The Floating Opera Pages 170- 252
Chapter 19-
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“Absolutely nothing has intrinsic value. Now that the idea was articulated in my head,
it seemed to me ridiculous that I hadn’t seen it years ago.
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“Nothing is valuable itself”
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While this chapter is very short, it encompasses
all of his personality traits and we see his ego out in full force
Chapter 20-
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Why is this chapter written the way it is? Which one of the introductions do you like
better?
o
I personally like the second, I like the
references he makes and he shows emotion regarding his father’s death.
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Why does he describe the case to us? Do we care?
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What does the title mean? I can’t figure out the significance of
Calliope Music?
Chapter 21-
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In this chapter we see a new emotional side of
Todd that we had not yet seen until this point
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Why does he bring back the memory of his dad
killing chickens?
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“His debt to me was the last, but hardly the
least debt my father escaped.”
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What do you make of the interaction between Todd
and Colonel Morton? It seems strange
that during this economic depression there would be any exchange of five
thousand dollars.
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Why does he give this gift?
Chapter 22-
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Nothing that interesting happened in this
chapter except the exchange on page 203 where Todd questions why Jeannine wants
an ice cream cone. He eventually gives in to her.
Chapter 23-
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Jane returns to the story
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“When Harrison and I got married we were as
prudish as they come about extracurricular,… I swore I could never look at
another man.”
o
They describe that as “dishonest”
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On page 212 Jane and Harrison have a causal kiss
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Page 213- “I suddenly wavered in my resolution
to die- was shaken, in fact, by reluctance.
The reason was simply that- my suicide would be interpreted by the Macks
as evidence that their move had crushed me.”
o
That’s just weird
Chapter 25-
-
We finally see what he wanted to do with his
inquiry.
o
Nothing has intrinsic value
o
The reason for which people attribute value to
things are always ultimately irrational
o
There is, therefore, no ultimate reason for
valuing anything
o
Living is action. There is no final reason for action.
o
There is no final reason for living.
-
The entire book has essentially been a lead up
to him making this conclusion. Now that
he has, does any of it surprise us?
Chapter 26-
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This is the point in the story where he and
captain Osborne decide to go to the boat show
Chapter 27-
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I found this chapter for which the whole book is
a lead up to very different than what I expected. What do you think?
-
This seemed very anti climatic to me.
Chapter 28-
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He starts out the chapter on page 246 by saying “If
you do not understand at once the end of my floating opera story must be
undramatic, then again I’m cursed with imperfect communication.”
o
I sure didn’t get it so I’m with Todd
-
He changes the last part of his inquiry to:
o
There is no final reason for living (or for
suicide)
Chapter 29
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Essentially the last thought he leaves us with
is, “If I was ever to explain to myself why Dad committed suicide, I must
explain to him why I did not.”
o
What do you think of that statement? I am personally mind blown.
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