"She would have it, this baby. She grabbed for the baby's other arm. She caught the baby around the wrist and leaned back. But he would not let go...He pulled back very hard."
The tone of this story was definitely dark, in the actions of the characters and in the descriptions. The introduction paragraph describing the dark, cold setting establishes the overall mood of the action to come. A significance aspect of the author's style is the absence of quotation marks. The dialogue runs together with the other sentences, making it seem like the characters aren't even speaking to each other. An objective observer tells the story, but it seems like the reader is watching from afar or reading the transcript of what occurred. The action happens quickly as the fight escalates and gets more heated. The syntax consists of short, direct sentences with very little descriptions. The baby is like an object they fight over, and possession of the infant proves superiority. Finally the issue was decided, and I got the impression that the baby was torn in half. This is ironic because both parents get the baby, yet neither of them really gets the baby. This is like the story of Solomon threatening to split the baby, but it this story there was no love involved that saved that child.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
You're Ugly, Too
"..Trapped out on a balcony with- with what? 'Really, I was just kidding!' Zoe shouted...She smiled at him, and wondered how she looked."
I got the impression that Zoe is mentally ill, perhaps bipolar. Her eccentricities seem more crazy than just weird, especially her social interactions, her Baggies of things, and her objects in her house. Even though other people find her strange, Zoe seems oblivious. She seems to have a distorted image of herself, thinking she's connecting with the students or that she's ironic. Evaluations of the students tell the reader a different story which adds both irony and humor. Those reviews give the reader a much deeper insight into Zoe and expose even more strange mannerisms. Because she's so weird and possibly crazy, she's a sympathetic character. I felt bad for her because she was so pitiful. She is so lonely, but she makes light of her situation. She applies her ironic, joking nature to many problems in her life: her class, her family, and her medical condition. She chooses to focus on her appearance which is insignificant and not appropriate given her current situation, especially at the party. She tries to cover up her issues and emotions with jokes, just like she used humor to cover her speech impediment.
I got the impression that Zoe is mentally ill, perhaps bipolar. Her eccentricities seem more crazy than just weird, especially her social interactions, her Baggies of things, and her objects in her house. Even though other people find her strange, Zoe seems oblivious. She seems to have a distorted image of herself, thinking she's connecting with the students or that she's ironic. Evaluations of the students tell the reader a different story which adds both irony and humor. Those reviews give the reader a much deeper insight into Zoe and expose even more strange mannerisms. Because she's so weird and possibly crazy, she's a sympathetic character. I felt bad for her because she was so pitiful. She is so lonely, but she makes light of her situation. She applies her ironic, joking nature to many problems in her life: her class, her family, and her medical condition. She chooses to focus on her appearance which is insignificant and not appropriate given her current situation, especially at the party. She tries to cover up her issues and emotions with jokes, just like she used humor to cover her speech impediment.
The Drunkard
"'That's a nice accusation, that I was drinking. Not one drop of drink crossed my lips the whole day. How could it when he drank it all? I'm the one that ought to be pitied, with my day ruined on me, and I after being made a show for the whole road.'"
The most prominent instance of irony was the boy's inebriated state, making his sober father take him home. Usually the father drinks too much at a funeral, and the boy expected Mr. Dooley's funeral to be no different. However, instead of the father staggering home drunk, his young son was the one that consumed too much alcohol. Another ironic situation was the blame placed on the father. Everyone assumed that he let the boy drink, but in reality the boy drank without his father knowing. In addition to the many ironic situations, humor is present in the story. The boy's behavior towards the women, yelling and swearing at them, is the funniest part of the story. Although humor lightens the mood, there is an undertone of pathos. This arises from the family's struggles: coping with the father's drinking problem and financial strain. The boy's ridiculous behavior then acts as a deterrent, discouraging his father from drinking. His father probably did not know how he behaved when he was drunk, but he witnessed possible behaviors in his son. This spectacle shamed him, and he didn't want to put himself in that position now that he knew of the drunk's behavior.
