Day of Action/Reaction: Drawing a Connection

Many hoped October 7th would be the day that students, faculty, and teachers would unite and speak out against the injustices in the UC system. Nonetheless, it seems that not much was achieved. Even though I did not attend, I heard from several people that the whole thing was unorganized with unclear goals and a low turnout. This made me think about similar attempts that have been described in our readings. The parallel lies in that individuals with clear objectives seem to fail due to a lack of preparation and cooperation.

In Escape from Alcatraz several attempts by inmates were discussed. It seems that only the people who thought things out or worked with others had better chances of escaping. If an inmate simply ran out they would get shot. This is a very uncalculated and impulsive action that led to failure. On the other hand, Frank Morris and other inmates, carried out an intricate plan that might have been successful. This shows the more promising results of time commitment and teamwork.

Likewise, Like a Hurricane discusses the Indian occupation of Alcatraz and how the Indians hoped it would change American policy toward Native Americans. The occupation began with enthusiastic supporters and positive media coverage. However, over time the lack of organization and planning led to several conflicts. Since there were no real leaders, many important tasks were not conducted and there were several cases of misconduct. Also, from the beginning they did not think about provisions and the harsh conditions at Alcatraz complicated their stay. This culminated in poor media coverage and numerously disillusioned people.

In the same way that these events ended poorly, the October 7th call to action was not as impacting as expected. This shows that hopeful causes can end unsuccessfully if they begin without a carefully structured plan.

~M.G.

How Bruce Changes Styles Throughout Novel

As we discussed in class when we first started reading Escape from Alcatraz, Bruce began his novel with a style that led us to believe we would be reading an account of Frank Lee Morris’s escape attempt. However, after the first chapter, the story line took a turn toward the historical perspective of Alcatraz. We read about the history of the island from its discovery to various escape attempts. Somewhat suddenly at Chapter 15, Bruce begins in on his history of Morris and his relationship with his mother and Chapter 16 begins the telling of Morris’s time on Alcatraz. I thought this was a weird turn because I had almost forgotten about the suspense he had built up about Morris in Chapter 1. The account of his escape attempt spans two chapters and is very detailed; so detailed, in fact, that I almost prefer the historical accounts of the island in Chapter s 2-14 rather than the escape story.
Originally, I had wished for Bruce to go back to Morris’s story after reading Chapter 1, but during Chapters 15 and 16, I found myself wishing for the abridged version of the escape attempt. I think Bruce could have left out some of the more insignificant details and still managed to tell the story in its entirety. Also, I think the change in writing style throughout the novel is strange. During chapters 2-14, I feel Bruce writes mostly as though he is writing a historical novel. His account of Morris’s escape is not written from a historical perspective, but rather as a dramatic or thrilling fiction novel. The sudden change of styles struck me as incongruous and I think he should have stayed with one style.

~A.R.

A Focus on the Guards of Alcatraz

Much of what is known of Alcatraz as a prison relates to the prisoners it held. Common names one might associate with such an infamous place are “Mobster Al ‘Scarface’ Capone, ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly, Robert Stroud” (back cover) and others. This narrow focus on the criminals overlooks the role of the guards on Alcatraz. They are just as important as the felons who lived there, they had to endure the same monotony and they had to overcome much of the same tensions.

Whereas earlier chapters in the book stress the emotional turmoil of the inmates, Chapter 14 provides a new focus on the guards, offering a greater insight into the emotional aspects of their occupation of Alcatraz. This section begins with the after-effects of the Battle of Alcatraz: enhanced security. The guards were trained to view every criminal as a potential threat, this puts them on a vigilant mental state, creating an atmosphere of tension and anxiety.

Also, prisoners enjoyed playing tricks on the officials, thus making their watch on Alcatraz more difficult. It is hard already to be in a place with the most feared criminals and having these men use them as entertainment makes it unbearable and apprehensive. For instance, inmates enjoyed making loud noises when it was completely silent just to scare the officers on duty. Similarly, some convicts would swear to others while looking at the guards. Sometimes a convict “could call you a sonofabitch without moving their lips”(126). These events highlight the hostility that many of the
officials had to tolerate.

The torment that the officials suffered was hinted at an earlier chapter, namely Chapter 9 where Gilmore assaulted Thelma Fleming simply for collecting flowers. This action along with the pressure caused by the inmates demonstrates that they also suffered mentally and emotionally on Alcatraz. The conditions were so terrible, that some quit and left, “Now and then a man would report for duty at eight thirty in the morning and take the noon boat back to the city. A half day, and he’s had it”(126).

