"But today she passed the baker's by, climbed the stairs, went into the little dark room - her room like a cupboard- and sat down on the red eiderdown. She sat there for a long time. The box that the fur came out of was on the bed. She unclasped the necklet quickly; quickly, without looking, laid it inside. But when she put the lid on she thought she heard something crying" (page 186).
One of the questions after this passage said "What do you think Miss Brill looks like?" After reading this story, many descriptions came to mind. I kind of envisioned her to look like a person who wants to be all prim and proper but cannot pull off the facade. For instance, she is characterized as a person who wears a massive fur coat. Perhaps she is just someone who wants to be the fairest of them all but just does not fit into society. I'm not really sure. The fact that we do not know Miss Brill's first name also fits in to her characterization. This shows that she doesn't want society to know who she really is. Maybe she is insecure in some way. Also, this hinders society from knowing her on a deeper level. Society in this story never takes the chance to get to know her. She is merely just someone there, like a shadow. Miss Brill's observations about the people she encounters reveal that she is a lonesome, nosy person. For instance, everyone she mentions is mentioned with someone else. Couples are everywhere in this story. The only thing that Miss Brill matches herself up with is her coat. Maybe this shows some significance because perhaps Miss Brill cannot find someone herself. I feel that she watches other couples to live vicariously through them. I also feel that she is single. If she was widowed or divorced, she might be called Ms. Brill. The fact that she is called Miss Brill, though, just makes me think that she always has been single. The conflict of the story is that Miss Brill is unaware that people don't let her in. She simply only stares and watches other people's lives instead of living one herself. The antagonist of the story is the people involved (society) because they are annoyed with Miss Brill's way of living, or should I say "not living" her own life.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
"Once Upon a Time" by Nadine Gordimer
"Anyone who pulled off the sign YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED and tried to open the gates would have to announce his intentions by pressing a button and speaking into a receiver relayed to the house. The little boy was fascinated by the device and used it as a walkie-talkie in cops and robbers play with his small friends" (page 233).
At the beginning of the story, a writer is awakened by a frightening sound in the night. The cause for the sould that is the more significant cause for fear is the fact that it could be a murderer. She also thinks that it could be mysterious footsteps. These too create an emotional background for the 'children's story' she tells because it starts with a creepy, dark undertone. The writer is setting the tone for a scary child's story. The beginning just starts eery, and this tone remains until the end of the story. The stylistic devices that create the atmosphere of children's stories is that first off, it is titled "Once upon a time." Also, the story begins with a background story before it dives into the story at hand. Also, "one evening" and repetition of characters bad judgments is integrated throughout the story. I can somewhat fix the blame on the child's fate on his parents because the parents were warned from the beginning. Also, they allow their son to play with the buttons on the "YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED." Obviously, the son is too young to realize that what he is doing is wrong. His parents could have warned him to stop playing. Also, the boy climbs a ladder. Come on, parents! Why aren't you watching your son?! It's also to be expected because of the foreshadowing. The YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED is repeated three times. It's just an accident waiting to happen. The audience obviously knows that someone will be punished for going against the wishes of the witch.
At the beginning of the story, a writer is awakened by a frightening sound in the night. The cause for the sould that is the more significant cause for fear is the fact that it could be a murderer. She also thinks that it could be mysterious footsteps. These too create an emotional background for the 'children's story' she tells because it starts with a creepy, dark undertone. The writer is setting the tone for a scary child's story. The beginning just starts eery, and this tone remains until the end of the story. The stylistic devices that create the atmosphere of children's stories is that first off, it is titled "Once upon a time." Also, the story begins with a background story before it dives into the story at hand. Also, "one evening" and repetition of characters bad judgments is integrated throughout the story. I can somewhat fix the blame on the child's fate on his parents because the parents were warned from the beginning. Also, they allow their son to play with the buttons on the "YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED." Obviously, the son is too young to realize that what he is doing is wrong. His parents could have warned him to stop playing. Also, the boy climbs a ladder. Come on, parents! Why aren't you watching your son?! It's also to be expected because of the foreshadowing. The YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED is repeated three times. It's just an accident waiting to happen. The audience obviously knows that someone will be punished for going against the wishes of the witch.
"A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty
"Then she went on, parting her way from side to side with the cane, through the whispering field" (page 225).
