The Canon, [1972-73]: Volume 3, Number 4

Digital Collections @ Dordt Dordt Canon University Publications 1973 The Canon, [1972-73]: Volume 3, Number 4 Dordt College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcollections.dordt.edu/dordt_canon Recommended Citation Dordt College, "The Canon, [1972-73]: Volume 3, Number 4" (1973). Dordt Canon. 55. https://digitalcollections.dordt.edu/dordt_canon/55 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the University Publications at Digital Collections @ Dordt. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dordt Canon by an authorized administrator of Digital Collections @ Dordt. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Soli Deo Gloria CANNON DORDT COLLEGE, SIOUX CENTER, IOWA VOL. III -.- No.4 Mother Night: Victims of Change Victoria and Blue·Jeans Prof. James Koldenhoven by Pat De Young What Is Life? The old and the new, like jaws of a trap, have closed on the people of I saw Victoria Allison for the first ally she disagreed in discussion-too by Becky Maatman Tennessee Williams and John Osborne's time on satge. She walked out, long loudly in her curt, clipped Yankee ac- Vonnegut, author of Mother Night plays, The Glass Menagerie and Look swinging steps, took the mike, and cent. Having said what she wanted to asks, "What is a war criminal? Is it Back inAnger. Laura Wingfield iS1he quietly announced, "I will sing a selec- say, she would give her head a toss someone who has obeyed his conscience, central victim in Williams' American tion from Hair." Staring at the floor in and return to silence, eyes focused on perhaps doing wrong,",» is it someone (U.S.A.) culture in the 1930's and silence, she paused. Then up came her the floor. who obeys the commands of a higher 40's; Jimmy Porter is the central victim head, kinky blond hair shaken back. authority, doin~ right but disobeying I began to look for Victoria on in Osborne's British culture of the Eyes closed, standing with both feet campus. I wondered who her friends thisconscience?' 1940's and 50's. These plays, though gracefully planted, she sang. No piano, were. It was then that' noticed the Does this sound like another Mei Lai quite dissimilar in tone and structure, circumstance? Howard W. Campbell, provide a view of the changes taking no guitar, just her voice. It was not blue-jeans. She wore blue-jeans almost "born an American citizen, a Nazi by place on both sides of the Atlantic and opera. But never quavering, grabbing every day. either the same pair or iden- reputation, and a nationless person by how the changes affected the -lives or the notes, she hit them hard, made tical pairs; baggy, faded, frayed, here- inclination," hid in a New York City men and women. They are both social them knives, threw them at us. Then and- there patched. I remember wishing attic from the Israeli government. He plays, with philosophical overtones, she bowed, once more shook back the I had a pair like that. had been a spy for the Allies in World which illustrate the injury caused by hair, replaced the mike, and left as The one time I really looked at her War II, broadcasting over the radio being caught between what is past and easily as she had come on. and saw her in class she was wearing what seems to be the present and im- using a coded language. An American A dramatic monolgue won the fresh- those jeans and an army jacket. We mediate future. No escape and no real man-transfer-student talent competi- were discussing Oedipus Rex: Was his agent, persuading Howard Campbell to alternative are available to Laura and tion. But I made a note of the name, punishment justified? Victoria spoke be a spy said, Jimmy. Laura is a misfit in a society "Victoria Allison." You'll have to commit high treas- whose values changed too rapidly and out from behind us, "Of course, it all The name came up again in Honors on, have to serve the enemy well. too radically; Jimmy is a misfit in a depends on what you think of incest. English class. Mrs. Lipsey tripped You won't ever be forgiven for misfit in a society which promised In some cultures it is taboo, in others, through the door, as always a little that, because there isn't any legal changed but never delivered. not. For example, in some parts of the late, a little breathless, her short dumpy advice by which you can be for- Token reforms in British democracy Appalachian Mountains, (by then we body was fuzzy gray curls bouncing given.The most that will be done produced Osborne's Jimmy Porter. Ec- were all looking at her) when children with the joy in her smile. "Good morn- for you is that your neck will be onomic