The Natural

1
The Natural

• Pages 20-35

2
Roys Bassoon Case

• Holds Roys Bat
• Named Wonderboy
• Symbolism?
• BatSword?

3
Roy Versus The Whammer

• Pages 21-24
• Roy strikes out The Whammer on three pitches

4
The End of the Whammer

• and though he willed to destroy the sound he
  heard a gong bong and realized with sadness that
  the ball he had expected to hit had long since
  been part of the past and though Max could not
  cough the fatal word out of his throat, the
  Whammer understood he was, in the truest sense of
  it, outDropping the bat, he trotted off to the
  train, an old man (24)

5
The End of the Whammer

• The Whammers time is over
• He has been replaced by Roy
• Replaced by a better ballplayer
• Replaced by someone younger
• The Whammer is now an old man

6
Roy and Harriet Bird

• Harriet Bird (certainly a snappy goddess) had
  her gaze fastened on him. (25)
• Once Roy strikes out the Whammer, Harriet becomes
  interested in Roy.
• Yet you defeated him (27)
• She is attracted to the best

7
Roy and Harriet Bird

• Pages 27-28
• What will you hope to accomplish, Roy?
• Sometimes when I walk down the street I bet
  people will say there goes Roy Hobbs, the best
  there ever was in the game.
• She gazed at him with touched and troubled
  eyes. Is that all?
• What more is there?

8
Roy and Harriet Bird

• What is the nature of Roys dreams and desires?
• Selfish
• He wants fame and fortune
• Is this a characteristic of a hero?

9
Roys Mother

• Her eyes were sad. He felt a curious tenderness
  for her, a little as if she might be his mother
  (That bird). (28)
• Compares his mother to a bird.
• Purpose of the repetitive image?

10
The Death of Sam

• Dies as a result of being injured in the contest
  between the Whammer and Roy.
• The contest is violent
• The contest has casualties
• Similar to an epic battle

11
The Real Harriet Bird

• Harriet calls Roy and invites him down to her
  room.
• He had completely forgotten her. (34)
• Meaningless relationship
• Purely physical

12
The Real Harriet Bird

• Points a gun at Roy
• She said sweetly, Roy, will you be the best
  there ever was in the game?
• Thats right. (34)

13
The Real Harriet Bird

• She shoots Roy
• Harriet danced on her toes around the stricken
  hero. (35)
• Roy is portrayed as a defeated hero
• Why does Harriet do this?
• She is the murderer who targets superior athletes
• Why?