Chicago by Bryan Doyle Assignment | Essay Help Services

Your essays should be a minimum of three pages, typed, double-spaced, and in standard MLA format. Select ONE of the following questions: 1. What would you say the narrator’s attitude is towards the city of Chicago? What does he love most about it? What are its defining qualities? 2. How does Doyle’s choice to write about Edward effect the tone and mood of the book overall? And what kind of a “person” would you say Edward is? What are his main qualities? 3. What is it about basketball and baseball that the narrator loves so intensely? 4. How might we see the novel as a celebration of youth? Of community and fellowship? Of faith? Both spiritual and secular? Note: I have my ebook but It did not let me share it here so you could find ebook online and ill pay that extra!

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Chicago by Bryan Doyle

Question 1

The narrator demonstrates a positive attitude toward Chicago. The narrator depicts this positive attitude while exploring as he recounts the experiences of a young adult who moves to Chicago after graduating from campus. Thus, this attitude is essential to understanding Chicago since the narrator argues that it is one of America’s great cities. An aspect that the narrator loves more about this city is that it appeals to him as the most American city. According to the narrator, Chicago is outstanding, violent, cruel, and beautiful. The narrator reveals that “almost all the people and animals I lived with were kind and generous; some were remarkable in ways I have never forgotten, and never will” (Doyle 39). Based on this quote, it is evident that the narrator loved the city and the people residing in it. Furthermore, the narrator also loves Lake Michigan, which he believes to be an incredible inland sea. The narrator purports that there is “something about its vast blue sheen, tumultuous weather, and faraway moan of huge invisible tankers and barges (Doyle 28). The narrator also enjoys the Jazz that the South Side of the city has to offer.

Some of the cities defining qualities are as follows. Foremost, the city is beautiful, particularly around the lake and the South Side. Secondly, the animals in the city, particularly Edward, the narrator’s best friend, and favorite being, is another quality that describes the city’s hospitality. Mr. Pawlowsky, the apartment manager, is another humble individual that the narrator meets in Chicago. Thirdly, good music, precisely Jazz is another defining quality of the city. The narrator finds the city outstanding and American as he meets his first girlfriend, a librettist, a cricket player, policemen, gamblers, and gangsters. Lastly, broad sidewalks, the screech of trains, streets and architecture, sights, and rhythms are also the city’s defining qualities.

Question 2

Doyle’s choice to write about Edward promotes a friendly tone, and a content and ecstatic mood. Doyle introduces Edward by asserting that “but to say of Edward merely that he was a dog, and leave the description at that, would be a grave disservice not only to him but to you” (39). The reason, according to Doyle, is that Edward is a gracious and subtle being he ever met. Although Edward is a dog, which is an intermediate breed, Doyle portrays it as an enlightened being. Doyle, thus, depicts Edward as a notable character in the story. Although he does not speak, Edward has much to say. Doyle’s portrayal of Edward merely is magical realism. The reason is that Edward is capable of providing counsel regularly to fauna across the city is intriguing. According to the narrator, creatures of different kinds come to Edward for counsel and consultation, including people and birds. Doyle also pictures Edward as Mr. Pawlowsky’s apprentice as he carries tool boxes, hammers, and planks.

Edward and the narrator become close companions a few days after he moves to his apartment in Chicago. Doyle reveals that “he showed me around with pleasure” (88). The narrator tells that his decision to review the apartment thoroughly fascinates Edward since the apartment manager did not do this often. The narrator describes how he explores the basement with Edward and asks him about the chassis of a parked car. Edward tells him that it belongs to an Armenian librettist.

Based on this analysis, Edward exhibits the following main qualities. Firstly, Edward is subtle and gracious. Secondly, Edward is wise. Although silent, Edward has silent wisdom and integrity, as evidenced by his capacity to provide counsel and consultation. Edward also reads Lincoln’s speeches and writings and participates in regular learned conversations (Doyle 180). Thirdly, Edward is adventurous and a good travel guide based on his capacity to take readers through adventures across the city.

Question 3

During this period, basketball and baseball are intertwined and part of the American culture, and that is why the narrator loves these games so much. Basketball is the narrator’s best sport since he moves to Chicago with his basketball and the duffel bag. Similarly, White Sox has the best baseball outfield during this period. Concerning basketball, the narrator enjoys the sport since he even dribbles his ball while jogging along the lakefront for miles. The narrator is also fascinated by the size of basketball players to the extent that he lies about his height when registering as a voter in Chicago. During this procedure, the narrator claims, “to be six feet six inches tall when the rude woman registering new voters never bothered to look up from the mounds of papers” (Doyle 215). Additionally, the narrator also loves basketball since it is an interactive sport that enables him to meet different people. For instance, the narrator interacts with the Latin Eagles and the Latin Kings, two gangs separated by a borderline, where the pitted basketball court was located. Since this court was in a school compound, it was a neutral ground for the gangs. Hence, the narrator reveals that he tried to play in this court ever afternoon.

The narrators in Chicago enables him to experience the 1979 baseball season. Baseball does not only attract the narrator, but it also intrigues all characters, including Edward. During this season, the White Sox experience rising and falling fortunes. Thus, the narrator is transfixed by his passion for the game as Sox struggle to win the pennant. Added to the basketball addiction, the preoccupation with baseball offers a unique backdrop that outlines the narrator’s life.

Question 4

Chicago is a celebration of youth as it explores the life of a 22-year old young adult and his 15-month stay in Chicago. Like other youths, the narrator seeks to explore the new city and learn about the new culture, experiences, and understanding of why Chicago is an outstanding city. Many youths would be fascinated by Chicago’s beauty, particularly the vast lake, the trains, broad walkways, music, and street art. Besides, many youths who graduate college focus on gaining different experiences in different cities as they seek a livelihood and a new home. While on this expedition, the narrator meets Edward, a wise, intelligent, and gracious being. The narrator does not perceive Edward as a dog but an equal based on the latter’s intellectual capacity. Many youths tend to develop bonds with the things they love, such as pets and sports. Hence, the bond between the narrator and Edward is similar to that of the narrator and basketball and baseball.

Chicago is also a celebration of community and fellowship. Many readers would expect the narrator’s experience with the gangs to be violent. Although a school separates the gangs, they both share the basketball court, which they consider as a neutral ground for playing basketball and other interactive activities. Thus, the novel brings a sense of community. Furthermore, fellowship is also evident in the novel, as evidenced by Mr. Pawlowsky’s hospitality and Edwards’s companionship.

Lastly, the novel is also a celebration of faith, particularly spirituality, as evidenced by the bus driver’s depiction of God. He driver purports that “God is no human being, total respect to the Jesus people.” The driver states this as he narrates how God saved him during the war. The novel also depicts secular faith through gang activities, crime, and secular music like Jazz, among other elements.

Work Cited

Doyle, Brian. Chicago. New York: Saint Martin’s Press.