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Tom Robbins' Jitterbug Perfume
In his 1984 novel Jitterbug Perfume, Tom Robbins presents a narrative that rivals the often fantastical tales told in myth. Using classical mythology as a foundation, and, in particular, providing a loose adaptation of The Odyssey by Homer, Robbins updates and modifies characters and concepts in an effort to reinforce the importance of the journey of life and the discovery of self. Like the ancient myth-makers, Robbins commands the reader’s attention with outrageous situations and events while at the same time providing characters that the reader can relate to and learn from.
Jitterbug Perfume is a story of epic proportions, spanning a time-frame of almost one thousand years. The protagonist, Alobar, is first encountered sometime in the eleventh century as a king in Bohemia. Alobar rebels against the custom of his tribe that condemns their ruler to death upon the appearance of his first grey hair. He escapes this premature and arbitrary demise, and much of the novel follows Alobar's adventures over the next ten centuries as he continues to avoid death. On the way, he encounters Kudra, the love of his life, the god Pan, and, eventually, the other important, modern-day characters in the novel. Their stories all converge in the twentieth century in a series of chance meetings. These present-day encounters revolve around the search for the secret ingredient to the perfect perfume, and involve the presence of a vegetable, the beet.
The structure of Jitterbug Perfume contains many similarities to the structure of The Odyssey. In a manner reminiscent of Homer's opening entreaty to a Muse, Tom Robbins begins Jitterbug Perfume with a treatise on the beet. While Homer calls on the Muse to help...
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...e, and their reunion is imminent at the end of the novel. Both have achieved success in defining themselves as independent, successful individuals. They have proven themselves to be heroes, and, as with Odysseus and Penelope, anima and animus are reunited (Harris and Platzner 358).
Works Cited
Campbell, Joseph. The Hero With A Thousand Faces. 10th ed. New York: MJF, 1949.
Easton, Tom. "The Reference Library." Rev. of Jitterbug Perfume, by Tom Robbins.
Analog Science Fiction/ Science Fact. Aug. 1985: 178.
Harris, Stephen L., and Gloria Platzner. Classical Mythology: Images and Insights. 2nd ed. Mountain View: Mayfield, 1995
Hoyser, Catherine E., and Lorena Laura Stookey. Tom Robbins. Westport CN: Greenwood, 1997
Robbins, Tom. Jitterbug Perfume. Bantam: New York, 1985.
Whitmer, Peter O. "Cosmic Comedian." Saturday Review Jan/Feb. 1985: 50-55.
They also have the purpose of making families less stressed during the period of time when they have a member of their family who has cancer. The overall purpose of the company is to Research cures and help towards cancer.
Literary works are always affected by the times and places in which they are written. Those crafted in Western America often reflect conflicts that occurred between advancing civilization and the free spirited individual. The 1970’s was a particularly popular time for authors to introduce new ideas for living in the modern world. There are few authors who captured the essence and feeling of culture quite like Tom Robbins. Robbins comments on the differences and similarities between Western civilization and Eastern philosophies. His text offers philosophical and cultural meaning that is completely original. Certain beliefs are threaded through out the content of the story. He includes significant content reflecting the laws of physics; how motion and force affect the life process. Through the dialogue and action of his characters, Robbins illustrates how two very different ideals can coexist. Robbins intentions are to expand cultural perspectives and awareness through his novels. His use of metaphors and stylistic diction emphasizes further how thoughtful and awesome his work is. Tom Robbins writing offers an insightful perspective into cultural themes of our modern world.
Grant, Michael, and John Hazel. "Athena." Gods and Mortals in Classical Mythology. Springfield, MA: G. & C. Merriam, 1973. Print.
