🌹The Rose & Skull ☠️
Response 3A
Topc. ❧ Examine a specific instance of contrast in Chapter 2. This contrast can be of any sort — in settings, colours, images, places, or ideas; levels of wealth, status, or power; between skepticism and political idealism; between personalities, cultures, or nationalities; between idealism and reality, expectation and outcome, symbol and reality; etc. Make sure that you don’t just point out the contrast, but also explain why this contrast provides insight into what the author is suggesting or exploring.
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There is clear contrast with the use of imagery when the President is described to Hamilton. The President is described wearing “dove grey..black velveteen pitji cap, the badge of nationalism.” This gives an image of importance. A powerful man in a powerful position, who address Hamilton with intent and knowledge. Hamilton on the other hand is described as “towering over the President but looked like an overgrown schoolboy.” Hamilton is unsure of himself and lacks confidence when approached by the President. There is a clear difference in social status here. A man of great statue and a man who reports the news.
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Two Sides of the Page. Chapter 2 of The Year of Living Dangerously introduces the contrasting open and closed sides of Billy’s character that lead to his downfall. Billy’s loyalty, interest in the human condition and ability to form relationships conflict with his unyielding expectations of friends and heroes. The two sides of his personality come to life on the two sides of the note that Hamilton pulls from his pocket. One side is a Chinese poem that seeks to open an enduring friendship: the other, a severe warning that will later close the book. This dynamic parallels the unfolding of his disenchantment with Sukarno.
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Broken Dolls. Chapter 2 of “The Year of Living Dangerously” utilizes the contrast between Kwan and Hamilton’s body language when they are having a conversation on the porch. Kwan is shown as very casual here, compared to a broken doll whereas Hamilton is described as being tense, and uptight in this moment. The contrast of their body language gives the reader insight into how Hamilton feels in his appointed position and the level of discomfort and mistrust he feels even among allies. This is further solidified with his constant assessment of whether or not he is being mocked by Kwan.
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Strategic Smiling. The author uses contrasting smiles to portray chess-like interactions between characters in the first section of chapter two. The first mention of smiling being the "knowing smiles" surrounding the president as a result of his classic first move: quoting the caterpillar. Hamilton spots this play and is unsurprised. The next smile is different. The president's "celebrated smile". Another known strategy, but Hamilton dissects the move calling it a "sea urchin's smile" a tool in the president's arsenal. The third contrast to the smiles comes in the mentioned absence of the presidents, when Wally smiles "coyly" knowing his move restricts Sukano.
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Hiding Behind a Smile. Koch uses contrasting images of Sukarno’s “controlled rage” and “celebrated smile” to show his duality and political untrustworthiness. By representing the duality of Sukarno, the reader learns quickly that he is “appealing”, “unpredictable” and neglects the people's needs, choosing instead to boost his reputation as a leader. This description foreshadows the people's love of Sukarno turning to violence, his smile a representation of the veil of civility and charm cast over the country but lurking just beneath he is “chronically ill” and will lose control before the book ends.
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Power and level of wealth of the president of Indonesia are examples of the specific instances of contrast found in Chapter 2. This is significant because the president is tired of hearing others from around the world call the citizens of Indonesia ‘coolies’ (unskilled native laborers) because of how poor and undeveloped the city of Jakarta is. Therefore, the president is spending a lot of money to make New Jakarta look like Paris, so that people will start respecting the citizens of Indonesia, thus why he stated that Jakarta will become “a city of light to inspire struggling humanity” (39, Koch)
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5’2 with Attitude. Hamilton and the President have a significant height difference. Usually, the taller person would be viewed as more powerful, but although Hamilton is “towering speechlessy over the stocky little President” he resembles “an overgrown schoolboy being dressed down by the headmaster”. This contrast explores an ironic power imbalance. Despite the President being shorter, he naturally exudes confidence, whereas Hamilton lacks the same vigor.
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Power. For the chapter 2 we see the impact of one’s status on others. For instance, President Sukarno despite of being 63 years old , attracts women towards him. On the other side we see the narrator of the novel being younger and more masculine than the President has not mentioned of females being attracted to him in any way. Such is the influence of power of Sukarno, that Hamilton was speechless in front of him although he was saying sarcastically about his country. Hamilton who was much more well dressed, looks more diplomatic was not able to gather courage to give him answer in response to his sarcastic behavior. This shows the difference between the power and the status of a common man and The President.
