Fontaine the “keeper of time”

When I first read the story, I always wondered what Fontaine’s purpose in the story was, what his character represents, and even what the relationship is between Fontaine and watches. However, after Dr. Ogden analyzed Fontaine’s character, I begin to understand Fontaine much better. As Dr. Ogden described, Fontaine is a keeper of time, a keeper of history that records the now and ensures the future. Fontaine adheres to the real (i.e. reality) and not the virtual world (i.e. made from technology). He collects watches, the symbol of order that is controlled mechanically by hand power, and not digitally by technology. "[Fontaine] is an anachronist: a historian" (49). He believes that everything has a story or a history, and these stories are alive, especially in watches. Evidently, this is seen when Chevette quotes, “[e]verything, to Fontaine, had a story. Each object, each fragment comprising the built world. A chorus of voices, the past alive in everything, the sea upon which the present tossed and rode” (158). Fontaine often speaks of or reminds people of the past through his collection of antiques. For example, he gathers “old-fashioned watches with their dials going rusty … some huge ugly telephone, sheathed in ridged black rubber. Fontaine [is] crazy about old things” (158). I feel that these antique items are indeed a form of history that may cause people to reminisce about the past, think of the present and how much things have or have not changed and the possibilities the future may hold. Hence, I believe these "old-fashioned watches" and items are the keeper of time and order, and becuase Fontaine is the keeper of them, it makes him the time keeper.

In addition, I find that there is an interesting connection between Silencio and Fontaine which is never really explained. Both characters appear to be intrigued and captivated by only watches. Fontaine was only first interested in Silencio because he wanted the Jaeger-LeCoultre military Konrad gave to Silencio. Nevertheless, Fontaine continued to care for Silencio and “found it impossible to explain to anyone why he had subsequently fed [Silencio], gotten him showered, bought him fresh clothes, and shown him how to use the eyephones. Actually [Fontaine] couldn’t explain it to himself.” (129). I feel that this special bond is a result of their fascination for watches and that the watches somehow have linked them together in an unexplainable way. Also, at the end, I think Silencio replaces Fontaine’s role, and becomes the “time keeper” himself.

By: Rosalie Pham