After reading this story, I tried my best to discover the theme of it. However, I was drawing a blank. This lady just seems crazy to me. She travels through the forest, talking to herself and other animals. I feel that she is characterized as an innocent, old lady who really does have a passion for life. However, like any other old lady, she's kinda crabby. What does the part of her forgetting to get her grandson medicine symbolize? Does she even have a grandson or is she losing it mentally? I don't know. The story doesn't really have a purpose. It just kinda starts and ends. Nothing really gets accomplished and the story just kind of rambles on. However, once I got to the end, I noticed something of significance. Throughout the story, the old lady is travelling "uphill." She may be crazy and losing her memory, but she knows the way of the forest. She knows the path. Then, the story ends with her traversing downward. The very last sentence is "her slow step began on the stairs, going down." Maybe this symbolizes her life. Her life was going uphill for a while, and once she reached her destination, her life just went downhill. I don't know, maybe I'm reading too far into things. However, this just makes sense to me. Also, there are many obstacles along the way. This is similar to a person's life. We all have final destinations and the desire to make the final quest. However, obstacles arise along the way and hinder us from reaching our destination in a timely manner. In my religion class, we discussed that the journey is more meaningful than the destination because it forms a person's inner being. Maybe this is the case here.
After reading this story, I tried my best to discover the theme of it. However, I was drawing a blank. This lady just seems crazy to me. She travels through the forest, talking to herself and other animals. I feel that she is characterized as an innocent, old lady who really does have a passion for life. However, like any other old lady, she's kinda crabby. What does the part of her forgetting to get her grandson medicine symbolize? Does she even have a grandson or is she losing it mentally? I don't know. The story doesn't really have a purpose. It just kinda starts and ends. Nothing really gets accomplished and the story just kind of rambles on. However, once I got to the end, I noticed something of significance. Throughout the story, the old lady is travelling "uphill." She may be crazy and losing her memory, but she knows the way of the forest. She knows the path. Then, the story ends with her traversing downward. The very last sentence is "her slow step began on the stairs, going down." Maybe this symbolizes her life. Her life was going uphill for a while, and once she reached her destination, her life just went downhill. I don't know, maybe I'm reading too far into things. However, this just makes sense to me. Also, there are many obstacles along the way. This is similar to a person's life. We all have final destinations and the desire to make the final quest. However, obstacles arise along the way and hinder us from reaching our destination in a timely manner. In my religion class, we discussed that the journey is more meaningful than the destination because it forms a person's inner being. Maybe this is the case here.
Friday, November 25, 2011
"Eveline" by James Joyce
"She sat at the window watching evening invade the avenue. Her head was leaned against the window curtains and in her nostrils was the odor of dusty cretonne" (page 218).
I feel that this is an image that constantly is integrated throughout the story. For instance, Eveline is one of those characters who is constantly waiting on something or reflecting on life. She's pondering life at the beginning of the story. She looks out the window when her mother is dying. She looks out the window, thinking of Frank. At the end of the story, she looks across the railing as Frank leaves her. It's constant. She constantly is the person reflecting on things, but she fails to do anything for herself. This makes me believe that Eveline is a static character; she doesn't change much throughout the course of the story. Eveline's father is characterized as an angry person. He was always slightly mean to her, and he is characterized as a gruff character. I wonder if he is abusive at all to Eveline. I feel that the author wants the audience to sympathize with Eveline. For instance, her mother died, her brothers died, her father is mean, and she has to earn a living to support her brothers. However, I feel that there is a word in the end that best describes Eveline. The word used is "helpless." Eveline does so much for other people, but she cannot do anything for herself. I am still trying to figure out why she did not run off with Frank... I mean, it makes sense that Eveline cannot date him because Frank is a traveller, but still. The entire story seems to lack substance. Maybe this also parallels with Eveline's life. It's there, and it's interesting. However, the story lacks substance and meaning, just like Eveline's life.
