In “Go Carolina” David Sedaris sets the stage of his story as
the aftermath of the commission of a crime: “An agent knocks on the door of
some seemingly ordinary home or office” (3). At first, the reader does not know
what crime has been committed. The “agent” turns out to be a speech therapist
named Samson who was sent to correct Sedaris’ (a fifth grader at the time) speech
impediment: “Did they hope that by eliminating our lisps, they might set us on
a different path, or were they trying to prepare us for future stage and choral
careers” (11). The implication is that if the therapist can correct his speech impairment
she can cure him of his homosexuality: The young Sedaris later ponders a sign
that would indicate what is really going on behind the closed doors of agent Samson’s
speech therapy session. He concludes: “A more appropriate maker would have read
FUTURE HOMOSEXUALS OF AMERICA” (10).
Sedaris’ story reflects the regressive thinking of the conservative
south during his youth, with its draconian belief that homosexuality was a
treatable disease that could be foretold by lisping speech and girly interests.
Unfortunately, that kind of narrow-mindedness persists to this day not only in
the south, but throughout the land.
The introduction of "Go Carolina" is interesting. Agent Sampson is obviously not a real agent, but it is fun to imagine her as an "agent" in a figurative manner. As I think of all the CSI related shows I have watched, I think that Sampson's entrance into the classroom is similar to an agent. I like that Sedaris compares the role of a speech therapist and an agent.
ReplyDeletePersonally, Agent Sampson is dark and cruel. However, this is a different time. No matter how much therapy Sedaris receives it will never change who he is.
This is too true. I had been thinking about Sedaris' use of humor, and I have been wondering if he uses humor to separate himself from the cruelty of his story. It is possible that even at a young age Sedaris realized that the world did not and would not accept him, but as an adult he uses humor to show that this does not matter because he accepts himself.
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