Role Call

"Oh, how fascinating it was! How she enjoyed it! How she loved sitting here, watching it all!"
Miss Brill

Miss Brill does something that we all do occasionally- people watch. She simply does it more routinely than the average person, because she takes great pleasure in it. It is easy to see the intrigue of people watching- you get to create the story of the people from the few details you learn, rather than from their entire history. Everything is more interesting in our minds than in real life. Especially this week, Miss Brill is able to make herself a part of the stories of the people- a part of the "play". After making this incredible revelation, she is brought back down to earth. The words of a careless man calling her a "stupid old thing" ruins her fun. It is frustrating that a harmless woman had to be so hurt by the words of others, while doing something that brings her great pleasure. Just when she is about to hit the big stage, she is taken off the cast list.

Break Down the Walls

"These were hidden behind an array of different varieties of security fences."
Once upon a Time, pg. 235

This story is incredibly ironic. The things that were meant to protect the child actually ended up killing the child. I think it is the same as parents who are overprotective about immoral things like drugs, alcohol, and sex. By protecting their child to the point where the child isn't educated about those things will cause problems later in life. The child could be easily tricked into doing those negative things, and, not knowing how bad the effects will be, could become seriously injured. The parent would be at fault for not education their child, because they were trying to "protect" them. In the same way, the parents in the fairytale tried to protect their son with restraining walls that were the cause of his death. Just like Eveline, restraints ended up being the downfall.

Don't Throw Away the Key

"Escape! She mst escape! Frank would save her. He would give her life, perhaps love, too."
Eveline, pg. 221

Eveline is a heartbreaking story of the potential turning point in the life of a downtrodden girl. The theme of the story reveals that sometimes humans don't do what's best for them because they are held back by fear. Eveline knows the potential benefits of going away with Henry; however, in the end, she decides to stay at home. I believe her choice was partially because she was afraid to leave her old life and go into the unknown, and partially because she didn't want her father to have to care for himself. The way people defend those who have hurt them is astounding. Even though her father did little to make her happy in her entire life, she still feels bound to serve and protect him. I was personally upset by the ending; I was so excited for Eveline to have a better life. Her situation reminds me of a favorite quote by the Eagles- "So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains, and we never even know we have the key." Eveline has the key to freedom, but is unfortunately too afraid to use it.

You talk funny, Ms.

"I bound to go to town, mister. The time come around"
A Worn Path, pg 227

The dialect of Pheonix and the white man help to characterize. Pheonix uses words that are representative of lower-class people. Her language isn't proper, such as when she says "for less than what I done". When Pheonix talks to the white man, her way of speaking is especially obvious. The white man's proper speech contrasts with hers, and shows that he is of a higher class. However, his higher class status doesn't mean that he is any more honest. This was shown when he says "I'd give you a dime if I had any money with me." Obviously this statement is false, as a nickel fell out of his pocket unnoticed not minutes before. The dialect may show a difference in class status, but not in the level of honesty.

They're just a bit different

"like somebody used to never winning anything, or having anthing reserved for her."
Everyday Use, pg. 180

Maggie acts as a foil character to Dee. Everything that Dee is, Maggie is not. Dee is popular and confident- Maggie doesn't seem to have many friends, and never stands up for herself. Dee is "lighter than Maggie, with nicer hair and a fuller figure". In other words, Dee is beautiful. Maggie has scars and walks with a limp. Dee was ambitious, wanting nice things and to go places in life. Maggie appreciates little things, like a warm homemade quilt. She doesn't mind the idea of marrying and staying in her small town. The two sisters present such strong contrasts to one another, you can't help but feel differently about them. For example, I can't stand Dee, while Maggie I generally liked. Maggie and Dee act as foil characters in their actions, words, and values.

No, YOU don't understand

"What don't I understand?" I wanted to know.
"Your heritage," she said.
Everyday Use, pg. 181

In this story, irony is very prevalent. Dee, who has gone out into the world and explored all around, comes back to her family full of "history" and "heritage". In fact, she lectures her mother and sister about how they don't understand it, and acts as if they have no respect for history. The truth, though, is that Dee appreciates how the heritage makes her "cool", but doesn't understand how it is present in her own life. If she truly recognized her heritage, she would not be ashamed of her home. She would not change her name to "Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo" just to avoid the name that has been in her family for generations. She would want to use the things that her family made, rather than putting them on display. Most of all, she would not block out her mother and sister, who can teach her more about her heritage than anyone. She may have some understanding of "African" traditions, but she doesn't understand her own family at all.

If That's What You Prefer

"I would prefer not to."
Bartleby the Scrivener, pg. 659

Bartleby seemed to be disliked by most people, but I have to say, I quite liked him. He danced to the beat of his own music, without caring what everyone else thought. Therefore, I was saddened to find out how the story ended. A man like Bartleby, who didn't intentionally hurt anyone ever, in jail? More depressing yet, dead? It was a melancholy ending.
Now, I am no doctor, but I think I may be correct in diagnosing Bartleby with Asperger's Syndrome. The definition of Asperger's is an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. I think it fits Bartleby exactly- starting with the social interaction part. He didn't seem to have any measure or recognition of what was socially acceptable, and was unbothered when everyone told him what he was doing wasn't accepted. Then, his habits were very routine- he mainly only ate ginger nuts, attempted to not leave his place in the office, didn't wish to do anything but copy papers. It all seems very routine to me, and when everything was moved out of place, Bartleby didn't know how to react and therefore went into shock, leading to his death. If only he had preferred to eat.