I feel that this is an image that constantly is integrated throughout the story. For instance, Eveline is one of those characters who is constantly waiting on something or reflecting on life. She's pondering life at the beginning of the story. She looks out the window when her mother is dying. She looks out the window, thinking of Frank. At the end of the story, she looks across the railing as Frank leaves her. It's constant. She constantly is the person reflecting on things, but she fails to do anything for herself. This makes me believe that Eveline is a static character; she doesn't change much throughout the course of the story. Eveline's father is characterized as an angry person. He was always slightly mean to her, and he is characterized as a gruff character. I wonder if he is abusive at all to Eveline. I feel that the author wants the audience to sympathize with Eveline. For instance, her mother died, her brothers died, her father is mean, and she has to earn a living to support her brothers. However, I feel that there is a word in the end that best describes Eveline. The word used is "helpless." Eveline does so much for other people, but she cannot do anything for herself. I am still trying to figure out why she did not run off with Frank... I mean, it makes sense that Eveline cannot date him because Frank is a traveller, but still. The entire story seems to lack substance. Maybe this also parallels with Eveline's life. It's there, and it's interesting. However, the story lacks substance and meaning, just like Eveline's life.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
"Bartleby the Scrivener" by Herman Melville
"Men have committed murder for jealousy's sake, and anger's sake, and hatred's sake, and selfishness' sake, and a spiritual pride's sake; but no man that ever I heard of ever committed a diabolical murder for sweet charity's sake" (page 666).
This story was annoying beyond belief. Bartleby would not tell his boss why he would not obey him. He just kept saying, "I would prefer not to." And why would he hide in the the office itself? Was he homeless? Does he act this way because he's lonely? He is deranged psychologically? I don't know; I am just so confused... However, it is a wonderful feeling to know that Bartleby cannot ever be asked to do anything; he just does things out of the goodness of his heart. He does things because he wants to, not because he was asked to do so. Maybe this is how we as a society should live. We should live to do service to help the benefit of others. We should do things because we WANT to, not because we were forced or asked to do so. Our works become so much more meaningful when we do them without getting recognition. I think that this is how Bartleby is. He works very hard for the benefit of the company, but he does things because he wants to. The company represents society and how we must work to benefit the needs of others before the desires of our own. I also think that it is significant that Bartleby works behind a screen door. We are called to serve without having others notice what is going on. We should live like no one is watching us, like no is going to give us praise or recognition for what we have done. Our works then seem twice as heart-felt and meaningful when we do not care who gets the credit. I feel that I might have interpreted this entire the wrong way, but this is how I took it.
This story was annoying beyond belief. Bartleby would not tell his boss why he would not obey him. He just kept saying, "I would prefer not to." And why would he hide in the the office itself? Was he homeless? Does he act this way because he's lonely? He is deranged psychologically? I don't know; I am just so confused... However, it is a wonderful feeling to know that Bartleby cannot ever be asked to do anything; he just does things out of the goodness of his heart. He does things because he wants to, not because he was asked to do so. Maybe this is how we as a society should live. We should live to do service to help the benefit of others. We should do things because we WANT to, not because we were forced or asked to do so. Our works become so much more meaningful when we do them without getting recognition. I think that this is how Bartleby is. He works very hard for the benefit of the company, but he does things because he wants to. The company represents society and how we must work to benefit the needs of others before the desires of our own. I also think that it is significant that Bartleby works behind a screen door. We are called to serve without having others notice what is going on. We should live like no one is watching us, like no is going to give us praise or recognition for what we have done. Our works then seem twice as heart-felt and meaningful when we do not care who gets the credit. I feel that I might have interpreted this entire the wrong way, but this is how I took it.
"Hunters in the Snow" by Tobias Wolf
" 'That's the worst part of it: the lying. Having to lead a double life like a spy or a hit man. This sounds strange but I feel sorry for those guys, I really do. I know what they go through. Always having to think about what you say and do. Always feeling like people are watching you, trying to catch you at something. Never able to just be yourself" (page 200).
I chose this quote because it not only describes the character of Tub very well, but it also describes society. Tub kind of embodies the average person in society. He has a huge a heart, but he gets annoyed with people very easily. He acts on impulses instead of thinking out his actions before he does them. He also is very secretive about his life and lies to hide his flaws. However, all of this gets the best of him after awhile, and he comes clean. I feel that Tub was incorporated into the story for a reason. All three of the characters have meaning to add to the story, but I have yet to find out what those meanings are. After reading the story, i was kind of disappointed that all of the story led of to a state of vagueness. Did Kenny turn out alright? Did Tub eventually lose the weight? Did Frank end of getting with the babysitter? Nothing is clarified. I feel that Frank is the most sympathetic out of all of the characters because he understands why Tub shot Kenny. Frank is concerned that they get Kenny to the hospital. Finally, once Tub comes clean about being obsessed with food, Frank buys him a full meal and makes sure that Tub eats without any insecurities and eats until he is full. Frank never chastises Tub in the story, although he probably should. He does not chastise Tub for shooting Kenny. He even allows Tub to eat instead of encouraging him to be healthy. Frank knows that Tub eats because food is what he lives for. Frank respects that, and maybe Frank allows Tub to eat because Frank called Tub fat. Whatever the case, Frank is the most sympathetic out of all of the characters.
