Invention of Morel reflections

After reading the first part of this novel, I believe that the author has some subconscious thoughts and feelings that are showing through. On the back of the cover of the novel, it says that tells us that Bioy Casares was inspired by the actress Louise Brooks to write this novel. In the novel he has the main character on an island, stalking a woman with whom he has an infatuation with, and he gets to watch her all the time. I believe that the author wishes that he he in real life could be watching Louise Brooks at all times without her knowing. He hasn't gone to go talk to her yet. Louise Brooks was an actress in silent movies, so maybe the author didn't feel he could put an accurate voice to her character. I am not sure where the author is going with this novel yet. Hints were given during class that there is an invention that will come up some time in the book, and I would assume so based on the title, but I can't imagine what that invention would entail.



Another thing I haven't been able to figure out with the book is the time period. I have no idea, some hints were given as to when like people first came to this island but I have no idea when the main character is living. I'm not sure if I just missed that part or what but its confusing me. and also how he makes references like hes from Venezuela but then he talks about being in Italy? where he is from is throwing me for a loop!



I'm also not sure as to why the author has made the narrator sick this entire time on the island. He talks about being sick from the beginning to when he got on the island, and he hasn't been able to get better through all of it. If hes being miserable and starving to death on this island why doesn't he just go back and take his punishment? I know freedom is something that no one would want to give up, but I think if i were in his position, and i reflected on my life at that moment, I would choose a death penalty or jail time, over living your last years in sickness and starvation. and in isolation. I believe that if you lived for as long as he has in isolation, you would become insane. A good example which is my basis for argument is the movie "Cast Away" with Tom Hanks, how this volleyball 'Wilson' soon becomes his best friend. The scene where Wilson gets lost to sea is made to be very dramatic. Tom Hanks actually believed that he had a friend in Wilson who helped him through this time on the island. If the narrator doesn't have anyone to talk to he will start to really miss and crave that human contact.


Another thing that was really weird to me which the narrator commented on also is why the one of the two buildings on the island is called a 'museum.' I cant imagine the people who built this museum was planning to have this remote island visited by vacationing families and historians to go visit the museum. The fact that this museum happens to have a vast bomb shelter is very strange too. From the sketch in the book, this island appears very very small, and if one bomb were to be dropped on it, I feel like it would wipe out the whole island anyways.


The picture on the cover of this book does not fit with the book what-so-ever. The phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" has real meaning for this book. I would have suggested an island scene on the front cover, or an illustrated picture of a starving sick man. Not a beautiful actress surrounded by books. I understand that that was the reason the author wrote this book, but I think a book dedication would have been enough.



I'm not sure why the main character doesnt try to interact with the people already on the island. From the way he is describing them, it doesnt seem like they are native people who would sacrifice him and burn him over a fire the second they see him. Unless there is the language barrier which he hasn't touched on, then I think it would be much better for his lifestyle if her were to go and get help from that group. I feel like if he were to get caught stalking that woman he would get into more trouble then if he approached one of the men that lives there. I mean how much does he have to loose? Hes very sick, hes a convict, hes alone, and hes hes starving. If i were him i would take every chance i got to try and get any help i could. Either that or i would be in the process of building a big raft to get off of the island. It doesnt seem like its something that's working out too well for him at this point of the novel. I guess we have a big invention coming though so we will see what happens next!!