“De-Daumier Smith’s Blue Period” was an entertaining read and a fascinating study of the story’s main
character, Smith. The title immediately brings to mind Pablo Picasso’s Blue Period, a time when the
artist painted somber, essentially monochromatic paintings in shades of blue and blue-green. To see
the events of the book as a “Blue Period” for Smith makes sense when we consider the events leading
up to and contained in the story.
character, Smith. The title immediately brings to mind Pablo Picasso’s Blue Period, a time when the
artist painted somber, essentially monochromatic paintings in shades of blue and blue-green. To see
the events of the book as a “Blue Period” for Smith makes sense when we consider the events leading
up to and contained in the story.
The narrator outlines the recent history of the events leading up to the main part of the narrative for the
reader, and there are a couple elements of interest. Firstly, and probably most importantly, Smith’s
mother has very recently passed away. The death of a close family member is enough to send anyone
into a poor frame of mind, and that is where I believe we see Smith during this story. Additionally, we
know Smith has just left Paris, which he considers his home, for New York, which he finds too crowded
and tiresome. Again, this could contribute to Smith’s inner turmoil, which frames his actions for the rest
of the story.
reader, and there are a couple elements of interest. Firstly, and probably most importantly, Smith’s
mother has very recently passed away. The death of a close family member is enough to send anyone
into a poor frame of mind, and that is where I believe we see Smith during this story. Additionally, we
know Smith has just left Paris, which he considers his home, for New York, which he finds too crowded
and tiresome. Again, this could contribute to Smith’s inner turmoil, which frames his actions for the rest
of the story.
I think a reader could read this story in one of two ways: either the narrator (who we can assume is an
older version of Smith) is constantly poking fun at Smith’s actions during the events of this story, or he’s
completely oblivious. I’m partial to the previous reading, but there are points supporting each. Either
way, I think that Smith’s actions during the story are a result of acting out (by becoming a pathological
liar, being unnecessarily cruel to the art students, and being way too overbearing pretty much all the
time) because of grief over the death of his mother. I think living in New York with his stepfather
reminded him too much of his mother and therefore he was going to do whatever it took to get out of
there, and therefore his “Blue Period” included working in the Montreal art school. Overall, I think this
story was an interesting exploration of the unconventional expression of a man grieving over the death
of his mother.
older version of Smith) is constantly poking fun at Smith’s actions during the events of this story, or he’s
completely oblivious. I’m partial to the previous reading, but there are points supporting each. Either
way, I think that Smith’s actions during the story are a result of acting out (by becoming a pathological
liar, being unnecessarily cruel to the art students, and being way too overbearing pretty much all the
time) because of grief over the death of his mother. I think living in New York with his stepfather
reminded him too much of his mother and therefore he was going to do whatever it took to get out of
there, and therefore his “Blue Period” included working in the Montreal art school. Overall, I think this
story was an interesting exploration of the unconventional expression of a man grieving over the death
of his mother.
I really like the connection you made with Picasso considering this is a story of an artist and he does profess to know him personally. I thought of the story as an adventure where he kept propelling himself through lies, but the interpretation of him grieving seems very possible.
ReplyDeleteI also read the "blue period" as part of Jean grieving over the death of his mom, at least in the beginning. I think because he's in this bad/sad mood, he needs to overinflate himself which propels him into the lies at the art school. Also, facing the death of his mother is a good motivation for his epiphanies at the end.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that the Blue Period was an actual time in Art History. That fact actually helps this story to open up a little more for me. I also agree with your reading of the narrator looking back and self-reflecting. This interpretation allows the story to be more comical and allows the reader to laugh with the narrator instead of being totally separate from the narrator.
ReplyDelete