Pardon me, but I can’t think of a title witty enough
The narrator notes that a "secret code" is written on the body that contains the story of one's life. Explain how one's body "writes" one's identity.
So I’ve had, including this one, eight and a half semesters of college already. I’ve tried to achieve “perfect attendance” to at least one class. It hasn’t happened. Why? “Oh, I’ve been to every class, I can miss this one,” “I’m allowed to miss a class, might as well use it up,” “The prof cancelled class, so I’ll just ‘repay’ with a miss of my own,” or my most recent excuse “Sorry Mr. Bautista (that sounds so pretentious) your flight out of Dayton, OH has some mechanical issues and you will miss your connection to LAX, here is 12 dollars for food, and a voucher for a night at the airport hotel.” Now why on earth am I starting this post with something so unrelated? Simple. I missed last Monday and I wish I had not missed it because I looked forward to the discussion and how people felt about it. When I was there on Wednesday, jetlagged hardcore, I was surprised to find out that not very many, if any, found it enjoyable. Personally, it is an instant favorite. I like it because the writing is so paradoxical. It is so refined and well thought out, but the emotion is so raw. It’s like the author/narrator “stream of consciousnessed” how they felt, and then added metaphors and comparisons afterward, “tightening up” the language so it was much more powerful and meaningful.
Anyway, to respond to this week’s prompt. I haven’t fully hashed it out in my head what it really means that a “secret code” is written on the body. I will go with it and agree, for now at least, with the assumption. Initially, I think about how scars, wrinkles, bags under a person’s eyes, calluses etc. all have a story, or are a physical tattletale to events that have made the individuals body the way it is. For example, scars could be from some childhood accident, a scrape on the concrete when playing tag or heavily calloused hands could imply that the person worked with some sort of manual labor, carpentry, farming, sculpting etc. However, I do not think it is that simple. Since Winterson repeats how Louise has “reading fingers” as if her fingertips could read the Braille that is the protagonist’s body, the “secret code” written on the body, at least to me, is metaphorical/symbolic.
Since there are a lot of allusions to the sense of touch in the novel, I think that one’s body not necessarily “writes” one’s identity, but one’s identity and their life’s story is “unlocked” by the touch of the person’s lover. The romantic touch is such a sensual and powerful gesture that opens up (makes vulnerable) the individual to the other person. By doing so, they are allowing their lover to hurt them, not in a physical way, but emotionally (which arguably is much more painful.) When I think of the sensual touch, not necessarily on a literal sense, I am reminded of certain personal moments in different relationships where the first kiss, hand hold, cuddle etc. had such a profound and memorable impact in my memory almost as if it revealed a side of me that had been locked up, and could only be released by that person at that time. Back to the prompt stem, when I think about the revelation of one’s life written in a secret code, it isn’t necessarily in retrospective manner i.e. a nostalgic, memory sort of thing, but something that was dormant and is “released” that can now be utilized, fostered, nurtured.
However, I realize that these “things” aren’t innate and you aren’t some sort of sleeper agent waiting for the appropriate person to decipher these secret codes. Rather, they are subconsciously learned from watching and participating in all types of relationships.
Now we both can concede that it is clearly evident to a person with any degree of intellect, such as individuals such as ourselves. The link between the body and the identity fo the owner and for the body are undeniable. The two seem to paradoxically sync. One governs its influence over the other. It is inescapable. I reckon that I might dare sight Foucault and Derrida. But I will exercise restraint. Both body and identity are as malleable as that black goop that you squeeze out of a sand vein on a shrimp when you’re cleaning yourself to put in a Chinese stir-fry. What is that stuff anyway? And they are influenced by one another, but both are still potent enough to shape one another. The identity of an individual will cause to shape their body to represent some abstraction of themselves they have drawn development from their experiences and desires. But also, a person’s body will govern their identity. This is all just game we play with ourselves, a game of the mind. It is essentially impossible to elude. But, we must not hesitate to conclude in the foggy mists of the identity we struggle to make our own.