Chapter 14 offers an insight into what circumstances were like for the officials living at Alcatraz. While earlier chapters concentrate on the negative treatment that the prisoners received, this segment concentrates on the harassment the guards received. This gives a more complete illustration of the state of mind of all the prison dwellers.

~M.G.

To blame or not to blame?

Throughout Escape from Alcatraz, the reader is exposed to what life was like inside of Alcatraz as a prison. We are engaged in the experience through the perspectives of the prisoner and the authoritative figure(s). However, In Chapter 11, we are introduced to the murder trial of Henri Young. The defense: Alcatraz, not Henri Young, killed Rufus McCain. But who’s perspective should we trust? Who is to blame? The strict and intimidating authoritative figures or the outcasted and dangerous criminals?

We are completely aware that individuals that go against the societal norm are outcasted or punished. Individuals are sent to prisons for acts that they commit: robberies, kidnappings, murders, etc. The most notorious individuals were sent to Alcatraz. We come to learn that rules are strict at the prison. A few words could send you straight to the dungeon, on a mere starvation diet.

In chapter 7 we get an introduction to the monotony of prison life as a guard. One guard “wish[ed] to hell one of them bastards would stick his head up so [he] could take a pot shot at him” (57). An interesting aspect to this comment was that it was only a monotony of 8 hours. Yet, prisoners experience a much greater amount of monotony by doing the same work nearly everyday and on most occasions left to counting the minutes of the day.

In chapter 8, after the death of prisoner trying to escape a guard remarked: “Well, he’s a lot better off now where he is than where he was,” (66). This can be interpreted in two ways. Understandably, many people say this line when trying to accept the death of a close and loving individual. But in this case, it is a guard responding to a death of a prisoner. It’s very likely that this guard and prisoner weren’t close at all. To simply share a drop of sympathy for a prisoner makes the
reader imagine how life was on Alcatraz. What this statement seems to imply is that the guard is accepting the fact that Alcatraz was a harsh environment, even as a prison.

Throughout chapter 11 we hear from the prisoners saying that they endured harsh treatment, hollered for medical attention, beaten into unconsciousness, etc. Finally, a prisoner finishes with this statement: “You wonder how human beings could do that to human beings,” (82). Is it truly justified to treat human beings as harshly as these men were treated, even if they did commit an act against society? As a reader, we empathize for the prisoners for being treated so harshly. However, we are also left to believe that these men may be lying. It wouldn’t be the first time that these men go against society and try to get what they want. Youngs final comment is of particular interest as well. He wonders about the treatment of one human being to another. However, he was the one that murdered. So we are left to wonder, who is to blame? Alcatraz or Young for the murder of McCain?

~D.B.

The Residents of Alcatraz

For many residents of the Bay Area, Alcatraz has become a fixture in the landscape of their everyday lives, catching a glimpse of it through out the day. For some the island’s involvement in their life was more direct, acting as a place of residency, captivity or work.

When most people think of Alcatraz, they think of the penitentiary that housed some of the world’s most harden criminals, little did they know there were average American families living on the island. Many authors including Bruce, portray Alcatraz as a great place to raise a family. There were neighborhood parties and activities for the children, within yards of bank robbers, kidnappers and murders. Children grew up similar to those in the city, except on the island there were no play guns or knifes. The residents often bragged there was no need to lock the doors to their homes. Overall, Alcatraz seemed like a picturesque place to live.

The pleasure of being on Alcatraz was not the same for the prisoners. They were poorly treated and given little amenities. Not even allowed the simple pleasure of conversation, the monotony of daily life took a toll on the prisoners. Harsh treatment left little on their minds except how to end their suffering. Suicide and escape were the two main solutions to their pain. The trial of Alcatraz seemed to be the first time the prisoners’ civil liberties were a matter of importance.

Not the usual 9-5 job, those who worked at Alcatraz also experienced a drastic invasion of their lives. Alcatraz was an inescapable figure that altered who they were as a person. Acting like robots, the guards were trained extensively in combat and defense. They were not allowed to form any type of camaraderie with the prisoners or even have a friendly conversation. Their job was to up hold Alcatraz’s title as inescapable. Part of their occupation included being abusive to the prisoners, to keep them inline and as a form of punishment. Their barbaric behavior was a daily practice that seemed to alter how they treated civilians. An extreme example can be seen in chapter 10, when a guard, John Gilmore, attacked a woman picking flowers in the vacant lot next to his apartment. He claimed it was self-defense, however Gilmore out weighted the woman by nearly 100 pounds. The woman walked away bloody and bruised with chipped teeth, lacerations to her head, a swollen eye and 5 stitches. It seemed Gilmore’s actions were more substantial than the average definition of self defense. His acts speak more to the tone of a prison guard disciplining an unruly prisoner.

