A Commentary on ‘Idols’ by Tim Gautreaux Essay

Idols is centered upon the protagonists amoral attitude towards brio, which in turn causes him to experience l atomic number 53liness as well as world un qualified to brinytain the dream of living in his great-grandfathers vestibule. Gautreaux chooses Julian, the protagonist, to be an arrogant and envious char bender to demonstrate the sorrowful lifestyle as a result of unreasonably wanting overly much and the act of being spiteful to others who are good-willed. His arrogance proves he is living in a fantasy because he to a greater extentover feels superior as a result of his good fortune just now he is non appreciative of this fortune because he believes he will be with it for forever he lacks a sniff out of reality. Also, Julians self-superiority makes him inferior to others because he h aniles yet a minimal amount of consideration and respect in himself. This is how Gautreaux explores the subject of worthiness in his story as he makes us interrogatory who is to decide somebodys worth.Gautreaux portrays Julians showcase to be a patch of great arrogance. An exaggerated sense of self-importance is suggested as the protagonist considered himself at least wealthy in knowledge, more so than the shop save upers and record clerks he dealt with. This nonion proves to be far-fetched considering that Julian is merely a typewriter repairman of who has low competence in any other field of roleplay, including minor fireside renovations. He seems almost in denial virtu entirelyy his true self and does not want to admit into consciousness that he is comparable to any ordinary man. In addition, Julian is pictured to be an envious person. Gautreaux communicates how his character normally disparaged people who makeed large phratrys to that degree stored the shop of his ancestors firm deep in his heart. whitethornbe Julian held feelings of jealously for individuals who had a great deal of money because the only extra money hed ever had was a deoxycytidi ne monophosphate dollar win on a scratch-off ticket.Julians entire plan to restore the mansion the way it was is a flaw. He wants to hire cheap help which leads him to having a cheaply built can one gets what one relents for. As a result, his house is unable to stand bad weather as the toilet had shattered and fallen off from the floor and the light fixture popped off in a cascade of blue sparks. This foreshadows Julians ignorance and fantasy as the house would not be able to look as glamorous and high-classed as it may form done in the past considering his lack of budget.Julian looks for a broken-down old elevator carpenter desperate for work. When he finds Obie, it is unvarnished that the broken-down old man is actually Julian himself. He feels care he would be granting a favor to the carpenter but in actual fact Obie was better off not working for Julian hence when he departs without a interchange, Julian is the one calling and pray to speak to Obie. Obie is portrayed as a realist from these actions as he knows when it is needful to move on, however Julian is overly concerned with making an orbit of himself to even discern that he is living in his imagination.Obie seems to be a powerfully built man who disregard endure physical painful sensation very well considering all the tattoo work from his shoulders down to his cincture. He does not cause any trouble in the mansion and shows respect towards his employer even when treated poorly. For instance, when Obie asks Julians opinion on the railing just after Julian told him that he would only be willing to send him to his doctors appointment if Obie paid for the gas. He is depicted to be a thoughtful person and merciful towards his married woman when she decides to run him off. His or else constant analysis of why the espousals went wrong and his questions to Julian if he has ever been married suggests that he is ceaselessly thinking or so her which shows a very salving side of a seemingly tough man.This is further emphasized when he uses a soft and rhythmic voice while he recites a section of the al-Quran on the phone. He as well shows respect to his wife as he does act superior to her in their relationship but rather allows her to put him with a broom. This proves a sense of empathy within his personality as he allows her to express her feelings in the way she wishes and does not hold it against her. Overall, Obie is depicted to be a strong built but softhearted man who tries to be realistic about his decisions as he is living for the future. Similarly, run across Poxley is a realistic man however he watchs more for the second gear as sees things come as they are.He is very direct and does not allow for Julian to be condescending to him. He replies, unless I disoriented my guess, you cant afford Obie anymore to Julian when he is asked where the carpenter has gone to. This demonstrates he is not afraid to speak his mind to Julian. When Poxley first off visit s the mansion he observes the place and asks what Julian does for a living. With the answer, Poxley replies for your sake, I commit typin comes back in style, which suggests that Poxley is a man with a sense of humor but is also sensible in the idea of what can be achieved. Julian, out of the three, is a man living in imagination. He completely ignores sensibility and lets his desires take over him. He does not pay attention to others around him, even when they are trying to warn him of his own downfall. Julians character is similar to that of protagonists in traditional classical theatre a flaw in the character that leads to his downfall.At the number 1 of the story, Julian confuses Chance Poxleys sense of humor for brainlessness and turned to fling out because he had little patience with uneducated people. This proves that Julian is too concerned with himself to try to associate himself with or understand others. Julians self-superiority