Why everyone should read World According to Garp
From Radicalization to Resilience: Why You Should Dive into this Controversial Classic
I don’t read much adult fiction. Let alone fiction set in real world. Let alone fiction set in real world about real issues. Let alone feminist fiction written by man which is 100,000+ words long.
But I did and I want to tell you why you should too.
The World According to Garp is about TS Garp, a struggling writer whose mother is a bestseller outspoken feminist. But it is more than that. It is about spousal trust. It is about radicalization. It is about humans.
While telling anymore will essentially spoil the book for you, I will tell you that this book has a lot of mentions of rape. It also has a lot of intimate scenes. While you can skip all of them(I did) without affecting much of the story, I felt that it needs to be mentioned.
The book deals in its later part about radicalization. Basically, radical societies develop out of a need of feeling included. The example from the book is the Ellen Jamesians, a group of women named after an eleven-year-old girl whose tongue was cut off by her rapists to silence her. The members of the group cut off their own tongues in solidarity with the girl.
The problem is the girl doesn’t want any of it. She wants to speak and does so by texts and poems. She wants to not be associated with the society. She hence publishes a piece titled, “Why I am Not an Ellen Jamesian” by Ellen James. What happens? Ellen Jamesians try to assassinate her. They also target Garp, who is Ellen’s English professor at that time of the story, believing he corrupted her.
Garp’s mother never wanted a service. However, the Ellen Jamesian’s organize one against her wishes and don’t let Garp attend only because he is a man.
A very direct correlation of the Ellen Jamesian’s are the psudo-feminists. Long before Thomas Hazlett coined the inflammatory term “feminazi” and Rush Limbaugh popularized it, Irving’s Ellen Jamesians exposed a paradox of feminism without making inappropriate comparisons to Nazis. They misrepresent feminism by betraying its ideals of sex and gender equality.
I don’t really want to talk about a lot of psudo feminist ideals here(or risk getting stupid mails) but here we'll leave it at this: The World According to Garp, through its narrative, offers a thought-provoking exploration of feminism, its complexities, and the dangers of radicalization within any movement. It raises questions about the true essence of feminism, emphasizing that it's about achieving gender equality rather than promoting division.
John Irving's novel delves into sensitive subjects, including rape and intimacy, which some readers might find discomforting. These elements, however, serve as integral components of the story, illustrating the broader themes of trust, human nature, and the consequences of radical ideologies.
In summary, "The World According to Garp" is a challenging but rewarding read that not only provides an insightful perspective on feminism but also tells a compelling tale of personal growth and societal change. So, if you're willing to explore fiction that addresses real-world issues and you're open to contemplating the nuances of feminism in a unique way, this novel is well worth your time.
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Warm Regards,
Arjun Agarwal
John Irving is one of my favourite writers. I first read the World According to Garp when I was a teenager. Loved it!! Read a few more of his books, moved on and then, as an adult, rediscovered him. Love his work now just as much as I did then, but appreciate it more now. His book Last Night in Twisted River had the best, most completely satisfying ending I have EVER read.
I love how compassionate his books are about women. His understanding of the dynamics of relationship, but also his quirky humour, help me relate to the less ‘acceptable’ side of humans and their behaviour.
I love a good rebel.