"But he would not let go. He felt the baby slipping out of his hands and he pulled back very hard. In this manner, the issue was decided."
Popular Mechanics
Raymond Carver
This story involved a quarrel over a baby because a couple was separating or going through a divorce. This story reveals how controversial it can be to decide what parent dominantly cares for the child. The two obviously hate each other because the woman says, "I'm glad you're leaving!" The two do not want to be near each other. The fact that the two are hurting the baby amidst their fight shows that this argument is serious. The two are so involved within their argument that they cease to care about the baby itself. From the end, it is implied that the man won the argument and was given the baby, only because of how violent the issue was becoming to the baby itself. There is a tone of darkness and despair which is established by the weather as being "snow melting into dirty water," "getting dark on the inside" etc. and this continues throughout the story in the argument itself over the ownership of the child. This story most likely warns against divorce and how it breaks apart families as seen with the tug-of-war between the mother and father. The arguments of the parents have a negative impact on the children because it affects their well-being too.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
You're Ugly, Too
"You want a second opinion? OK," says the doctor. "You're ugly, too." pg. 360
You're Ugly, Too
Lorrie Moore
Zoe is the type of character that uses humor and sarcasm as a defense mechanism. She also tells jokes because she had a speech impediment when she was younger, so she would tell jokes because they were easy use in conversation since they were already mapped out. Zoe's sarcasm reveals her inner worries that exist within her: her younger sister is getting married before her, she is unable to bear children, and her love life is nonexistant. These problems cause her to feel bitter and feel the need to use sarcasm so that she can display her annoyance with life and reality. She may also use jokes in hopes that people see a positive attribute in her but it usually ends up backfiring as with Earl; she told him the violin story about love and it made him say "You're not at all like your sister," aka I do not have interest in you anymore. Zoe's loneliness leads to a downpour of problems in her life, such as low self-esteem, little self confidence and physical insecurities, and because of this she feels a need to make up for it by utilizing sarcasm and humor.
You're Ugly, Too
Lorrie Moore
Zoe is the type of character that uses humor and sarcasm as a defense mechanism. She also tells jokes because she had a speech impediment when she was younger, so she would tell jokes because they were easy use in conversation since they were already mapped out. Zoe's sarcasm reveals her inner worries that exist within her: her younger sister is getting married before her, she is unable to bear children, and her love life is nonexistant. These problems cause her to feel bitter and feel the need to use sarcasm so that she can display her annoyance with life and reality. She may also use jokes in hopes that people see a positive attribute in her but it usually ends up backfiring as with Earl; she told him the violin story about love and it made him say "You're not at all like your sister," aka I do not have interest in you anymore. Zoe's loneliness leads to a downpour of problems in her life, such as low self-esteem, little self confidence and physical insecurities, and because of this she feels a need to make up for it by utilizing sarcasm and humor.
The Drunkard
"My brave little man! she said with her eyes shining. "It was God did it you were there. You were his guardian angel." pg 351
The Drunkard
Frank O'Connor
Larry would like to act as a "brake" for his father's drinking problem, but he never really can bring himself to do so. When Larry's father was left in charge of watching over Larry, Larry got bored and tried a drink of his father's drink while he was not paying attention. He began to keep drinking the drink although "it was a terrible disappointment." Larry then began to publicly embarrass his own father by being dragged home drunk at such a young age. Though Larry's father was a drinker before this instance, Larry unknowingly saved his father by embarrassing him and basically giving him a taste of his own medicine. This story was ironic because of the different reactions that the mother has: On one hand she is extremely angry towards her husband for allowing their son to get drunk; on the other hand, she believes that Larry purposely got drunk to save his own father from his drinking problem. Though Larry did not actually intend to teach his father a lesson, his curiosity and boredom led him to drink his father's drink which then led his mother to believe that Larry truly was his guardian angel, looking out for the good of their family. It is funny and ironic that the mother believed Larry fully meant to get drunk to convince his father that drinking was a bad habit when Larry did not actually do it with that intention.
The Drunkard
Frank O'Connor
Larry would like to act as a "brake" for his father's drinking problem, but he never really can bring himself to do so. When Larry's father was left in charge of watching over Larry, Larry got bored and tried a drink of his father's drink while he was not paying attention. He began to keep drinking the drink although "it was a terrible disappointment." Larry then began to publicly embarrass his own father by being dragged home drunk at such a young age. Though Larry's father was a drinker before this instance, Larry unknowingly saved his father by embarrassing him and basically giving him a taste of his own medicine. This story was ironic because of the different reactions that the mother has: On one hand she is extremely angry towards her husband for allowing their son to get drunk; on the other hand, she believes that Larry purposely got drunk to save his own father from his drinking problem. Though Larry did not actually intend to teach his father a lesson, his curiosity and boredom led him to drink his father's drink which then led his mother to believe that Larry truly was his guardian angel, looking out for the good of their family. It is funny and ironic that the mother believed Larry fully meant to get drunk to convince his father that drinking was a bad habit when Larry did not actually do it with that intention.
The Lottery
"Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones." pg 264
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
When I think of the lottery I think of the million dollar prize and lottery tickets. This story, however, was not like the lottery of today. Winning this lottery entailed death. Tensions rose as families awaited to see whether or not they got the black dot which was the difference between the life or death of someone in your family. It is ironic because the lottery is usually associated with riches, yet the winner of this lottery is punished by being stoned to death.
The stoning is foreshadowed in the above quote with the boys all gathering up the best rocks. These boys are used to the lotteries and stoning obviously because they readily go out and collect the stones. No one seems to find the lottery absurd or odd, but it's rather seen as a common activity in the town that is actually anticipated. The third person point of view provides no comment on the sacrificial activity or lottery process showing that this lottery is an accepted tradition.
Overall this story portrays the cruelty of human nature. I was somewhat reminded of the Bible stories in which the Romans would throw humans into the coliseum filled with hungry tigers as a means of entertainment. The scapegoat in this story was Tessie; she arrived late afraid she would miss out on the fun of the lottery and yet she is the one that ends up receiving the stoning. At the end of the story and she keeps saying "It isn't fair" to show that the lottery is in fact, not fair at all. It is an old tradition that simply is not right.
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
When I think of the lottery I think of the million dollar prize and lottery tickets. This story, however, was not like the lottery of today. Winning this lottery entailed death. Tensions rose as families awaited to see whether or not they got the black dot which was the difference between the life or death of someone in your family. It is ironic because the lottery is usually associated with riches, yet the winner of this lottery is punished by being stoned to death.
The stoning is foreshadowed in the above quote with the boys all gathering up the best rocks. These boys are used to the lotteries and stoning obviously because they readily go out and collect the stones. No one seems to find the lottery absurd or odd, but it's rather seen as a common activity in the town that is actually anticipated. The third person point of view provides no comment on the sacrificial activity or lottery process showing that this lottery is an accepted tradition.
Overall this story portrays the cruelty of human nature. I was somewhat reminded of the Bible stories in which the Romans would throw humans into the coliseum filled with hungry tigers as a means of entertainment. The scapegoat in this story was Tessie; she arrived late afraid she would miss out on the fun of the lottery and yet she is the one that ends up receiving the stoning. At the end of the story and she keeps saying "It isn't fair" to show that the lottery is in fact, not fair at all. It is an old tradition that simply is not right.
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