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The "Idea of North" is a remarkable notion for each of Glenn's personalities in the play. He is fascinated with the concept and visualization of solitude and utter freedom, yet he cannot fully grasp the thought of actually experiencing it for himself. It is an idea that eventually drives him to insanity, examples of this are how even in normal weather Gould's attire consisted of a peacoat and gloves. This sensitivity to the slightest chill or breeze inflicts a sort of mental pain into Gould's complex mind but at the same time it captivates him. This sensitivity to the cold ultimately drove Gould into seclusion from society and to utter insanity. Between 1967 and 1977, Glenn Gould began producing a collection of three hour long documentaries about his "Idea of North." The purpose of these documentaries was to reflect his deep passion for the theme of withdrawal from the world. When the documentaries began Gould introduced them with this statement: "I've been long intrigued by that incredible tapestry of tundra and taiga which constitutes the Arctic and sub-arctic of the country. I've read about it, written about it, and even pulled up my parka once and gone there. Yet like all but a very few Canadians I've had no experience in the North. I've remained, of necessity, an outsider. And the North has remained for me, a convenient place to dream about, spin tall tales about, and, in the end, avoid. This program, however, brings together some remarkable people who have had a direct confrontation with that northern third of Canada, who've lived and worked there and in whose lives the North has played a very vital role." Thus, by David Young implementing such an aspect into, "Glenn" it helped the reader truly grasp Gould's mannerisms, characteristics, eccentricities, beliefs and obsession (his fascination with the North being one of the more important ones). In Variation 21, the puritan says, "To make a sweeping generalization, I think Canadians have a synoptic view of the world we live in. And in that regard i consider the Idea of North a kind of national anthem, you know, chamber music for the Canadian unconscious..." This quote further enforces Goulds captivation with the North. He says that this is what defines Canadians and that it's something we need to further explore and take pride in as it is somewhat neglected from our consciouses. Page by: Andrew Savory |
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