Joana's Journey
Before Joana asserts that she is the creator of her own circumstances, she needs, first, to dispel her fears. In the opening lines of ‘The Journey’, the narrator exhibits Joana’s state of mind. The narrator discloses that Joana is leaving behind a reality that is solid and has well-formed shapes to situate herself, instead, in a more liquid reality (187). The narrator uses the element of ‘water’ in symbolic terms to denote a shapeless and formless nature. Being water the element that sustains life on earth, Joana, by the act of sinking into the liquid, she is, symbolically speaking, going back to the source of life. Joana is also exponentially turning away from the culturally constructed self-imposed on her, in her childhood, to her genuine
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inner being. The narrator further compares freedom and constraint by using the literary simile in the sentence ‘words are pebbles rolling on the river’. While ‘water’ is an element that can easily slip through any surface, pebbles, on the other hand, are usually small, heavy and immovable. The fact that the narrator accentuates the immovable nature of words by making a direct link with rocks denotes that words are limited to express Joana’s true nature. What is more, Joana, in order to be authentic and true to herself, has to leave behind the limitations of language. Clarice Lispector affirms that ‘reality is the raw material, language is the way I go in search of it – and the way I do not find it’ (Kofman 32). Hence, words are the stones blocking Joana’s path for self-realization because she knows that words cannot define her essence (12). Now, if life has a formless nature, and if water somewhat emulates life. Joana concludes that she needs to let go of language limitations. It is only by immersing herself in this liquid texture on which there is no time, space and social limitations that she can begin establishing a close connection with her genuine inner self. This is all implied, in symbolic terms, by the phrase’ everything dissolved’ (188). It is by dissolving herself and everything that has been imposed on her mind since her childhood that Joana will become the creator of her own life. Thus, Joana, by reconnecting with herself, illustrates Sartre’s idea that man has to rediscover himself (53) to lead their lives on their own terms.
Nevertheless, the narrator establishes an atmosphere of uncertainty by establishing that Joana does not have any way of knowing if she is going to continue; to be reborn, or to be stuck (189).
After her marriage to Otavio, Joana feels that she has lost her identity. She is, moreover, affected by feelings of sadness and melancholy (190). These feelings overwhelm her despite the fact that she has made the decision to go, rather than run away (189). The narrator emphasizes that Joana holds no hopes, no expectations. To a certain extent the new path that Joana has chosen mingles with the symbolic use of ‘water’ discussed earlier because river waters flowing into the ocean become one with its depth and vastness. Even if Joana is uncertain about what her future holds, she is, nevertheless, becoming one with the uncertainty that her decision entails like the river waters mingle with the sea waters. In other words, Joana is taking action when she feels uncertain. There exists, however, one last constraint blocking her new path. It is her belief system. Joana at this point in the episode still relies on the biblical God to be her shelter. So, she makes a plea to God in the hope that God provides her with what she needs and she does not know what that is (191). In Being and Nothingness, Sartre defines ‘bad faith’ the act of hiding the truth from ourselves (49). Herein, it is suggested that Joana is misplacing her accountability. The more importance Joana gives to God, the more powerless she becomes. This is observed when Joana, by latching on to God for guidance, she is overcoming fear and pain. Further in the narrative, Joana recites ‘take me in like a dog’, Joana forgets that she is special, that she does not need a man-made god that demands her to be a passive being that prays, rather than take action in life. Joana is deceiving herself. This scene is not only a turning point in the story, but it is one of the most intriguing moments for the reader. The reader is
attentive to what Joana’s reaction might be as well as what her thoughts might resolve to do for her own sake. ‘Uncertainty’ becomes the direct link between reader and character. It also becomes the cornerstone in Joana’s process of regaining self-respect and to become the ruler of her life.
inner being. The narrator further compares freedom and constraint by using the literary simile in the sentence ‘words are pebbles rolling on the river’. While ‘water’ is an element that can easily slip through any surface, pebbles, on the other hand, are usually small, heavy and immovable. The fact that the narrator accentuates the immovable nature of words by making a direct link with rocks denotes that words are limited to express Joana’s true nature. What is more, Joana, in order to be authentic and true to herself, has to leave behind the limitations of language. Clarice Lispector affirms that ‘reality is the raw material, language is the way I go in search of it – and the way I do not find it’ (Kofman 32). Hence, words are the stones blocking Joana’s path for self-realization because she knows that words cannot define her essence (12). Now, if life has a formless nature, and if water somewhat emulates life. Joana concludes that she needs to let go of language limitations. It is only by immersing herself in this liquid texture on which there is no time, space and social limitations that she can begin establishing a close connection with her genuine inner self. This is all implied, in symbolic terms, by the phrase’ everything dissolved’ (188). It is by dissolving herself and everything that has been imposed on her mind since her childhood that Joana will become the creator of her own life. Thus, Joana, by reconnecting with herself, illustrates Sartre’s idea that man has to rediscover himself (53) to lead their lives on their own terms.
Nevertheless, the narrator establishes an atmosphere of uncertainty by establishing that Joana does not have any way of knowing if she is going to continue; to be reborn, or to be stuck (189).
After her marriage to Otavio, Joana feels that she has lost her identity. She is, moreover, affected by feelings of sadness and melancholy (190). These feelings overwhelm her despite the fact that she has made the decision to go, rather than run away (189). The narrator emphasizes that Joana holds no hopes, no expectations. To a certain extent the new path that Joana has chosen mingles with the symbolic use of ‘water’ discussed earlier because river waters flowing into the ocean become one with its depth and vastness. Even if Joana is uncertain about what her future holds, she is, nevertheless, becoming one with the uncertainty that her decision entails like the river waters mingle with the sea waters. In other words, Joana is taking action when she feels uncertain. There exists, however, one last constraint blocking her new path. It is her belief system. Joana at this point in the episode still relies on the biblical God to be her shelter. So, she makes a plea to God in the hope that God provides her with what she needs and she does not know what that is (191). In Being and Nothingness, Sartre defines ‘bad faith’ the act of hiding the truth from ourselves (49). Herein, it is suggested that Joana is misplacing her accountability. The more importance Joana gives to God, the more powerless she becomes. This is observed when Joana, by latching on to God for guidance, she is overcoming fear and pain. Further in the narrative, Joana recites ‘take me in like a dog’, Joana forgets that she is special, that she does not need a man-made god that demands her to be a passive being that prays, rather than take action in life. Joana is deceiving herself. This scene is not only a turning point in the story, but it is one of the most intriguing moments for the reader. The reader is
attentive to what Joana’s reaction might be as well as what her thoughts might resolve to do for her own sake. ‘Uncertainty’ becomes the direct link between reader and character. It also becomes the cornerstone in Joana’s process of regaining self-respect and to become the ruler of her life.