I chose this quote because it not only describes the character of Tub very well, but it also describes society. Tub kind of embodies the average person in society. He has a huge a heart, but he gets annoyed with people very easily. He acts on impulses instead of thinking out his actions before he does them. He also is very secretive about his life and lies to hide his flaws. However, all of this gets the best of him after awhile, and he comes clean. I feel that Tub was incorporated into the story for a reason. All three of the characters have meaning to add to the story, but I have yet to find out what those meanings are. After reading the story, i was kind of disappointed that all of the story led of to a state of vagueness. Did Kenny turn out alright? Did Tub eventually lose the weight? Did Frank end of getting with the babysitter? Nothing is clarified. I feel that Frank is the most sympathetic out of all of the characters because he understands why Tub shot Kenny. Frank is concerned that they get Kenny to the hospital. Finally, once Tub comes clean about being obsessed with food, Frank buys him a full meal and makes sure that Tub eats without any insecurities and eats until he is full. Frank never chastises Tub in the story, although he probably should. He does not chastise Tub for shooting Kenny. He even allows Tub to eat instead of encouraging him to be healthy. Frank knows that Tub eats because food is what he lives for. Frank respects that, and maybe Frank allows Tub to eat because Frank called Tub fat. Whatever the case, Frank is the most sympathetic out of all of the characters.
"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker
" 'What happened to 'Dee'?' I wanted to know.
'She's dead... I couldn't bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me.' " (page 177).
This is probably the biggest insult that Dee could say to her mother. Dee is ashamed to be associated with the lifestyle in which her mother and sister Maggie live in. Dee is ashamed of the person she was before. I feel that the mother's being 'hooked in the side' while milking a cow symbolize that her mother worked her whole life to provide for her family, but she still faced many challenges along the way. Perhaps it also represents the fact that no matter how much she worked, it still would never change the lifestyle in which she lived. And further still, I think that it represents the fact that she worked so hard to provide for her daughters, and yet Dee is ungrateful for what her mother had done for her. I think that Dee's refusal to accept a quilt when she went away to college represented her refusal to stay with her lifestyle at home with her mother and her sister. It symbolizes that Dee is ungrateful for the hard work and service that people provided her with all of her life. Dee's name and costume represent that facade that Dee puts on. She is entirely fake, but she is ashamed of her past. So, she puts on a costume to disguise the girl the world around her knew before. I think that the mother's refusal to let Dee have the quilts indicates a permanent change in character because the mother says, "When I looked at her (Maggie) like that something hit me in the top of my head and ran down to the soles of my feet." This defining moment of seeing Maggie differently would impact the way the mother looked at Maggie from then on. Of course the mother would be more sympathetic toward Maggie from that point forward.
'She's dead... I couldn't bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me.' " (page 177).
This is probably the biggest insult that Dee could say to her mother. Dee is ashamed to be associated with the lifestyle in which her mother and sister Maggie live in. Dee is ashamed of the person she was before. I feel that the mother's being 'hooked in the side' while milking a cow symbolize that her mother worked her whole life to provide for her family, but she still faced many challenges along the way. Perhaps it also represents the fact that no matter how much she worked, it still would never change the lifestyle in which she lived. And further still, I think that it represents the fact that she worked so hard to provide for her daughters, and yet Dee is ungrateful for what her mother had done for her. I think that Dee's refusal to accept a quilt when she went away to college represented her refusal to stay with her lifestyle at home with her mother and her sister. It symbolizes that Dee is ungrateful for the hard work and service that people provided her with all of her life. Dee's name and costume represent that facade that Dee puts on. She is entirely fake, but she is ashamed of her past. So, she puts on a costume to disguise the girl the world around her knew before. I think that the mother's refusal to let Dee have the quilts indicates a permanent change in character because the mother says, "When I looked at her (Maggie) like that something hit me in the top of my head and ran down to the soles of my feet." This defining moment of seeing Maggie differently would impact the way the mother looked at Maggie from then on. Of course the mother would be more sympathetic toward Maggie from that point forward.
