How Fishy...

We've been discussing the power of fiction all throughout this course. We've seen evidence of Carey, Brockden Brown and Twain's suggest of the power of fiction in their novels. I don't know if it's just a coincidence, or if Kelly lined up the novels like this on purpose, but Gould's Book of Fish seems to make the strongest case in suggesting the power of fiction thus far.

First of all, the structure of the novel itself shows us the effect that fiction can have. By having Sid Hammet rewrite a book he finds in the first person, Flanagan seems to be telling us that readers will come up with their own interpretations of the novel (partially because it is so confusing). This shows us that the power of fiction works subconsciously, through the way we interpret things.

On page 58, where Gould is talking about rearranging 26 letters to form an entire novel, Flanagan shows the reader that by deriving meaning from 26 meaningless letters, fiction has the power to influence lives.

On page 32, when Hammet says " that for me alone William Buelow Gould was born; that he made his life for me", Flanagan, again, seems to be commenting on the power of fiction. This passage shows us how a work of fiction can come alive for the reader, and just how involved the reader can become. Again, the power of fiction is referenced on page 87, when Gould describes the effects of a good storyteller: Capois Death.

Not only does Flanagan comment on the power of fiction in literature, but he also seems to be commenting on the power of fiction in art. On page 92, Gould says " I hope you will come to see reflected in my translucent watercolours no patches of the white cartridge paper beneath, but the very opacity of the souls themselves. This shows the power of a work of art to tell a story and engage with its viewer.