2015
Essay #1
201105395
MORGAN CLARK
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Essay #1, Question #2
In this essay, I am going to argue that William James’ notion of selfhood and
the inclusion of all that a person can call their own, does line up with the notion of
self that has emerged in the novels we have read. There are several instances in both
“Pudd’nhead Wilson”, by Mark Twain, and “ The Awakening”, by Kate Chopin, that
display the extension of selfhood beyond the body and mind. Often times objects,
belongings, opinions, and other people are exhibited as crucial aspects of characters.
William James wrote that “… a man’s self is the sum total of all that he CAN
call his, not only his body and his psychic powers, but his clothes and his house, his
wife and children, his ancestors and friends, his reputation and works…” He also
argues that, although to varying degrees, all of these things bring forward the same
emotions. James’ argument is mirrored throughout both novels, and often in a
negative light. In “Pudd’nhead Wilson”, the seemingly most important aspect of
one’s selfhood is their reputation. This is evidenced early on, when David Wilson
earns his long-lasting nickname, “Pudd’nhead”. Wilson made the mistake of thinking
out loud while a neighborhood dog was barking, saying that if he owned half of the
dog, he would kill his half. The townspeople didn’t understand his train of thought,
which would be a continuous theme throughout the novel, and he was labeled as
being unintelligent for over twenty years. The widely accepted version of his
selfhood became that of a fool, despite its inaccuracy.
In “The Awakening”, one’s reputation is of dire importance as well. Once back
in New Orleans, Leonce Pontellier becomes acutely aware of the differences in his
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wife, however he is not concerned with her well being, rather how her behavior may
affect his own social appearance and business standing. When Edna feels like going
out on a Tuesday, the day that she usually has the wives of Leonce’s business
associates over, her husband is irate. Her wants and needs are of no concern to him.
Leonce sees his wife as an object to be used in a manner to elevate his earnings and
status, not as a life partner. The novel makes this very clear from the beginning, as
upon noticing his wife’s sunburn and commenting on it, the narrator notes he is
“looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has
suffered some damage (Pg. 2).” Although it is at the opposite end of the spectrum, it
is the same type of emotion that Leonce gets when he looks around his house and
sees all of his expensive belongings. Seeing his wife sunburnt (damaged) evokes the
opposite emotional response than does seeing his possessions unharmed. He sees
his prized possessions as proof of his status in society, as a shining extension of
himself, and he sees his wife as another piece of property on the verge of
jeopardizing his hard work.
In both novels can be seen a strong correlation between characters’ self, their
emotions and actions, when aligned with the their thoughts and perceptions of
loved ones and/or family members. In “Pudd’nhead Wilson”, Judge Driscoll is
enraged when he learns that “Tom” has refused Luigi’s challenge to a duel. He
verbally berates his accidental son, and shouts at him, “ You cur. You scum. You
vermin. Do you mean to tell me that blood of my race has suffered a blow and
crawled to a court of law about it? Answer me! (Pg. 71).” This in itself shows only
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that the judge is disappointed in “Tom”, not that he sees or feels his (sometimes)
heir is an extension of his selfhood. However, in this novel, a man’s reputation and
honor is paramount to success and social status, which is seen as the apex of
achievement. The judge is certain that “Tom’s” cowardice and refusal to fight will
bring shame and dishonor to not only himself, but to his family name and most
importantly, Judge Driscoll himself. The fact that the judge decides to duel Luigi in
his place, in order to maintain his honor, shows that “Tom” is viewed as a part of
him, and not just family. This is clearly shown when the judge states, “A coward in
my family! A Driscoll a coward! Oh, what have I done to deserve this infamy!
(Pg.72).” In this statement he proves that Tom’s actions, or inactions, are crucial to
the judge’s selfhood, mainly his reputation.
In Chopin’s novel, the main character spends most of her time trying to prove
to herself and everyone else that she is an independent woman. Edna is desperate to
live free from Leonce’s domesticating grasp and be accountable to only herself.
However, even when she moves into the “pigeon house” and becomes indifferent to
her husband, she cannot rid herself of guilt for not caring for her children. Early on
in the novel, Edna makes a statement that indicates that she does not believe her
children are a part of her selfhood, saying, “I would give up the unessential; I would
give my money, I would give my life for my children, but I wouldn’t give myself
(Pg.14).” This quote shows that she believes no one, not even her own children, are
part of who she is. Despite her claim though, Edna knows that her actions and
reputation will deeply impact Raoul and Etienne throughout their childhood and
beyond. She could have moved away and started a new life somewhere, painting and
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living independently for the rest of her natural life, but she chose not to. Leaving her
family would have reflected poorly on not only her husband, but her children, too.
As it pertains to William James’ perception to selfhood, he surmised that it
encompasses all that a person CAN call theirs, whether or not they feel that way.
