| I'm moving over to blogspot. Godspeed, http://clslit.blogspot.com/ |
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| Do you think that hair dressers are offended if one gets a shampoo, sits down and says, "Please don't give me a she-mullet" ? |
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One last word on Cars: I used the term "tragic hero" in my analysis, and Cars is not a tragedy; it is a redemption story! The hero isn't left in ashes (or rust) with dead bodies (or chasses) littering the stage (or racetrack). McQueen is a new man, so to speak, and we can envision a new, happier life for him beyond the curtain (or horizon). |
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Hubris is the character flaw of Pride- the kind that brings down a tragic hero. Tragic heroes, by definition, are either high born or superior in some way. Let's talk about Cars! Lightening McQueen is clearly a superior race car. We learn that he predicted to be is the first "rookie" to finish first in the Piston Cup. McQueen is quite aware of his superiority. He says "I'm a one man show!" and "It's solo mio!" When he learns that his 3rd pit chief has quit, he says that he does not need anybody. At the peak of his arrogance, McQueen becomes lost in a desert (metaphors are lovely things) and learns the value of humility and relationships. He also learns the fleeting and fragile quality of fame. (He learns that from the curmudgeonly Doc Hudson) So in the desert doing humble labor (repaving a road) McQueen learns some very good lessons. But he must pass a test. He enters another race. As he is coming to the finish line with an easy win, he notices that the old celebrity car who has won many races in the past has run out of gas- or has broken down. McQueen stops just before the finish line and goes back to push the older car over the finish line ahead of himself. He has conquered pride! I still don't get the tow truck.  |
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Come back to this site tomorrow for a complete literary analysis of the Disney animation Cars! |
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