While Alcatraz was a positive experience for the families living on the island, it was a much different world for those men living and working within the cell blocks. The prisoners became demoralized. Experiencing daily monotony and brutality changed these men to the core of their being. The guards forgot how to behave like civilians. Daily exchanges turned into battery and assault. It is debatable whether or not any good came from the creation of Alcatraz as a federal penitentiary.

~J.G.

The Cover: Escape from Alcatraz

The cover of Escape from Alcatraz practically presents a novel when looked at alone. The cover is literally illuminated from corner to corner, including a variety of fonts, pictures, and colors. J. Campbell Bruce, author of Escape from Alcatraz, gives no credit to another author or artist for the cover work, leaving the reader to assume that he completed the masterpiece by himself. This does not come to a large surprise with the knowledge that he was also a featured writer for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Bruce’s job as a newspaper author most likely aided him in the task of creating his own book cover. Writer’s who work with highly distinguished newspapers possess great talent in reviewing evidence and searching through the core of every story. Journalists often work closely with editors and aid the photographers, or take the photos themselves, in order to represent the work they complete the exact way they wish. With this cover in particular, the editorial talent stands quite apparent.

The font captures the reader even from the first glimpse. Escape from Alcatraz are the largest words on the page, white lettering outlined in a black box. The smaller font surrounding the photographs begs for more attention than the title. The tiny words give some mystery and ironically at the same time insight into the depths of the novel. When taking a closer look, the reader finds that the fonts only explain a brief history of Alcatraz and the attempts made to escape “the rock” and do not pay any attention to the picture of the prisoner placed between the two blocks of wording. Next, the small cursive spreads hope to the reader that maybe it is the signature of the pictured prisoner, but no, it simply declares “U.S. Penitentiary.”

The set image of fingerprints draws a few interesting conclusions, although I am no expert, it looks to me that no two fingerprints match. This means that all fingerprints taken must come from ten distinct individuals, but gives no lead as to whom they might be. J. Campbell Bruce worked to create an intriguing cover title that would not go unnoticed to the readers. It presents so many intimacies that it could be quite possible to write a novel on the cover alone.

~C.M.

The Calculated Juxtaposition of Scenes in Escape From Alcatraz

In the first three chapters of J. Campbell Bruce’s novel Escape
from Alcatraz, the author uses a distinct juxtaposition between
the storyline of chapter one, and the storyline of chapter
three.

In chapter one, after the introduction to distinct
characteristics of a mystery prisoner being transported to the
federal penitentiary at Alcatraz, the reader finally finds out
that his name is Frank Lee Morris. The last half dozen
paragraphs of the chapter center on the myriad possibilities of
escape from Alcatraz; imagined by the described “escape artist,”
Morris. Each possibility one by one is abolished by the
maximum-security nature of the setting. It’s somewhat comical
because arguably the most difficult way of escaping alive from
Alcatraz would be swimming to shore in the freezing cold waters
of the San Francisco Bay. This part of the escape is not
mentioned, and in italics it reads: “How in the name of God can
anyone possibly get out of here? (7)” The chapter ends with a
vow by Morris that he would find a way to escape Alcatraz.

In chapter three, the juxtapositions in description and
storyline are evident in Campbell Bruce’s writing. He used
Warden Johnston to contrast with the character of Morris as a
humanitarian and prime intellectual, instead of a criminal
mastermind. But, the most obvious contrast is the juxtaposition
of Morris’ thoughts of escape and Johnston’s ideas of a
maximum-security fortress with no chance of escape. Paragraph
after paragraph exemplified the shear impossibility of escape by
prisoners, and the elaborate nature of Alcatraz’s security under
the new Warden. The chapter ends in similar contrast to the
chapter one with the sentence: “‘It was made clear that the
prisoners, the most vicious and desperate in the country will
not escape from Alcatraz (21).” Campbell Bruce’s calculated
writing style is well done and exciting to read. The contrast
of characters and ideas enhance the reader’s imagination of what
is to come next.