Conversation with Reading (Everything That Rises Must Converge)

Daniel: Hello Reading, If you don't mind I thought I might ask you some questions about yourself.

Reading: Go right ahead, I live for these sort of intellectual conversations. Being that I am an actual piece of writing you can imagine the appeal of literature.

Daniel: Um yeah, ........Whatever. So in the story, "Everything That Rises Must Converge", why is it that Julian is so angry with his mother?

Reading: That answer to that question has multiple components. For starters Julian is obvioulsy disillusioned and disappointed with the way his life turned out. Though he had aspirations of being a writer, he now finds himself a typewriter salesman living with his mother. The fact that he is a typewriter salesman is an example of a pathetic attempt to involve writing into his profession in some way.
Julian's mother further exacerbates the her sons disposition because he finds her personality incredibly disagreeable. His mother is a snobby racist, who considers herself to be of a higher class than those around her, despite glaring evidence to the contrary. This pomp combined with the fact that she sees no problem with her ways is a source of great agitation.


Daniel: Fascinating, one more question. Undoubtidly, the proper characterization of your characters was key for creating your effect. How was the purple hat used to characterize Julian's mother, and reinforce the theme?

Reading: The hat is described many times as a banner, a desperate plea for attention. The hat is an attempt for Julian's mother to distinguish herself; in appearence from those around her, as she distinguishes herself in her mind.
The irony of this is that further in the story an African American woman comes onto the bus wearing the same hat. This is glaring evidence that she is no different from anyone else on the bus. Additionally the image of the two women sitting across from one another, in the purple hat, provides a perfect contrast of the two characters. Though the women are total opposites in many regards, race, the age of their sons ect. They are similar, though Julian's mother could never admit it, in their socioeconomic class.

Daniel: Thanks for your time reader that was very imformative.

Daniel Uchiyama