From the beginning of The Metamorphosis Kafka offers a comical depiction of Gregor’s “squirming legs” (Kafka 13) and a body in which “he could not control” (7). Gregor’s initial reaction to this situation was the fact he was late to his dissatisfying job as a salesman, but Gregor knows that he has to continue his job in order to keep the expectation his family holds upon him to pay of the family’s everlasting debt. When Gregor’s family eventually realizes that Gregor is still lying in his bed, they are confused because they have expectations on Gregor that he will hold the family together by working. They know if Gregor was to quit his job there would be a great catastrophe since he is the glue to keeping their family out of debt. The communication between his family is quickly identified as meager and by talking to each other from the adjacent walls shows their disconnection with each other. Kafka introduces the family as lacking social skills in order to offer the reader to criticize and sympathize for Gregor’s family dynamics. Gregor’s manager makes an appearance quickly after experiencing the dysfunction within the fami...
Rosenburg, Donna. World Mythology: An Anthology of the Great Myths and Epics. Third Edition. Chicago: NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group, Inc., 1999. Text.
There are many essential emotions that form the building blocks of our lives. These emotions help to shape the people that we are. These feelings are emotional necessities to ultimately keep us happy. No piece of literature these feelings more evident than the Odyssey by Homer. Throughout the course of this book there is one major emotional theme: love.
Co. Herzberg, M. J. & Co., Ltd. (1984) The 'Standard' of the 'St Myths and their meanings. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Rouse, W. H. (1957). The Species of the World The Heroes: The Heraclês.
Ingri and Edgar Parin D’alaure’s. Book of Greek Myths. New York: Bantam Dowbleday Dell Publishing Group, 1962.
...thern Literary Journal. Published by: University of North Carolina Press. Vol. 4, No. 2 (spring, 1972), pp. 128-132.
The American Cancer Society’s main concern is assisting people, making profits come second. The American Cancer Society helps patient’s life by finding cures. “For over 100 years, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has worked relentlessly to save lives and create a world with less cancer. Together with millions of our supporters worldwide, we help people stay well and get well, find cures, and fight back against cancer” (American Cancer Society, 2015a). Many people in this world see the importance of the organization and find the interest in donating money or providing anything to help the cause.
The American Cancer Society is a volunteer-based organization that is present across the United States. Its main purpose is to raise money and awareness about the severity and prevalence of cancer. Cancer education and research is where most of the focus and monetary donations are used for. The American Cancer Society strives to fulfill their goal of “less cancer and more birthdays” across all generations and populations (ACS Inc., 2011).
It is strongly believed that a cure for cancer will be found. Thousands of charities and organizations are raising money to help find a cure. Many charitable events take place such as Relay for Life. In the future we hope and pray that our descendants will not have to worry about this awful disease. Just like Bill Clinton stated “It is now conceivable that our children’s children will know the term cancer only as a constellation of stars.”
Government funding has proven to be essential and effective in the fight against cancer. On December 23, 1971 President Nixon signed the National Cancer Act, which promised to finance the quest for the cure. Financial aid such as this has directly benefitted survival rates for those diagnosed with cancer. Forty years ago before such funding was provided, when a child was diagnosed with cancer most physicians considered the patient to be terminally ill and supportive care was almost the only thing offered to the family. However over the last few decades, due to research and participation in clinical trials performed due to funding, the majority of children are cured. Because of the creations of new drugs and therapies as a result of government aid, the survival rat...
...uses symbolism to convey his message about humanity. The underlying message of the Metamorphosis is that it unfolds the truth about human nature; the story tells us that humans have lost their humanity. He uses the vermin, food, Mr. Samsa’s uniform, apple, his autobiography, and violin as symbols in the Metamorphosis. The word transformation does not apply to Gregor but also to all the family members of Samsa family. Grete was one of the members of the family, who transformed. For the first few weeks, she took care of Gregor and leaves food for him but then she transforms and she starts to hate Gregor because the family members thought Gregor was a burden to them and was worthless. The family lost the sympathy for Gregor.
Kravitz, David. Who's Who in Greek and Roman Mythology. New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., 1975.