Close Reading 3/8

"'Your bastard son has seduced my daughter! I know they're in there, in that fucking infirmary!' It is a fucking infirmary now, Garp thought" (94).

The end of this chapter contains both irony and indirect characterization for both Garp and Jenny Fields, showing the differences in their personalities as well as the way that they choose to live their lives. The obvious irony of the quote centers around the use of the word 'fucking'. Mr. Percy is using it to describe the infirmary in a negative way. He uses the word out of anger and for profanity, while Garp thinks the word, describe sex because of what him and Cushie did that night in the infirmary. It is ironic in the fact that Mr. Percy has no idea that he is describing what actually happened in the infirmary, while Garp knows exactly what happened and finds in quite humorous to hear the word choice that Mr. Percy used.

In addition, this quote shows characterization for both Garp and Jenny Fields. Jenny Fields is the one who answers the door to the infirmary that night, being forced to listen to Mr. Percy scream about what Garp was supposedly doing. Jenny Fields does not allow Mr. Percy in, nor does she seem to suspect at that point, that her son is capable of seducing anyone. Because, she herself does not like sex and the idea of lust and love, she expects her son to be the same way that she is and not want to engage in sex with anyone out of the feelings of lust. The reaction that Jenny has with Mr. Percy and how she does not allow him into the infirmary, even after he says the things that he does, shows just how much she is against the idea of sex, and that she does not actually believe that Garp would ever do that.

Garp also has some defining character traits in this short scene as well. Garp does indeed have a sense of humor that is not shown as much earlier in the novel as it is shown in this short encounter. He is able to see the irony in what Mr. Percy says and make a joke to himself about it. The scene also shows that he will listen to the lustful feelings he has at a moment, even though it is clear that he is in love with Helen. He is alright with having sex with Cushie although he feels like he wants to marry Helen later in life. Giving into emotions, and engaging in sex shows the contrast between Jenny and Garp. Even though they are biologically related, mother and son, they are very different and this scene helps to show just how different they are. Jenny is not influenced by her feelings and will do exactly as she must, while Garp at times, is controlled by his feelings. This one instance helps to show the defining difference between Garp and Jenny.