Irony is the Key to Ambiguity

I'm reading The Thrill of the Chase very slowly, and I notice a lot of irony mixed in with all the ambiguity.

What is irony? Henry Watson Fowler, in The King's English, said that among many definitions, the one that is most important is "that the surface meaning and the underlying meaning of what is said is not the same."

Irony is a literary device that sometimes requires what is known as a double audience. Some people will read and not understand. Others will read and discern the meaning as an "insider" would.

Another way to look at literary irony is sarcasm. For an example, a character is in a circumstance or doing something or saying something contrary to what one would normally expect.

And that is where TTOTC comes in. Right away, we're hit with literary devices, especially ambiguity and irony. Read the first paragraph. I believe that hints at the interpretation of the whole book. The first sentence says, "Well, I'm almost eighty, and I think that's so funny. Oh, I don't mean it's funny because I'm almost eighty, but it's funny because I said it that way." (emphasis added)

Forrest says things a certain way, and it's up to us to discern what he means. And I admit, I often interpret what he's saying wrong, wrong, wrong.

But, I think at least the following few paragraphs are at least partly spot on.

Remember the bookstore girl? She works at Borders making about $6.50 an hour (assuming she makes as much as the register guy), yet it was obvious "she had graduated from a good school somewhere." As a side note, notice the wordplay in "borderline biddies?" They were ladies in line at Borders. Like Eric who always married housekeepers because they kept the house. We have to be aware of these things when we read.

Forrest uses irony when telling of the time his father asks him about mechanics who had gone to college and mechanics who had learned by doing.

Some read those opening pages and smile and think, "Ha ha, what a cute story about the bookstore and the outlaw and his dad doing something important." But an insider might see the deeper implications--Forrest doesn't think college is worth as much as it's touted. The unfortunate reality is that today, more than ever, college graduates aren't able to find jobs in their fields and end up taking menial jobs to survive. Sometimes that piece of paper that cost thousands of dollars to obtain just ends up "in the trash."

The whole chapter about important literature seems to revolve around that theme. Forrest went to the bookstore to buy the books that were taught in college--Hemingway and Fitzgerald. I took one literature class in college, then CLEPed the rest. The CLEP exams were an option (I think they still are, but am not sure), that allows you to "test out" of a college class if you already had the knowledge it took to pass. I loved the CLEP exams, and I CLEPed out of about $6000 (early 1990's) worth of college. Maybe more. Honestly, I don't remember much of college, except for a few of the professors who really stood out. Not like Indiana Jones would stand out, but because they were interesting and actually taught me something I didn't already know.

I also remember the class where I received the lowest grade I ever got in college. I barely passed chemistry at the University of Maryland with an extremely low "C." The professor didn't think I would pass, because honestly, I'm terrible at math. He offered to tutor me, but I declined (too shy), and said I would study really hard. He gave me a look that seemed like he was sorry that he would have to flush me down the toilet like a dead goldfish.

In other words, you're going to fail.

There was no Kahn online at the time, and no Internet, so I was forced to REALLY study. It was hard, and I didn't understand it, but I got it enough to pass. I still have my final exam with the C on it, and the professor wrote "Congratulations!" in big red letters. I should frame it to remind myself that I once knew what triangle over f multiplied by AY divided by pi equaled.

If you were to ask me today what the formula was to determine the viscosity of anything, I would probably answer something like, "Star Wars?" Ohhh, I am so much of a Penny and so much of a Sheldon. I'm like a Penny and Sheldon vanilla shake.

Anyway, Forrest bought the books and tried to read them, but ended up throwing them in the trash, because to him, they were worthless. So, if he bought the books to see what the big deal was about those authors the professors were teaching in college, what do you think he thought of college as he tossed those "beauties" in the trash?

That "college isn't for everybody" theory is further confirmed when you see the results of Forrest's lack of college education. He's a smart, successful guy who is good at a lot of things.

Forrest with the "Fenn Cache."

Which leads a deep thinker to wonder about the validity of requiring a college education for just about every career. Where does dedication and hard work and experience come into play? What part does passion play in choosing a person for a job? Why are face to face interviews being replaced by online resumes? Is that a smart way to choose an employee? By the way they fill in a template?

I think Forrest has a dual purpose to his memoir. Yes, he wants to entertain us with memories of his youth, but don't you think he also uses those stories to convey a deeper purpose? One that provokes serious thought?

I do.