tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327347494388493577.post6537573918877502935..comments2010-04-22T22:12:12.296-07:00Comments on Dane's Blog: Norris Does Not Believe in Love?Danehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095642444206118893noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327347494388493577.post-77989133484986162482010-03-27T16:49:09.458-07:002010-03-27T16:49:09.458-07:00I'd agree with you and with both commenters, D...I'd agree with you and with both commenters, Dane; Norris sees love as a physical force that can't be controlled. It's more of a battle or tug of war in which one gains ground as the other loses it, as your post implies.D. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03186035585484630092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327347494388493577.post-69348880897318564422010-03-27T01:44:36.518-07:002010-03-27T01:44:36.518-07:00In essence, I think most naturalist would view lov...In essence, I think most naturalist would view love as an illusion caused by a combination of impulsiveness and physical lust. Personally, I would disagree, but it seems part of naturalism is attempt to deconstruct human nature into instinctive impulses shaped by experience. Our experiences don't change these impulses, only teach us how to mask them, so universal experiences such as love are clearly based in some primitive mindset. Again, I disagree, but that seems to be part of Norris's thinking, at least.CrimsonKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06964651578194135090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327347494388493577.post-36973745621776552632010-03-25T23:43:08.736-07:002010-03-25T23:43:08.736-07:00Well I would expect Norris to take on some sort of...Well I would expect Norris to take on some sort of animal/nature perspective in love and it seems he does just that. For him it seems that love is not so much an emotion as it is a desire for something unattainable. McTeague longs for Trina because he can't have her, because she rejects his proposal. Trina longs for money because McTeague doesn't have any to offer her. McTeague longs for expensive tobacco and bottled beer because Trina won't let him have any. Then he longs for control over his relationship and his life because he doesn't have any. Perhaps Trina begins to love submission to McTeague because she knows that he is actually dependent on her for money, among other things. So the stage in their relationship that looks the most unhealthy is actually the point at which they want/need each other most. Just before this heightened level of longing they both talk about leaving each other, Trina threatens to move into the apartment without him while McTeague threatens to not tolerate her money hoarding or control over their relationship any longer. Perhaps Norris is suggesting that naturalist love is really just interdependence, which can often appear strange and unhealthy from the observer, but to the humans or animals involved it's what they need to get by.Alli Rowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12043994635466688339noreply@blogger.com