Shreve's Points for the Heck of It

So, we have an in class essay today.  And, I needed to get up super early this morning to study for it.  Yeah.  My guess was it was either going to be on how the South needed a change, or a description/analysis of a minor character.  Well, I already know why the South needed a change.  But, I really want an adequate description of a minor character in case Mrs. Oles lets us use our blogs on the in-class essay (not likely, but possible you never know she could be in a great mood.)  So, I decided to write my minor character essay on Shreve Mackenzie because yeah he's a pretty awesome guy.  So, here are Shreve's points (well, kinda, this is more an analysis on Shreve so I could write a decent essay)


Shreve's 14 Points

• Shreve is Canadian—puts him off social map allowing him to laugh at Quentin and others—normalcy in Quentin’s crazy world
• Not a good looking man: “pumpkin faced” “pink cheeked” and “bespectacled” but has a great personality
• Looks out for Quentin and makes sure he doesn’t get sucked up into southern society by Mrs. Bland
• Shreve ridicules Mrs. Bland and doesn’t care what others think of him
• Quentin worries Mrs. Bland is going to be mad if he leaves her party, Shreve says, “Hell with them…Tell her her opinion expired at sunset” (Faulkner 63)
• Faulkner needed an outsider to get a perspective on the north/south thing, or else it would just seem so lame and boring
• Impossible to untangle 1 country fighting for 2 different cultures—well Shreve man, he would just laugh it off
• Quentin is framed as a feminine man who points out fellow relationship with Shreve Mackenzie
• Teases he is Quentin’s “husband” (Faulkner 50)
• Gerald Bland’s mother calls Shreve “a fat Canadian” and Shreve laughs it off
• Quentin notes “Shreve’s fat hand touched my knee” (Faulkner 93) Must be merely accidental considering they are in a bouncing carriage
• Quentin moves his hand away from Shreve’s knee then says again, “His hand touched my knee again.  I moved my knee again.”
• Shows possibility Shreve’s actions not accidental and show a homosexual relationship (homosexual “husbands”.)
• Shows desire for new South—homosexuality wouldn’t have been acceptable in the old south or new south really, but a while down the road this does come into play

Dear Readers,
            You are either going to hate or love this essay.  I make a lot of assumptions because Shreve isn't a well described character.  But, I really want to understand him because he is a really interesting and fun character.  So, I hope you like it and maybe have a different and new insight about a very minor character who actually plays an important role in the book.