necessity and a war, it appear- reach sexual maturity, a father will ing, my dears!" saved. But there will be no magic ed, had reduced all Englishmen to de- sleep with his daughter and a mother Counting out ditto sheets to be pass- time when you will be cleared, pendence upon one another. The La- with her son to give them their initial ed down rows, she explained, "This when America will call you out bor Party, in its austerity programs, sex experience." She was staring at Mrs. was written twenty-five years ago by of hiding with a cheerful: "Oily, promised "equality to all." And though Lipsey, expressionless, waiting. one of my students, John Allison. A oily-ox-in-free.' the Education Act of 1944 reformed Mrs. Lipsey stared back, slowly put sharp, smart young man." Her brown the academic institutions of England, down her book, and flatly replied, "I Before being recruited as an Ameri- eyes twinkled. "The only one of my can agent, Campbell was a German the "eleven plus" test could not prom- think you need to check your facts. ise its youth social acceptance. Many students to beat Doc Sadler's pre-med Don't make an incident a generality." playwright, married to a German ac- boys for grades ... graduated top of tress, Helga Noth. They both kept in brilliant children were sent to "sec- The room had thudded silent; her voice ondary modem" school, but many his class. fell sharp and heavy into the quiet. She the social group of important Nazis. "I've used this poem for an example This is what qualified Campbell to be a more who were understood become rose. Somewhere (the chapel lawn?) a over - educated for a society that many times, but this is the first time I lawnmower was whining. Grasping the spy for the Allies. During the war, can say that John sent one of his chil- while entertaining troups in the Crimea, granted privilege and power to a pseu- back of her chair with both hands, she do-aristocracy. From the vantage point dren back here to school. Victoria- leaned forward and continued more Helga was killed. After moving to New she's sharp and talented too. I hope York, Helga's sister Resi Noth moved of 1960. Evelyn Waugh said, "The Eng- queitly, "My dear, I was raised on a lish aristocracy has maintained its iden- you all meet her. Maybe you have al- Louisiana farm, daughter of a Baptist in with Campbell, and at the same ready." She looked up at us and added preacher. I've seen the world, and what time was an agent for the Russian to a degree that then (1944], seemed possible." Waugh's voice is much less quietly, "You know, from San Fran- I haven't seen I've read. But there's government. She and a man named cynical than that of Osborne, but the cisco to small town Southern Baptist Kraft (Campbell's friend, living in the still something in me that draws lines I assessment is nearly the same. Things Mississippi means ... a difficult adjust- don't dare cross. Your life and world same apartment house) were supposed had not changed as much as the reform ment." has been different. I can't judge you to lead Campbell to Moscow. But Resi ideals had promised. Smile wrinkles crinkling again: "AI· and your generation-I must under- couldn't betray Campbell, and per- Jimmy Porter's anger as he looks right rn'dears, I'll give you ten minutes stand you. But you shouldn't judge me suaded Kraft to make plans for all back is provoked by this discrepancy to find, label, and be ready to explain either; you must try to understand me three to escape to Mexico. Too soon, between promise of change and feeling the figures of speech the poet uses." and my reaction." however, American G-Men raided the no change. He is provoked that the It was a minor challenge. Often she She stopped, waiting, I think, for apartment. Resi commited suicide and state church, for instance, which should said, '" like to put the hurdles just a the others were arrested. Campbell, Victoria to look up again. Without the: show the greatest humane sense, ap- little higher than even the best of you twinkle, her eyes were dark. So softly soon a free man turned himself in to peals to its membership, to do all think you can go." I attacked all chal- that I wondered if Victoria heard, she the Israeli government and in prison they can to assist in the manufacture lenges, big or small, excited that I added, "Without understanding, your awaited trial. And that is the end (or is of the l-l-Bomb ." Jimmy senses keen- might make it higher than even she freedom will hurt you." it the beginning-the whole novel is ly the discrepancy of Bishop Bromley's thought I could.

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