The most prominent instance of irony was the boy's inebriated state, making his sober father take him home. Usually the father drinks too much at a funeral, and the boy expected Mr. Dooley's funeral to be no different. However, instead of the father staggering home drunk, his young son was the one that consumed too much alcohol. Another ironic situation was the blame placed on the father. Everyone assumed that he let the boy drink, but in reality the boy drank without his father knowing. In addition to the many ironic situations, humor is present in the story. The boy's behavior towards the women, yelling and swearing at them, is the funniest part of the story. Although humor lightens the mood, there is an undertone of pathos. This arises from the family's struggles: coping with the father's drinking problem and financial strain. The boy's ridiculous behavior then acts as a deterrent, discouraging his father from drinking. His father probably did not know how he behaved when he was drunk, but he witnessed possible behaviors in his son. This spectacle shamed him, and he didn't want to put himself in that position now that he knew of the drunk's behavior.
The Lottery
"Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work any more, live that way for a while. Used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.'...There's always been a lottery."
This story was very interesting because of the surprising turn of events and the subtle irony that contributes to the unexpected ending. One of the most ironic situations involved Old Man Warner addressing the gossip that other towns had abandoned the lottery. He talks about how without the lottery, people might go back to prehistoric rituals, like living in caves. The lottery itself is a barbaric, prehistoric tradition, but the townspeople don't see it that way. The phrase connecting the lottery to the corn harvest shows that the drawing of names used to ensure a plentiful harvest. Since they have let some of the tradition go, it probably has less to do with the corn crop and more to do with the feeling of necessity concerning the lottery. It's been going on for so long, it's ingrained in the town's rituals. The people don't see the stoning as wrong or barbaric; it's just part of the ritual. This and the fact that lotteries usually involve winning prizes adds to the irony. The reader is able to pick up on the irony because of the objective narrator. The person telling the story passes no judgment, allowing the reader to draw his or her own conclusions from the plot and the characters.
This story was very interesting because of the surprising turn of events and the subtle irony that contributes to the unexpected ending. One of the most ironic situations involved Old Man Warner addressing the gossip that other towns had abandoned the lottery. He talks about how without the lottery, people might go back to prehistoric rituals, like living in caves. The lottery itself is a barbaric, prehistoric tradition, but the townspeople don't see it that way. The phrase connecting the lottery to the corn harvest shows that the drawing of names used to ensure a plentiful harvest. Since they have let some of the tradition go, it probably has less to do with the corn crop and more to do with the feeling of necessity concerning the lottery. It's been going on for so long, it's ingrained in the town's rituals. The people don't see the stoning as wrong or barbaric; it's just part of the ritual. This and the fact that lotteries usually involve winning prizes adds to the irony. The reader is able to pick up on the irony because of the objective narrator. The person telling the story passes no judgment, allowing the reader to draw his or her own conclusions from the plot and the characters.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Once Upon a Time
"Someone has written to ask me to contribute to an anthology of stories for children. I reply that I don't write children's stories... And then last night I woke up- or rather was awakened without knowing what had roused me."
The entire story is ironic, from the characters' actions to the story itself. The author was told to write a story for children, a request she did not want to oblige. She comes up with a story that is definitely not meant for children. The story was prompted by sounds she heard in the night, and she considers the possibility of burglars. When she tells the story, she includes a string of burglaries that gives the neighborhood motivation to protect the homes. What prompted their protection crusade was the wise witch, the grandmother of the little boy, warning them to not let anyone in. Even though they kept building their defenses, all of the fences and alarms couldn't protect their son. The people were warned, but they took they witch's advice too far. The theme is that the best may not always be the best; the greatest protection equipment caused the death of the little boy. The family worked to keep harm out, but that defense system harmed the boy. The author introduces her point that defenses can't always protect us in the beginning of her story, saying that a woman was murdered in broad daylight and fierce dogs did not save a widower.
The entire story is ironic, from the characters' actions to the story itself. The author was told to write a story for children, a request she did not want to oblige. She comes up with a story that is definitely not meant for children. The story was prompted by sounds she heard in the night, and she considers the possibility of burglars. When she tells the story, she includes a string of burglaries that gives the neighborhood motivation to protect the homes. What prompted their protection crusade was the wise witch, the grandmother of the little boy, warning them to not let anyone in. Even though they kept building their defenses, all of the fences and alarms couldn't protect their son. The people were warned, but they took they witch's advice too far. The theme is that the best may not always be the best; the greatest protection equipment caused the death of the little boy. The family worked to keep harm out, but that defense system harmed the boy. The author introduces her point that defenses can't always protect us in the beginning of her story, saying that a woman was murdered in broad daylight and fierce dogs did not save a widower.
