Through these details, it is easy to see that Gonzales has allowed a stressful situation deprive him of his normal human function. He allows the stressful situation to get the better of him. His inability to cope with said situations placed burdens on the people around him. His constant waking and worrying negatively impacts his relationship with his wife. He also hinders his relationship with his employers by insisting there is a problem with their company. Overall, it shows that Isaac Gonzales has personal struggles as to what is and what is not morally right.
Outliers:
In the novel Outliers Malcolm Gladwell makes the claim that in order to be successful in certain aspects of life, one must be born at precisely the right time. Although Gladwell provides sufficient details and examples, I still can't seem to completely agree with his claim. The physical and intellectual aspects of children who are born just after the cutoff date are not always in overwhelming comparison to those born in the later half of the year. Take Abington High School for example. If we conducted a study and recorded the birth months of students in this year's AP history class we would find that the months in which we are born are spread out across the year and are not stockpiled in the months of August, September, and October. Gladwell takes the examples that he wants to prove his point but these are just theories and not actual, cold-hard, facts.
The way Puleo includes the story of Gonzales is a quite unconventional way of introducing a setting. However, it is a great way of achieving what other authors do much "normally". This approach is substantially more entertaining to read, which is shown in Sean's analysis because Gonzales' character speaks of a reoccurring question leading up to the flooding; should one do what is right at their own risk, or do what they must do to protect themselves at the risk of others?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mike that Puelo does do an interesting job of establishing a setting by using Gonzales to tell the story of the progression of the weakening of the tank. I think that Gonzales, answering Mikes question, definitely chose to put the risk of his own life in front of others. Because going on those late night runs didn't in all honesty do much, but he did in a way risk his life.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Mike and Ryan, Puelo has a very different way of introducing the characters. I personally like it. Also, I like how Gonzales was introduced into the story. Puelo starts the book with talking about how Gonzales fears the night, and works his way up from there about the weaknesses of the tank and the struggles Gonzales faces trying to get Jell to believe him.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ryan. I think that using Gonzales to tell the story of the tank weakening was a good idea. Gonzales's introduction was also an interesting concept, opening the story with one of his midnight walks to the tank. His continuing pleades with Jell and White, also serve to show how far they both would go to avoid building a new tank.
ReplyDeleteI think, in a way, Gonzales is the most compassionate person in the book. He gets in trouble with his boss, takes runs at night and worries more than he should about this tank because he knows the devastation it could cause to not only himself and his family but to all the families in the area and around the tank. He takes it upon himself to tell him bosses and runs the risk of getting fired, proving his determination and sense of responsibility.
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