They seem elusive during the first five chapters, but two similar but separate incidents tied to something Alice says about Stein's driving finally lead to some "Ah Ha!" moments in Chapter Six.
The two similar but separate incidents involved the passports. When Gertrude and Alice try to leave France for Spain, they have to get real passports to replace their temporary ones from London (p161). Although it seems like the American Embassy representative is going to deny them, Stein insists on speaking to a embassy secretary. She then does what she does best - she drops the name of a writer, who has lived in France and was not going back to the U.S. but since he had received a passport, so why are you denying me?
Gertrude 1 - American Embassy 0
On their return from Spain, she has to again deal with the embassy representatives (pp 167-168). I had the feeling she embellished the moment for a bit of comedy, since she showed the counsel and his assistant to be playing a game she sees through. Even though she has to get the approval from the French embassy, she again is able to return to the American embassy with the letter of approval for the visa. We also get to see a rare moment where Stein is vulnerable by finding out if she is asked a question quickly (by the French embassy representative) she could not readily remember the date she was asked for. It shows us a rare moment, but just a moment, of her not being in control.
Gertrude 2 - American Embassy 0
I wonder if she ever renewed her passport or they just went ahead and sent her a new one? Probably the latter.
So, how are these "Ah Ha!" moments? They're tied to Alice commenting on Stein's driving the ford car they used when working with American Fund for French Wounded (p173).
"She goes forward admirably, but does not go backwards successfully."
I think this sentence could be used to summarize Gertrude Stein. We have seen that in the face of rejection of her works at different points, she re-invents herself by taking on a new interest while refining what she already knows and relentlessly continuing to bring her works to the forefront. She rejects any notion of failure and continues to find new and interesting people, like the god-sons they met and find a place of importance for them in the book. I'm sure, knowing what it alludes to, finding these subtle "ah ha" moments going forward might not be so difficult.
Michael
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I think the sentence Michael used to summarize Gertrude Stein is a great example. In a literal sense, we as readers are constantly going forward, and left with these hollow promises of going back. And one thing that I can say about Stein (I know I haven't been quick to throw out many compliments) is that there aren't any instances that I remember of her being angry or negative about anything. Her humor throughout The Autobiography does, I think, say a lot about her as a person. There are a few instances throughout the story where things get a little rough, but you never realize the severity of any of those instances due to Stein's jovial demeanor. The alarm scene that we talked about in class is a great example. It seems like Stein is a nice, if self-centered, lady. It would just help us all out if she would get her ducks in a row and not try to move forward so often and so quickly.
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