"I want the baby." (front)
This blog is about "Popular Mechanics" by Raymond Carver. When reading this story, I did not take it literally (which is a first for me) because a baby cannot be literally ripped apart. Instead I looked at it figuratively. Obviously, the parents are separating. In our present society, this is becoming more and more prevalent. When divorce is happening, parents become selfish and are only concerned with their own wants and needs. Often times, parents do not realize or refuse to see the pain that this can bring to children. Constantly being pulled in both directions with no real place to call home is very hard on a child and can rip them apart emotionally. In this story, both parents want the baby, but they never consider the childs wants or needs. The title is quite apppropriate for the situation; although, I didn't realize it at first. This short story describes the popular mechanics of a family going through divorce. Unfortunately, this kind of parental behavior is the norm in today's society.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Short Stories: Potpurri: 3
"This was what she'd become: a woman alone at the movies with everything in a Baggie." (363)
This blog will focus on the character of Zoe in "You're Ugly, too" by Lorrie Moore. First of all, I would like to say that this story was incredible long and drawn out, though not as long and plotless as "Bartleby." Anyways, Zoe is an extremely eccentric person. The Baggie obsession and particularity of Zoe leads me to believe that she has OCD, but I may be mistaken. I think these oddities in Zoe's personality make her more sympathetic. I feel bad for her becuase she is a lonely lady trying to stay happy. She pities herself and tells many jokes to make herself feel better. Also, people listen to her jokes, so she makes herself feel good about herself because she draws people in with her jokes because they want to listen. Zoe is an odd character and even the other characters notice this and try to stear her on a normal path by setting her up with dates and activities. Is there a significance to her secret stomach pain? I feel like it should be relevant, but I can't figure it out.
This blog will focus on the character of Zoe in "You're Ugly, too" by Lorrie Moore. First of all, I would like to say that this story was incredible long and drawn out, though not as long and plotless as "Bartleby." Anyways, Zoe is an extremely eccentric person. The Baggie obsession and particularity of Zoe leads me to believe that she has OCD, but I may be mistaken. I think these oddities in Zoe's personality make her more sympathetic. I feel bad for her becuase she is a lonely lady trying to stay happy. She pities herself and tells many jokes to make herself feel better. Also, people listen to her jokes, so she makes herself feel good about herself because she draws people in with her jokes because they want to listen. Zoe is an odd character and even the other characters notice this and try to stear her on a normal path by setting her up with dates and activities. Is there a significance to her secret stomach pain? I feel like it should be relevant, but I can't figure it out.
Short Stories: Potpourri: 2
"My brave little man!" she said with her eyes shining. "It was God did it you were there. You were his guardian angel." (351)
For this blog, I will be addressing the irony in the short story, "The Drunkard" by Frank O'Connor. The first irony I noticed was the title. The drunkard is the father, and he is not even the one who gets drunk. The son gets drunk while he is supposed to be making sure his father doesn't do just that. This is the other piece of irony. The son is supposed to keep his father from getting drunkbecause he needs to be able to work tomorrow and has trouble controlling himself after the first drink. The son, Larry, gets drunk on his father's alcohol. The father gets mad at his son for what he did, but in reality, his son saved. The mother would have been much more mad if her husband was drunk because he wouldn't be able to earn money for the family. With the boy drunk, he can just lay around until he recovers.
For this blog, I will be addressing the irony in the short story, "The Drunkard" by Frank O'Connor. The first irony I noticed was the title. The drunkard is the father, and he is not even the one who gets drunk. The son gets drunk while he is supposed to be making sure his father doesn't do just that. This is the other piece of irony. The son is supposed to keep his father from getting drunkbecause he needs to be able to work tomorrow and has trouble controlling himself after the first drink. The son, Larry, gets drunk on his father's alcohol. The father gets mad at his son for what he did, but in reality, his son saved. The mother would have been much more mad if her husband was drunk because he wouldn't be able to earn money for the family. With the boy drunk, he can just lay around until he recovers.
Short Stories: Potpourri: 1
"The original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago." (265)
For this blog, I will be anwsering the fourth question after the short story, "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. The fourth question asks about the significance of original box being lost and parts of the ritual being forgotten. I think that the significance of these two things is that the lottery itself is also past its prime. The fact that all of these parts of the lottery are so outdated implies that the purpose of the lottery is also outdated. The original purpose of the lottery was probably to choose who would be sacrificed to get meat into the diet of the villagers. I gathered this purpose because the story says, "First thing you know, we'd all be eating chickweed and acorns." The tradition of sacrificing a member of the village is worn out, just as the box and actual preceedings are worn out. The old box and ritual being forgotten are long gone, and the tradition should be too.
For this blog, I will be anwsering the fourth question after the short story, "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. The fourth question asks about the significance of original box being lost and parts of the ritual being forgotten. I think that the significance of these two things is that the lottery itself is also past its prime. The fact that all of these parts of the lottery are so outdated implies that the purpose of the lottery is also outdated. The original purpose of the lottery was probably to choose who would be sacrificed to get meat into the diet of the villagers. I gathered this purpose because the story says, "First thing you know, we'd all be eating chickweed and acorns." The tradition of sacrificing a member of the village is worn out, just as the box and actual preceedings are worn out. The old box and ritual being forgotten are long gone, and the tradition should be too.
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