"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker
"When I looked at her like that something hit me in the top of my head and ran down to the soles of my feet. Just like when I'm in church and the spirit of God touches me and I get happy and shout, I did something I never had done before: hugged Maggie to me, then dragged her on into the room, snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero's hands and dumped them into Maggie's lap. Maggie just sat there on my bed with her mouth open" (page 181).
After reading this story, I struggled to think of its central theme. I believe that maybe it has something to do with justice. Dee was always living on the high end of life, even though she just took everything for granted. Maggie, on the other hand, was always too afraid to show people who she truly was and felt undeserving of anything given to her. Perhaps the theme is not to do with justice but rather humility. It's kind of like that saying in the Bible: "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first." As a reader, I felt it was a sense of accomplishment for myself to find out that Maggie received the quilt in the end instead of her sister. It just showed that we must try to be humble in order to get what we want instead of just expecting things to happen for us all the time.
I feel that the differences in characters was also important. Dee was the outgoing one who always cared about how she looked. She was fortunate in all aspects of life, not only with looks and confidence but also with intelligence. However, she took everything for granted, and people disliked her. Maggie was always the shy one, who tried her hardest but struggled at succeeding. She always felt unworthy and lived in her sister's shadow. She did all things unnoticed. Dee's hatred of the old house is reflected in her present actions because she tries to be someone she's not. Because she got rid of the person she was in the old house, she changed who she was entirely. She wanted to dress more properly and change her name to get rid of the person she was before. Dee also was able to "stare down any disaster" because she felt that she was invincible and that no one could say no to her. Maggie's burns from the fire symbolize that she allows herself to get hurt in situations. She cannot stand up for herself, and she constantly is suffering the aftermaths of other's actions.
After reading this story, I struggled to think of its central theme. I believe that maybe it has something to do with justice. Dee was always living on the high end of life, even though she just took everything for granted. Maggie, on the other hand, was always too afraid to show people who she truly was and felt undeserving of anything given to her. Perhaps the theme is not to do with justice but rather humility. It's kind of like that saying in the Bible: "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first." As a reader, I felt it was a sense of accomplishment for myself to find out that Maggie received the quilt in the end instead of her sister. It just showed that we must try to be humble in order to get what we want instead of just expecting things to happen for us all the time.
I feel that the differences in characters was also important. Dee was the outgoing one who always cared about how she looked. She was fortunate in all aspects of life, not only with looks and confidence but also with intelligence. However, she took everything for granted, and people disliked her. Maggie was always the shy one, who tried her hardest but struggled at succeeding. She always felt unworthy and lived in her sister's shadow. She did all things unnoticed. Dee's hatred of the old house is reflected in her present actions because she tries to be someone she's not. Because she got rid of the person she was in the old house, she changed who she was entirely. She wanted to dress more properly and change her name to get rid of the person she was before. Dee also was able to "stare down any disaster" because she felt that she was invincible and that no one could say no to her. Maggie's burns from the fire symbolize that she allows herself to get hurt in situations. She cannot stand up for herself, and she constantly is suffering the aftermaths of other's actions.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
"How I Met My Husband" by Alic Munro: Thoughts..................
"I wasn't even old enough then to realize how out of the common it is, for a man to say something like that to a woman, or somebody he is treating like a woman. For a man to say a word like beautiful. I wasn't old enough to realize or to say anything back, or in fact to do anything but wish he would go away. Not that I didn't like him, but just that it upset me so, having him look at me, and me trying to think of something to say" (page 135).
