A theoretical reading in which a person applies a single theory can cause the reader to search for too much and transform the reading into a bias interpretation. It is obvious when reading The Jungle a person can easily use Marxist theory to discover the true meanings intended by the author, text and even the reader's own preconceived ideas. When one wants to understand a text to the fullest extent, that person must be knowledgeable about the author's biography as well as many other aspects. I therefore believe that a person is not able to fully understand a text completely unless this person has done a lot of prior research to the reading of the novel. If we as students performed all the research necessary to completely comprehend the author's entire message, we may only cover one book a semester.
             I feel the most important part of interpretation is the text by itself. Everything a person needs is there. One can interpret what the author wants us to see and what the author did not intend for us to see whether done consciously or unconsciously. I do not believe only an educated reader can understand The Jungle any better than Joe Blow. I also contradict that statement because it is as easily perceived that a person that can combine psychoanalysis and Marxism can more completely interpret the text and have a lot more fun with poor petty Jurgis. I really wanted to like Jurgis. I gave it my all; but even after page 334 I still cannot bring myself to it.
             I have not decided on the topic of my Marxist theory paper. I would love to do a character analysis of Jurgis, but I did not make those types of notes. I was thinking I would examine the last two chapters and look at the argument between Socialism and Capitalism, but I will then be influenced by reading outside of the text itself which I above stated is the most important aspect of theoretical interpretation. I would also then be forced, because of the boo...