is simply illustrated from this, which almost makes him seem like a laughingstock as he is living in a complete dream world. Also, when Julian attempts to fix the mansion but later watches it fail, it indicates that his ignorance leads him to descent into some diverseness of psychosis he seems to have a distorted perception of reality as he strives to convince himself and Obie that hell never leave the house in a million years even after a house-shaking crash.The characters determination to make a statement in life with ownership of the the only grand thing in his familys history is reinforced as he yells into the receiver in answer to the idea that it might be time to sell out. This reaction highlights his desperation to maintain his ancestors dilapidated mansion. Julian is also depicted to be a man in great denial. This is conveyed through the rejection of his fate possibly being to support the house and that maybe he truly belongs in the sooty apartment next to an iron foundry. Although Julian recognizes his go od fortune, he barely shows any sense of taste for it but is more obsessed with having it repaired, by chance to make him feel godlier.He is an imprudent boss to Obie throughout the entire time of which they knew each other, charging him for the cars petrol and phone calls to his wife even when he is in true despair. Despite the unjust treatment, Obie stays on the phone with Julian in effort to make Julian come to his senses and realize that he can not live in the past any longer. Julians occupation as a typewriter repairman echoes his desire to live in the past as it is apparent that he can not pass judgment that times change. Also, the fact that he can bear to lose his wife to an impoverish job but is so desperate to keep the mansion proves his moral decline and his association to moneymaking(a) needs rather than true values. Gautreaux incorporates Julians heartless actions to illustrate his selfishness and greedy personality in order to emphasize his demise.There is a fundam ental source between reality and fantasy that is depicted through what each main character aspires to Obie aspires to reunite with his wife whereas Julian aspires to maintain his position as the mansions homeowner. This signifies that Julian is confined in a materialistic world to make meaning of his life however Obie is simply contented with finding spiritual meaning religion and love. Obie is a realist as he recognizes his obligation to proceed with life, he removes the tattoos to express his change in identity, but Julian is still lingering in the past with his typewriters unable to accept the nature of the real world. In addition, he considers altering his surname from metalworker to Godhigh, which illustrates the characters reverie because he is not thinking about what is real but only what he wishes for.He is not able to accept that time marches on and then, may not ever be able to develop into a more complete person. Julian tries to complete himself through ownership of t he mansion but does not realize that what he really needs to do is accept whats in front of him. Another theme present in the story is mercy. Julian is an imperious character throughout the story and is condescending to his employee, Obie, thinking he has every right because he has more money. In return, his dream house is burnt to ashes. Although he does not believe in a god, perhaps this outcome was a sign to indicate that Julian has not been forgiven and therefore has not received mercy. However, Obies tolerance and patience to Julians imprudent treatment could be associated somehow to why he was forgiven by his wife and granted a new identity in life.Gautreaux titles his pitiable story Idols to express the admiration within the two main characters. The word idol denotes an image or mold of a god whom one reveres both Julian and Obie revere something. Obie is covered in fine-line tattoo work from his shoulders down to his waistband and his wife refers to these tattoos as idols. Perhaps she believes that the tattoos are of more importance to her husband than she is herself that he worships them more. This is suggested as she tests his love for her by enquire him to get rid of all his idols. In another sense, Obies tattoos could be his idols for he decided to engrave them into his body, thinking they would be with him forever (similar to constantly feeling the presence of a higher power with you). The pain he endures to get inked suggests a level of great devotion.However, Obies devotion to his wife is undeniably greater than that of his idols because he removes them as she wishes. He states that when one gets one-time(a) and older, you need less and less which indicates his contentment for his marriage and thinks it is all he needs. Whilst Obie makes this remark, he is looking out the door toward the big house. The big house, on the other hand, is Julians object of worship. spirit out the door symbolizes looking past the surface to find a deeper meanin g in something. Deep in his heart Julian had stored the memory of the old mansion which proves that the house is what he greatly admires and is to an extent his representation of a god.It is the only grand thing and together with its Doric pillars, Julian somehow feels like a god living in it. hostile to Obie, Julian associates a god like figure an idol to his mansion, a materialistic want, which demonstrates the difference between values each character possesses. Obie seems to have found a new idol other than his tattoo whereas Julian, an old man who has experienced all of life, is still caught up in philistinism and considers material possessions more important than spiritual values. This is further emphasized as Obie removes his idols with his own free will in order to move on down the road but Julian refuses to give up the mansion so looses it unwillingly from a fire which suggests both of their fate.