lcplboydusmc
What was the minotaur about
House of Leaves
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replied to: lcplboydusmc
cincospenguinos
Replied to: What was the minotaur about
The minotaur is an interesting character to discuss. The minotaur, when it is first mentioned in chapter 5 (or six, seven, somewhere in there...) it is explained that the minotaur was the deformed son of King Minos. King Minos wanted to never let anyone see this somewhat estranged son, and therefore, hid him away in the awful labyrinth Daedalus built. He also said that his son was actually some monster that is horrible and blood thirsty, therefore keeping anyone from entering the maze, and eventually seeing him.
To generalize the statements above, the Minotaur is simply a symbol for an estranged son, ostracized by his family. This same motif is found in the protagonist, Johnny Truant.
Johnny Truant, quite simply, is the ostracized son, or in this case, the Minotaur. His father left him long ago, and his mother has little contact with Johnny, except for the letters she sends him. Johnny has a somewhat strange life: he works in a tattoo parlor, he does drugs regularly and often, and also has many sexual encounters with many different women. Many older individuals would disapprove of Johnny's behavior.
Johnny's foster father is a prime example of this point. The foster father, a marine, does not approve of Johnny's "truancy," that is, the fact that he causes a lot of trouble. And so, Johnny is beaten (which gives him scars, similar to the deformed minotaur) and eventually leaves his foster father's "care." Haven't we heard a similar story?
Essentially, the Minotaur is simply an abstract idea: the son nobody wanted. Many people in the book fear it, despite the fact that the Minotaur is simply another person who has been dealt a bad hand. Therefore, the Minotaur is simply a representation of Johnny.
The Minotaur is just a metaphor for Johnny. And as discussed in the opening cover of the book, older generations have picked up House of Leaves as a means to reconnect with their estranged youth (that's sort of quoted, paraphrased). The Minotaur, quite simply, is the pure example of the ostracized, estranged youth, and Johnny is simply the example of that today.
The Minotaur is Johnny. The Minotaur's purpose is to be the prime example of the ostracized, estranged youth that so excellently is parallel to Johnny.
To generalize the statements above, the Minotaur is simply a symbol for an estranged son, ostracized by his family. This same motif is found in the protagonist, Johnny Truant.
Johnny Truant, quite simply, is the ostracized son, or in this case, the Minotaur. His father left him long ago, and his mother has little contact with Johnny, except for the letters she sends him. Johnny has a somewhat strange life: he works in a tattoo parlor, he does drugs regularly and often, and also has many sexual encounters with many different women. Many older individuals would disapprove of Johnny's behavior.
Johnny's foster father is a prime example of this point. The foster father, a marine, does not approve of Johnny's "truancy," that is, the fact that he causes a lot of trouble. And so, Johnny is beaten (which gives him scars, similar to the deformed minotaur) and eventually leaves his foster father's "care." Haven't we heard a similar story?
Essentially, the Minotaur is simply an abstract idea: the son nobody wanted. Many people in the book fear it, despite the fact that the Minotaur is simply another person who has been dealt a bad hand. Therefore, the Minotaur is simply a representation of Johnny.
The Minotaur is just a metaphor for Johnny. And as discussed in the opening cover of the book, older generations have picked up House of Leaves as a means to reconnect with their estranged youth (that's sort of quoted, paraphrased). The Minotaur, quite simply, is the pure example of the ostracized, estranged youth, and Johnny is simply the example of that today.
The Minotaur is Johnny. The Minotaur's purpose is to be the prime example of the ostracized, estranged youth that so excellently is parallel to Johnny.