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The contrast between Guy Hamilton’s and President Sukarno’s personalities as they speak to one another in the palace room reception may have been a device used by the author to foreshadow Hamilton’s betrayal of both Jill and Billy. This is seen as Guy, despite being physically bigger and possibly even more attractive, fears Sukarno, seeing as he, “looked like an overgrown schoolboy being dressed down by the headmaster…”, while Sukarno remains confident, sizing up Hamilton despite his declining “masculine good looks”. Guy displays weakness early on, weakness that he succumbs to which contributes to Billy’s anger and eventual demise.
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Behind the Mask. The new, extravagant monuments being built in Jakarta are contrasted with the broken down essential services, such as the pot-holed roads and sewage filled canals to highlight the Government’s corruption and hypocrisy. The indifference to the suffering of the poor villagers is exemplified by the actions of Sukarno, who uses “borrowed millions … to construct a mask, while old Batavia’s arteries hardened and its vital organs ceased to function” (p. 26). The government claims to have the best of intentions for its impoverished population yet they starve and must watch as Sukarno puts on a puppet show to demonstrate to the world his growing status.
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The Mask of Jakarta. The locations represent ideals of building a utopia over a war-torn country. This contrast in the novel is demonstrated when Sukarno’s character is described as Clark Gable type, who has a celebrated smile. His mask comes off when his smile fades, and he is likened to a dictator-like politician. Jakarta is compared to “Paris, a city of light to inspire struggling humanity”, the author uses locations in contrast to the reality of the harshness of poverty. Jakarta is described as a human body, and Sukarno is constructing a mask to cover the poverty, but the city’s organs have failed.
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Invasion Of Privacy. In chapter two of The Year Of Living Dangerously, it is mentioned (on page 27) that during “The Calling Hour,” The Javanese must traditionally receive with courtesy any unexpected visitor to their homes. Journalists take advantage of “The Calling Hour”, trying to get stories from politicians and officials. However, when Billy sneaks into Guy’s office (on page 29), he is very nervous and seems frustrated that he has an unexpected visitor. Guy also begins questioning how he was able to get in, explaining that he locked the door. Christopher J. Koch displays the unnoticeable hypocrisy in journalists. Interviewers and journalists tend to be ecstatic when invading the privacy of others, they do it with no shame and use “work” as a valid excuse; but, when the tables turn, they become very defensive and annoyed, showing the irony in what some journalists do on a daily basis.
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The two brothers. The author has represented the relationship of Guy and Billy as more like a personal relationship which is complex. More than just a professional relation, Billy and Guy had a real friendship. Billy is a caring, emotional, and intelligent person who has his own opinions on all matters. Billy is a confident person. On the other hand, Guy is represented as a cool and easy-going person who is not as soft-hearted as Billy. The author is trying to convey that both are equally important and incomplete without each other. The conversations between them are a major part of the storyline.
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Power of status. President Sukarno does not hesitate to ask Hamilton questions that put him on the spot and Hamilton answers nervously and intends to please Sukarno. The Sukarno reveals its tacit power through the action of staring Hamilton up and down. According to these behaviours, a contrast of the levels of status between President Sukarno and Journalist Hamilton. The author reflects the autocratic period in Indonesia in which Sukarno was established and his strong personality. We can understand the historical background of the story easily through this contrast.
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King of the Castle, or just another puppet? In chapter two of The year of living dangerously, we are introduced to Sukarno and his ruling demeanor. He addresses Hamilton, puffing his chest in authority when he first lays eyes on him “You…Who are you?” As Hamilton’s anxiety increases we see that Sukarno is testing him. Sukarno tests him again by asking Hamilton about his views of Jakarta. It is like Sukarno is assessing Hamilton for his readiness and ability to be one of the puppets in his wayang kulit. What Sukarno doesn’t know is that he himself will soon be a puppet in a much larger play.
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In the instances where Hamilton reevaluates his decision to be a journalist in Jakarta, the contrast of idealism and realityplus expectation and outcome are divulged. Hamilton idealism was to be an international journalist. Still, the reality was that it was pretty difficult and also, his idea of interviewing Sukarno backfires and prompted him to interview Aidit, the head of PKI. This contrast provides insight into the political intrigue of Sukarno’s era and the politician’s fall in the country, instigated by Hamilton’s interview with Aidit. Therefore, Koch depiction of this contrast through Hamilton shows us the significant role that the Australian journalist plays in the politics of this foreign country.
