intro

Final Paper

Soundtrack: With a theme of hopelessness/ hope for Yononndio

                In Yonnondio the characters constantly work to better their lives with no promise or evidence that anything will get better for them. They put in great effort and their struggle makes you want to believe that their hard work will pay off with a brighter future. However, just like the characters, the reader is only disappointed and hope fades time and time again with their defeat. For some characters in Yonnondio they keep hope in even the most trying of times. Others become hopeless and realize the insignificance of even trying. This book really made me question the idea of hope and hopelessness. One theory I had was that this book signified no hope and the insignificance of existence entirely. On the other hand I thought maybe the whole point of the book was to hold on to hope regardless of the end result. Like maybe life isn’t about the ending, but more so about the effort you put into it along the way. Just because you have increasingly awful circumstances doesn’t necessarily mean you should give up. The whole idea of Yonnondio is to honor those people from the past that may have been forgotten otherwise. If all you have after your dead and gone is a story of what you did then you should at least try your best to make it an inspiring one. Okay so maybe Yonnondio isn’t all that inspiring to most, but to me it’s inspiring. Although it was awful and seemingly hopeless for these people they still tried. They kept hope in a hopeless situation.  I have picked some music that I think illustrates their constant struggle, holding on to hope, and also the devastating reality of being hopeless.

song

My first song is “The Cave” by Mumford and Sons. At first glance Jim seems cruel and ignorant but there is another aspect of him that I believe is more important that is illustrated in this song. This song makes me think of Jim’s personal struggle to provide for his family.

The opening line talks about having an empty heart and walking away from “fear and faults you’ve left behind”. This relates to Jim accepting his failure at success and repetitively packing up and moving his family in search of better opportunities. Jim will work as hard as he can for his family but then realizes his efforts are not showing any signs of benefiting them. So he will promise them a better future somewhere else and leave his failure, or “fear and faults”, behind to start new somewhere else. The next line talks about having no food to eat. This is a major problem for the Holbrookes throughout the entire book. They are always hungry and never have enough food to eat. “I have seen the same I know the shame in your defeat” relates to the shame the family feels about not being able to overcome their constant setbacks. The next line fits greatly with the book “But I will hold on hope And I won’t let you choke on the noose around your neck”. This makes me think of Jim always grasping and searching for ways he can provide a life for his family they deserve. He doesn’t just give up but holds onto the hope for them never allowing them to “choke”. The noose around your neck signifies that there is no way out and it’s just hopeless. Despite any efforts to keep someone from choking with a noose around their neck you know that in the end they will choke.  Like the song, Jim finds strength in pain and changes his ways numerous times. He doesn’t accept his circumstances but he takes his defeats and turns them into motivation to try harder. Jim was an abusive alcoholic to begin with, but when he needed to change his ways he became a better husband and father.

song

Kansas: Dust in the Wind

I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment's gone
All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind
Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind, All we are is dust in the wind
Don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away, all your money won't another minute buy

This song is perfect for the overall meaning of this book. Yonnondio is the title of a poem, by Walt Whitman, placed at the beginning of this book.

Yonnondio! Yonnondio!--unlimn'd they disappear;
To-day gives place, and fades--the cities, farms, factories fade;
A muffled sonorous sound, a wailing word is borne through the air
for a moment,
Then blank and gone and still, and utterly lost.

The poem is about taking notice of people who are gone and should not be forgotten. Dust in the wind, often played at funerals, expresses the brevity of life and the insignificance of an individuals’ particular journey through life. I believe the point of this book was not only to illustrate the importance of remembering people before us but also to remind us of how short, challenging, and insignificant life can be.  Although the characters in the book never seem to overcome adversity they still had a story that could be told. The lyrics, “I close my eyes only for a moment then the moments gone”, makes me think of the tiny moments of joy the Holbrookes see. Nothing good lasts for very long in their family. However, the song suggests nothing lasts long in general. So in this way, everyone will die and therefore their struggle and story becomes less horrible. Mazie would often contemplate what the stars meant and how vast the universe seemed in comparison with her knowledge. The lyrics “all my dreams pass before my eyes a curiosity” shows the somewhat overwhelming notion of the things you dream to do always being out of reach. When you die all of your unfulfilled dreams die too. In life, likewise, all your curiosity for things you never get or learn simply fade away. “Don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky it slips away, all your money won't another minute buy” shows how insignificant things like money actually are. The Holbrookes main problem may be poverty but this song explains that money doesn’t matter. The only thing that really matters is how you spend your time. Time is all you have and when it runs out all you are is “dust in the wind”

song

Flaming Lips: Do You Realize

Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize - we're floating in space -
Do You Realize - that happiness makes you cry
Do You Realize - that everyone you know someday will die
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round
Do You Realize - Oh - Oh - Oh
Do You Realize - that everyone you know
Someday will die -
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

           

The Flaming Lips song “Do you Realize” makes me imagine the happiness the Holbrookes may have experienced with a simple change in attitude. Although this song is depressing, like the book, it gives a spin and offers a bright side to such heavy ideas, unlike the book. If the characters in Yonnondio could’ve found joy in each other more often maybe their existence wouldn’t have been as frustrating and tedious as it was.

