is still mentally in the war. These are just two examples of characters that are lost emotionally. Every character in the book is either currently lost, or has experienced loss at one point.
ReplyDeleteThe passage that is the key moment is in the beginning of the book. It started on the bottom of page 4 at "he nodded", and it ended on page 5 at "to be stitched and bandaged." Also the another important line was the one where Holland pulls out the ear, and asks the sheriff "Do you think they can still hear?" Both passages gives a lot of background information and insight on the minds of Holland and the Sheriff. Based on the passage you can infer that both of them came back from a war. For Holland he was a soldier that didn't have a problem killing and fighting on the front lines. In the war he confronted things very aggressively. It might've been foreshadowing that this would be the downfall of Holland Winchester. It turns out later in the book that's exactly what happens. He keeps on confronting the Holcombe's, and then his last confrontation with him asking Billy to shoot him otherwise he won't leave them alone. On the other hand it showed the Sheriff as a man who really didn't like war. He didn't bring back any "souvenirs" of people like Holland did. Although in the first passage he relates to Holland with a lot of familiarity. He understands how after a battle you wait to be stitched up, and why someone would take another person's ear as a spoil of war. The Sheriff has a lot of experience with war, and it effected him heavily. He was hired for the reason that he could kill, and he knew that. He knew that any man could kill if it was for the right reason, so that is another one of the things that the passage foreshadowed.
ReplyDeleteI think the most important part in the book is when the sheriff is talking about the Dot Star and how it has affected people, and what it does. "The season was against him. It was the time of year when the Dog Star rose with the sun, and while that meant hot weather and little rain, there as more to it than that. The old Romans had considered it an unwholesome season, and it was hard not to agree with them". With this passage, one could see how meaningful this part in the story is. It's also in the great part in the book: the first chapter. Putting this passage in the first chapter foreshadows the rest of the book. With this passage here, the reader could easily analyze why all of these events are happening. The Dog Star represents all the misfortune and disorder that surrounds this town in the book. It shows why these certain events occur, and it is a perfect explain of sometime of all-knowing greater being.
ReplyDeleteI think that the most fascinating moment of the book was when Holland told Billy to kill him. This was very striking because the reader sees the full intensity of holland's love for Amy. Also, Billy is faced with a very tough decision. This passage also kind of justifies Billy killing Holland. Billy had to shoot Holland because if he didn't, Holland wouldn't leave him alone.
ReplyDeleteThe part can be seen on page 126. It is very striking because at to moment, not only is Billy killing Holland justified, it is almost necessary. If Billy chose not to kill Holland, he would keep coming back and ruin his relationship with Amy. Also, although there wasn't any evidence that he would, Holland could try to physically harm Amy. That is why Billy being forced to kill Holland is a striking image.
On page 213 of One Foot In Eden the Dupity bobby threw Widow Glendower's coffin into the lake and says, "Sink straight to hell." I find this to be fascinating because someone like Widow Glendower should been seen as a person who help women of the town on how to have children I felt like she was seeing as an evil person which on my part she wasn't because she never did anything bad to harm anyone.
ReplyDeleteThe most fascinating moment of the book was when Amy dove after Billy and killed herself. Since the affair, we had been questioning Amy's intentions and if she really loved Billy. Amy, as mentioned in my tragic hero paragraph, also had trouble showing her good intentions and her dedication. In this moment, all questions are answered about Amy and Billy's relationship and Amy is able to put aside her flaws and suffering and go after what she really believes in. This moment, though sad, ties up all loose ends with Amy and Billy. Of course, because of their actions in the beginning of their stories, it doesn't seem entirely undeserved that both Billy and Amy die, but the moment is powerful as it shows the love Amy feels for her husband.
ReplyDeleteI think the most important part of the book is when Billy first hides Holland's body. This is basically the pinnacle of the events in the book. The two previous sections were building up to this with Will's section establishing the murder and Amy's section establishing why. Billy's section brings this all together. His section shows not all the how, but it also shows the why and where. I really enjoyed the specific passage where Billy hid Holland in the tree. This passage reveals a lot. We see here that Billy is not as irrational as he originally would seem. He actual sits down and thinks. He plans out what the sheriff might ask him and thinks of reasonable responses. He thinks about the vultures and comes up with a remedy in the form of killing Sam. Overall, I think this scene not only strongly shows how Billy recognizes how Holland's murder will change his life, but it also ties together all previous and proceeding sections of the book.
ReplyDeleteThe moment that is the most key to the plot of One Foot in Eden is when Amy has the affair with Holland. In Amy's section we see why she decides to go through with this affair. At first she dismisses the possibility and then she isn't positive it will happen or is in denial about it until it happens. She keeps saying it won't happen or that she couldn't, but she does it anyway. On page 84 when Holland and her are having sex Amy says that she knew "it had all been decided" and that is why it is so key. If she didn't have this affair the book would have no plot. There would be no conflict or prompt for conflict. But she does and then it's all decided. It also became the point of much internal struggle about if she actually did it for Billy or herself. And it lead to Isaac's problems.
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