The Madness Within Ourselves

The symbolism of the aphorism of Eeyore's lack of vision, signifies his lack of control of his life, being manipulated by his father. The allegorical meaning of the fat man "outfitting" his son, expresses the aphorism of the father's intent to be the higher power as he tries to dominate his madness and his son (Oe 196). Oe intentionally "preferred...them to be... nearly alike" to state that both are trapped in their own madness, making them feel united by such forces, but are truly being divided as individuals (Oe 196). To do an unselfish deed for someone is to do for someone else's "sake", and the irony of the father enduring this belief is to satisfy his guilt of hypocrisy, which he takes out on his son (196). The metaphor of the father serving Eeyore "with his own eyes and ears for antennae" is ironic because Eeyore has no say in his life, and the father needs his "own eyes and ears" to escape his state of mind instead of guiding anothers' (196). The irony of the oxymoron of Eeyore's "satisfaction so pure and dominant" symbolizes his innocence of being trapped in a madness he doesn't understand, and feeling happy and safe by his father who is "dominant" and selfish; not caring for his joy (197). The imagery of "their clasped hands" exposes their unity and understanding of overcoming reality, but creates unhealthy barrier that Eeyore can keep his hand "clasped" forever, never making it out on his own and leaving his father's shadow (197). The father needs to let go of his madness first, so he can free his son of his own, creating unity at last.

In Oe's, Teach Us To Outgrow Our Madness, ironic paradox of the father's desires to achieve a uniform personality between he and his son, conveys the father's struggle of his madness, depriving them both of individual existence and unity.

The ambiguity