ISP Blog Post #2

When applying Reader Response Theory to The Antagonist, it becomes evident that the personal narration allows for the reader to interpret and apply their individual views and knowledge to the text. Many things that Rank describes enable me to imagine places and people familiar to me, by taking his situations and putting them into my own. It seems as though much of the novel is written almost metaphorically, as if Rank’s statements are made to be anyone’s interpretation of them, they do not have fixed meaning. A lot of the book is about figuring out what his stories mean in a larger picture, which is really up to what the reader believes them to be.

Although many of my personal experiences differ from the main character’s, particularly because of the dissimilarities in our personality and interests, the content is still up for personal interpretation.  In a cultural respect, Rank’s stories describe the dynamics of a small Ontario town, which is extremely relatable and applicable to me as he describes his teen life which reflects my upbringing, also in a small Ontario town. The personal narration through a series of emails allows for the reader to form a personal connection with the characters and setting. This novel also includes the reader’s personal experiences and knowledge that they bring to the table because it centers on the betrayal and the breaking of trust from a friend. This is relevant to all human relationships. Especially for myself in high school, I've definitely been betrayed by someone close to me that has created bitterness towards them. I have become sympathetic and understanding of Rank’s anger about this, and created a personal connection towards the novel in that respect. I also think that Rank’s references to social media and Facebook create a strong reader connection in today’s world. As he describes his experience with social media, i found it be not only intriguing through humour, but extremely relevant. “The kid’s assured me that i could just click ignore and all would be well, and if ignore didn't work then i could block, no worries, no more voices- no more ghosts” (Coady 131). I think anyone in use of social media has experienced this feeling of people you hardly know, or have not know for a long time trying to befriend you on a website. By applying my own transaction through the text, I have found that The Antagonist is very reader oriented, in nature of the writing, and when analyzed from a Reader Response method.