Part two of Bellocq's Ophelia, is an exploration of Ophelia's feelings and motivations for and about becoming a prostitute. The poems have very strong connotations, good and bad, even though the language is pretty simple. Ophelia writes to a friend (teacher?) every month with increasing insight to what it means to be in this new world where she is both celebrated and hated for her mixed race.
In the first poem, she tells of how she is not picked due to her inexperience and how it causes, at first relief, but then dismay because she could not "earn a living that way" (Tretheway 13). In the third month, still getting accustomed to her new life, she gets angry at the other girls in the house because of their carefree attitudes (Tretheway 17). We can see that she still isn't comfortable in her new skin. In many of the poems, Ophelia recollects some story or event that she uses to justify her new life. In March 1911, she speaks of her white father and how she had to learn to act in ways that pleased him (Tretheway 20). Now in her profession, she has to learn how to please more white men, in different ways.
Then, she speaks of Bellocq who "buys only time to look through his lens" (Tretheway 20). In September 1911, she spends time with him outside of the brothel, photographing things that shine like "iridescent scales of fish on ice at the market" (Tretheway 27). Then she recounts visiting a friend in the hospital who is suffering from "the invisible specter of" their work (Tretheway 28). Ophelia becomes increasingly more aware of her new status through these letters and as a result becomes more confident in this new life.
In the first poem, she tells of how she is not picked due to her inexperience and how it causes, at first relief, but then dismay because she could not "earn a living that way" (Tretheway 13). In the third month, still getting accustomed to her new life, she gets angry at the other girls in the house because of their carefree attitudes (Tretheway 17). We can see that she still isn't comfortable in her new skin. In many of the poems, Ophelia recollects some story or event that she uses to justify her new life. In March 1911, she speaks of her white father and how she had to learn to act in ways that pleased him (Tretheway 20). Now in her profession, she has to learn how to please more white men, in different ways.
Then, she speaks of Bellocq who "buys only time to look through his lens" (Tretheway 20). In September 1911, she spends time with him outside of the brothel, photographing things that shine like "iridescent scales of fish on ice at the market" (Tretheway 27). Then she recounts visiting a friend in the hospital who is suffering from "the invisible specter of" their work (Tretheway 28). Ophelia becomes increasingly more aware of her new status through these letters and as a result becomes more confident in this new life.
I also believe her friend she is writing to is her teacher. I believe she is slowly becoming more open and comfortable in her lifestyle through these letters. While her friend at home is not.
ReplyDelete