Jesusville and Catholic Boys: Silent Suffering in the Novel Essay

Philip Cioffari, in both works, Jesusville and Catholic Boys, puts forth the idea of the close sufferer. Used in different ways in each of the novels, the speechless sufferer is pillow slipized by guilt and shame. This discussion looks at Vee in Jesusville, whose character undergoes punishment as a way of being possessed and alleviating the doomed and lonely feeling within her and Arthur and Donald in Catholic Boys, who are penalise for the guilt of others sins. These characters suffer silently, each one reinforcing major themes in their novels through and through their punishment.To begin, the discussion focuses on Vickis character in Jesusville. When first introduced to Vicki, Cioffari describes her as having a startling beauty, dressed with a look that seemed to be a threat to her safety (Cioffari 14). Shortly into the novel, we see Vickis uneasiness and her select for validationthat is a confirmation of self and of the existence of another. Cioffari writes, With her rigid glass she seemed almost catatonic. She wanted him there, but it was as if nothing existed but herself and by chance not even that (Cioffari 21). Vicki realizes her need to be validated though, she is unaware of how she is to rule it. Vicki then asks Trace, Did you ever think when you look at yourself like this in the mirror that what youre seeing isnt really you (Cioffari 22)? She continues, stating, Im not Vicki anymore. From now on I want you to call me Vee. all right (Cioffari 22)? It is at this point in the novel that Vee becomes aware of her own isolationto Trace and to others. Her loneliness eats away at her and makes it impossible for her to fool a fulfilling relationship. Vickis shift into the personage of Vee is her validation of the person that s... ... exercise of the silent sufferer. On the cross, Christ cries out in pain, but never against the men beating him. In none of the biblical accounts does ask them to deterrent and think about what they are doing. Inste ad he looks to his Father, resigning himself to Gods will, knowing that he must be the sacrifice, and like Vee, bear the weight down of crimes. As silent sufferers and pictures of Christ, Vee, Arthur, and Donald absolve their sins through their resignation to suffering. Vee is able to appease the brokenness within her, resolving her faith crisis. Arthur gives up his fleshly body order of magnitude to gain a spiritual body through death. Through this make for they demonstrate major themes in novel including redemption, sin, consequences, and resolutionideas that can be seen not just in the stories of these three characters, but in the legal age of Cioffaris characters.