In particular, three passages spring to mind: the story of the slave tunnel that collapsed and turned into a lake (58-63), which is then followed with John's observance of his son playing in a sprinkler (63), which is followed with the story of how John's mother washed his grandfather's shirts (80-81). How does water operate on a symbolic level in this story? How might it connect to some of the novel's larger themes?
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Water in Christian ceremonies is almost always talked about in terms of baptism. Baptism is a new start. A welcoming into a community. forgiveness of sins that you were born with, or have commited.
ReplyDeleteComming back to it wo many times in the book, clearly demonstrates it's importance in the story, and leads us to think about Jack's baptism, and how it was done without a calm spiritual intent. Did that lead to Jack doing wrong things? I'm not sure what the author's intention was, whether it was secular or religious in nature? Certainly it had an effect on how John saw Jack, which is probably why he felt the need to bless him. He felt that Jack's troubles were somehow brought on by his less than perfect baptism.