I'm going to worry about me, myself, and I

"They're not going him any good," Frank said. "We might as well get some use out of them."
Hunters in the Snow, pg. 201

"You've got to be kidding me." Those were my first words as I finished the story Hunters in the Snow. I cannot begin to describe how angry reading the last few pages made me. Although the beginning of the story made me quite dislike Kenny, in the end, he was my favorite character simply due to the fact that I hated the other two. That is being a bit unfair to Kenny- he did have some redeeming characteristics, such as when he shot the dog because the dog's owner wanted him to. The other two, however, were selfish oafs. Yes, oaf is a funny word, but it's the only one I can think of to describe Tub and Frank. They were oblivious to the pain of their friend, acting as though they were the only people in the world. When they stopped for pancakes, I was literally shouting at them in my head. They did have some qualities to sympathize with, though. Tub was bullied, and just wanted to be loved- I felt like his rage at Frank, when he pushed him up against the wall, was years of built up anger being taken out at once. Frank seemed passionate and unwilling to hurt others- even though he managed to make sure Kenny's situation didn't get any better. These characters were hard to figure out, and had many layers. But what it all boils down to is that they were incredibly selfish.

Interpret my problems, please.

"Don't you realize what it means for me to tell you?"
An Interpreter of Maladies, pg 163

When Mrs. Das says these words to Mr. Kapasi, I was confused. What did she want him to say to her? He interpreted things from one language to another, and Mrs. Das had no need for that. I guess what she wanted, though, was for him to diagnose the problem, and potentially give her advice on what to do? It was definately not what Mr. Kapasi had been imagining all day, in the slightest. She was so angry at him for calling out the guilt she might be feeling, that I felt bad for Mr. Kapasi. It seemed unlucky for him to have to listen to another person's problems, listen to them vent, without being allowed to release his own feelings. If only she had listened, perhaps he could have told her about his relationship as well, which would have made them both feel better. A "you scratch my back, I'll scrath yours," kind of thing. Either way, neither truly got what they wanted, although they were both left with some matters to think about.

What's up with Watters?

"Some people change when they find that out, their whole way of looking at you and speaking to you changes, but his didn't."
How I Met My Husband, pg 135

How I Met My Husband is told from the point of view of Edie, but Chris Watters is the character I would most like to get to know. He seems to be an interesting guy; he treated Edie with respect and courtesy at the beginning, even after finding out she was the hired help. However, he fails to mention that he has a fiance, which is something any faithful man would be expected to say. Then, his attitude towards his fiance is one almost of indifference, and he kisses Edie. Leaving her with the hope of a letter may have turned out for the better for her, but seems cruel to me. So, is Chris a good guy or a bad one? I think he's not necessarily a bad guy at heart- he doesn't seem to purposefully hurt other people. It seems more so that he is too involved in himself to realize how his actions affect others. His treatment of his fiance is obviously bad, but he treats people in general with respect. I wouldn't want to be in a relationship with him, most definately, but he might not make it onto the naughty list yet.

So, Mrs. Das is like an onion?

"Again she reached into her straw bag, this time for her bairbrush, and began to run it around the edges of the translucent visor."
Interpreter of Maladies, pg 167

Mrs. Das in Interpreter of Maladies is a dynamic character. This, truthfully, shocked me. At the beginning of the story, it seems that Mrs. Das is simply a stuck up American, potentially even a "Desperate Housewife". And perhaps she is both of those things. However, there is more to her. Slowly, the reader and Mr. Kapasi both learn that Mrs. Das feels guilt, and pain that make her the way she is. She obviously feels deeply, and is unhappy with her circumstances in life. In the last paragraph though, another dimension is added to Mrs. Das- she is a caring mother. Although she may have acted in an unfeeling way for most of the trip, when Bobby was hurt, she was there for him, comforting him. She may not be a good mother, but she is a mother who exhibits love and caring towards her children. Mrs. Das had many elements to personality- she has layers, like an onion. Or, a parfait.

I should have seen that coming...

"Like when she bought the rat poison, the arsenic."
A Rose for Emily, pg. 287

Although A Rose for Emily has a bit of a twist in the ending, it also has quite a bit of foreshadowing. Looking back, I realized that it would have been easy to predict what the last page of the story tells us; Emily killed Homer, keeping ahold of him in his death. There are many clues, the first and foremost being when she bought rat poison. Next, Homer mysteriously dissapears from the town. We are also told that Homer is a homosexual, and will therefore not marry Emily. It should have been easy to predict that Emily bought the poison to kill Homer because he would not marry her. The biggest shock for me, though, was reading about how "the body had apparently once lain in the attitude of an embrace", which tells the reader that Emily was very close to the body, to put it in light terms. Her buying the "man's toilet set in silver" and "complete outfit of men's clothing" makes much more sense now; she cared about him in some way, and wanted his body to be in good condition. To say it makes sense seems like an odd way to put it, since there is nothing sensical or sane about it. Although Emily may have a rose, she didn't seem to have her full mind.