When I first read this story, I could not help but think that this story is so typical of how society is as a whole. So many of us are just living to find that one person to love. And even when someone comes along, we look at them as potential. For instance, when Edie first met Chris, she was reminded with the guilt of how he saw her when she put on Mrs. Peebles' dress. This caused her not to like him because he made her worried. However, she became lost in the moment with him at the tent. Even though she did kind of like him before, this moment was icing on the cake. She was now attached to him because someone showed interest in her. She waited and waited on that letter, even though Chris was not the perfect man for her. Chris was not faithful to his fiance; why would he be faithful to her?! Nevertheless, Edie still felt strongly for him. As a reader, I really wanted Edie to be with Chris because the entire story is basically centered around him and the title is "How I Met My Husband." I just assumed that it was all leading up to Chris and Edie falling in love. However, the story took another turn and she ended up falling in love with the mailman. I couldn't help but think that Edie just settled for this guy. She didn't really want to be with him, but she went for him when she lost all hope in Chris. The mailman was her second choice. It's not to say that Edie didn't eventually fall in love with the mailman because there's a high chance that she did. All that I'm saying, though, is that we, as a society, must fight for what we love in order to be happy in the end. We might not be able to achieve what we want, but we should at least aim high and not settle for less than what we want.
When I first read this story, I could not help but think that this story is so typical of how society is as a whole. So many of us are just living to find that one person to love. And even when someone comes along, we look at them as potential. For instance, when Edie first met Chris, she was reminded with the guilt of how he saw her when she put on Mrs. Peebles' dress. This caused her not to like him because he made her worried. However, she became lost in the moment with him at the tent. Even though she did kind of like him before, this moment was icing on the cake. She was now attached to him because someone showed interest in her. She waited and waited on that letter, even though Chris was not the perfect man for her. Chris was not faithful to his fiance; why would he be faithful to her?! Nevertheless, Edie still felt strongly for him. As a reader, I really wanted Edie to be with Chris because the entire story is basically centered around him and the title is "How I Met My Husband." I just assumed that it was all leading up to Chris and Edie falling in love. However, the story took another turn and she ended up falling in love with the mailman. I couldn't help but think that Edie just settled for this guy. She didn't really want to be with him, but she went for him when she lost all hope in Chris. The mailman was her second choice. It's not to say that Edie didn't eventually fall in love with the mailman because there's a high chance that she did. All that I'm saying, though, is that we, as a society, must fight for what we love in order to be happy in the end. We might not be able to achieve what we want, but we should at least aim high and not settle for less than what we want.
"A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner
"We did not say she was crazy then. We believed she had to do that. We remembered all the young men her father had driven away, and we knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will" (page 285).
This story does not have a specific order. Everything is kind of jumbled into one. Also, the story is kind of centered around a big gossip wheel. For instance, the town assumes that Emily bought arsenic to kill her husband; however, the story does not explicitly say that she did such things. We never really get Emily's perspective. The story is told from a first person plural point of view, and Emily is already casted as a crazy, creepy person. The story does not allow room for sympathy towards Emily's character. Perhaps she just is emotionally unstable and has a problem with letting go of the men in her life. She needs serious help, but the people in the story just look down upon her because she's different. I'm still trying to figure out why she was so attached to her husband when he was "not the marrying type." Obviously, the two are not meant for each other, but the town seemed to know that the two would get married. However, I think that the structure of the story parallels with the fact of the gossip wheel. People are not really sure about what really happened to Emily and what went on in her life. Because of this, the story cannot be told in all factuality and order since her story is not even really known to the narrator(s).
This story does not have a specific order. Everything is kind of jumbled into one. Also, the story is kind of centered around a big gossip wheel. For instance, the town assumes that Emily bought arsenic to kill her husband; however, the story does not explicitly say that she did such things. We never really get Emily's perspective. The story is told from a first person plural point of view, and Emily is already casted as a crazy, creepy person. The story does not allow room for sympathy towards Emily's character. Perhaps she just is emotionally unstable and has a problem with letting go of the men in her life. She needs serious help, but the people in the story just look down upon her because she's different. I'm still trying to figure out why she was so attached to her husband when he was "not the marrying type." Obviously, the two are not meant for each other, but the town seemed to know that the two would get married. However, I think that the structure of the story parallels with the fact of the gossip wheel. People are not really sure about what really happened to Emily and what went on in her life. Because of this, the story cannot be told in all factuality and order since her story is not even really known to the narrator(s).
"Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri
"When she whipped out the hairbrush, the slip of paper with Mr. Kapasi's address on it fluttered away in the wind. No one but Mr. kapasi noticed. He watched as it rose, carried higher and higher by the breeze, into the trees where the monkeys now sat, solemnly observing the scene below" (page 166).
