Defy or Deny?

Today in sixth period discussion we spoke about our feeling towards Gogol. Every person either felt sympathy or frustration towards him. At one point in chapter eleven, Gogol ponders how Moushumi really feels about him. For a moment, he thinks to confront her, he then backs out admitting that “even thinking about this question makes him afraid” (271). A few students condemned Gogol for his wimpy nature, and inability to confront his problems…

So many times in my life someone has told me to just, “get it all out”. I have lost count of moments where a parent or friends has pressed, “It is not good to keep things in all the time”. Sometime I spill and sometimes I do not, but I cannot identify a difference in the outcome. During discussion I could not help but think most times I am not afraid of the answer, I simply do not care. On a typical day I probably ask at least one person, “Are you okay?”. Whether out of genuine concern or in awkward response to a gloomy expression, I always ask. Nine times out of ten I hear, “nothing”, “I’m fine”, or the common “I don’t want to talk about it!” Once in a while, however, I come across the one person who has just sat waiting for someone to ask. They pour their heart out to me about problems with a boy friend, or a failed test. I nod intently, but have absolutely no personal interest in the matter. Thank goodness not a lot of people speak so freely about their issues, otherwise, I potentially could have 365 of other people’s problems hanging over my head each and every day. I would consider myself a pretty normal person, so, can anyone else identify with this? I would feel horrible if I “got it all out” only to hear a “that sucks, see ya” in response. But really, I know that’s what people think, because I do. I can’t help a girl who cheated on her boyfriend on vacation, get back with her boyfriend. No chance I can help someone pass a test they already have failed. So I think realistically, sometimes we should all just, “keep it all in”, or grab a journal and spill it all out in private. I can say from experience, putting your problems into words only opens up doors for those words to get twisted. For me, if I am really upset about something, or in a position where I am scared of the truth, I write letters. I have never actually given one of my letter to the person I write to, they just stay in a box. Everyone has a way for dealing with things. To criticize people or character’s such as Gogol, for not freely speaking his mind to Moushumi, is just not realistic. I find it great that everyone has a unique way of overcoming situations and relationships, and interesting that others try to push their strategy. In the end, do people really care?

The picture posted above, acts as a creative interpretation of how I feel. Sometimes just keeping quiet and letting time take over can prove successful, sometimes detrimental. How can we ever know if we don’t try?