The Man Who Loved a Double Bass
Nia Henry
Professor Louisa Spaventa
ENGL 1302 COMP II
25 July 2013
A fatal infatuation In Angela Carter’s “The Man Who Loved a Double Bass”, a tale is told of an intense relationship between a musician (Johnny Jameson) and his prized loved bass (Lola). Jameson, a very eloquent bass player, is perceived to be mad because of his desire to treat his instrument as his wife. Jameson plays in a band called the West End Syncopators. Lola Jameson’s bass, is his most valuable asset, so much so that it is required for people to treat her as a lady and purchase her a drink. The band’s fate is short lived when they resentfully decide to play at an old run down pub in the middle of nowhere. Although the gig is of high energy, its tenure ends quickly when a brawl breaks out among the crowd. This brawl between two cliques fatally results in the destruction of Lola. Two of the band members, Geoff and Nelson, began to search for the now missing Jameson. Unfortunately in the end Jameson escapes life by hanging himself with the very silk scarf he used to polish Lola. The central idea of Carter’s story that when one is carried away by unreasoned passion or love (infatuation), it can lead to unreasoned action or behavior, resulting in fatality. Jameson’s odd behavior stems from his unnatural belief about an inanimate object. Unfortunately, his obsession results in suicide. Jameson’s erotic behavior displays itself when he polishes Lola. His response to removing the rags from the bass is similar to that of a man removing garments off his lover. “….He would take Lola from her black case, and un-wrap the rags that padded her, with a trembling emotion” (1.) This quote conveys the internal attachment that convicts Jameson when he touches and strokes Lola. Some more of his obsessive behavior conveys itself when he establishes territory over Lola. He does not take well to comic insults about his relationship “Jameson had only ever been known to strike a man once when he had broken
Professor Louisa Spaventa
ENGL 1302 COMP II
25 July 2013
A fatal infatuation In Angela Carter’s “The Man Who Loved a Double Bass”, a tale is told of an intense relationship between a musician (Johnny Jameson) and his prized loved bass (Lola). Jameson, a very eloquent bass player, is perceived to be mad because of his desire to treat his instrument as his wife. Jameson plays in a band called the West End Syncopators. Lola Jameson’s bass, is his most valuable asset, so much so that it is required for people to treat her as a lady and purchase her a drink. The band’s fate is short lived when they resentfully decide to play at an old run down pub in the middle of nowhere. Although the gig is of high energy, its tenure ends quickly when a brawl breaks out among the crowd. This brawl between two cliques fatally results in the destruction of Lola. Two of the band members, Geoff and Nelson, began to search for the now missing Jameson. Unfortunately in the end Jameson escapes life by hanging himself with the very silk scarf he used to polish Lola. The central idea of Carter’s story that when one is carried away by unreasoned passion or love (infatuation), it can lead to unreasoned action or behavior, resulting in fatality. Jameson’s odd behavior stems from his unnatural belief about an inanimate object. Unfortunately, his obsession results in suicide. Jameson’s erotic behavior displays itself when he polishes Lola. His response to removing the rags from the bass is similar to that of a man removing garments off his lover. “….He would take Lola from her black case, and un-wrap the rags that padded her, with a trembling emotion” (1.) This quote conveys the internal attachment that convicts Jameson when he touches and strokes Lola. Some more of his obsessive behavior conveys itself when he establishes territory over Lola. He does not take well to comic insults about his relationship “Jameson had only ever been known to strike a man once when he had broken