All this talk about symbolism lately has had me pondering something I read in the book I've been reading about The Quiet Man. When Sean is dragging Mary Kate across the fields, an older woman offers Sean a stick to beat her with as punishment for her disobedience. (I'm not going to get into the controversial political implications of this issue - Sean never uses the stick and that's the important thing.) Anyway, the author of this book says that the shape of the stick is significant and calls it, IIRC, "a deep Fordean symbol." Any clues as to what this might be all about? He offers no further explanation.

Sounds to me like the author of that book has serious feelings about his own sexual inadequacies and is trying to blame them on John Wayne.
From my experence, the ones always pointing out "Fordian" Symbols, or hidden Gay symbolism, is the One you had better watch out for.

Chester

it could be there to represent that he is the master of the house as they say in those times most homes were ruled with "an iron fist" if you know what i mean.

cheers smokey

Didn't mean to raise another mini-controversy over here, guys. :) Maybe I should write to the author and ask him meself. I mean, I looked at the shape of the thing and I just don't get it - it's a stick - it's long and thin and it has a smaller branch coming off one side of it. I try not to be dense but sheesh. I think you really have to stretch to see something here.

I thought maybe itdo would be able to help if no one else. (Itdo is Roland, right?)

Hi Jen

I heard tell of that stick before symbolising something but all I can say is no its just a random stick.

Great comment Chester :D


:agent:

Hi Jen
yes, "itdo" is Roland, and I dreamed up an answer to the schtick-question in our topic "symbols".

And, haha, what else can be read into the landing of Wayne right into Jean Arthur's lap? :blink: