Apathy In Judith Thompson's White Biting Dog

“You’ve never felt anything. Not on the inside, you know that...Not for others, and neither do I. We can’t help it. Nothing - gets - in.” (Thompson, pg. 56 )

Nothing gets in - Reflecting on himself, Cape Race argues with his mother, Lomia, describing their callous nature in Judith Thompson’s White Biting Dog. Perhaps what was unknown to Thompson at the time was that this argument would become a statement on the human condition in the 1980’s - the time in which this story is set. A decade of great economic prosperity and material growth, everything appeared to be bright and positive. However, this was only on the surface. As Thompson illustrates through Cape and Lomia, the 1980’s was in veritably a bleak period characterized by genuine apathy

In a nutshell, Lomia’s character can be summed up by two simple sentences, “I have to take care of me. I am my caretaker. ” (Thompson, pg. 55 ). Lomia says this to her son Cape after he begs her to come back and live with he and his father, following it up with a comment on her nightmares of being a widow. Disregarding the state of her husband’s health, she cares only about how she will be regarded when she becomes a widow, and so, the only way to save herself is simply to not come back. This showcases the way Lomia consistently puts herself before others, caring only for her own feelings. Perhaps, she is more afraid of the feelings that will come with losing her husband than she is of her status as widow, therefore avoiding the situation in its entirety seems to be the only viable option. Later, in the same conversation, Lomia admits to Cape that she does not feel things; “I want to, I try to feel things -- I hate it in here, in this -- thick -- pitch -- everything I do, I do to get OUT (Thompson, pg. 56). Lomia is admitting to, more or less, hiding herself behind an emotional wall. However, what is important to note is that she wants to get out. She is able to realize her shortcomings and wants to be better, but does not necessarily know the right way to achieve this change. Instead, she becomes ensnarled in a cycle of self hatred and greed, playing with

White Biting Dog provides a concrete example of what it felt like to be living in this time. Cape and Lomia are only two characters who showcase this, however, examples can be found in each character. All too often, we are distracted by a shiny exterior, but it is important to look past that and really delve into the core of what is happening, elucidating the truth underneath. The fear, the greed, anything to compensate. Nothing gets in - The fear, the greed, anything to compensate. Thompson could not have said it