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The Robber Bride

Lived City (4): Love and Desire on Cities‘ Margins -- or Center? . The Robber Bride. General Introduction and Roz. The Robber Bride . from the legend of Robber Bridegroom.

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The Robber Bride

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  1. Lived City (4): Love and Desire on Cities‘ Margins -- or Center? The Robber Bride General Introduction and Roz

  2. The Robber Bride • from the legend of Robber Bridegroom. • 《格林童話》中「強盜新郎」（"The Robber Bridegroom"）的故事。「強盜新郎」與藍鬍子童話原型大致相同，敘述一名男子以英俊多金的形象拐騙村落中的年輕女子，將她們攜回森林中的城堡予以肢解並吞食。但是經過艾氏的改寫，扭轉了原演受害者，同時也是加害者的角色。這種性別扭轉的處理，以及後設小說式對文類傳統的質疑，使本書常被書評者定位為「後現代女性童話」（Grace 44）。 (source)

  3. The Robber Bride • Three main characters: Tony, Charis, Roz. Roz, a president of a company on top of a building Charis, ex-hippie living on Toronto island Tony-- History professor at a University

  4. Double/multiple identity • Zenia becomes their obsession, which they need to exorcize. But actually she also serves as their double, meeting their desires and taking advantage of their fears and weaknesses. • Roz’s double identity: Roz Grunwald (a Jewish name) or Rosalind Greenwood (a Catholic)

  5. Our Focus • Part II – The Robber Bride. • Time Line –Oct 23, 1990  May 1983, Roz over 40  her meeting Mitch when she is 22  her youth in 60’s  [childhood during WW II] • Chap 39: (Oct 23, 1990) Roz in her office and back home after meeting Zenia. •  Chap 40: (May 1983) Roz and her husband Mitch •  Chap 41: Roz and Mitch’s knowing each other and their marriage. (May 1983) p. 354 – meeting Zenia.

  6. Our Focus • [Skipped -- Chaps 42: --44 • Roz’s childhood with her mother in their rooming house. Her school’s Catholic education; • Roz’s father back from WWII. Roz getting to know about anti-Semitism. • The Father’s mistresses and his getting rich. Roz takes on a Jewish identity. Roz as a hybrid (388-90).] • Chap 45 – 49: the past -- Roz, Mitch, Zenia and WiseWomanWorld; the present – Roz and the twins

  7. Our Focus • Today -- • Roz’s identity as a mother and a wife; her obsession - Mitch • Next Time -- • Roz’s ethnic identity and her relationship with Mitch; • Why is Zenia a double of Roz and of Mitch (how she meets their desires); • What does the magazine WiseWomanWorld represent ? • How does Roz get over her obsession/trauma.

  8. Roz and her world vs. the Toronto Locations mentioned in our class Bloor Street Viaduct • Office at Bay street; Restaurant on Queen E. p. 326

  9. Roz and her world: The Past with her Kids • 歡樂滿人間

  10. Roz and her world: The Past with her Husband • Art nouveau design • Brass bedstead • Egyptian dresser A cabinet (e.g. evenstar from 魔戒)

  11. Roz and her world: The Past with her Husband • He & She basins • Jacuzzi + shower cubicle

  12. Roz and her world: The Present • Nouveau Pueblo style • Nanaimo bar + pickled cucumber  eaten with a fork

  13. Starting Questions • How is Roz characterized as a mother in chap 39? And as a wife in chap 40? • What about the twins? • And Mitch?

  14. Roz and her Appearance • A big-bone woman: “She was a big-boned girl, a raw-boned girl (her mother’s words), a girl with backbone (her father’s) and a full, mature figure (the dress shop’s). Dainty she would never be.” p348 • Quite concerned with her appearance: • “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the most beautiful of us all? • ”Depends, says the mirror. Beauty is only skin deep.”, (326-27) • Reaching 40 p. 333 • Quite concerned with not letting Mitch see her body in daylight p. 335, or do the dental floss p. 339; careful makeup 340-41; • * her sense of roots p. 329 (more next time)

  15. Roz as a mother • Missing the time to be close to her daughters, to have a sense of order and security (341)  angel’s wings over her kids • Present: Distanced from her twins (328); keep her children’s stuffs for the future grandchildren. P. 329;

  16. Roz and Mitch • Mitch – a predator p. 335; Why? regular emotional strays 336 • Roz – her body represents possessions, solidity, the domestic values, . . . P. 335. • Roz’s attitudes towards Mitch and her changes: • Handsome and distinguished • “jealousy” p 326; • Play poker game with him in his sexual flings p. 338 • close observation of him 340

  17. The next generation • Erin and Paula – • What do you think about their game of switching all the characters into female? Pp. 330 – 31; • Their ways of playing with the dolls 331 • Is Zenia a Robber Bride? • Larry – quiet, interested in success stories, a train that talked and interspecies cooperation p. 330

  18. Roz’ identity: DP and a pastiche • DP & Roz’s father: her father as a hero (360); discrimination against “displaced persons” (365-66); Her father as DP (374)  Roz’s life cut in two. ) • Chap 44: the Father’s mistresses (like Mitch?) and his getting rich. Roz takes on a Jewish identity. Roz as a hybrid (387-90).

  19. Issues for discussion next time • Roz’s family broken by Zenia? Or? • Roz’s sense of identity as a Jew, a career woman and a wife; • Development of women’s magazines (WiseWomanWorld). • Her relationship with Mitch • How Roz survives her trauma and obsession by Zenia.

  20. References • Bluebeard: examples of modern interpretations http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/bluebeard/themes.html

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