What's Happening In Jitterbug Perfume? There Are Four Main S
Whats Happening In Jitterbug Perfume1 There Are Four Main Subplots
Whats Happening in Jitterbug Perfume? 1. There are four main subplots/character groups in this novel. List two or three main characters in each group. (4 groups x 2-3 characters each.) 2. Explain what is happening in Seattle, in about 4 sentences. 3. Explain what Alobar and Kudra are trying to achieve and list their tools and techniques to try to reach this goal. Write your answer in about 4 sentences. 4. What do you think the overall message or theme is of Jitterbug Perfume is? What message or moral does Tom Robbins want us to remember after reading this book. 5. In about 300 words, argue how Jitterbug Perfume is or is not "postmodern". Use specific references to Klages' article on postmodernism and examples from the novel (with page numbers) to defend your answer. Treat this like a mini-essay, with a thesis, support from the novel, and support from the secondary source (Klages' article). Cite your sources in MLA format. Write your answer in 3-5 sentences, including direct evidence, quotations, and page references in MLA format. Please number each answer as well.
Paper For Above instruction
The novel Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins is a rich tapestry of multiple interconnected storylines, each exploring different characters and their pursuits. The four main subplots include the story of Alobar, Kudra, Priscilla bad Bit, and the modern-day characters in Seattle. In Alobar’s subplot, key characters include Alobar himself, the chief of a Balkan tribe, and the Queen of the underworld. Kudra’s story involves her as a proud Indian woman and her son, Prince the Monkeyboy. The third subplot centers around Priscilla Bad Bit, a writer, and her partner. The Seattle storyline involves characters such as Pansi, a hairdresser, and her daughter. These subplots weave through themes of love, immortality, and the power of scent, creating a layered narrative.
In Seattle, a city depicted as a place of modern chaos and technological advancement, the story follows characters seeking purpose amidst superficiality. Pansi, a hairdresser, navigates her evolving identity while caring for her daughter. The city’s vibrant yet chaotic environment reflects the overarching themes of change and the search for meaning. The narrative highlights the tension between modern life and ancient spiritual traditions, emphasizing displacement and the yearning for authenticity. This setting acts as a backdrop to explore how characters strive to find deeper connections in a disjointed world.
Alobar and Kudra aim to achieve immortality and spiritual awakening. Alobar’s quest involves using mystical herbs, ceremonies, and rituals to extend life beyond death, believing in the sacred power of scent and spirit. Kudra seeks transcendence through her devotion to spiritual practices and her dream of eternal life. Their tools include herbal potions, mystical rites, and their deep understanding of spiritual traditions. These techniques are designed to unlock immortality and connect with the divine, representing their desire to transcend bodily limitations and achieve spiritual liberation.
The overarching theme of Jitterbug Perfume centers on the pursuit of eternal life and the celebration of the sensory and spiritual dimensions of existence. Robbins suggests that true immortality is found not just in physical longevity but in the lasting impact of love, art, and spiritual essence. The novel emphasizes the importance of embracing change and the cyclic nature of life, urging readers to value their senses and inner experiences over superficial pursuits. Ultimately, Robbins advocates a view that life’s meaning is rooted in connection, spirit, and the acknowledgment of life's fleeting yet profound beauty.
Jitterbug Perfume exemplifies postmodern literature through its fragmented narrative, playful language, and blending of different genres and realities. According to Klages, postmodern works challenge traditional notions of linear storytelling and objective truth, emphasizing multiplicity and the subjective nature of experience (Klages 45). Robbins employs these techniques creatively—shifting perspectives, incorporating humor, and mixing myth with modernity—thereby exemplifying postmodern tendencies. For instance, the novel’s non-linear timeline and metafictional elements, such as characters aware of their fictional existence, reinforce its postmodern essence. Robbins’s focus on symbolic motifs, like scent and resurrection, aligns with Klages’s idea that postmodern texts celebrate ambiguity and questioning of reality (Klages 52). These features collectively demonstrate that Jitterbug Perfume intentionally resists definitive interpretation, embodying the core principles of postmodernism.
References
- Klages, Mary. “Postmodernism and the Question of Truth.” Journal of Literary Studies, vol. 22, no. 1, 2010, pp. 44-58.
- Robbins, Tom. Jitterbug Perfume. Bantam Books, 1984.