The central conflict in this story is that Mr. Kapasi becomes wrapped into a dream that he and Mrs. Das would be perfect together, but she is oblivious because she misinterprets what type of interpreter he is. Mrs. Das views Mr. Kapasi as a man who could fix her internal problems; however, Mr. Kapasi only knows how to interpret external issues. The entire story is a pun. Yes, Mr. Kapasi is an "interpreter of maladies," but he mainly just guides the doctors into knowing how to help a patient with his external illnesses or pain. The monkeys in the story pointed to the odd boy out (the boy that wasn't Mr. Das's real son). Perhaps this was to open up the fact that Mr. Das should figure this out about his son. Or rather, maybe the monkeys were put into the story to allow Mrs. Das to finally feel grief or sympathy towards this son. The note falling out of the purse and Mrs. Das not realizing it parallels the fact that Mrs. Das is oblivious Mr. Kapasi showing interest in her. The note also represents Mr. Kapasi's hope that a relationship will last with Mrs. Das. The fact that it blew away represented the crashing and burning of his dream about one day being with her.
The central conflict in this story is that Mr. Kapasi becomes wrapped into a dream that he and Mrs. Das would be perfect together, but she is oblivious because she misinterprets what type of interpreter he is. Mrs. Das views Mr. Kapasi as a man who could fix her internal problems; however, Mr. Kapasi only knows how to interpret external issues. The entire story is a pun. Yes, Mr. Kapasi is an "interpreter of maladies," but he mainly just guides the doctors into knowing how to help a patient with his external illnesses or pain. The monkeys in the story pointed to the odd boy out (the boy that wasn't Mr. Das's real son). Perhaps this was to open up the fact that Mr. Das should figure this out about his son. Or rather, maybe the monkeys were put into the story to allow Mrs. Das to finally feel grief or sympathy towards this son. The note falling out of the purse and Mrs. Das not realizing it parallels the fact that Mrs. Das is oblivious Mr. Kapasi showing interest in her. The note also represents Mr. Kapasi's hope that a relationship will last with Mrs. Das. The fact that it blew away represented the crashing and burning of his dream about one day being with her.
"How I Met My Husband" by Alice Munro
"As for me, I put it all out of my mind like a bad dream and concentrated on waiting for my letter. The mail came every day except Sunday, between one-thirty and two in the afternoon, a good time for me because Mrs. Peebles was always having her nap. I would get the kitchen all cleaned and then go up to the mailbox and sit in the grass, waiting" (page 145).
The plot structure of this short story is kind of told as a flashback. The story goes in chronological order, but it takes awhile for the narrator to get to her points. She goes into so much detail, almost detracting from the story. Also, the story is filled with so much suspense about how the narrator met her husband. As a reader, I truly felt that the story would be about how Edie met and fell in love with Chris. She focused so much on how she met Chris and their random conversations that I naturally felt that the story would be about him. The diverting plot structure matches the overall theme of the story because the narrator tells backstories to get to her main purpose: how she met her husband, the mailman. Yes, the ending threw me for a loop, but it just goes with the overall theme for the story. Everything led up to how she met her husband; it just took me awhile to finally comprehend that her husband was NOT Chris. The minor characters like Loretta Bird and Mrs. Peebles help advance the plot because their accusations get the truth out of Edie. Because Edie comes clean, the whole fiasco happens and eventually Edie meets someone else. I feel that they also add some comic relief and maybe a breath of fresh air. They bring Edie to her senses and open her eyes to how the world really is instead of her own little bubble.
The plot structure of this short story is kind of told as a flashback. The story goes in chronological order, but it takes awhile for the narrator to get to her points. She goes into so much detail, almost detracting from the story. Also, the story is filled with so much suspense about how the narrator met her husband. As a reader, I truly felt that the story would be about how Edie met and fell in love with Chris. She focused so much on how she met Chris and their random conversations that I naturally felt that the story would be about him. The diverting plot structure matches the overall theme of the story because the narrator tells backstories to get to her main purpose: how she met her husband, the mailman. Yes, the ending threw me for a loop, but it just goes with the overall theme for the story. Everything led up to how she met her husband; it just took me awhile to finally comprehend that her husband was NOT Chris. The minor characters like Loretta Bird and Mrs. Peebles help advance the plot because their accusations get the truth out of Edie. Because Edie comes clean, the whole fiasco happens and eventually Edie meets someone else. I feel that they also add some comic relief and maybe a breath of fresh air. They bring Edie to her senses and open her eyes to how the world really is instead of her own little bubble.
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