24 March 2004

A Little Cowgirl Intuition

"Only cretins and logicians don't contradict themselves. And in their consistency, they contradict life"(224). These are the words of the Chink, the moral arbiter among the characters of Tom Robbins' Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. Such illogical, seemingly ridiculous philosophy is prevalent throughout Robbins' novel, and is indicative of the underlying battle between intuition and logic. Except when denying their natural instincts and inclinations, characters of Even Cowgirls Get the Blues gradually shift towards an emotional freedom characterized by a general indifference to traditional societal values. Without exception, this tendency results in increased happiness of the characters. To further exemplify this idea, Robbins creates several characters whose spiritual bankruptcy results from the materialism and flawed logic of "civilized" men. In contrast, several characters attain enlightenment only after rejecting societal conventions and pursuing a more unique, freer lifestyle. By infusing...