Thursday, May 17, 2012
Roy vs. Louis
When Roy dies, we can see that he never truly changes because he leaves us feeling hopeless about his death. Roy is the same character he was in the beginning of the play and leaves the play in a dark, twisted way by cracking a joke on Ethel. Although Roy's character doesn't develop or change, is there hope for Louis? Can Louis change his selfish, ambivalent, defensive character by the end of the play? Or will he remain abstract leaving the audience hopeless once again?
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I think that Louis will be able to change by the end of the book because all though he was obnoxious and self centered at times I do not think that he was ever cruel like Roy’s character was. I believe that Louis is going to change because the Angle makes a point of saying that -- humans have the ability to change. My prediction for the end of the book is Prior and Louis will get back together and Prior will subconsciously be affected by the Angles speech about humans and that might influence how Prior and Louis act towards each other. I believe that Louis and Prior still love each other and there is hope for Louis.
ReplyDeleteAfter finishing the book, I am a little confused about the end relationship between Prior and Louis. Louis does realize that he was wrong and he comes back to Prior because he still loves him. I was confused because Prior told Louis, "But you can't come back. Not ever". But then in the epilogue, Prior and Louis are having a conversation together with Belize and Hannah a couple years later. So I'm not quite sure about Prior and Louis' relationship. But regardless, I think that Louis' character has changed at least a little bit from the beginning of the book because he has learned that he loves Prior no matter what and will put up with his disease in order to be with him. But in the very last scene Louis is still arguing about world politics, so his character hasn't completely changed, but it has changed in the most important way because he returns to Louis.
ReplyDeleteAfter finishing the play, I do believe there is hope for Louis. He does change from being selfish and a person who only cared about the ideas that were in head into a man who grew a soft side. He said a prayer to Roy and Louis finally unsterstands that he has to care about people. He also changes his views on life. Theories come from living and testing them in the real world and you must constantly change your theories about life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone. I think that there is still hope for Louis and that he can change. In the beginning he was very selfish and had very strong ideas about religion and politics. Louis has trouble accepting priors illness. However in the end he becomes more accepting and knows that he loves prior. He is also able to say a pray for Roy which shows that he does care for others. Though Louis still has very strong views he has become a little less selfish. I think that though did not change a ton the bit he did change was for the good.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there is hope for Louis because he exemplifies a caring side to himself at the end of the play that wasn't evident in the beginning. As Lauren mentioned one of the first times that Louis shows us that he is kind and caring is when he recites the Kaddish for Roy Cohn. Although he barely knows it and had resented the man for a long time he understands the importance in respecting those that have died and putting all other emotions behind you in order to do so. Also, by the end of the play Louis learns that you have to care for others no matter what. He shows his understanding of this concept when he comes back and takes care of Prior, even though Prior will not allow him to be his lover anymore. Rather than becoming upset about Prior's wishes, he instead remains a close friend for him who is there in his time of need.
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ReplyDeletei think that there is hope for louis because he is a much more human character than Roy was. Even when Louis does horrible things, they can be justified in a very human way. Like when he leaves Prior, its easy to recognize exactly why he did it. he was scared and there was nothing he could do to help Prior. Though the things Louis does are horrible, they can be justified. also, you can see a change in Louis towards the end of the play. He becomes more tolerant, insightful and understanding. He becomes more accepting of diversity. So yes, i think there is lots of hope for Louis
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