Rank: Fry
Groups: Shoal
Joined: 1/24/2009
Posts: 1
|
I just finished the book last night. Incredible Steven. I loved every page.
Anyways.
After finishing the book, I came back to The Light Bulb Fragment (Part Three/Encoded Section) and re-read the part that mentioned "the fat bodied spiders" that had built a maze of webs and how in the early morning they were "all silver with dew." Eric mentions how he originally didn't realize any of this. Towards the end of this section, in the morning, Eric again mentions the fat bodied spiders and their maze of webs, but this time, instead of dwelling on the past and the anticipation of the dew on the web, he states how the dew is present on the web and takes a step forward by driving into town.
I did some research, and found out that spiders and their webs are symbolic for many many things. Sneaky individuals, the innerworkings and complexities of life (the use of the word "maze" could fit in with this belief), and interestingly enough there is a myth about spiders in GREEK mythology.
Even more interesting is the corrolation between spiders and the past and the future. Native American culture views spiders as gatekeepers for the past and future. This certainly could tie in with Erics statements and actions. At the first mention of the spiders, Eric is found dwelling on the past, talking about how time never seems to change, or rather how time seems to move around him and how the dew will be on the spider's web in the morning(foreshadowing?). At the second and final mention of the spiders, Eric takes a step forward and drives into town to get rid of the photographs, after stating that the dew was present on the spider's web. Symbolism for change and progress. Taking a step torwards the future and out of "un-time." I really obsessed over this, and HAD to pick it apart. I could stay up all morning and pick this apart until I collapse, but i'm interested to hear other people's interpertations and explanations, and would love to see some expansion on these ideas. So...what do you all think about this?
(sorry if this is a bit sloppy, it is 1:14 a.m. and I am very VERY tired)
|
Rank: Deconstructive Piranha
Groups: Shoal
Joined: 1/24/2009
Posts: 30
Location: Adelaide, Australia
|
(i'm in a habit of reviving old threads at the moment ^_^) All the allusions that come with the mention of spiders definitely fits in with TRST. I was just reading over The Aquarium Fragment and noticed this: Quote:The universe at maximum weight inside every bowl,
every lost coin, dirty T-shirt, clear plastic junk-mail sleeve,
unmoving spider, dead plant, layer of dust... p 17 A universe without Clio is one without a future and a dead spider is the perfect symbolism for this. The past (the spider's web), cannot ever be remade the same, and the future cannot start to be made again because that particular spider is dead. I'm sure there's more to it though...
|
