Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight Literary Elements

Essay, article

Geertz writes of his time spent in Bali, Indonesia in the 1950s.

Geertz writes from a first-person point of view throughout the article.

Reverent, ironic, inquisitive, contemplative

N/A

While there is no central "conflict" in this academic article, Geertz does suggest that Western perspectives of cockfighting are too narrow and even questions the ethics of outlawing cockfighting in Bali.

A type of climax occurs when Geertz makes the interpretive leap from merely describing the action of a cockfight to analyzing what cockfighting denotes of Balinese culture more broadly. He compares cockfighting to a text that can be read for a deeper understanding of Balinese society.

When Geertz tells the anecdote of the man who defended him and his wife without question, he foreshadows their acceptance into the Balinese village.

When the Chief tells Geertz that he and his people are all "cock crazy," he uses a humorous understatement to suggest that cockfighting is a central element of life in the village.

The article alludes to numerous other anthropologists, from whom Geertz takes certain theories that help advance his own claim. He also alludes frequently to American sports and English literature, with specific references to Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare.

Important imagery in the article includes that of nurture, fighting, masculinity, and sports.

The central paradox underlying the article is that cockfighting is illegal in Bali but still widely practiced.

Geertz draws a number of parallels between Balinese cockfighting and American sporting events, showcasing how cockfights are arguably more organized and useful elements of society.

Cocks themselves are perceived by the Balinese as metonymical representations of the male form.

In many ways, cocks are treated with the same care and attention as humans – they are fed a specific diet, exposed to the sunlight on a particular schedule, and bathed with the same ceremony as newborn babies. Geertz suggests that despite recognizing the animal nature of cocks, the Balinese care for them in a deeply nurturing way.