A Worn Path
"'Tell us quickly about your grandson, and get it over. He isn't dead, is he?' At last there came a flicker and then a flame of comprehension across her face, and she spoke. 'My grandson. It was my memory had left me. There I sat and forgot why I made my long trip.'"
Phoenix is an interesting character, making a long, difficult journey in order to get medicine and a toy for her grandson. Many obstacles slowed her journey, but she kept walking, slowly getting closer to town. She gets around the obstacles and interacts with people in unique ways. She asks a complete stranger to tie her shoe, even though the woman had a handful of boxes. When a hunter points a gun at her, she never blinks and tells the man that bullets have come closer to her before. She then steals a nickel from the man, saving it to buy her grandson a paper windmill. In addition to dealing with these strangers, she moves around natural obstacles at her slow pace, eventually moving closer to goal. She must also deal with her old age and her memory loss which almost causes her to forget her purpose. Based on her age and memory, I thought that her grandson could be dead. She mentions how he sits there with his blanket with his mouth open, and I thought that she could have forgotten that he died. She may not have wanted to accept his death because she loves him so much. Her intense love for her grandson is the theme; her love knows no bounds, allowing her to routinely make the journey.
Phoenix is an interesting character, making a long, difficult journey in order to get medicine and a toy for her grandson. Many obstacles slowed her journey, but she kept walking, slowly getting closer to town. She gets around the obstacles and interacts with people in unique ways. She asks a complete stranger to tie her shoe, even though the woman had a handful of boxes. When a hunter points a gun at her, she never blinks and tells the man that bullets have come closer to her before. She then steals a nickel from the man, saving it to buy her grandson a paper windmill. In addition to dealing with these strangers, she moves around natural obstacles at her slow pace, eventually moving closer to goal. She must also deal with her old age and her memory loss which almost causes her to forget her purpose. Based on her age and memory, I thought that her grandson could be dead. She mentions how he sits there with his blanket with his mouth open, and I thought that she could have forgotten that he died. She may not have wanted to accept his death because she loves him so much. Her intense love for her grandson is the theme; her love knows no bounds, allowing her to routinely make the journey.
Eveline
"No! No! No! It was impossible. Her hands clutched the iron in frenzy. Amid the seas she sen a cry of anguish...She set her white face to him, passive, like a helpless animal. Her eyes gave him no sign of love or farewell or recognition."
Eveline reflects on her life, agonizing over her decision to leave her home to travel with Frank to Buenos Aires. Even though her descriptions of her life paint a bleary picture, Eveline admits that her life is not undesirable. She had many ties to Dublin, including a job and her family. Even more pressing was a promise she made to her dying mother to take care for the family as long as she could. Keeping the home together was not an easy task; her brother traveled and her father was abusive. Although she dealt with many difficulties, this life is familiar to Eveline which is why she did not get on the boat. She did not make the conscious decision to stay; she simply could not leave her tiring but predictable life behind. Buenos Aires offered a new, exciting, and unfamiliar life for Eveline, but circumstances beyond her control tied her to Dublin. Even though a theme can be applied directly to Eveline's story, the theme can be extended to include the people of Dublin. The author wrote about a "spiritual paralysis" the people of Dublin faced, and Eveline embodied this idea. Not only was she not physically able to get on the boat, her inner conflict kept home. She was not able to overcome those circumstances in her life, like her family.
Eveline reflects on her life, agonizing over her decision to leave her home to travel with Frank to Buenos Aires. Even though her descriptions of her life paint a bleary picture, Eveline admits that her life is not undesirable. She had many ties to Dublin, including a job and her family. Even more pressing was a promise she made to her dying mother to take care for the family as long as she could. Keeping the home together was not an easy task; her brother traveled and her father was abusive. Although she dealt with many difficulties, this life is familiar to Eveline which is why she did not get on the boat. She did not make the conscious decision to stay; she simply could not leave her tiring but predictable life behind. Buenos Aires offered a new, exciting, and unfamiliar life for Eveline, but circumstances beyond her control tied her to Dublin. Even though a theme can be applied directly to Eveline's story, the theme can be extended to include the people of Dublin. The author wrote about a "spiritual paralysis" the people of Dublin faced, and Eveline embodied this idea. Not only was she not physically able to get on the boat, her inner conflict kept home. She was not able to overcome those circumstances in her life, like her family.
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