Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Ding dang, the bitch is dead!
So I have to admit I'm very disappointed with the ending of Casino Royale. I expected a car chase, a murder scene, bodies everywhere, or a bomb scene of some sort. The ending really leaves you hanging and lets Ian Fleming produce more Bond novels. If I ever meet Ian Fleming in an after life, I'd probably hit him with his own book. I really do hate the way male authors portray women in their novels. Why is it that most women authors will write love stories while male authors bash women? Reader-response critics argue that some authors tend to write towards a certain response from an audience. In my eyes, this novel was intended for men only. It also was intended for the upper class society. I think cultural critics would argue that one though. I'm not too sure. I really don't understand why anyone would say women want Bond between their bed sheets. I have to admit, I'm a bit appalled after finishing this novel.
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5 comments:
Wow. These are some powerful statements indeed. How though do you say that this is a poor portrayal of women? I'm very confused to say the least. If anything the novel's more a comment on the facade that is international work. The lying deceit and "double agent" portrayals throughout the work arise as more of a comment on humanity as something not to trust then on a woman. If nations are made up of people and nations can't be trusted then Ian is showing that people can't be trusted. Bond obviously fell for Vesper but she was a double agent. That isn't a comment on women in general, its Flemming's way of showing the sacrifices that come with such a high risk job. To say that this is a bashing of women comes across as a long shot, especially since she killed her self for him knowing that she loved him despite her occupation. I'd say this is a flip on the portrayal of men and women showing the 'chivalrous woman'. Though I agree that the work ends on a very disappointing note, to say its just another male author bashing women is grossly unjustified.
Well, this is the way I see it:
Steve, I would have to agree with the original post that Bond is definitely a sexist (That is clear. In fact, isn't he famous for his chauvinism?) and to me, it is understandable why many of the statements would rub someone the wrong way. I think that was the point in the original post, which I believe misconstrued the point of Fleming (and caused the disagreement). That being said, I would agree with you that Fleming is not a sexist (at least based upon evidence in the novel alone), and he is indeed just explaining the story as it would play out in actual life and it's difficulties. I also agree with you that, in general and not just with this novel, it would be unjust to label a novel as sexist. Haven't we learned, from the application of different theoretical perspectives, that a story can be viewed in many different way and angles? I think if one thing is definite across the board with literary theory, it is that nothing is definite!
Just my thoughts...
Cultrual criticism in Casino Royale is displayed through Bonds sexists comments. This novel was written in the 1950's. This time women were starting to take a more active role outside the home. Bonds sexist comment about Vesper. “Women were for recreation. On a job, they got in the way and fogged things up with sex and hurt feelings… One had to look out for them and take care of them”(Fleming p.027).
Well one stays to may to, one says to mah to, and to each his own opinion, but i think the famously 'chauvinistic' Bond is only an adaptation of Fleming's Bond, which holds little regard to the text at hand.
I totally agree that the end was dissapointing. Fleming makes the ending as well as the premise of Casino Royale and his Bond novels a gimmick. He gears his writing towards men who are looking for adventure in their lives and who see themselves as Bond as they read the novel. The book was sexist, chauvanistic and quite simply a let down.
I would like to see a spy novel geared towards women; I'm sure a man from Fleming's generation and background couldn't handle writing that.
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