Incomplete...still working on pulling the themes and motifs out of my notes in the margins (yeah, I know...sin of sins! I write in my books), and I'm not quite done putting together what I found symbolic and such. But it's something to consider. Oh, and spoiler alert. I'm analyzing this, so I'm going over a lot of important plot points, so if you haven't read it and don't want me to ruin it...don't read any further. Not so much major plot points in this entry, but there will be in the future.

Questions that came up

1.What was Shadow in prison for? (We find out that later in the chapter that it was for aggravated assault and battery, although we don't know why he did it yet.)

2.Why did he feel relief in prison? (He had nowhere to go but up. He'd already been brought down as far as he could go...or so he thought)

3. Recitivism/reoffending after release from prison: Who do we blame? Was the criminal properly prepared for return to society? (Feel free to respond)

4. Why doesn't the lady at the ticket counter ask for his information?

5. Why does the white-suited man care so much about Shadow's presence? (We find out that Mr. Wednesday, as he's known, was waiting for Shadow. We don't know how he knew yet that Shadow would be there--especially given the continually changing plans--but somehow he [Mr. Wednesday] did and wanted/needed to offer Shadow a job)

6.What time of year is this?

7.When does the hooker scene take place in relation to Shadow's story? Does the change in tense have any significance?

Connections

-"It did not matter, Shadow decided, if you had done what you had been convicted of or not." (Gaiman 3) Connected this to Albert Camus, existentialist extraordinaire, and The Stranger. Similar views. Sort of the chaos theory thing going on.

-"Sam Fetisher was one of the blackest men that Shadow had ever seen. He might have been sixty...Then again, Shadow had met thirty-year-old crackheads who looked older than Sam Fetisher." (Gaiman 10) I'm picturing Michael Clarke Duncan of "Armageddon" and "The Green Mile".

-"'Where am I?' Shadow asked...'In the earth and under the earth,' said the buffalo man. 'You are where the forgotten wait...If you are to survive, you must believe.'" (Gaiman 18) Connected this to Plato's cave analogy. Shadow is being educated of the existence of something/someone(s) who have been forgotten or unknown. Similar to the idea of crawling out of the cave. Although the locations seem to be reversed as to which is the place of enlightenment and which is that of ignorance.

-"The world tipped and supon, and Shadow was on the plane once more...The plane shook and shuddered, and Shadow wondered, coldly and idly, if he was going to die." (Gaiman 18-19) Reminded me of the plane episode of "Supernatural." Mostly just the visual I get imagining the tipping plane.

-"Although given the weather, it might as well be Thursday, eh?" (Gaiman 24) A reference to Norse mythology? Thursday comes from Thor's Day, and Thor was the god of thunder. Since the weather's stormy, I think the connection fits.

-"...gives the illusion of motion to the faceless statue beside it, all hips and breasts." (Gaiman 28) A statue similar to the fertility statues of the ancient world? Particularly coming to mind is the Venus of Willendorf.

-Finally, the entire hooker/goddess scene seems to be an allusion to myths of The Great Mother, stories of female power and strength, fertility rites/ceremonies, and the old Matriarchy system. (Gaiman 27-31)

More to come on this chapter when I've more time to rip it apart. Lemme know what you think. If you're really awesome, read the book along with me and spout your own theories. I think we get more out of reading when we discuss what we're reading with people who are reading what we're reading. Or even something similar.

Oh, p.s. on a completely unrelated note: I'm getting my hair cut today. I'm psyched. It's been months. Time for some style to be reapplied.