A Birthday For Larry

                In the novel Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter the author, Tom Franklin, communicates the interknit lives of Larry Ott and Silas Jones as both children and adults.  The novelist discusses a variety of controversies such as intolerance and racism that seem to follow the protagonists everywhere they go. The book rotates between the boys’ lives as adolescents in the “peaceful” 1970s and their adult stories twenty-five years later. I constantly found myself sympathizing and relating to child and adult Larry; thus, I would jump at the opportunity to present him with two gifts. At the end of the novel, Franklin does not fully reveal how Larry’s story ends and if he can ever fully escape his reputation. The novelist simply narrates Larry’s thoughts of the future and overcoming his alienation: “wondering…if it was really over” (267). Franklin evokes pathos from empathetic readers who have compassion for Larry and want the best for him. As I stand as one of these readers, I would love the opportunity to give Larry the gift of a surprise party. Since his surrounding deprived him of twenty-five years of his life, having the ability to provide him with a normal experience that many people take for granted would bring me extreme joy. Also, the party would allow me to find out if the town of Chabot ever truly overcomes their past unreasonable judgments of Larry. Furthermore, I would like to provide him with a dog for a companion. While reflecting on his past two friendships, Larry feels he “was wrong about the word friend” (236). Through his use of italics, Franklin asserts that after receiving betrayal after betrayal, one becomes skeptical of companions and their worth. I hope that following the novel, Larry learns to regain his trust in people and true friendships; however, in the meantime, I believe a dog would ameliorate his severely lonely life and help protect him from any possible skeptics as well. I constantly empathized with Larry’s feelings of solitude and, consequently, hope to improve his social skills and relationships through my gifts. The author ends the novel with a hopeful tone towards Larry’s future in order to provide those ostracized on false assumptions a sense of hope. I agree with Franklin’s contention and hope my gifts would assist Larry with fulfilling his expectations for the future.

Intervening in Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

            The eternal issues of racism and murder seem impossible to eradicate; however, on a smaller scale, I believe that one can ameliorate the concerns. For instance, I contend that my direct intervention in the novel Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter could have reduced tensions dealing with both these controversies. The author, Tom Franklin, discusses both discrimination and homicide in his narration of the intertwining lives of Larry Ott, a lonely, white mechanic, and Silas Jones, an African American, childhood baseball prodigy. The novelist rotates time periods between the late 1970s and modern-day America. This juxtaposition exemplifies that although racism and murder has decreased since the ‘70s, both issues still remain seemingly everlasting. If I had the opportunity to interfere in the story of Larry and Silas, I would hope to reduce controversy surrounding both timeless problems by revealing to the boys their half-kinship. I affirm that the boy’s shared father, Carl Ott, causes much of the angst in their relationship, and I believe having a common bond of dislike towards their paternal figure could have assisted the pair in their younger years. For instance, after Silas voluntarily did Larry’s chore of mowing the grass, Carl commends Larry, whom he thought did the work. Silas repeats the words “Good work, boy” multiple times and states that he will never forget the feeling of paternal approval, even if it stood as indirect (152). Silas’ repetition indirectly characterizes his yearn for a father figure, leading to his envy of Larry. Had Carl revealed himself as Silas’ father, the friends would not have had their underlying tension and they duo could have shared the intense commonality of brotherhood. However, Carl had too many reservations about disclosing his adulterous relationship with a black woman. Moreover, had Silas and Larry known about their blood relation, Carl may not have forced the boys into the fight that would ultimately end their friendship. During their dispute, Larry stutters out “’n-n-n-nigger’” at Silas, the true stake in their childhood alliance (90). Larry’s stuttering creates a reluctant tone and illustrates his unwillingness to hurt Silas. I contend that had the pair known about their relation they could have overcome the feud, if it even occurred. I have had many disputes with my own siblings, but we have always overcome them, and I trust that Silas and Larry could have done the same had they known their bond. Although I have no way to know for sure if revealing the truth to Silas and Larry would help keep their friendship alive, I feel it would have definitely strengthen their companionship. Larry’s alienation from society creates many problems in his future life and intertwines with many murders; however, had Silas and Larry stayed friends, this may not have occurred. Franklin writes to siblings with struggling relationships in order to encourage them to value each other and keep their bond alive. I agree with the author and advocate the same for family-like friendships; one does not truly value their relationships until they disappear. 

Anguish Over Lost Amity

          Although most modern citizens ignore the issue, racism still stands as a prevalent controversy in the contemporary United States where nearly fifty percent of African Americans identified it as a "very serious problem." Tom Franklin contributes to this concern in his newfangled novel, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter. The novel focuses on the present day as well as the 1970s, a time period with a significantly more traumatic racism problem, especially in the "Deep South" where Franklin set the book. The writer discusses multiple ghastly racial disputes that evoke extreme anguish; however, one instance proved particularly conspicuous to me and induced intense agony. In said conflict, the father of Larry, one of the two salient characters, forces his son to quarrel with his best, and only, friend, Silas.  Larry's father, Carl, drunkenly repeats the command "'fight'" five times before the boys truly began to battle (89-90). His repetition proves the boys' adamant reluctance, but after so many mandates and threats of abuse, the pair has no other option. Their utter disinclination creates pathos and generates extremely disheartening reactions, especially to those who, like me, have a seemingly inseparable friendship. My pain further intensified when Carl revealed his true intentions behind the coerced fight; while contriving the battle, he states, “’fight it out…White to colored,’” (89). Through the alcoholic’s juxtaposition of ‘’white’’ and “’black,’” he quickly heightens the tension by turning it into a racial dispute. The novelist appeals to both youth and elderly readers by including dialogue regarding the eternal issue of racism. After a brief joust, it appears clear that Silas, the African American contender, stands victorious; however, when Larry pleads for Silas to release his grip, “Silas held on,” (90). The author’s use of short syntax illustrates Silas’ unwavering intention to harm Larry and asserts that people can often hurt those close to them when provoked.  I truly felt like crying as I sensed the shift in their relationship as Silas became more vehement during the fight. When Silas further tightens his hold on Larry, the helpless boy stammers out a racial slur, definitively ending not only the fight, but also the duo’s intimate friendship. The novelist had previously depicted the intense bond and necessity of the boys’ companionship, thus I found myself extremely disgruntled at the result. Franklin appeals specifically to those with integral friendships and generates anguish in order to encourage them to not allow outside forces to heavily impact their bonds. I advocate a similar philosophy; however, I acknowledge that it often proves impossible to fully disregard external views, especially in cases similar to Larry and Silas's.