Never Let Me Go
Kazuo Ishiguro
An important aspect of this novel is the narration and its point of view. Kathy tells the story of her life as she recalls her time growing up at Hailsham and moving on to her time at the Cottages. As Kathy progresses through her story, the readers learn about Kathy's life with the unanswered questions that Kathy also had at that time of her life. Just as Kathy and her peers once questioned their situation and suspected various reasons, so we too question and suspect their situation as well. By having Kathy narrate her youth, Ishiguro creates suspense through the questions that the readers develop about Kathy's life. Ishiguro maintains this suspense by prolonging the tangents that Kathy tells while in the middle of her anecdotes. Ultimately the tangents lead to make Kathy's greater point of her stories, but they still prolong the suspense created by the unanswered questions.
In addition, the reader sees the contrast in the maturity level of Kathy as she once was in her stories and as she is now while telling her stories through her narration. "I was really upset by Ruth's remark at the time, but it's pointless now trying to judge her or anyone else for the way they behaved during those early days at the Cottages" (Ishiguro, 131). Events that used to upset Kathy no longer seem to bother her. Perhaps Kathy has matured like any other person would, but I still wonder if something greater happened to her that sparked her maturity. Kathy has seemed set apart from her peers throughout the novel, possibly because she is narrating the events, but perhaps there is a greater reason as to why she stands apart from her peers and as to why she is narrating this story.
Showing posts with label Anecdote. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anecdote. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
You're Ugly, Too
You're Ugly, Too
Lorrie Moore
When on the balcony with Earl, Zoe tells an anecdote about a friend when responding to Earl's request to talk about love. However, this anecdote tells of her lonely but successful friend whose relationship with a man from Illinois ended with the woman committing suicide. This anecdote helps to characterize Zoe. Like the woman in the anecdote, Zoe does not need a man in order to support herself. She is educated, has a job, and can provide for herself; however, she does seem to want companionship. "This was what she'd become: a woman alone at the movies with everything in a Baggie" (Moore). Zoe realizes her loneliness while she is at the movies, but later with Earl, her sarcasm seems to push him away. For both the woman in the anecdote and for Zoe, their success in their careers causes problems in their relationships. Zoe's education causes her to be practical, which seems to repulse Earl. "You know, I just shouldn't try to go out with career women. You're all stricken, A guy can really tell what life has done to you. I do better with women who have part-time jobs" (Moore). Because Zoe can support herself, she does not desperately need a relationship. Because she lacks this desperation, she can be her sarcastic self around men even though it may offend them. If Zoe continues her similarities with the woman from her anecdote, she will never have success in her relationships.
Lorrie Moore
When on the balcony with Earl, Zoe tells an anecdote about a friend when responding to Earl's request to talk about love. However, this anecdote tells of her lonely but successful friend whose relationship with a man from Illinois ended with the woman committing suicide. This anecdote helps to characterize Zoe. Like the woman in the anecdote, Zoe does not need a man in order to support herself. She is educated, has a job, and can provide for herself; however, she does seem to want companionship. "This was what she'd become: a woman alone at the movies with everything in a Baggie" (Moore). Zoe realizes her loneliness while she is at the movies, but later with Earl, her sarcasm seems to push him away. For both the woman in the anecdote and for Zoe, their success in their careers causes problems in their relationships. Zoe's education causes her to be practical, which seems to repulse Earl. "You know, I just shouldn't try to go out with career women. You're all stricken, A guy can really tell what life has done to you. I do better with women who have part-time jobs" (Moore). Because Zoe can support herself, she does not desperately need a relationship. Because she lacks this desperation, she can be her sarcastic self around men even though it may offend them. If Zoe continues her similarities with the woman from her anecdote, she will never have success in her relationships.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Bartleby the Scrivener
Bartleby the Scrivener
Herman Melville
In this story, characterization played a key role. By acquainting the reader with the characters in the story, Melville allows the reader to look further into the actions of the story. Melville begins the story by having the speaker briefly describe himself as a someone who doesn't let his work "invade his peace" (Melville). The reader keeps this piece of information in mind while reading the characterizations of the other characters. In describing Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut, the speaker briefly describes each character and provides anecdotes for each to explain further their characteristics. For example, the speaker described Turkey as an overly energetic man. The speaker explains his statement by providing an anecdote about Turkey's ink blots and an instance that he attempted to send Turkey home after lunch. The speaker goes on in the story to describe Bartleby. Bartleby refused to do anything, which upset Turkey, Nippers, and even the "peaceful" speaker. Melville revealed that Bartleby was actually more stubborn than he was passive. Although Bartleby refused to argue, he was stubborn because he refused to comply with others requests. Instead of doing as he was told, he replied "I would prefer not to" (Melville). In a sense, the entire story could be considered a characterization of Bartleby. The speaker described the other characters through anecdotes, and the speaker described Bartleby's character through a prolonged anecdote.
Herman Melville
In this story, characterization played a key role. By acquainting the reader with the characters in the story, Melville allows the reader to look further into the actions of the story. Melville begins the story by having the speaker briefly describe himself as a someone who doesn't let his work "invade his peace" (Melville). The reader keeps this piece of information in mind while reading the characterizations of the other characters. In describing Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut, the speaker briefly describes each character and provides anecdotes for each to explain further their characteristics. For example, the speaker described Turkey as an overly energetic man. The speaker explains his statement by providing an anecdote about Turkey's ink blots and an instance that he attempted to send Turkey home after lunch. The speaker goes on in the story to describe Bartleby. Bartleby refused to do anything, which upset Turkey, Nippers, and even the "peaceful" speaker. Melville revealed that Bartleby was actually more stubborn than he was passive. Although Bartleby refused to argue, he was stubborn because he refused to comply with others requests. Instead of doing as he was told, he replied "I would prefer not to" (Melville). In a sense, the entire story could be considered a characterization of Bartleby. The speaker described the other characters through anecdotes, and the speaker described Bartleby's character through a prolonged anecdote.
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