The lyrics “instead of saying all of your goodbyes-let them know you realize that life goes fast it’s hard to make the good things last” illuminate that life is short and it would be spent better enjoying it then complaining about it ending. The Holbrookes could have gotten much more happiness from each other if they had accepted their lives as they were and accepted the notion that it may not get better. Just because you “realize” that life is short it doesn’t mean you should work yourself to death to try to improve it. It means you slow down and make those good things last and enjoy it.  

song

Linkin park given up

Wake in a sweat again
Another day's been laid to waste
In my disgrace
Stuck in my head again
Feels like I'll never leave this place
There's no escape
I'm my own worst enemy
[chorus]
I've given up
I'm sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say
Take this all away
I'm suffocating
Tell me what the fuck is wrong
With me
[end chorus]
I don't know what to take
Thought I was focused but I'm scared
I'm not prepared
I hyperventilate
Looking for help somehow somewhere
And no one cares
I'm my own worst enemy
[chorus]
I've given up
I'm sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say
Take this all away
I'm suffocating
Tell me what the fuck is wrong
With me
[end chorus]
[bridge]
Goddddddd!!!!

Linkin Parks song Given Up is what I imagine Jim to be going through internally every day. He wakes up and feels like his time and efforts were a waste because nothing has improved. He feels “disgrace” like he will “never leave this place” and that he’s his “own worst enemy”. I can imagine being that frustrated and wanting to scream “I’ve given up” like this song does. Countless times Jim must wake up and feel this disappointing failure urging him to just give up. Although he probably thinks about it, he never does. He continuously works himself in jobs with awful conditions to provide for his family. He never actually gives up, but you have to imagine he thinks about it.  The line “I’m suffocating” really makes me think of Jim at his job in the mines at the beginning of the book. He would go to those mines and feel the effect of the dangerous elements he breathed in and literally be suffocating. In a more figurative way the frustration he experienced and the pressure to provide for his family made him feel suffocated. “Tell me what the fuck is wrong…. With me” is Jim knowing something is wrong but because he doesn’t know how to improve it he takes all the responsibility onto himself. Instead of taking a break or giving up he blames himself and pushes himself even more to do better. Sometimes through all of his struggle I’m sure he is screaming this song on the inside but carrying on with his daily work.

song

Journey: Don’t Stop believing

Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Paying anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
{Refrain}
Don't stop believing
Hold on to that feeling
Streetlight people

Don’t stop believing by Journey relates to the Holbrookes constantly taking another gamble at a better life and better opportunities. Whenever things get too bad at one place the Holbrookes would invest their hope into a new place.

When Mazie was attacked they left the mines to go to the farms for the possibility of a new future. On their way they were even warned that the conditions were not great for the tenant farming but still were willing to take the gamble. They’d leave their friends and Jim’s job and completely give a new job a try “paying anything to roll the dice just one more time”. They would shortly be unsatisfied again and decide to leave making me believe that they spent the rest of their lives “rolling the dice” and following any chance at success. However it never improved and often they seemed to be “born to sing the blues”. “It goes on and on and on” means they will continue taking chances at opportunities only to be disappointed again and again. “Don’t stop believing, Hold on to that feeling” means that they should take the shot and continue rolling the dice. By keeping hope they will never have to give up the “idea” of happiness. It’s always just a city, town, or job away.

song

Foo Fighters: Best of You

I’ve got another confession to make
I’m your fool
Everyone’s got their chains to break
Holdin’ you
Would you born to resist or be abused?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Are you gone and onto someone new?
I needed somewhere to hang my head
Without your noose
You gave me something that I didn’t have
But had no use
I was too weak to give in
Too strong to lose
My heart is under arrest again
But I break loose
My head is giving me life or death
But I can’t choose
I swear I’ll never give in
No, I refuse
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Has someone taken your faith?
Its real, the pain you feel
You trust, you must
Confess
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Oh...
ooooh,oh,oh
ooooh,oh,oh
ooooh,oh,oh
ooooh,oh,oh
Has someone taken your faith?
Its real, the pain you feel
The life, the love
You'd die to heal
The hope that starts
The broken hearts
You trust, you must
Confess
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
I’ve got another confession my friend
I’m no fool
I’m getting tired of starting again
Somewhere new

            The Foo Fighter Best of You makes me think of Anna and how Jim gets the best of her leaving her abused and tired. Jim is obviously abusive to Anna and the family but she always seems to tolerate it. She continues her womanly duties and only on rare occasions speaks out. When Jim rapes Anna I think he took more from her than he had ever taken. Not only did he cause a miscarriage but he completely degraded a woman that loves him. She had invested her life into being a good mother and to going with Jim wherever he lead them. Mr. Cladwell even states she is educated so we know she may have had more options. I think it’s also clear that she just loved him and did believe in him despite his failures and abuse. The lyrics “has someone taken your faith it’s real the pain you feel the life the love you’d die to heal” really keys in on that “taken” feeling she must have felt after Jim raping her. “I’m no fool, I’m getting tired of starting again, somewhere new” points out how worn out Anna must feel. She is used and abused but she’s not an idiot. She is aware of what’s going on and is exhausted and tired. She wants to be happy and back to the way that her family was at one point.