Having children at least partially shaped Edna into the person she became, and they
became permanently ingrained in who she was. She said she would give her life for
her children, but in the end she took her own life despite them.
In Twain’s novel, how characters treat their possessions often offers a
reflection of how they handle themselves as people. For example, “Tom” gambles
away his money, steals property from others, and lies about many things. This is
mirrored by his predicament and situation in life, as he is heavily in debt, is often
scolded and disinherited by his apparent father, and can never be free from the
stress of navigating these issues. William James asserts that property is a part of
one’s self, and most people would agree that one’s opinion is also a major factor of
it’s make up. In “Pudd’nhead Wilson”, this is backed up when referencing Judge
Driscoll and Pembroke Howard, the narrator states, “They were men whose
opinions were their own property and not subject to revision and amendment,
suggestion or criticism, by anybody, even their friends (Pg. 69).” This passage is
meant to clarify that these men are independent thinkers who will not be swayed by
others or by public opinion. However, it also displays that one’s views, opinions, or
intellectual property is just that: property. A person’s feelings and emotions make
up a vast portion of their selfhood. The novel’s narrator expressly connects these
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aspects to being a character’s property, which aligns perfectly with James’ vision of
self.
Both Twain and Chopin, like most novelists, use characters with a multitude
of personalities and temperaments. How they, their beliefs, families, and
possessions are treated will elicit differing responses based on the individual.
However, William James believes that the same emotions, although to varying
degrees, are present when any of these aspects is impacted. Again, I believe James’
argument is properly aligned with the texts we have covered. Certainly the degree of
sadness and mourning one experiences differs greatly with the loss of a family
member as opposed to a pet; but that doesn’t totally diminish the legitimacy or
helplessness a pet owner feels at a time of loss. Feelings do not have to be on the
same level of severity in order to be classified as the same emotion. Sadness and
happiness do not discriminate against material possessions in favor of
companionship, they simply present themselves in differentiated proportions based
on the scenario and the person. I also agree that “feel(ing)” and “act(ion)” do in fact
take on the same degree of significance in carving out a self. They are separate in
theory, but are heavily related in practice. What a person or character is feeling will
directly affect their actions, while the opposite is also true.
In “The Awakening”, Edna becomes increasingly restless and dissatisfied
with her life and it’s prospects. She desperately wishes to free herself from her
husband’s grasp, which she perceives to be unbearable and stifling. If she chose to
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be socially responsible, she would never have her independence. If she continued to
do what was expected of her, she never would have experienced her internal
awakening. In order to solidify this new selfhood and carve out her independence,
she had to listen to and understand her emotions, but she also had to act on them.
Feelings without actions cannot effectively create a sense of self. Edna needed the
desire to paint and the desire to move, but she also had to actively pick up a
paintbrush and pack up her possessions.
When creating a sense of selfhood through feelings and actions, a person is
also forming a perceived self through the eyes of others. One’s feelings and actions
affect how they are viewed and treated by others. Many people, unlike Edna, taper
their behavior to suit the situation, fearing rejection or ridicule. This was displayed
in Twain’s novel when Judge Driscoll verbally assaulted “Tom” for refusing to duel,
and also subsequently when he filled the open position opposite Luigi. His son was
acting as a coward, and in order to save his own reputation he put himself in danger.
Both authors give the reader a lot to navigate through, despite the novels being
rather short in length. Twain used multiple characters from different backgrounds,
all trying to get ahead, or stay ahead, in society. Chopin focused on one woman’s
inner battle between social norms and her desire to be something completely
different. While the storylines hardly seem relatable at first glance, they both offer
great insight into the selfhood of characters struggling to find happiness and success
as individuals. While there are certainly examples in each novel that could be used
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to make a legitimate case against my argument, I firmly believe that in a general
sense, they align with James’ notion of self. The main reasoning for my conclusion is
that every individual/character has things about themselves that they dislike or
refrain from accepting or acknowledging. “Tom” didn’t want to believe he was black,
and would never acknowledge it publicly, but it cannot be denied to be true. James
said that one’s self is a compilation of all that CAN be called their own, not only what
is convenient. In this sense, and with the importance that is put on one’s material
possessions, family, and reputation in both texts, James’ perception of selfhood is
clearly applicable. Chopin and Twain each created characters who, despite their best
efforts, cannot cast aside certain aspects of who they are, at least not without lasting
consequences.
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Works Cited
1. Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. Chicago: Herbert S. Stone & Co., 1899. Print.
2. Twain, Mark. Pudd’nhead Wilson. New York: Bantam Dell A Division of
Random House, 1894/2005. Print.
3. SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on The Awakening.” SparkNotes.com.
SparkNotes LLC. 2002. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.