I agree that scars, wrinkles and bags under the eyes can all have a story and explain what that person has been through. If you see someone with bags under their eyes, it means they may not get enough sleep. They could be very stressed out, or a normal college student who stays up late to do their homework. Each physical part of someone’s body can have a story, and although we may not know the story, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have one. I also agree that Louise’s ‘reading fingers’ is more of a metaphor in the story, because I highly doubt that the narrator had actual brail written on their body.
I also agree that the sensational touch is more of an emotional touch rather than a physical. Anything that has to do with love (not lust) has to do with emotions, and we write our emotions on our body, such as body language and facial expressions. We open ourselves up and make ourselves vulnerable to our lovers. I also agree that the secret ‘code’ is subconsciously learned rather than actually someone sitting there and metaphorically ‘reading’ a person’s body. The code written on the body is a metaphor in the story that the writer uses to help us understand the connection between Louise and the narrator.
In response to Samantha.S,I also agree with what you said, “That scars, wrinkles and bags under the eyes can all have a story and explain what that person has been through.” Furthermore, there is a lot of skin on the body that can be used as an invisible canvas for writing a secret code that will help to signify a special meaning. When a person gets a tattoo, they are literally writing on the skin, which can be used as a secret code that only the owner knows its significance; consequently, tattoos are unlike the novel, “Written on the Body,” where the writings on the body are not visible; they do have something in common thou; they are both writings on the body that has special meanings. The narrator’s secret code as you said, “The code written on the body is a metaphor in the story that the writer uses to help us understand the connection between Louise” is absolutely true; it is just a metaphor. As I see it, the five months the narrator spent with Louise is looked upon as a memory of love, which was gain and loss, and like a love letter, the narrator chooses to use her body to reflect on their love, because the was a possibility she was dying from cancer, the narrator wanted to keep the memory of Louise alive by using parts of her body as pages of a love letters.
I agree with you in a lot of ways about this novel. I found it enjoyable in many aspects such as the refined and well thought out elements, as well as it’s raw emotion, like you described. I thought that it was written in such a creative way and found myself interested in the text throughout my entire read of it. In regards to the “secret code” I think that you are right on in saying that the physical attributes that a person possesses all define and identify part of who that person is. Experiences that one has been through can be visible on the skin, showing some of the very things that have shaped them into the person that they have become. This was the very fist thing that came to mind when she talked about the body having a secret code. I know that, personally, I have experienced this in my relationship with my boyfriend. He has many scars that are visible and that I feel. When I look at them I feel a sense of who he is, completely. I love learning those things about him as we grow in our relationship. I think that the physical attributes that we possess can sometimes say a lot about who we are or have been.
Amber, I think that the body and the mind are not paradoxically in sync. I think the opposite is true actually, that they are in complimentary to each other regarding synchronization.
@TLJ, (I apologize for not calling you by your name, but I don't know who owns what blog unless it is blatantly obvious) I never thought of using parts of the body as pages of a love letter. I guess that is pretty obvious when she breaks down the human anatomy in different chapters.
Say What?
I agree with you whole heartedly that every part of our being has a story. Even Louise's "reading fingers" could probably "read" her lover's body like Braille. There is a code between lovers when they are truly intuned to one another. It is more than moving from position to position, it is a deep and abiding drink of passion and worth each touch, every nuance that rests on that person's body.
I agree that touch can unlock one's life story, but I also believe a touch in anger or physical violence can lock a story and if one is not careful can lock it for life, even if the violence was not done personally to them.
Intimacy is moving and it is powerful, intimacy is a stirring of the soul, the mind and the body. I believe all three are needed in order to write on the body be it my own or someone else's.
I believe we all have the possibility of this soul writing, but I think we do not chose well who we allow to be a part of the intimacy that it takes to bring it out, in that respect we end up losing more intimately than we gain. My secrets are not secrets that I want to hide forever, I want a lover to reach in with me, to help me sort things out, to blow bubbles with me, and to throw things out that do not belong. The code is love - mutual unconditional abiding love. That is possible, really it is