Critical Response to Coates

                        Matt Carroll

Critical Response to Lawrence Coat’s The Master of Monterey

           

I thought the quote that summed up this novel was “-Sir, the only tune we know how to play is ‘Yankee Doodle.’ ” (P.258). This story is both a fictional account on history as well as a tragedy.

            The greatest literary tool used by Coats was his use of irony. There are a few major events that reflect this. The first, and Coats discussed this at his reading, was of how the Louisa Darling had an effect on both Hannibal and the Commodore. This is ironic because Hannibal was impacted by the slave ship Louisa Darling, and the Commodore was impacted by the actual woman named Louisa Darling. Other major themes are how Coats uses a person’s habits, or body, as a symbol for their actions. Hannibal is described as a large and obese person who always has a hunger. The hunger can be a metaphor for the same drive and passion he has of trying to get his story told, and the story of his family remembered. Another example of this is the question mark shape of the Commodore. Throughout the story he is always questioning and wondering what it would have been like to be with Louisa Darling. He questions his legacy.

            Coates is brilliant in his writing because he created a story that was both humorous and tragic. “. . . to celebrate the peaceful outcome of the conquest of Monterey, which had ended without a single casualty. . .” (257). Throughout the story the Commodore believes he is bringing long lasting peace to the people and democracy. An example of this is when he saved a boy from being lashed with a leather belt. The boy, at the end of the story, runs up to explain to the Commodore that he was lashed and still hasn’t been paid, and this is followed by the Commodore that he no longer has jurisdiction because it was not America. This is tragic because the Commodore’s life, the meaning he put behind the conquest and his legacy, was all false. He had a distant memory of a woman who left him for his brother, he thought he was doing good for the Mexican people when his conquest was on false pretenses, and his legacy was ruined.

            Another great tool used by Coates was symbolism. The use of the word memory was played very well both for Hannibal’s name and actual memory. He used it as an interesting play on words throughout the novel. Also, the reoccurring use of a bull in Arcadia’s life and her love story with Rafael Rafael. Coates also did a great job of putting things in the story that came back into play later on. An example of this was the snake tattoo on a mysterious man’s wrist as well as the bull.

            I learned a lot of things that I can use in my own writing. The first thing is that everything must have a purpose in your story. If there’s a mysterious character in the first act of a story you have to somehow tie him into the third act. Coates also has an extensive knowledge of ships (His time spent in the Coast Guard was probably beneficial) much like Robert Dahl showed in his story “Taste,” with his knowledge of wine. This indicates to me that a writer shouldn’t fear going into detail about the things he knows. Go with your strengths, and if you are not strong on a topic— research it. That was something Coates said at his meeting with us as well. Also, the use of irony, humor, foreshadowing, and symbols can be a great tool to tie things in the first part of your story (or the first act) with the end of your story (or the final act).