The Petrified Forest: A Research Blog
Thursday, January 26, 2012
More Rugged Individualism
The pioneering hard-fisted, hard-boiled American Male will cheer campaign speeches on the benefits of rugged individualism and whistle laissez-faire whenever he has to keep up his courage in a financial crisis. He will grow turgidly eloquent on the benefits both to himself and society of doing just what he sees fit when and if he pleases. He will battle to his last breath against any code prescribing a uniform way of running his business, auditing his accounts, educating his children or divorcing his wives. Any form of regulation is to him a symptom of Bolshevik tyranny. But the one moment when he is terrified of freedom is when he buys his clothes. He is more afraid of wearing a bright orange necktie to his office than of carrying a red flag in a communist parade. —Harper’s Bazaar, 1934
Which Side Are You On?: Then & Now
The 1st Lineman probably would've been familiar or, at least, appreciative of Florence Reese's 1931 union ballad, "Which Side Are You On?" which was covered and popularized by Pete Seeger in the 60s. This past week, Ani DiFranco released the album, ¿What Side Are You On? last week on Tuesday, January 17 which includes a version of the song.
Reese's original lyrics are below, as is video of Ani DiFranco and Bruce Cockburn covering Seeger's version in 2009:
Reese's original lyrics are below, as is video of Ani DiFranco and Bruce Cockburn covering Seeger's version in 2009:
Come all of you good workers,
Good news to you I’ll tell,
Of how that good old union
Has come in here to dwell.
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?
My daddy was a miner,
And I’m a miner’s son,
And I’ll stick with the union,
Till every battle’s won.
They say in Harlan County,
There are no neutrals there.
You’ll either be a union man,
Or a thug for J.H. Blair.
Oh, workers can you stand it?
Oh, tell me how you can.
Will you be a lousy scab,
Or will you be a man ?
Don’t scab for the bosses,
Don’t listen to their lies.
Us poor folks haven’t got a chance,
Unless we organize.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The Effects of Hunger
Squier, like many other wanderers during the Depression, probably hasn't had a good meal in 3-4 days and probably hasn't been eating regularly. He is also an alcoholic.
It is unlikely, however, that he suffers from Delerium tremens, the delerium and shakes that come from severe alcohol withdrawal. He would have to be regularly imbibing and absorbing large amounts of alcohol to get to this level, and for all we know, he might have not had anything to eat in a day or two.
What Squier likely does suffer from, however, is headaches, stomachache, general irritability, a difficulty concentrating, perhaps strain on his eye sight, diminished appetite, and a low libido. Although his body probably hasn't gone into complete starvation mode -- think of the images of African children in famine and prisoners and victims of Concentration Camps and Reeducation Camps -- his body has likely stopped metabolizing and absorbing food at a normal rate. That "Today's Special" meal he eats should probably get him through the day without a problem, but that beer he pounds might also be because it is a source of carbohydrates and hydration, as well as the alcohol he craves.
Finally, because he is not eating at normal intervals, it is quite possible that the meal he dumped on his system, after not eating in awhile, went right through him and gave him diarrhea. Which would make him more dehydrated.
It is unlikely, however, that he suffers from Delerium tremens, the delerium and shakes that come from severe alcohol withdrawal. He would have to be regularly imbibing and absorbing large amounts of alcohol to get to this level, and for all we know, he might have not had anything to eat in a day or two.
What Squier likely does suffer from, however, is headaches, stomachache, general irritability, a difficulty concentrating, perhaps strain on his eye sight, diminished appetite, and a low libido. Although his body probably hasn't gone into complete starvation mode -- think of the images of African children in famine and prisoners and victims of Concentration Camps and Reeducation Camps -- his body has likely stopped metabolizing and absorbing food at a normal rate. That "Today's Special" meal he eats should probably get him through the day without a problem, but that beer he pounds might also be because it is a source of carbohydrates and hydration, as well as the alcohol he craves.
Finally, because he is not eating at normal intervals, it is quite possible that the meal he dumped on his system, after not eating in awhile, went right through him and gave him diarrhea. Which would make him more dehydrated.
shot in the gut
It is likely that Squier, while in pain, can move himself enough, especially with his arms, to move closer to Gabby and/or to fall upon her.
If Squier is shot and quickly dies after it is mostly likely due to internal bleeding in a vital organ, such as the liver, stomach, or, especially, the spleen. If you get shot in or through the spleen, you will likely die soon after. Moving around, which might help push the bullet further around in the organ, might even speed up the dying process as it will cause more bleeding.
Squier is able to move during this painful process because even though he anticipated Duke shooting him, human response to wounds like this still require the brain to fully process what is happening to the body. In other words, the brain won't immediately stop the body from moving and responding to a fatal wound, so especially right after getting shot, Squier would be able to move himself.
For the sake of following the logic of the scene, it's probably best to assume that Squier does get shot in a vital organ like spleen because he dies within three minutes.
(I would like to thank my mother, the nurse, for help with this one.)
If Squier is shot and quickly dies after it is mostly likely due to internal bleeding in a vital organ, such as the liver, stomach, or, especially, the spleen. If you get shot in or through the spleen, you will likely die soon after. Moving around, which might help push the bullet further around in the organ, might even speed up the dying process as it will cause more bleeding.
Squier is able to move during this painful process because even though he anticipated Duke shooting him, human response to wounds like this still require the brain to fully process what is happening to the body. In other words, the brain won't immediately stop the body from moving and responding to a fatal wound, so especially right after getting shot, Squier would be able to move himself.
For the sake of following the logic of the scene, it's probably best to assume that Squier does get shot in a vital organ like spleen because he dies within three minutes.
(I would like to thank my mother, the nurse, for help with this one.)
Sunday, January 22, 2012
"Oklahoma City Massacre"
The "Oklahoma City Massacre"in The Petrified Forest is based on the Kansas City Massacre, which occurred in the summer of 1933 when a gang tried to free Frank "Jelly" Nash. During a shootout at KC's Union Station between Nash's gang and law enforcement officers, four officers died. Nash was also killed during the shoot out.
Afterwards, the FBI tracked down and killed, in yet another shoot out, Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd in October of 1934. It is still unknown whether Floyd was involved in the Kansas City Massacre or not, but he became the most important celebrity outlaw and the biggest focus for the FBI after Dillinger was located and killed in Chicago in July of that year.
Afterwards, the FBI tracked down and killed, in yet another shoot out, Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd in October of 1934. It is still unknown whether Floyd was involved in the Kansas City Massacre or not, but he became the most important celebrity outlaw and the biggest focus for the FBI after Dillinger was located and killed in Chicago in July of that year.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Scutcheon?
In Act II, during the radio broadcast, the announcer reads a statement issued by the Governor of Arizona: "As long as Mantee and his followers are at large a blot of shame will mar the proud scutcheon of these United States ...." (p. 40).
In this case, "scutcheon" takes on the meaning of "proud history" even lending itself to the connotation of "reputation."
In this case, "scutcheon" takes on the meaning of "proud history" even lending itself to the connotation of "reputation."
Rugged Individualism
Herbert Hoover, POTUS 1923-33
We first hear the term used by the 1st Lineman in the opening moments of The Petrified Forest and, again, later on the play, to describe Alan Squier and Duke Mantee -- the last two apostles of rugged individualism.
Rugged individualism is a term coined by Herbert Hoover that describes a libertarian economic and political philosophy, even in times of economic depression. President Hoover felt that "rugged individualism" would be the best way for the Great Depression to end and that the government shouldn't intervene with social and economic programs or policies.
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