The defining characteristic of the main character, Misha Vainburg is without a doubt his obesity. Most of his characteristics in one way or another appear to contribute or relate to his massive size. A disturbing portrait of Misha is painted during his first meal in the novel. The ferocity at which Misha eats and the extreme pleasure he gets from eating establishes early on the role of food in his life. He also seems to connect food to his childhood, especially moments spent with his parents. Both Misha's love for his parents and childlike personality are demonstrated by him still calling them 'Mommy' and 'Daddy'. Misha’s sexuality plays a major role in his life and is related to his size. Misha has a sexual relationship with food that is demonstrated by his fondling of his own breasts a meal. It makes sense that someone who likes food this much is obese. One of the funniest and strangest quirks of Misha is his constant reference to his “khui” (meaning penis). Misha also has regular sexual desires, most of which are for his New Yorker girlfriend, Rouenna. I think a major reason that Misha likes Rouenna so much is not just because she is physically attractive, but because she is from the United States. We know that Misha likes the United States very much, and to Misha, Rouenna represents the U.S.A. My favorite part of the book so far was when Misha and Bob were rapping the restaurant boat. Fat, rich, white, Misha in his giant track suit, trying so hard to be ‘gangster’ because it is cool showed the kind of person he is.
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you seem to agree with aldis's post a lot. Anyway I do agree that the first thing that defines misha is his weight, but how could it not its in everything he does. I like your point about why he likes Rouenna
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you have said about Misha being defined by his weight and his sexual desires. One thing that I find odd is that Misha doesn't acknowledge his obesity as a problem. He playfully refers to himself as a bear. He also wears a tracksuit which might present the image that he actually believes that he is relatively fit.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I don't understand about Misha is that he seems to have so much self confidence but he is also depressed, those two states don't go hand in hand.
I think the point you bring up about Misha's rapping is very ineteresting. It seems to me that Misha feels like he can do whatevery he wants because of his great size and wealth. Obviously this idea is very American and capitalist so it makes sence that Misha wants nothing more than to go to America.
ReplyDeleteAbout what charlie said in the self confidence dilemma, I'd like to say I think Misha is confident in his situation since he has so much money/size/power. He doesn't have self confidence obvously because he is so distant and separated from the rest of the population because of the same three things. That's why he seems so naive and childish. He lacks "street smarts" so to say, because he is so out of touch with the everyday Russian or American.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I disagree with him trying to be cool by rapping. Misha has that out-of-touch, childish air about him. I sincerely think he enjoys the rapping, and annoying the "typical russians" just makes it more enjoyable.
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ReplyDeleteJohn and Anna -- i would like to combine your views. Methinks that mayhaps it is Misha wanting to be different, as in American-ly different, the-place-of-his-schooling different. He was taught to be an American, and after going back to russia (GO BACK TO RUSSIA) perhaps he found the russian culture stifling and rap was an American way of fighting the power.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that the prominent characteristic of Misha is his obesity (good point). The way that food is used in Absurdistan shows a lot about Misha's character and childhood.
ReplyDeleteGood point about how his weight defines who he is and I agree because it affects everything that he does and shows his bad side that not everyone can relate to or like.
ReplyDeleteI think that Misha weight is one of his defining characteristics. But i think the most defining one is his cynicism which is defined by his narrative throughout the story.
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