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In chapter 2 of Koch's "The Year of Living Dangerously," there is a contrast between the ages of Hamilton and Kwan. Kwan is wise, and this reflects his old age, whereas Hamilton is young and eager. Kwan knows how reporting works in Jakarta and what will sell, given his experience. In contrast, Hamilton is fresh and still learning how everything works in Jakarta. Koch needs to have this contrast as Kwan is mentoring Hamilton, and it creates an exciting dynamic as Kwan is vital for providing information in the story.
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All For Symbolic Gestures. Sukarno’s speech and presence at the palace reception room reveals the contrast between his rhetoric and reality. Although he holds a press conference in a luxurious palace with “chandeliers and gilt chairs,” the capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta, is described to have poor infrastructure, with “canals that have become sewers” and roads that are pot-holed. Sukarno proudly claims that he spends millions on buildings and monuments but he is ignorant of the poor living conditions of the people he governs. Sukarno wearing a “pitji cap, the badge of nationalism,” also shows that he puts more importance in symbolic gestures than taking concrete actions.
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In chapter 2 of the year of living dangerously, an ideology that I notice is when the president (I think) is talking about his new Jakarta. He starts to compare his new Jakarta to Paris “a city of light to inspire struggling humanity”. This contrasts the whole image of the story as its based in an area of war and political conflict. How can an area with such issues be as beautiful as Paris? He’s trying to build something that cannot happen until the internal damages are dealt with and have fully recovered. He’s trying to do a 400-meter sprint with one leg and blindfolds on. Yes, it can happen, but you need to prep and work with what you have.
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Scandinavian Cold. Air-conditioning unit played a contrasting symbolism between the domestic climate of Indonesia, and one of the engineered and non-native environments introduced by the Europeans. As Hamilton stepped into his hotel, he “gratefully [inhaled] the first chill wave of air-conditioning]. This atmosphere coincided with the relief of his troubled start in Jakarta, upon his newfound partnership with Billy Kwan. This also is a reference back to chapter one, when Billy Kwan said “air-conditioning’s a bloody necessity, not a luxury”. This is also a reflection of the difference in the standard of living between the foreigners and the locals, who lacks the necessity to live such as clean water.
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A noticeable contrast in chapter 2 of Years Living Dangerously would be how Sukarno’s outwardly appearance and reputation contrast with his social demeanor, and his diplomacy. In the example of how at the beginning of the chapter “President Sukarno pointed his swagger-stick at Hamilton. ‘You,’ he said, ‘Who are you?’”(61) and later on it is said that Sukarno “on his head, as always, was the black velveteen pitji cap, the badge of nationalism.”(62). This comes together with how “Wally O’Sullivan claimed the Bung did not remove it even during his celebrated love bouts…”(62) to physically show and assume how the President is a very serious man who does not take things very lightly. This, however, is not entirely the case, as after he intimated Hamilton, ‘his face broke into a celebrated smile…part of the equipment that had made him so appealing to women, and could even win over people who detested him.”(63-64). This shows how a difference in description of the same man in the same moment can alter the perspective by which the audiences perceives him.
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In chapter 2 of, The Year of Living Dangerously Christopher Koch illustrates a contrast between Guy Hamilton and President Sukarno. Hamilton is described as dressed in a “perfect suit” and “towering” over the President. These attributes of being well-dressed and “towering” might give readers the illusion of power, later, in contrast, readers are reminded of Hamilton’s near inability to speak in the President’s presence as he is “flushed” and “simply didn’t know what to say”. This seemingly powerful stance of “towering over the stocky little President” contrasted with Hamilton’s wavering confidence explores a juxtaposition of physical and non-physical characteristics.
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Wealthy Delusions. The contrast between unbiased journalists and President Sukarno’s lavish lifestyle is striking. In the beginning of this chapter, we are introduced to the palace’s luxurious press-room. The President questions Hamilton about his home-country’s allegiance to Malaysia, and brags about the wealth that he spends on Jakarta. However, all of the journalists must be aware that the city is falling apart; public transport no longer runs, and the roads are nearly undrivable. These reporters not only witness the President’s lush lifestyle in his palace, but also his delusional thinking -- a contrast of normalcy vs. wealth, as well as normalcy vs. delusion.
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